Interview with Chase Engel of Chase Engel and the Night Shift

Ryan Watkins of Ryan Watkins Photography

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Chase! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: How is the band bringing back excitement to Rock n Roll? What are you doing that is paving the way?
Chase Engel: We are trying to bring back fun to a Rock show that just seems to be lacking lately. We are putting on the show that we always wanted to see but has never been done. Hopefully we pave the way for future musicians and entertainers to be just that…Entertainers! Without the constant fear of what they should be doing or what other musicians think you should be doing.

CV: For a band, does being cutting edge equate to excitement in terms of fan appeal and appreciation? And does cutting edge guarantee some level of success in your opinion?
CE: For us being cutting edge is just making every second of our show fun, whether it be with the whole band dressing up and moving together or me doing the splits…just trying to keep people guessing the whole time. The cool thing is, it’s not just for the fans, it’s for us also. It’s exciting for us because the show is challenging in many different ways and it’s fun to have to be on your toes the whole time. I don’t think it guarantees any success but I definitely think it puts us in a better position to stand out from the rest.

Ryan Watkins of Ryan Watkins Photography

CV: Does success for a band follow some kind of formula or is it more of a luck of the draw, being at the right place at the right time...is there a calculated method to the madness?
CE: The best way I can break down a band getting successful from what I’ve seen is putting together a very calculated plan to put yourself in the best position to get lucky. There is a large level of luck involved no matter how good you are.

CV: Older artists are often looked at as past their prime and at times, considered out of touch with what audiences want. In your opinion Chase, are older, veteran artists at a somewhat greater disadvantage of being passé because of age compared to their younger counterparts? Or is this all just perception?
CE: I always say that perception is EVERYTHING. I think older artists that have already had success in the past are at a disadvantage in today’s game for sure. If they try something new people seem to say “oh you should have stuck to what you know”. If they do what they are known for then it’s “oh you still just stuck in the past”. The advantage they have is already having an audience to expose new material too. I am a pretty firm believer that if something is truly great it will find a way.

CV: The band is working with Brian Wheat of Tesla fame, going from producer to the band's manager. Tell us what it's like to work Brian? Are you a Tesla fan?
CE: Jason King (our bass player) and I were both big Tesla fans well before knowing Brian. “Love Song” is actually the first song we ever played together the first time we met, so it almost seemed to all come full circle when we began to work with Brian. Brian has been great to us and has pushed us to be the best we can be on all levels.

Ryan Watkins of Ryan Watkins Photography

CV: Chase, what do you feel Brian is bringing to the mix that the band did not have before? Has things changed?
CE: Brian brings the knowledge of the industry to the band that none of us had before. He’s been through the game and is still going strong 40 years later. Things have definitely changed in the band since he’s come on board. We are much more knowledgeable…the way we play the game is different, the way I write songs is different and the image is much cleaner.

CV: Aside from producer, did Brian appear on the album?
CE: I don’t believe he’s on the EP musically at all, no.

CV Does the band plan to tour heavily in 2020 to support the new album...maybe a number of support dates with Tesla?
CE: We will play as many shows as we can in 2020. We ended 2019 and begin 2020 doing some tour shows with Buckcherry, which has been amazing. We do hope to do some support shows with Tesla if they come up to the Midwest on this tour!

CV: What do you see as the biggest change in the music industry over the last couple of years that has greatly impacted how an artist conducts business and makes music?
CE: The game is always evolving but the industry seems to have been fairly consistent over the past few years which is good for us because we think its waiting for something to come along and turn it upside down. The calm before the storm we hope.

Ryan Watkins of Ryan Watkins Photography

CV: What next? What can fans expect to coming from the band?
CE: The future right now is just playing shows and maximizing any opportunity we get. Trying to get as much exposure as we can!

CV: Thank you again Chase for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
CE: Thank you so much for the interview. It’s been a pleasure! 

Check out Chase at:

Official: https://www.chaseengelandthenightshift.com

Chase Engel and the Night Shift supporting Buckcherry

Thu, Jan 30 - Champaigne IL - City Center 

Fri, Jan 31 - Waukeegan IL - Genesee Theatre 

Sat, Feb 01 - Molene IL - Rust Belt

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word.  Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.

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