Infused with the bluesy swagger and the semi-mystic, thunderous kick-drum assault of iconic bands like Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Rainbow, and Black Sabbath, hard-hitting Austin, Texas based quintet Scorpion Child offer up a heady mix of classic rock, old-school heavy metal, and Southwest-kissed psych-rock.
Formed in 2010 around the talents of guitarists Chris Cowart and bassist Shaun Avants, the final line-up consists of Chris, Shaun, drummer Jon “Charn” Rice (formerly of JOB FOR A COWBOY) and frontman Aryn Jonathan Black, with the band eventually inked a deal with Nuclear Blast, and issuing their eponymous full-length debut in 2013 which was recorded in full analogue.
Arriving at King Tut’s just after the band had load in, I head up to Scorpion Child’s dressing room to interview the band before their live performance tonight.
The band poses for a couple of photos and then we get on with the interview – in what is an extremely relaxed and amiable atmosphere.
We have a chat about the Scottish music scene and bands from the rock ’n roll hall of fame, including Big Country, Uriah Heap, and the lack of appreciation for Nazareth in their homeland, and then we get on with the interview:
The inception of the band was circa 2010, and it’s only been recently that I heard of a change in line up. Why the change, and does this feel like the final unit?
Chris – I guess we started recording the record things started picking up a lot of steam and more or less solidified the core members of the band. We had a couple of rhythm guitarists coming in and out of the picture, and we only recently got Jon in playing drums.
Usually you hear about a few of the original members–if not all–starting out as mates messing around and playing covers, was this the case with the original line-up?
Shaun – Yeah, it was just, basically like, we were those guys, and there were members we didn’t want to kick out, and there weren’t any fallouts – it was hard, it wasn’t like we hated anyone, it was just had record and we need to go and tour it
Aryn – a criminal record [laughs]
Shaun – it’s like a business, I guess if you want to succeed, then you gotta keep jumping over these hurdles, …I mean, we started out as a party band and then things got pretty serious
Aryn – We still do party haha
Chris – there are a lot of sacrifices that go into if you want to play in a band, especially a rock band, as in the initial phase, there is generally not a lot of money to go around and due to circumstances, that can be tough for a lot of people, and I guess some people can’t handle the discomfort that bands have to experience to get to the next level. And, I guess, that’s what we’ve experienced with other bands we have been in, …and with this band it has taken a lot of time to find the right people – who are not only fully committed – but gel together as a unit.
Age wise you are all still relatively young, but your songwriting as displayed on the record sounds like it has came from a band who have been around on the circuit – it’s mature and developed songwriting – have you guys been in a lot of bands before the inception of Scorpion Child?
Chris – yeah, we have all been in bands before Scorpion Child
The sounds are really grounded and your debut sounds like it has been produced by a band who have came off the back end of a couple of records…
Chris – I think part of that is due to the fact we all played in bands prior, and we all have a pretty good taste in music, …I think and all those scenes helped with that first record being so strong, …and we all pull influences from a lot of different places, and when you mix all those together, yeah, that’s what we got, an album full of songs, ….yeah it’s a rock album, but I don’t really know how to describe it, because you can say there is elements of from 70s in there, you can say there are elements from the 80s, but that is just all from our musical backgrounds and influences.
That’s the thing, music will always be circular in a sense and the album still sounds contemporary. It’s not a dated album at all considering the kinds of influences that you heed back too… There is a vigor to the album; a freshness…
Chris – Well, I mean… I think that is ultimately our goal too – when we write songs. We want to write songs that stand the test of time. If you write something that is timeless, then you aren’t going to suffer from being flavor of the week and then are forgotten about when something new comes along. With this kind of music, putting a fresh spin on it still offers the novelty factor… but fundamentally it sits in a timeless vacuum
I’ve seen a lot of bands coming and going due to scene boom and bust pandemic. Record companies can be partly to blame for that these days as they are looking for a quick buck, …they are not interested in developing a band, and are certainly not in it for the long run.
Aryn – Longevity is a thing that we are definitely going to witness, whether or not it is going to stick. Over time… I mean I don’t think we have really had enough time with this record. It’s all about the next record, and the next etc… To find out about longevity, …you never know about longevity until it’s been experienced… It would be a shame if our longevity didn’t last long due to the record company decided to stop promoting and get behind us, I mean it would be a shame if they want to get behind the next big thing, and it is just a constant, …and that’s what’s happened to music, and our music really has the staying power. Our peers and our friends that play in these bands, that’s why I really want the songwriting to really improve abroad with everyone, because I want all these bands to show that it really is a revolution, instead of a fad, like a star – that burns out.
As you guys are the type of band that thrive of selling records? What do you the current model/platform/ of music distribution?
Aryn – It can be good, but it’s something that has to happen man, I mean you can’t fight it, …you could have asked us two years ago and we would have said it was retarded thing.
Chris – I mean ultimately, it is a good tool for any band to spread their music and spread awareness of their band and their music. So we use social media a lot and it benefits us, like Instagram and Facebook and stuff, because it gives the fans a chance to follow us along when we are on tour. It makes them feel apart of something.
Aryn – In this day and age the fans need to feel part of something, because in this day and age , because there is no more like their used to be the mystic or the disconnection from the artist, that is just because the internet has happened, it doesn’t exist anymore. If you wanna go and be a rock star, well there are only a few out there now; pop stars and even they are tweeting like Jay Z and people like that. Everyone is figuring out now, you have to be in touch with your fans.
Chris – I thing – especially in America – but even worldwide, because we live in a fast-food type society where everything is on demand, and everything is instantaneous and people want that instant gratification. I think how you use social media as a band is to provide that instant gratification of what’s happening with the band now.
Aryn – Like this is one of the few styles of music where the fans can actually appreciate your record; your album, you know, like so many styles are single orientated, where artists are constantly releasing singles to hold peoples attention.
Artists are looking for a single, pressure from record companies saying, we need a hit, we need something that is going to be a hit.
Chris – rather than focusing on completing an album
Aryn – Yeah, but that is the record company, you can shhhhh them as much as possible.
Chris – Yeah, I think at the end of the day as an artist; as a songwriter, you have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and like if, if you are there to write singles and make loads of money,
Aryn – Your fanbase isn’t going to be loyal.
Chris – the chances are you are probably not going to have any success, that’s something we learned too, its not just as easy as writing a song and getting it on the radio, I mean there is a lot that goes into the whole thing, there is the touring aspect, there is building a grassroots fanbase. I think that is something as a band, that we have come to realize is so important, you go out and tour your ass of, and you built these fans one at a time 10 at a time but those fans are going to be lifetime fans, so inevitable you are building yourself up to have ‘that’ longevity rather than somebody who just releases a radio single, doesn’t tour on it, they make a lot of money off that one hit and then next month nobody knows who the fuck they are. That’s our approach, …just like the bands we listened to; just like they done it, you know, they got in a van; they got in a bus and they went and they toured their asses off and they played night after night after night. I think that is one thing that especially unsigned bands and up and coming bands, I think that is something that a lot of young bands don’t understand and get. It’s a very important thing, in this day and age, people aren’t gonna come find you – you have to go out and find them
Bands think 1, 2 singles then BOOM.
Aryn- Well that is kewl, if that is what they want to do, but that isn’t what we want to do. We are not out to make that same lineage of single after single, after single exhausting the original format that works so well which is making albums – I mean wasn’t that the originally the idea, like making a whole painting – starting off with a blank canvass and finishing the piece of work.
Like originally Metallica said they would never release a single, but eventually, they started releasing singles as the times moves on, there has to be a compromise to some degree yeah?
Aryn – Yeah, I mean Look, we still have to release singles too, I mean, you know we have to stroke the cock of the music industry and have to put some of the stuff out that they want us to put out. Now some record labels are more difficult and adamant about releasing particular tracks.
Chris – and that’s the thing, you can play their game, and still retain your integrity.
Aryn – well, based on what label you are a part of hahaha
How does it feel at your new home Nuclear Blast? The world’s biggest independent heavy metal label.
Aryn – Nuclear Blast are all about albums, but they are still a business, but they are total fans of music.
The record artwork is amazing; the concept behind it; what was the inspiration behind it?
Aryn – We are very proud of the artwork, we all have a huge appreciation for Storm Thorgerson, who done artwork for Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath. Surrealism is one of my favourite things to think about and the way that I think and they way that the band think just makes it a perfect concept. Originally, we were wanting Storm to be part of the concept of the album just before he died, …but his price quote was pretty far out of reach. So we decided to do it ourselves and just decided to do something similar in style – and it also represents that the album is a constant cycle – like it never ends – like it starts with cicadas and ends with cicadas. Which is the sound you hear in the summertime in Texas – I’m sure you don’t here them here so the contents of the album cycle in a 24-hour period, so it’s kinda like looking in a to a mirror and seeing a reverse landscape of never-ending – like you go in one door and come out another door just like the album, …there is multiple musical directions on the album, it’s all over the place – but it works.
There are myriad influences but the core drive is still there, …there is still a focal point in the direction. So has the smaller line-up changed the dynamic in terms of playing live?
Aryn – it’s a much more intense experience with this four-piece line-up, we are much more, there is a lot more clarity and there is a bass there now, a bass sound there.
Shaun – Imagine like – the more fir you get – the shed less fat, like you become more lean and agile, and sharper.
Aryn – like it’s easier to witness the chaos now – cause even when we are on stage sometimes like – what’s going on. But now if something is going on that shouldn’t’ be going on we will notice.
Do you notice a difference in buying trends when you are in the UK and in particular in Scotland?
Aryn – Like do people over here buy more merch? I think they do.
Chris – I think they do
Aryn – We have always heard the UK is like the states, because Europe is just AWESOME. Great crowds great fans buying loads of merch. But this time in the UK has been incredible. Now there is a few similarities, but overall this has been really impressive, sold out tours, so maybe the UK is getting it, or it might be getting loads of promotion.
Chris – We couldn’t have asked to be on a better tour.
Words: Derek Robertson
Photo: Jayjay Roberston
