Seamount is a hard working band that has released 4 albums in a 5-year period. Embellishing their doom metal with various hard rock, classic rock, atmospheric & blues features, they do know how to add their personal elements to their music. The band’s vocalist, Phil Swanson, spoke to Grande Rock about the new album, and the music in general…
Hi Phil. Well, fourth release in 5 years. You’re really prolific when it comes to new material, huh?
P: Absolutely, we genuinely enjoy what we do in Seamount and it’s a great release to write new material and venture deeper into its new ideas.
So, what are the new things that “IV: Earthmother” brings to surface this time?
P: A more positive thought process. Some enlightenment but imo it also steps back to a more experimental style like we had on “Light II Truth”. I think as we progress like we did on “II” we need try new things and work with new ideas that adds a lot of peaks and valleys but I feel as we get closer to competition of “V” people will be able to hear where things are going as they did on “Sacrifice”.
Lyrically, this is your first concept album. It mostly deals with esoteric themes like “love”. How did that occur?
P: Just kinda from some revelations in my life, some new wisdom and learning in my old age that was mostly confusion when I was younger. I am becoming more content with my place in the world and who I am. Learning what’s important and what’s not, feeling more comfortable with my responsibilities rather than avoiding them. Embracing positive feelings and not seeing them as weakness. Finding love, seeking truth.
Well this time the cover showcases a female figure – probably, she is the Earthmother – with a cross and some symbols. It’s obvious that you have gone towards a more “mysterious” direction. Why’s the title “Earthmother”?
P: Earthmother was a song I wrote about my lady friend who is by nature very giving and nurturing. The people around her always seeking her attention and approval. It kinda gave me a good theme I felt I could translate across an entire record. It was the first lyric I wrote for the record and Tim is a very earthy person who has a strong connection to nature, when he heard the title he immediately took and the imagery it could project.
On a song by song “countdown” what are those things that you can reveal for each one of the tunes…?
P:“Surrender”: Allow something positive into your life that you may have felt threatened by or seen as week, like love... or God (if you believe in either of those things).
“The Fool”: Being saved by something you were aware of but resisted and when given a second chance you completely embrace.
“Echoes”: Was an idea Tim gave me, a dream where an unfamiliar world to him seem all too real and familiar. For me it translated as living your life with this subconscious that knows where you’re going and as much as you denied it, it still took you there but the long way around. An unavoidable destiny.
“Just for Fantasy”: Allow goodness into your life, breaking away from all the negative we have become consumed by. Yeah the world is a shitty place but we don’t have to subscribe to it. Happiness starts here, with us. It’s not easy, it’s easier to be depressed that takes no effort. Joy comes from accomplishment so there’s actually work involved, we’ve become a lazy complacent world. So how would it be if we just pretended it was better for a while, the whole Easter Bunny Santa Claus idea I guess? (i.n.: That’s so true… indeed becoming more positive takes effort & time)
“Earthmother”: Praise to a woman who takes care of all those around her with complete unselfishness.
“Aphrodites Child”: Words of worship to a woman of poise.
“Isolation”: Finding light in the dark. A companion who takes you out of a once lonely life.
“Do it Again”: Written in response to all the people who love to hate me on the forums but since I really don’t care that much about their opinions its more about my friends acceptance to her own beauty and greatness and how here modesty will not allow here to accept the compliments she so greatly deserves.
“Everything Divine”: An expansion of the song Earthmother but about when she becomes one with her devout.
How did you come up with the cover of “Magic” by Witchfinder General?
P: We actually recorded that years ago and never used it. Tim came up with the idea to invite Chritus and Butch to join us on it and included it.
One thing that a person notices as soon as they play the album is the heavier & tight production. Probably it’s the best you have achieved to date. Where did the recordings take place and who took care of them?
P: I record all my own vocals at home and at Up recording studios, I used the same set up as on Sacrifice for the home stuff but the studio had some much more dynamic mics which might of made it easier Tim to mix my vocals. Tim does all the mixing and executive production at his in-house studio. I’m sure he’s learning more with each release and things will always continue to improve.
Are there any plans to release a video in the future?
P: I would love that! I really want to do an 80s pop-rock looking version of “Standing in the Rain”. I don’t think anyone but me is into that idea and we are a record ahead of that already so that would be going backwards. But there are so many things in front of a video like vinyl release for one. And I would never want a video budget to stand in the way of a new release budget. The money has to come from somewhere so you have to be careful it doesn’t take away from something else, like a new record.
What about some tour or live appearances? It’s not a matter of distance anymore, right?
P: No, we have overcome that. Now it’s all about scheduling. We are only part time musicians with jobs and families. I’d love to be able to just concentrate on writing, recording and live shows but that’s just not a reality these days. I need to work, pay my bills and take care of my family and since music won’t do that for me my real job takes priority over touring.
What I like about you doom metal approach is how you blend, hard rock, classic rock, atmospheric, blues & heavy rock elements in your music. Avoiding that slow – as death – riffs which become tedious after a while was a great thing to do. I wouldn’t call you a traditional doom metal band as some did though. What’s your say?
P: We have the same underlying doom and stoner vibe but there’s some elements of 70s classic rock mixed with heavy metal and even ambient styles. It’s a little of everything we hear and even some more extreme influences but a very conscious effort to write a good melodic song in the end if we can. At no point are we try to be doom for the sake of doom, we have the influences but it’s all about a song to us not an idea or effort to fit into a scene or genre. This is how we sound because this is where music has brought us, we never said lets be doom, that was never the idea. So if in the end we are not a doom band we are ok with that as we are ok with being a doom band. We not looking to be one thing or the other, other people just need to know what list to put us on.
I’ve written: “…Were I to give you a hint about the whole album with only a song… I would choose to play you “Echoes”…”. Do you agree with my point of view?
P: I’m not sure? If you want an immediate reaction from someone I’d say that song would move them either towards us or away from us for sure. Either you’re gonna say “wow what a beautiful song” or “wow what a pussy song”. I think if you want to show them “yeah these guys know how to write a song” that’s for sure a good starting point, but it’s on the other side of the color spectrum of say “Everything Divine” at least by Seamount standards. If you want to listened to Seamount you have to set aside the idea of “underground” and say I’m open minded and just want to listen to something with some heart and soul again, something that may move me emotionally and physically at the same time, something at one minute make me shake my head and the other shake my ass.
Do you think that this album will help you gain a bigger audience?
P: I don’t know, we are 4 records deep already into writing the 5th, I personally don’t think we’ve done anything with this record we weren’t doing on the first. I think people are just starting to open their minds to something beyond just “doom” now and people are finally giving us a chance. All we want to do is have enough support to at the very least continue the way we have been. Sell enough records that we don’t get dropped and have enough live opportunities that we can spend time with each other and people who want to spend time with us when were able to do that. I don’t know if I’m looking for more at this point just hoping to keep what we have if nothing else.
How do you see this new mp3-digital-free-dowloading culture of the 21st century? Would you offer the whole album or some songs from it for free to the fans at any time?
P: That would be easy if a band knew it could tour and sell merchandise to support its equipment and recording costs. It’s a fine idea but in the long run bankrupts everyone and the music disappears. Also it’s strange that people don’t take you as serious when you give your music away. It’s like you’re not good enough if you’re not signed. Crazy but true, I know some great bands who just don’t give a fuck about anything but making music. Post it online and no one’s downloading it just cuz its free. But if a label releases that same record and puts it on CD or vinyl with payable DL. People would steal it off a blogspot in the 1000s. It’s only better if it’s free if it’s stolen I guess? (i.n.: You’re so right dude… people truly do not care when a band offers its album for free but they tend to steal it willingly when “it is forbidden”!)
What’s your opinion of people downloading free music from the Internet? What shall an artist do in order to avoid losing money and time?
P: I don’t mind it, I do it. It’s too easy to resist and there’s just so much to hear and who could afford to hear it all. It’s like porn to my ears and I can’t afford to pay for all that porn! (i.n.: Yeap, that’s why Internet has become a synonym to porn-net…)
OK now it’s time for some “weird” questions!!! How did you come up with the name Seamount in the first place?
P: Well here’s your weird answer... I can’t answer that. Tim came up with the name.
Which are the top 3 doom metal bands & albums of all time?
P: Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”…
Witchfinder General – “Death Penalty”…
Candlemass – “Nightfall”... Am I right? Am I doom enough now? What do I win? (i.n.: Nothing really… it’s for the fans just to get to know you better)
Which is the most overrated band today?
P: Hahaha wow... you’re really looking to get me in trouble. The easy answer would be Ghost but that’s too obvious and as everyone knows I love to stir the pot so I’d say it’s a toss-up between Pentagram and Obsessed (Tims gonna kill me!) not that I mind either band I just don’t think that people should avoid the obvious, isn’t this really all about Black Sabbath? Is everyone that afraid not to say that? Every band has its place but I’m insulted when people say their favorite band is Pentagram or Obsessed, cuz if you do you’re lying to yourself, go put on any Sabbath record and tell me it isn’t by far superior and without it you’d have nothing.
Which is your best book that also became a movie… and why?
P: I don’t really read that much so that’s a tough one? I guess “Hellbound Heart” cuz it’s scary and there’s boobs in it! (i.n.: That’s the real deal!)
Who is your favorite fantasy author and why?
P: I only fantasize about naked woman and only look at the pictures. (i.n.: hehehe swell!)
Do you believe in luck and coincidences or you believe that the human mind and will can affect all things in life?
P: In my case the mind and its subconscious has guided me the whole way.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
P: Angel Witch – s/t…
Which are the things that piss you off in today’s music industry?
P: That the labels and promoters come before the artists. People don’t look beyond what label or festival an artist is on anymore.
Which of the Seven Wonders of the World would you like to visit and why?
P: The Grand Canyon I went to Palo Duro Canyon and it was amazing probably the most peaceful place I’ve ever been, I can only imagine what a larger canyon would be like.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
P: Doug Stanhope. Because he’s true!
Imagine that your wife/girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
P: “Whatever you want baby, I love you and you do more for me than any record could... And I have it all on mp3 anyway so I’ll listen to that while I’m fucking you in ass later”… (i.n.: hahaha…)
I think we’re done Phil. The last words of this interview belong to you… Take care!
P: Seamount 5… keep it alive!
P: Absolutely, we genuinely enjoy what we do in Seamount and it’s a great release to write new material and venture deeper into its new ideas.
So, what are the new things that “IV: Earthmother” brings to surface this time?
P: A more positive thought process. Some enlightenment but imo it also steps back to a more experimental style like we had on “Light II Truth”. I think as we progress like we did on “II” we need try new things and work with new ideas that adds a lot of peaks and valleys but I feel as we get closer to competition of “V” people will be able to hear where things are going as they did on “Sacrifice”.
Lyrically, this is your first concept album. It mostly deals with esoteric themes like “love”. How did that occur?
P: Just kinda from some revelations in my life, some new wisdom and learning in my old age that was mostly confusion when I was younger. I am becoming more content with my place in the world and who I am. Learning what’s important and what’s not, feeling more comfortable with my responsibilities rather than avoiding them. Embracing positive feelings and not seeing them as weakness. Finding love, seeking truth.
Well this time the cover showcases a female figure – probably, she is the Earthmother – with a cross and some symbols. It’s obvious that you have gone towards a more “mysterious” direction. Why’s the title “Earthmother”?
P: Earthmother was a song I wrote about my lady friend who is by nature very giving and nurturing. The people around her always seeking her attention and approval. It kinda gave me a good theme I felt I could translate across an entire record. It was the first lyric I wrote for the record and Tim is a very earthy person who has a strong connection to nature, when he heard the title he immediately took and the imagery it could project.
On a song by song “countdown” what are those things that you can reveal for each one of the tunes…?
P:“Surrender”: Allow something positive into your life that you may have felt threatened by or seen as week, like love... or God (if you believe in either of those things).
“The Fool”: Being saved by something you were aware of but resisted and when given a second chance you completely embrace.
“Echoes”: Was an idea Tim gave me, a dream where an unfamiliar world to him seem all too real and familiar. For me it translated as living your life with this subconscious that knows where you’re going and as much as you denied it, it still took you there but the long way around. An unavoidable destiny.
“Just for Fantasy”: Allow goodness into your life, breaking away from all the negative we have become consumed by. Yeah the world is a shitty place but we don’t have to subscribe to it. Happiness starts here, with us. It’s not easy, it’s easier to be depressed that takes no effort. Joy comes from accomplishment so there’s actually work involved, we’ve become a lazy complacent world. So how would it be if we just pretended it was better for a while, the whole Easter Bunny Santa Claus idea I guess? (i.n.: That’s so true… indeed becoming more positive takes effort & time)
“Earthmother”: Praise to a woman who takes care of all those around her with complete unselfishness.
“Aphrodites Child”: Words of worship to a woman of poise.
“Isolation”: Finding light in the dark. A companion who takes you out of a once lonely life.
“Do it Again”: Written in response to all the people who love to hate me on the forums but since I really don’t care that much about their opinions its more about my friends acceptance to her own beauty and greatness and how here modesty will not allow here to accept the compliments she so greatly deserves.
“Everything Divine”: An expansion of the song Earthmother but about when she becomes one with her devout.
How did you come up with the cover of “Magic” by Witchfinder General?
P: We actually recorded that years ago and never used it. Tim came up with the idea to invite Chritus and Butch to join us on it and included it.
One thing that a person notices as soon as they play the album is the heavier & tight production. Probably it’s the best you have achieved to date. Where did the recordings take place and who took care of them?
P: I record all my own vocals at home and at Up recording studios, I used the same set up as on Sacrifice for the home stuff but the studio had some much more dynamic mics which might of made it easier Tim to mix my vocals. Tim does all the mixing and executive production at his in-house studio. I’m sure he’s learning more with each release and things will always continue to improve.
Are there any plans to release a video in the future?
P: I would love that! I really want to do an 80s pop-rock looking version of “Standing in the Rain”. I don’t think anyone but me is into that idea and we are a record ahead of that already so that would be going backwards. But there are so many things in front of a video like vinyl release for one. And I would never want a video budget to stand in the way of a new release budget. The money has to come from somewhere so you have to be careful it doesn’t take away from something else, like a new record.
What about some tour or live appearances? It’s not a matter of distance anymore, right?
P: No, we have overcome that. Now it’s all about scheduling. We are only part time musicians with jobs and families. I’d love to be able to just concentrate on writing, recording and live shows but that’s just not a reality these days. I need to work, pay my bills and take care of my family and since music won’t do that for me my real job takes priority over touring.
What I like about you doom metal approach is how you blend, hard rock, classic rock, atmospheric, blues & heavy rock elements in your music. Avoiding that slow – as death – riffs which become tedious after a while was a great thing to do. I wouldn’t call you a traditional doom metal band as some did though. What’s your say?
P: We have the same underlying doom and stoner vibe but there’s some elements of 70s classic rock mixed with heavy metal and even ambient styles. It’s a little of everything we hear and even some more extreme influences but a very conscious effort to write a good melodic song in the end if we can. At no point are we try to be doom for the sake of doom, we have the influences but it’s all about a song to us not an idea or effort to fit into a scene or genre. This is how we sound because this is where music has brought us, we never said lets be doom, that was never the idea. So if in the end we are not a doom band we are ok with that as we are ok with being a doom band. We not looking to be one thing or the other, other people just need to know what list to put us on.
I’ve written: “…Were I to give you a hint about the whole album with only a song… I would choose to play you “Echoes”…”. Do you agree with my point of view?
P: I’m not sure? If you want an immediate reaction from someone I’d say that song would move them either towards us or away from us for sure. Either you’re gonna say “wow what a beautiful song” or “wow what a pussy song”. I think if you want to show them “yeah these guys know how to write a song” that’s for sure a good starting point, but it’s on the other side of the color spectrum of say “Everything Divine” at least by Seamount standards. If you want to listened to Seamount you have to set aside the idea of “underground” and say I’m open minded and just want to listen to something with some heart and soul again, something that may move me emotionally and physically at the same time, something at one minute make me shake my head and the other shake my ass.
Do you think that this album will help you gain a bigger audience?
P: I don’t know, we are 4 records deep already into writing the 5th, I personally don’t think we’ve done anything with this record we weren’t doing on the first. I think people are just starting to open their minds to something beyond just “doom” now and people are finally giving us a chance. All we want to do is have enough support to at the very least continue the way we have been. Sell enough records that we don’t get dropped and have enough live opportunities that we can spend time with each other and people who want to spend time with us when were able to do that. I don’t know if I’m looking for more at this point just hoping to keep what we have if nothing else.
How do you see this new mp3-digital-free-dowloading culture of the 21st century? Would you offer the whole album or some songs from it for free to the fans at any time?
P: That would be easy if a band knew it could tour and sell merchandise to support its equipment and recording costs. It’s a fine idea but in the long run bankrupts everyone and the music disappears. Also it’s strange that people don’t take you as serious when you give your music away. It’s like you’re not good enough if you’re not signed. Crazy but true, I know some great bands who just don’t give a fuck about anything but making music. Post it online and no one’s downloading it just cuz its free. But if a label releases that same record and puts it on CD or vinyl with payable DL. People would steal it off a blogspot in the 1000s. It’s only better if it’s free if it’s stolen I guess? (i.n.: You’re so right dude… people truly do not care when a band offers its album for free but they tend to steal it willingly when “it is forbidden”!)
What’s your opinion of people downloading free music from the Internet? What shall an artist do in order to avoid losing money and time?
P: I don’t mind it, I do it. It’s too easy to resist and there’s just so much to hear and who could afford to hear it all. It’s like porn to my ears and I can’t afford to pay for all that porn! (i.n.: Yeap, that’s why Internet has become a synonym to porn-net…)
OK now it’s time for some “weird” questions!!! How did you come up with the name Seamount in the first place?
P: Well here’s your weird answer... I can’t answer that. Tim came up with the name.
Which are the top 3 doom metal bands & albums of all time?
P: Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”…
Witchfinder General – “Death Penalty”…
Candlemass – “Nightfall”... Am I right? Am I doom enough now? What do I win? (i.n.: Nothing really… it’s for the fans just to get to know you better)
Which is the most overrated band today?
P: Hahaha wow... you’re really looking to get me in trouble. The easy answer would be Ghost but that’s too obvious and as everyone knows I love to stir the pot so I’d say it’s a toss-up between Pentagram and Obsessed (Tims gonna kill me!) not that I mind either band I just don’t think that people should avoid the obvious, isn’t this really all about Black Sabbath? Is everyone that afraid not to say that? Every band has its place but I’m insulted when people say their favorite band is Pentagram or Obsessed, cuz if you do you’re lying to yourself, go put on any Sabbath record and tell me it isn’t by far superior and without it you’d have nothing.
Which is your best book that also became a movie… and why?
P: I don’t really read that much so that’s a tough one? I guess “Hellbound Heart” cuz it’s scary and there’s boobs in it! (i.n.: That’s the real deal!)
Who is your favorite fantasy author and why?
P: I only fantasize about naked woman and only look at the pictures. (i.n.: hehehe swell!)
Do you believe in luck and coincidences or you believe that the human mind and will can affect all things in life?
P: In my case the mind and its subconscious has guided me the whole way.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
P: Angel Witch – s/t…
Which are the things that piss you off in today’s music industry?
P: That the labels and promoters come before the artists. People don’t look beyond what label or festival an artist is on anymore.
Which of the Seven Wonders of the World would you like to visit and why?
P: The Grand Canyon I went to Palo Duro Canyon and it was amazing probably the most peaceful place I’ve ever been, I can only imagine what a larger canyon would be like.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
P: Doug Stanhope. Because he’s true!
Imagine that your wife/girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
P: “Whatever you want baby, I love you and you do more for me than any record could... And I have it all on mp3 anyway so I’ll listen to that while I’m fucking you in ass later”… (i.n.: hahaha…)
I think we’re done Phil. The last words of this interview belong to you… Take care!
P: Seamount 5… keep it alive!