Feature Photo credit: Keith Higgs | Interview by Rebecca Clark
Seether has grown from playing a tiny club called Valentines in Albany to performing at the Krockathon, one of the biggest festival shows in Central New York. Witnessing Seether’s continued success as a band has been incredible to see.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” John Humphrey, drummer for Seether said. “We’ve performed more shows than I can remember. I’m also very proud of the band. The band has always worked really hard and played many shows, building a dedicated fan base. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The pandemic has had a huge impact on touring bands and the music industry as a whole in 2020. Seether released their eighth studio album Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum on August 28 and because of the pandemic, Seether will be doing things differently this year with their album. “The biggest change is we can’t be on tour right now,” Humphrey said. “Usually we are doing shows leading up to and beyond the release of a new album. There are some things in the works, but for now, touring will, hopefully, resume next year.”
“I think (Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum) is some of the best stuff the band has recorded,” Humphrey said. “I also feel the band has really come into its own stylistically.”
Humphrey said that lead vocalist Shaun Morgan brought the idea up to have the latin title Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum for the album, which means “if you want peace, prepare for war.” “(I) love the title and its meaning,” Humphrey said. “It’s very fitting for the times.”
Lead vocalist Shaun Morgan produced Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum. “We’ve all learned a lot over the years working with some of the best producers in the world,” Humphrey said. “Plus, we know how we want Seether to sound. So, an outside producer can be objective at times but they don’t always share the same vision as the band. With Shaun as producer, we don’t have to compromise that vision.”
Adding another layer to this album, was their latest addition to the band, guitarist Cory Lowery. “Corey has been an amazing addition to the band,” Humphrey said. “He co-engineered the album as well as performed on the album. He’s very talented and had a lot of creative input.”
Even though Seether won’t be rolling through any New York cities in 2020, the band has been doing some virtual performances for their fans. “We (did) a livestream performance on Sunday, August 30,” Humphrey said. Also, we’ve been doing some ‘from home’ stuff for our social media platforms. I’ve been doing some drum video performing the newest single ‘Dangerous’ or playing ‘Remedy’ with my oldest son, who is also a drummer. So that’s been fun. It can be fun to do things we wouldn’t typically do for the fans.”
Humphrey said that he hopes their fans stay positive, enjoy the new music and stay hopeful while they are patiently awaiting for Seether to safely tour again. “It’s important that we proceed as safely as possible, until there’s a vaccine or something,” Humphrey said. “I do hope to be performing in front of a crowded room or festival soon.”
Full Interview below:
Rebecca Clark: First off how have you been!?
John Humphrey: Good. At home, like a lot of touring musicians right now. But enjoying the extra time with family.
RC: This album has a heavier and raw emotional feeling to it. I feel like the band dug deep and put themselves/their all into creating this album. How did you tap into that energy for this album? (I can tell with everyone, but in some of the vocals I can really tell Shaun was putting a lot of pure emotion behind the vocals)
JH: Thank you. I think it’s some of the best stuff the band has recorded. I also feel the band has really come into its own stylistically. I also think the music, lyrics and performances are honest and I believe the listener can tell.
RC: How has the pandemic affected the release of this album vs past album releases? (There are a lot of obvious things but I just want to know from your point of view)
JH: Well, the biggest change is we can’t be on tour right now. Usually we are doing shows leading up to and beyond the release of a new album. There are some things in the works, but for now touring will, hopefully, resume, next year.
RC: How does the band plan on overcoming the current challenges you are facing with not being able to tour to promote your album?
JH: Well we are doing a livestream performance on Sunday, August 30. Also, we’ve been doing some “from home” stuff for our social media platforms. I’ve been doing some drum videos… performing the newest single “Dangerous” or playing “Remedy” with my oldest son, who is also a drummer. So that’s been fun. It can be fun to do things we wouldn’t typically do for the fans.
RC: How was it having Corey involved in the recording of this album?
JH: Corey has been an amazing addition to the band. He co-engineered the album as well as performed on the album. He’s very talented and had a lot of creative input.
RC: How has Shaun’s role as producer for Poison The Parish and now Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum, been on these records versus before? Has he been able to push the band’s vision better?
JH: Shaun has done an amazing job as producer. We’ve all learned a lot over the years working with some of the best producers in the world. Plus, we know how we want Seether to sound. So, an outside producer can be objective at times but they don’t always share the same vision as the band. With Shaun as producer, we don’t have to compromise that vision.
RC: I looked up what Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum meant and I saw it was Latin for “If you want peace, prepare for war.” What is the story behind how that phrase became the title of this album?
JH: Shaun had the idea to use the Latin statement and proposed it to the band. Love the title and its meaning. It’s very fitting for the times.
RC: How has your touring crew been throughout the pandemic? How does the crew and band feel about touring in the future?
JH: It’s been tough. A lot of our crew family has been home and out of work. My drum tech is a technician in an optometrist office when he’s not on the road with us. So, luckily, he has something to fall back on. Not all crew guys are as fortunate. I’m optimistic things can resume within a year or so but we may have to consider more livestream performances and other mediums for live performances.
RC: What can fans do to help the band during this crazy time?
JH: Just enjoy the music and stay positive. It’s important that we proceed as safely as possible, until there’s a vaccine or something. I do hope to be performing in front of a crowded room or festival soon. Just have to remain positive and hopeful.
RC: Seether has performed many shows all over New York over the years, from small clubs to the Krockathon, one of the biggest shows in Central New York. What are some of your favorite memories from touring in New York?
JH: We’ve had many great shows in places all over the state of New York. But in NYC it’s playing the most famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden. We have amazing memories of opening for Audioslave at that venue. What an honor to tour with the Rage guys and Chris Cornell. Shaun would get up on stage every night to do a duet of “Fell On Black Days” with Chris. It was just amazing. We played there another time with Nickelback. Those guys get a bad rap but they are great guys and a great live band. I have nothing but respect for those guys.
RC: How has it felt to look back on all of the small club shows leading up to playing the big festival shows? Can be related to more than New York shows.
JH: Yeah, it’s been an amazing journey. We’ve performed more shows than I can remember. I’m also very proud of the band. The band has always worked real hard and played many shows, building a dedicated fan base. I wouldn’t change a thing.
RC: What are your plans for celebrating on record release day?
JH: We’ll be together, but distancing safely, for the release date August 28. We may not be on the road like we would want… but we’ll, at the very least, be in the same room 🙂
RC: Did you have anything else you would like to add?
JH: Just stay safe, and stay positive. I look forward to the time when we can tour again and see everyone! Here are few flashback photos of Seether performing in NY.