Sullen Waves Interview
Sullen Waves splashed onto the Los Angeles local scene with a distinct combination of distortion, aggression, and passion. The band is gearing up to release their debut EP Sense of Emergency on March 8th so By the Barricade reached out to Lead Vocalist and Guitarist Alex Pratsyuk for more info about Sullen Waves, and their upcoming EP.
By the Barricade: I’ve heard that you all met at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. What brought the three of you together and start Sullen Waves?
Alex Pratsyuk: Some say the right chemistry is what brings bands together, there was no exception for us. I previously worked with other musicians but couldn’t achieve the desired sound until I met Bruno [Ragolia] and Sal [Ramazzini]. We had only rehearsed about five times before our first recording session.
By the Barricade: The name Sullen Waves makes me think gloomy or bad tempered, but judging by your love of music I don’t see the connection. What was the process behind choosing the name Sullen Waves?
Alex: Well, I came up with the name because it reflects the moodiness of my songs. I think it’ll make more sense when we release more material but I’m sure Ozzy Osborne and Marilyn Manson also love music regardless of how gloomy and bad tempered they can be.
By the Barricade: I noticed a lot of the bands’ influences also sprung up from the LA rock scene. Are there any local sensations you want the readers of By the Barricade to know about?
Alex: Yes, I’m a huge fan of Swarming Orchids. I think everyone should check them out!
By the Barricade: What are some of the goals you have achieved and hope to achieve in the first year together as a Sullen Waves?
Alex: So far it’s been great. We’ve already played at many legendary places around LA such as The Viper Room, House of Blues and Boardner’s. We recently released our first Single and our EP is about to come out on March 8th. At the moment our main goal and focus is the studio album we are recording.
By the Barricade: I really like the artwork for your recent single Seven. How did you choose that design?
Alex: I always liked the idea of how a certain perspective can change ones perception of reality. I wanted to use the same concept for my artwork. The song “Seven” was written in apartment number seven, and that’s exactly where the original photo was taken, before it was rendered to become the cover. On a smaller scale we see letters that construct words, while looking further away, it makes us realize that everything has a certain order which creates a bigger picture. Just like looking through a microscope into a newspaper print or seeing a city from the top of a mountain, or our planets images taken by a satellite.
By the Barricade: What can fans expect to see on March 8th at The Viper Room for your show?
Alex: I can’t promise you I’ll burn my guitar on stage but we are going to showcase songs from the upcoming EP and rock the house. We will also play some of the material that will be released on our full studio album.
Can you tell our readers a little more about your upcoming EP Sense of Emergency?
Alex: Our EP will be released on the day of the show, March 8th. It will consist of three songs and it should give our listeners a better idea of what to expect from our album which will come out later this year.
By the Barricade: Is there anything else you would like to say to the readers of By the Barricade?
Alex: Enjoy your life, don’t drink and drive!
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