Interview with Guitartist Eric Horton of Seventrain
By Mick Michaels
COSMICK VIEW: Hello Eric and welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
CV: Please
introduce yourself….
Eric Horton: Well, we’re five piece out
of San Diego CA, We have Eric Koonze on vocals, Calvin Lakin on drums,
Dave Odegaard on guitar and myself Eric Horton on guitar (Ex-CAGE) and
Greg Rupp on bass. We have been working on our 3rd CD for a while now.
Our first was “Moments of Clarity” and the 2nd was “Back on Track”. We
have several videos out, your normal produced ones and lyric videos as
well. We are set to release an EP of a few new songs very soon
CV: Given so many major changes over the last
decade, do you believe the music industry is a practicable and stable enough
environment for new artists such as SEVENTRAIN to even consider making it a
valid career choice? Can a level of sustainable success really be achieved in your
opinion for your band?
EH: First answer is, no. I think when
you take the monetary incentive out of anything there is nothing there
that creates “career choice” environment. That being said the
answer to question 2 is, yes. I do believe if we stay focused on creating
music that we like and can stand honestly behind, there is a very small
chance that if enough people hear it and like it we can achieve some level of
sustainable success. But you have to be honest with yourself as a musician and
not chase fads or what’s current.
CV: What do
you see as the biggest change in the music industry since you first started out
with SEVENTRAIN?
EH: The industry eating itself
chasing a shrinking market…which has labels regurgitating clone after clone of
what little success they have on their roster. Think about it,
what iconic band has claimed their longevity and status
was because they wanted to be like a current trend at the time they broke.
Now I see more regional bands doing pretty good on their own and treat it
like a business and not even consider a label. 
CV: How do you see SEVENTRAIN
music separating itself from your peers and avoiding just being another cog in
the wheel?
EH: We're really honest in the room when
we're creating songs, as it’s about what moves us and get us excited. I have
always ignored comments such as “that sounds too much like this or that”, or
“it’s dated”, etc. If it’s good then that is all that matters.
CV: Has the
industry’s many changes affected how you write music for SEVENTRAIN? Has it
influenced your songwriting style in any drastic form?
EH: No, we have to have that feeling of
when you know you just created something special. It’s almost that same
feeling I got from music that motivated me to start playing guitar.
EH: Yes and no, digital DAWs and plug-ins and apps have made certain aspects of creating music more expansive and detailed. But the backside of that is now we can make music prefect and I hear some stuff that zero human element. Don’t get me started on these guys that buy midi loops and chord progressions and just drag and drop into a session and think they are an artist, that’s insulting.
CV: Has music
in general been broken into too many sub-genres? Why do think there are so many
classifications of music types? Can this be confusing for an artist who is looking
to build a brand? As well, can it be confusing for the fans?
EH: I don’t know. When I was a kid
there were several “genres”, now there are sub genres to those genres. I
think that there are so many versions of influences and
younger artists are very eclectic it makes sense to me people try
and categorize that way.
CV: How would
you define “iconic” when it comes to being an artist or musician? What do you
think makes an artist iconic?
EH: That is simple to answer…honesty
and integrity. If you are honest enough to openly create music that
is truly reflective of who you are, people will relate. Iconic artists
from Iron Maiden to Sting have one thing in common, music and song come
first. You have to have artistic depth to be able to keep creating for years
and keep yourself in shape to deliver. Fans appreciate that and return to keep
supporting if the artist puts in the work.
CV: Who would
you consider to be a modern day “rock star?” And is being a “rock star”
something to aspire to?
EH: There are no “modern day”
rockstars. We have characters who are acting like rockstars, but I don't
hear anything honest, inspiring or new that makes people think that person
has something special that others don’t. Eddie Van Halen was a
rockstar, Bowie was a rockstar they had redeeming qualities
artistically that moved a lot of people. We have people playing the part now,
as it’s all rehash BS. I always look for new music, and I hear a lot I like.
But I have not had that moment like the first time heard Judas Priest or
DIO. Shit, even when I first heard Alice in Chains where I go who and
the “F” are these guys or who is that guy playing that way.
EH: All music has a message, even if its purpose is to not have one…there is a message. The message can be heavy and deliberate or just goofy and fun or ridiculous. I think Seventrain’s music has several messages or topic a lot of people can relate to. We write about stuff in our lives or what we see in our world and use it as inspiration. And we are not all so different in this world, we all have similar experiences and problems for a lot of the same things. So I hope whoever listens to Seventrain can relate to all of it or some of it.
CV: What's
next for SEVENTRAIN? What can fans expect to see coming?
EH: We have a new EP with a few songs
from our new CD where are finishing up. We released a lyric video over
Thanksgiving and one over Christmas. So we expect to have a busy
2023.
CV: Thank you
again Eric for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers.
It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
EH: Definitely!
Check out SEVENTRAIN at:
https://www.facebook.com/seventrainband
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