A Q&A with Otherworldly Entity
Nu-metal combo from New York – here’s mainman John Harris…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
Inside-Out. It’s a studio acoustic album re-imagining some of our favourite tracks from our previous albums, as well as some brand new songs. Zlatko and I met years ago playing acoustic shows, so it feels like we’re going back to our roots. It really gave us a chance to relive the songs.
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
There’s really no place to hide in acoustic arrangements. There’s no noise or distortion to feel safe behind. So the challenge is really coming up with strong and dynamic arrangements, and working on every last detail.
Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
Our producer is Jeremy Stimpert in Cleveland. He’s our secret fourth band member, really. We’re a three-piece, so there aren’t a lot of cooks in our kitchen. Every time Jeremy works on a track, we’re amazed at the subtleties he brings to the table. We’re going to miss things in the studio. We’re so caught up in the process that we lose objectivity to it. That’s the biggest thing that Jeremy brings; objectivity. He knows what works and what doesn’t, and since he’s not in the writing process with us, he’s hearing it with his fresh, brilliant ears for the first time.
What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
Connection, emotion, relatability. Our world seems to be getting more and more polarised and divided. But we all have more in common than we do in difference.
How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Every track is different with us. There’s no real “set process.” Sometimes our guitarist Zlatko comes to me with a guitar riff, like ‘Red Flags’, sometimes I go to the guys with a lyric, like ‘Sin’, sometimes we sit in a room and just jam out a song, like ‘You’re Not Alone’. It just depends on how we’re feeling that day.
What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
Cold has always been my biggest influence, and we’re lucky enough to have shared the stage with them a number of times. We jam a lot of things like System of a Down, Deftones, even the Terrance Zdunich masterpiece ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera.’ We all have a really wide range of influences as individuals. It’s part of why this band works together so well.
What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
I would love to get to any country in Europe. I almost moved to Norway about 10 years ago, so I would love to play there. Zlatko is from Bosnia, so I’d love to see Eastern Europe.
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
‘Sin’. Either the acoustic or the electric. That is one of those songs that just fits really well. It was the first song Shawn Washer wrote with us on drums, but it’s also just one of those songs that came together so nicely.
What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
Touring. We want and need to get on the road. We’re based out of Central NY, and the music scene here is incredibly toxic and destructive. It would be nice to experience more on the road.
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
From our song ‘You’re Not Alone’: “In a world so callous what’s more rebellious than to show a little kindness?”
For more information on Otherwordly Entity, go to otherworldlyentity.com
