Devilskin: Interview with Paul Martin

 

By Robin Ervolina

Devilskin hails from New Zealand and is comprised of father/son Paul Martin (bass and backing vocals) and Nic Martin (drums), Nic’s Aunt (and Paul’s sister-in-law) Jennie Skulander (lead vocals), and Paul’s “evil twin” Nail (guitar). Don’t worry that you haven’t heard of them. You will soon. When Halestorm is providing tour support for you, then Disturbed taps you to support them, you are just THIS close to being a household name in the U.S. too. Oh, did I mention they are a household name in New Zealand? Their debut album We Rise (2014) debuted at #1 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart, chilled there for four weeks, and eventually went Platinum. Paul took time to answer a few questions that give you all the background you need to get on board with Devilskin. 

 

Shockwave Magazine: Usually I like to start out asking bands how they came together, but you're all related! So, what inspired you to start a band?

 

Paul Martin: Jennie, Nail and myself were all playing in different bands and were good friends and big fans of each others' music. When Jennie's band split, I really didn't want her talent to go to waste. We approached her and we decided to have a jam. It felt great that night and we wrote "Fade," "Little Pills," and "Until You Bleed" on the spot. Our original drummer couldn't keep up so I 'press ganged' my son Nic (who was 15 at the time) into joining. We've never looked back!

 

You've had a successful career in New Zealand. U.S headliner Halestorm opened for you, and then you opened for Disturbed. How were those experiences?

 

Both were incredible experiences. The day we opened for Disturbed we heard Be Like The River had made its debut on the NZ charts at number one, before we played to a really enthusiastic crowd of 11,000 people. Halestorm are the nicest bunch of people you could hope to meet. We did 11 dates in NZ and Australia with them and we all felt like family by the end of it. Beautiful people, very humble and grounded. We had such a good time and we can't wait to meet up with them again in the US!

 

In my review I described your sound as "familiar, but unique." I attribute that to the solid rock sound with a definable signature. What are your musical influences, and what do you think shaped your sound?

 

We all have very diverse influences from Sabbath and Led Zep to Slayer, Pantera, Faith No More and Periphery. While there's no way I would say we sound like any of those bands, I think any musician worth their salt can take a myriad of influences and ideas and shape them into their own. I think it's all a process of being able to get your feelings out and into the songs, appreciating great songwriters, and learning as you go.

 

What was the recording process for Be Like The River?

 

For this album we had set aside time specifically to write songs early. We demoed around 30 songs and narrowed it down to 13. We spent a lot of time in preproduction getting the songs just how we wanted them before we went on a six-week tour of Europe/UK to promote our first album. Then we went straight into the studio in Gloustershire England to spend two weeks recording Be Like The River. By then we had a really good idea of exactly what we wanted.

 

Do you have a favorite song, or a song that you're more attached to, is perhaps the most personal to you, on Be Like The River? Any particular song that is your favorite to pay live?  

 

My favorites change daily but at the moment "Closer" is the most personal track to me. I wrote it for my wife and it means a lot to me. Jennie's delivery is just sublime and the string arrangements give it a really epic yet sparse feel. I'm particularly proud of that song. Live, I'm really enjoying playing "Limbs" and "House 13." So much power and grandeur!"

 

What do we have to look forward to from Devilskin this year? Any tour plans for the U.S?

 

We are just finishing up our NZ tour and will be heading to Europe and the UK in March. We dearly want to get to the US this year. We can't wait!"

 

Anything else you'd like to say or share to close out the interview?

 

We are truly stoked to be able to create music that means so much to us and be able to take it around the world and make so many new friends. Thanks so much for the support Shockwave! 

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions. I really loved the CD and I'm looking forward to following you!

 

Thank you very much, glad you're enjoying the album and hopefully we will get to catch up before too long!

As I said in my review, Devilskin is familiar but unique; it is comforting, yet calls you from your comfort zone. The safe place Devilskin has constructed will feel at home to any rock fan, and undoubtedly bring a few more into the fold. This is a don’t miss for 2016. Keep your eye out for Devilskin because they WILL be blowing up the U.S. soon and you'll get to tell all your friends, "I TOLD you so." Start sharing this video now and don't forget to get your copy of Be Like The River instantly at iTunes so you're ready to sing along from the front row.