John Sheldon of EKoTren
by Deb Rao
Staff Writer
EkoTren are currently on the road with Ill Nino bringing their unique hard rock sound to the masses. The tour is slated to hit the East Coast next week with special stops at The Palladium in Worcester on Feburary 15th, The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY on February 16th, and Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA on February 19th. Singer John Sheldon of EkoTren has checked in with Hardrock Haven to discuss their current release Dead of Night.
HRH: John: Welcome to Hardrock Haven. Let’s begin by discussing the upcoming release of your latest album Dead of Night on Burnhill Union Records on January 25th. Tell us about the writing process for this album:
JOHN: Hey thanks for having me. The writing process was pretty much the same as the last record. We did take more time on getting the perfect guitar, bass, and drum tones. Paul was pretty meticulous. I wrote most of the lyrics in the studio. We work better under pressure.
HRH: How does it differ from your previous release Light of Fire in 2008?
JOHN: I would say the album is more aggressive than Light of Fire. There still the melodic aspect but all around the sound is more aggressive.
HRH: How would you describe the sound of the band?
JOHN: I never know how to answer this question. (Laughter) I guess I would say we are metal with melody.
HRH: As a vocalist, what kind of message and style were you trying to convey on Dead Of Night?
JOHN: There’s a few but basically just don’t take shit from no one. Don’t let anyone try and tell you what to be or else everyone is eventually going to be the same.
HRH: What does the title Dead Of Night denote to you?
JOHN: Wrote that at a pretty low point. I know I’m not the only one. Just letting people know they aren’t alone I suppose.
HRH: EkoTren has toured with many great acts including Staind and Chevelle. What has your favorite tour been so far?
JOHN: We are on a pretty awesome tour right now with Ill Nino, A New Revolution and Fashion Bomb. The tour has been killer so far. Looking forward to the rest of the shows.
HRH: The band hits the road on January 18 in Michigan. The trek will take you across the country. What can the fans expect to see on this tour? A lot of them will be seeing the band for the first time?
JOHN: We try to keep it as high energy as possible but still try to sound our best at the same time.
HRH: As a new artist what does the band hope to bring to the music industry?
JOHN: We just want to play in front of as many people as possible and spread our name as much as possible.
HRH: As a vocalist who inspired you to become a singer?
JOHN: I’m a grunge dude. Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, and I were really into old Korn and Slipknot.
HRH: EkoTren hails from Florida. I just was down in Orlando for New Years. How would you describe the music scene down there? Would you say it attracts a lot of tourists?
JOHN: It varies. Not a lot of big acts come through Florida for some reason, as for a local seen, there usually a pretty strong metal scene.
HRH: In closing, is there anything you would like to share with our readers regarding the release of Dead Of Night and tour?
JOHN: Please come hang out at the shows and get the new album!
Visit EKoTren @ www.myspace.com/ekotren