Chris: Greetings. Thanks very much for taking the time to talk with us. The album The Inside Room is amazing! How has it been selling so far and are you happy with the buzz around it?

40 Watt Sun: No problem, Chris. Thanks a lot for the comment. I can't really tell you sales figures but Cyclone Empire have just repressed it so I'm guessing a couple of thousand CDs in the first two-and-a-half months. And I guess you can add the vinyl sales to that too. We've just been licensed to Metal Blade USA which is really good news because I know people in the US were having a hard time finding the album. But yes, sure I'm pleased if people like the record. Whether or not there's a “buzz” I don't know.

Chris: I think a lot of people, including me, were afraid that after Warning disbanded that might be the end of any Patrick Walker musical ventures. I’m glad to be wrong! Did you have 40 Watt Sun in mind during the last days of Warning or did it come to fruition after?

40 Watt Sun: I just knew that I wanted to break away and play in a new band, with new people; in a new “context” so to speak. I had ideas for new material, knew where I wanted to be going musically and I knew that Warning couldn't accommodate that. But at that point I had no band members, no band name; that all came later.

Chris: Can I ask what influences you call on to create your music? I can’t pinpoint any one style or band, other than the obvious Black Sabbath, which is always a positive since the music then stands on its own merits. Are there certain bands that are monumental in the 40 Watt Sun influence?

40 Watt Sun: No, I wouldn't point to any artist. Generally I'm just inspired by my own feelings; sometimes I just feel that need to create something and something usually comes of it. And I wouldn't say Black Sabbath is an influence; maybe I would have said so when I was a teenager and writing the early Warning demos, but not now. It must be years since I've even listened to a Black Sabbath record.

Chris: Are they any plans to tour extensively for The Inside Room? How about a trip over here to the States? Are there any bands you’d like to play with along the way?

40 Watt Sun: We're due to tour the US in September. I think we're doing ten dates or something. I'm still awaiting final confirmation of things so I can't tell you much more right now.

Chris: A lot of the lyrics for both Warning and 40 Watt Sun sound deeply personal. I still think “Watching from a Distance” is one of the most sorrowful songs I’ve ever heard in lyrical content, vocal delivery, and musical structure. I admit to being emotionally moved more than once listening to it. For me “Restless” is right in line with this. Is this something you consciously try to create or does the sound just seem to find itself in the writing process?

40 Watt Sun: I guess it comes down to your personal interpretations. The feelings you drew from those songs aren't necessarily the feelings that went into them. Particularly with Watching from a Distance (the song) which I meant to be something just beautiful and optimistic. Maybe my lyrics just don't make for literal interpretations, I don't know. But no, nothing's conscious. I just want to write beautiful melodies and sing about things that make me want to sing, you know?

Chris: I know well that 40 Watt Sun and Warning are two entirely different beasts, but might I ask what led to the initial break-up of Warning? It seems the music hasn’t changed much during the transition, which is great.

40 Watt Sun: I think it's changed considerably, but that's my personal feeling about it. I know it's still “heavy” but the next record might sound different and likewise the one after that. I guess that was one reason why I started a new band; I kind of have free rein now to do what I like. But in answer to your question, there are so many reasons and I've gone into them all so many times before.

Chris: What I truly love about your music is that fact that a ten-minute song never gets boring or repetitive; the flow always seems so even and encompassing. As a musician myself I always have this feeling of wanting to get people to really think about the music, deeply consider the lyrics and create their own surroundings from them. When you hear how affected many people are by your music, does it make the writing process harder or easier for the next endeavor? Do you find yourself subconsciously trying to one-up a previous effort or does it not even enter you mind?

40 Watt Sun: I don't think about it, Chris. Like I said before, I just write what feels right.

Chris: I pre-ordered the vinyl press of The Inside Room and it sounds brilliant on LP. Are there any other plans for EP’s or maybe a live album in the future?

40 Watt Sun: We've just recorded an EP actually.

Chris: I read that the album was recorded, literally, over a period of three days and nights. It goes to prove you don’t need to hash over an album for weeks, even months to create something great. It was also produced and engineered all within the group. Do you find this dynamic easier to deal with seeing as how you have complete control over your vision without peripheral influences?

40 Watt Sun: Well exactly; we didn't want to be battling with anyone else about what we were doing. We all knew what we wanted and so it was the best way to go about things. It meant we could work at our own speed and work our own hours. We could have spent a solid two weeks recording slowly and spent thousands of pounds on it, but what would be the point? I covered the cost of the whole recording with the advance from the record label so was never out of pocket and therefore there's nothing stopping us going in to a studio again as soon as we like.

Chris: I have to ask, do you ever tire of the comparisons to Warning or the constant talk of the past? I would imagine it must get tiresome to keep speaking about the past with a new project creating and paving the future.

40 Watt Sun: In all honesty, yes, I'm sick of it. But thinking about it now, it may have more to do with the banal and unimaginative nature of what I'm asked than the fact that it's mentioned at all.

Chris: Once again, thank you so much for you time and patience and the best of luck! I hope we get to see you on this side of the pond one day soon. The Inside Room is honestly one of my albums of the year already. Anything you’d like to add or say in conclusion?

40 Watt Sun: No, nothing at all. Thanks for the time.

40 Watt Sun

Interviewer: Chris

May 20, 2011

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments:

TO THE TOP

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Formed:  2009
London,  UK
Label: Cyclone Empire
Genre: Doom Metal

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Patrick Walker:  Vocals & Guitars
William Spong:  Bass
Christian Leitch:  Drums

DISCOGRAPHY:

The Inside Room (2011)

Check out Chris' review of The Inside Room here