KM:  Hi Ian.  Thanks for taking the time to put this interview together.  Can you tell us about the origin of Solvivor? How did the band come together and what inspired the formation?

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IAN:  Dorsey Parker and I met about 15 years ago at a jam party music project called Asheville Skyline. It was a bunch of musicians gathering in a studio making stuff up, basically. We were both in different bands and I eventually joined the one he was in. After that ended we stayed playing together in several other projects. Eventually, we decided to run the show and make our own band so we could play what we wanted and express ourselves artistically. We had a song written called Soul Survivors and wanted to call the band that, but alas it was taken by another band from the 70s. So we came up with Solvivor and it turns out to be a better band name anyway. When we came up with Solvivor it immediately felt right. It was just a matter of deciding to go with Soulvivor or Solvivor. 

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KM:  I think Solvivor is the better of the 2.  Ian, as the singer and bassist, you play a crucial role in the band's sound. How do you balance the demands of both roles and how do you approach songwriting?

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IAN:  Well, Kreig it's taken much practice to not only be able to sing and play bass, but to do both at the same time. I would recommend trying it at home first. I have been backing people up on bass and vocals for years, so it has become natural. Songwriting I usually do in the studio. I used to sit with a guitar in the kitchen and write things down on paper, which is a great way to do it. But now I mostly record while writing. Sometimes the first thing I play becomes what I release. Sometimes I gruel over it for years. I usually start with a guitar or bass and decide on some cool chords or parts. As I add beats and sounds the song will inspire itself to become what it wants. Songwriting to me now is like archaeology. I feel like I'm dusting off an old rock to find the ancient carvings. 

 

KM:  As a blues rock band from Asheville, how has the local music scene influenced your sound and creative direction?

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IAN:  Both of us have been here in the Asheville music scene for about 20 years. As a bass player for hire, I have played with so many American, country, jazz, bluegrass bands and more. I come from more of a '70s, 80s, and 90s rock influence but have always been drawn naturally to blues. The Appalachian music has seeped into our soul and our sound and ties us to a deeper history of the people and music than we otherwise would be. Our song ‘Carolina Country Blues’ speaks to the roots of Americana music and the soul of the oppressed. Keeping the memory of the past in mind so we can make a better future. The story, message and meaning that this band is about starts with these suffering roots and continues as an ever evolving people of the sun into the cosmos. Soul survivors keep going from life to life and are still here, trying to make a better world. All is love!

 

KM:  What themes or experiences do you find yourself exploring most in your lyrics? Can you share a bit about the storytelling process behind your songs?

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IAN:  My lyrics are often themed in the cosmos. An archetype, myth, or a metaphoric representation of some emotion. Either that or a story about some characters I made up. The way we co write is usually based on some musical riff first then we find words. Dorsey will often give me an idea and a phrase to start with. I will take it as a direction and let the muses tell me how its supposed to go. 

 

KM:  How does the dynamic between the three members of the band shape your music and performances? Can you give an example of how collaboration works within Solvivor?

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IAN: For the most part we create songs by collaborating at home with our home studios. We can easily put together songs this way at our leisure. When we have the ideas down we will get together and try to actually play them. When we play together we can let the song breathe and become what it wants to. We are not too strict about each and every note. We are all great at paying attention in the moment and having a musical conversation with each other. It keeps the music alive and something we and the audience can interact with. 

 

KM:  Blues rock is a genre with a rich history. Are there specific artists or bands that have significantly influenced your music? 

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​Dorsey:  Absolutely, our song called Carolina Country Blues, that's a tribute to the influence of the original blues musicians from the Carolinas and Piedmont area, loosely based on the story of Blind Boy Fuller, and others.  Link Wray from Dunn, NC is considered to be the first Blues rocker playing loud with amps and drums kicking out power chords that would be the blues rock sound picked up by so many of the great classic rock bands from the 60s and 70s.  We love the ABB and original Skynyrd who have an obvious influence on  Solvivor, where we try to be like they were, pushing the music forward in an honest original way.

 

KM:  What’s the most memorable performance or show you’ve had so far? What made it stand out for you?

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IAN:  We recently played at Pulp which is a bar under The Orange Peel in Asheville. I loved it because it was our first show with Chris Pyle on drums and the music really felt right. The audience was quality and a good time was had by all. There's a lot of fun ones to remember though. Over the years me and Dorsey have had some adventures. I'm looking forward to the ones coming up with this group.

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KM:  Can you describe your recording process? Do you prefer to work in the studio or do you find inspiration from live performances?

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IAN: I prefer to record live in the studio. The sound of everyone’s minute interactions really creates the feel I want. We do lots of multitracking and piecing songs together at home in our separate studios too. I tend to write in the studio and flesh it out live with the band. After we play a song a few times it will either stick in the setlist or not. It kind of depends on if we like playing it and if people like hearing it. I personally write a lot of songs and some of them become Solvivor songs. Sometimes we intentionally write about a subject together and come up with stuff that way. Theres lots of ways that work, but ultimately it comes down to playing them live.  

 

KM:  What are some challenges you’ve faced as a band, and how have you overcome them?

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IAN:  Finding the right drummer has been one of the biggest challenges. Patience is the key. Financial obstacles are pretty huge. It's very expensive to have a band. Between the lifetime of skills you need, the gear and constant overhead while faced with the daunting prospects of band income in today's market is overwhelming. Personality clashes in bands in the past have been an issue. So I would say the biggest challenge is finding the right group of people that are at similar skill levels and have a healthy mindset that can get along. I’ve overcome it with patience, communication and boundaries. Right now I feel like we have a great group ready to rock and have a great time.

 

KM:  Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future? Are there any new projects or directions you’re excited about exploring?

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IAN: I'm excited about Solvivor mostly. It's taken a lot to get here. We plan on getting our music to as many people as we can. The goal is to raise enough money to not only be able to support our families but funnel money into helping people with homelessness and hunger. Solvivor has and wants to be here for the people. Raising money for nonprofits is a big part of what Dorsey and I have been doing this whole time. Now we have a focused project with this as a part of our goals. We have recently teamed up with Artimus Pyle and his son Chris who is also our drummer. They have a band called Pyle Tribe. Me and Dorsey have joined them and that is a great southern rock experience. We will all be doing shows together coming up in the near future so lookout for that.

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