Interview Ken Susi Unearth

Lineup: Trevor Phipps - Vocals Ken Susi - Guitar Buzz Mcgrath - Guitar John "Slo" Maggard - Bass Mike Justian - Drums

THICK AS THIEVES TOUR Atreyu UNEARTH Norma Jean Scars Of Tomorrow 3/13/05 HOB Interviewer: Sharita Lumpkin Photos: Kimisha L. Pierce

"It's much easier to do a project and be done with it than live it. I'd rather produce them and help them out creatively than be a label owner."

Ken Susi might not be ready to run his own label but he has producing in his back pocket. With a band like Beyond The Embrace already under his belt, he is looking to produce more new bands as well as better ones. Ken is also one of the best guitarists in hardcore today and is not shy for the camera as you'll see in the review. In this very impromptu interview, Ken talks about the problems he thinks that come with owning a label, what band he is producing, as well as his theory of being self-taught versus lessons. He also has a message for the  ladies...

Sharita: So you have produced a few bands including, Beyond The Embrace, what other bands have you worked with?

Ken: I've done a few bands like Since The Flood, Scars Of Tomorrow have been beggin' me to do their next record but they're like eh, we're too flamingly homosexual to let you do that. (laughs) But anyway, that guys got a piece, (points to one member of Scars). Anyway, I've done BTE and Invocation of Nehek off Prosthetic Records, done this band called Ligeia that's on Ferret. Yeah, I got a lot more work that's comin' in so I'm very happy.

Sharita: Is there an advantage to being a musician and producing a record as opposed to not being one?

Ken: You have every advantage. You know what you know and you use your strengths as a producer and person. You put yourself outside your band and into another band. It's actually fun, makes you more creative, and makes you think totally different. When you're in a creative atmosphere, you're thinking differently, and when it's out of the pocket of what you naturally do, it breeds good idears (ideas) for what you want to do and think on a different track. That's the biggest increase that you can get, part of being a producer is helping out.

Sharita: Great. Are there any plans for Ken Susi to be like Trevor and run a label?

Ken: No, I'll never be a label owner, it sucks. It's a lot of pressure, a lot of money thrown left and right. It's very profitable but I would rather not deal with business people like flying here and there, making sure your band is ok and make sure they don't break up. It's way easier to sit in your natural habitat, your home, and your atmosphere, have people come to you; you record them, work with them and yet you're still right around the corner from your house and get to hang out and meet new people. It's much easier to do a project and be done with it than live it. I'd rather produce them and help them out creatively than be a label owner.

Sharita: Great. Is there anyone that you would really like to work with in the future?

Ken: Uh, no I can work with anybody. I'm a very open-minded person, there's a lot of bands I like. Any band in general whether your big or small I'd like to hear it. If it's something I'm actually into or think I can work with, then I'll work with you. I would like to do bigger bands, of course because I'm a young producer and my stuff will get naturally better over time and I'm very excited about that.

Sharita: Ok, I need to ask you this question, are you...

Ken: Single? Yeah. Very single! (Hysterical laughter erupts in the room) Right now, very single.

Sharita: (laughs) I so wasn't expecting that.

Kimisha: I was, I could hear it. (laughs)

Ken: Oh that wasn't the question?  I read your paper before it even came out. (Note: That wasn't one of my questions) I'm sorry, maybe that was the side notes.

Sharita: (laughs) No, I wanted to ask you if you were self taught or did you have lessons?

Ken: No, I'm 110% self-taught.

Sharita: Do you think that's an advantage as opposed to someone that has been taught?

Ken: It's an advantage creatively but it's definitely a disadvantage as far as know how. Sometimes know how, brings you a lot further. When I'm stuck in a position, sometimes it's good to bounce off someone that is schooled, to explain to me what I'm trying to accomplish. Then again, I'm knowledgeable enough to know the concept of music and everything you could ever ask for about music. Earlier on, it was really hard to vocalize my idears (ideas), it's very hard to explain how I feel. Music is a feeling as far as I'm concerned. It's cool to be schooled, but on the other hand it's cool to be a renegade person and play exactly how my heart feels versus what I've learned from somebody else.

Sharita: That definitely gives you some freedom.

Ken: Yep, some mobility.

Sharita: Ok, cool. My last question and this is off the top of my head...

Ken: I'm not a virgin, not anymore.

Kimisha: I can definitely see that. (laughs)

Sharita: Uh, ok I wasn't expecting that either.

Ken: Some hot mama down on a beach in Massachusetts, she just took it. She saw what she wanted...

Voice from the Background: Did she rip your shirt off?

Ken: She didn't have to rip my shirt off, I was in my 2 piece bikini, she just took that shit, right from me! (Hysterical laughter again erupts) (Laughs)

Sharita: (Laughs) Uh ok, as far as tour plans for Unearth, what's next after this?

Ken: We're doing Japan and Australia. Then we're doing festivals in Europe, then a full summer tour called the Sounds Of The Underground and it's a very big tour with very big bands and it's gonna coincide with Ozzfest and Warped Tour. So hopefully it will be a successful tour and we'll be a successful band on the tour, so it will be good.

Sharita: What bands are on it?

Ken: GWAR, Lamb Of God, Elvis, Jesus, whoever the fuck you want. They'll all be there, don't worry about it.

Sharita: (laughs) And is this tour going all across the U.S. or just a few select markets?

Ken: No, it's going to all the major cities, it's about a month and a half long.

Sharita: Ok great, thanks so much Ken for talking with us.

Ken: You're very welcome!
 

Thanks Ken for taking time out after your set!

 Read new interview with Trevor in support of their 2006 release, III: In the Eyes of Fire!