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Zach Solem – Main Vocals, Programming, Production
Ben Thomas – Synthesizers, Backing Vocals, Programming, Production
Joe Price – Guitars, Sounds, Backing Vocals
Richard Farmer – Drums

 

Progressive Electro Rock.

 

SlowEarth began as the band “CAGE” in the 90’s, releasing a full-length album and an EP, along with extensive touring.  In 2001, we changed our name to ‘SlowEarth’ because the new sound didn’t match the original industrial sounds CAGE was well known for …also, the band name ‘Cage’ was held by a few other bands in the US.  At this time, it was better to change the name to something a little more ‘unique’ for search and find reasons.

 

The name SlowEarth came from the first song on the original ‘CAGE’ album.  The main theme of the song was about man’s smallness in the grand scheme of the universe.

 

We are influenced by just about anything – particularly with electronic leanings…but major influences would be bands like Gary Numan, Pink Floyd, Killing Joke, Massive Attack, NIN, and others of similar ilk who created a niche for themselves that transcended the sounds and genre holdings of their times through their music and words and are still able to release quality, thought-provoking songs.  The reasons we create the type of music we do is more or less because of the availability of the tools and the experimental nature of them.  What inspires us to write the songs we do is our personal life experiences and our culture’s powerful electric energy – both the good and ugly.

 

Forming from the ashes of the prominent 90’s industrial-rock band ‘CAGE’; Zach Solem, Joe Price, Richard Farmer and Rik Robinson came together to form ‘SlowEarth’. After years of touring and building a strong fan base within the industrial scene, the band found themselves inspired and influenced by the new sounds in the music community and evolved their own sound accordingly. Instead of sticking to a proven (if tired) formula, they diversified their electro-rock flavor by incorporating hard-hitting dance beats, searing synth leads, groovy baselines, and an eclectic blend of melody, guitar, and lyrical sensitivity.

By 2001, the band had assembled a more cohesive and electro-leaning group of songs that would become their first release as SLOWEARTH, album titled ‘Cage’  (an homage to the original band name). As they prepared to release “Cage,” Solem met Ben Thomas, a local synthesizer performer and programmer with a punk rock background. Thomas was recruited to work on several remixes for the album, and at the release of “Cage” in 2001, he became the band’s first full-time live keyboardist and co-writer for the band’s future releases.

During the promotion and after tirelessly touring, Rik Robinson decided to leave the band to pursue other musical endeavors and the remaining members decided to continue as a foursome. By 2003, SlowEarth began work on their follow-up album. This time, with two programmers in the band, they further fine-tuned their distinctive sound through electronic experimentation and released the critically acclaimed electronics-heavy ‘EDGE’ CD during the winter of 2003.

By 2005, SlowEarth had earned their place on a short list of “go-to” bands for regional festivals and national act support.

In 2006, SlowEarth locked themselves within the doors of their ‘Noize Lab” and melded an electronic arsenal with the live energy of rock instrumentation to create what would be their third and most anticipated studio release, entitled “Beautiful Machines.” This time around, SlowEarth took the listener on a more personal journey. Released in 2007, Beautiful Machines is as aggressive and ruthless as it is both tender and vulnerable. The 12-track CD immediately set the stage for an emotional roller coaster starting with the fast-paced and catchy electronic-dance groove of “The Fix.” Following that, the listener is taken through a soundscape of hard-hitting synths, big beats and experimental guitars while the charismatic front-man, Zach Solem, voices the introspection and frustrations of today’s present generation, SlowEarth’s sound further evolves.

In the spring of 2010, SlowEarth released a limited quantity double-CD that they aptly titled “VAULT” which included previously unreleased tracks and B-Sides. “VAULT” was made available for the first time during a special fan appreciation show they performed in 2010 in Atlanta, GA at Smith’s Olde Bar.

With 4 successful full-length independent releases under their belts, non-stop performances, national recognition, and mounting accolades, SlowEarth has become a top contender in the music scene.

Currently, SlowEarth are preparing for the release of their next full-length album tentatively titled ‘CONSTRUCT’ in spring 2011.

 

Hardware Synths/Samplers:  Ensoniq SQ1/SQR, Ensoniq EPS16, Nord Lead I & II, Ensoniq ASR-X Pro, Access Virus Indigo 2, Waldorf Microwave XT, Moog Rogue, Korg Monotron & Kurzweil K2000
Software Synths/Effects [Brands]:  Native Instruments, Arturia, Korg, FX Expansion, Korg, Waldorf, Rob Papen, OhmForce, Audio Damage, Waves, Sounds Toys, IK Multimedia, Gforce, Spectrsonics,
Sequencing/Recording Software:  Protools, Logic Studio, Reason, Ableton Live
In a typical scenario, Zach uses Protools and Reason and Ben uses a Logic Rig for writing the demo material.  We use any and all the software and hardware in our arsenal to write.  Once an idea is fleshed out using our hardware and software synths, it is then bounced down to stems and imported into the Protools rig for song development.  Ableton Live is mainly used for remixing.  Once in Protools, live drums, vocals and guitars are tracked.  After that, we create a mixed album version and a live version.  We then have two ‘rigs’ – 1 is all the above for writing and production and the other is a much scaled down version for live.  Since a lot of sounds and effects are built with softsynths, we often have to rebuild sounds from scratch using one of our hardware synths to play live.

 

Discography:
CAGE – 2001
EDGE – 2003
Beautiful Machines – 2006
VAULT – 2010
CONSTRUCT – 2011
We are currently working on CONSTRUCT and are shooting for a Spring 2011 release.  Along with a few in-house engineers like Troy Manning and Greg (Z Marr) Steward, we have traditionally produced everything.  Zach has an audio engineering background so he manages most of the recording processes.

 

Hell, any band that we could symbiotically complement.  It would be really cool to tour with some old heroes like Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Killing Joke, NIN, Kraftwerk or Devo.  There are also several more recent bands that we feel a musical kinship and/or admiration for like Crystal Castles, IAMX, The Presets, Battle Circus, The Faint, Digitalism, Fischerspooner and Goose.

Keep on keeping on.  Like any band, we’d like to be able to do music full time.  But, we are realistic about the times and industry.  We currently have music placed in different production houses that, combined with playing live, earn us enough money for merchandise and gear updates.  We would like to see this kind of income increased.  Mainly, though, we want to keep evolving and releasing music that we are proud of.  

 

Right now, that is a very cool, like-minded scene developing.  Attention System, Dropsonic, Evol Intent, Siberia My Sweet, Larvae, Today the Moon Tomorrow the Sun, Sonen, Last Aurora, Futura Bold, Whores, Fishhawk, Jungol, Julia Dream & Stokeswood immediately come to mind for recommendations.  It’s a GREAT time for music in Atlanta – probably the best we’ve seen over the last decade.  

 

We’ve been very lucky to have the support we’ve had over the years and have some of the best fans and friends any band can ask for.  But, we need them all to know to never assume their presence is not needed or appreciated.  Atlanta has a fantastic scene, but the Atlanta crowds seem to be stuck in this perpetual state of apathy.  It’s been this way for a LONG time with respect to local band support here.  It seems to be such a fair-weather group that are sensitive to weather and locational self-imposed limitations.  It can be frustrating from a band standpoint to have such inconsistent attendance locally, and yet once a band travels OUTSIDE of Atlanta, the local support can be amazing.  So, first off – THANK YOU!!…secondly – GET OFF YOUR ASSES AND REPRESENT!