Interviews

Interviews: Dali's Dilemma

Smother's Jeremy Coulson interviews Dali's Dilemma drummer Jeremy Colson. Weird.

Smother Jeremy: How did you get the band started? Where did the name come from?

Dali's Jeremy: The name came about after we recorded the album. Pretty much after everything was done, we had to come up with a name. The band was originally called Chaos Theory. There was another band out there called Chaos Theory and there was a lot of stuff that our lawyer didn't like. He didn't want to deal with any of that-if there were legal matters. So, along came the search for a new name. This was after we did all of our recording stuff. We came up with a few different ideas and finally, the keyboardist called me up, Matt, and said "My friend was over the other night and he said why don't you call the band Dali's Dilemma?" Since it relates to Salvador Dali and how Salvador Dali was an artist and was very progressive and different, it kind of related to us and it worked. So, we agreed. It sounded a little weird at first, but it worked out and we're all pretty happy about it.

SJ: What are some of your favorite moments on the album?

DJ: I would say my favorite track is probably "Living In Fear", which is the last one and "Miracles In Yesteryear" which is the second one.

SJ: "Miracles" is my favorite one on there, too.

DJ: For me, it's my favorite because it gives a good representation of what we're about musically because it shows a strong verse and a strong chorus, but it also shows a musical, instrumental section. So it represents what we're about as far as being technical as well as songwriting skill.

SJ: I definitely like the vocals on the chorus.

DJ: That's one of the things that we strive for. Not only to be technical and everything like that, but to also write good songs.

SJ: It definitely sticks after you hear it.

DJ: Yeah. A lot of progressive bands are good as far as they're technical, but on the other hand, they don't write for someone who's not into that.

SJ: How do you see the current state of Progressive Rock?

DJ: For me, I think depending on how certain people approach it, I think there's still a lot of room for a lot of new ideas to come about. I think there are a lot of crappy progressive bands out there and I think there are a lot of bands who are kind of going for the 70's sound. There's nothing wrong with that, but I just like bands that try to push the limits more of modern music and blend it in instead of trying to take music like Yes and revamp it. One of my favorite bands is Meshuggah and they do Metal, but they all these progressive rhythms and all these odd times. To me, they're doing something no one else has done. That's more inspiring. I'm into any band that's pushing the limits and doing something different. We're trying to take elements of bands like Prodigy and mix it with the heaviness of bands like Pantera and add our own element to it instead of trying to sound like Yes or Rush.

SJ: What are your personal influences?

DJ: I'm a really big Tool fan. Any music like that. There's the new Machine Head and Soulfly, I like those a lot. Meshuggah, bands like that. Sevendust-I'm really into their new album. I'm finding more inspiration from bands than just drummers.

SJ: What's a Dali's Dilemma show like?

DJ: Well, since there hasn't been any yet, it's hard to say. We do have plans to do a tour. We're not sure exactly when it's happening, but when it does happen, it will be exciting and surprising.

SJ: If you've never played a show, how did you grab that record contract? Isn't that backwards?

DJ: Yeah, kind of. We were a band. It kind of just folded together. There were so many different formations that the actual final one came along and they said, "Look, we'll give you 6 months, then we'll record and we'll put the album out. Then, if things go well, we'll do shows." That's the way it's going. Things are going well.

SJ: Are you selling a lot on your record?

DJ: Yeah. From the units that I've heard, it's doing well, definitely. For the style of music, it's nice to know that we're selling.

SJ: Is there any sort of Progressive scene there in San Francisco?

DJ: There's some bands, like one band, Enchant, they're from out here. Occasionally bands come out. If we play or tour out, we'd like to be able to open up for a band that maybe isn't specifically 'Progressive', even if it's a band that just happens to be heavy. I think there's a lack of good bands in general out here.

SJ: From where does the rest of the band derive influence?

DJ: We all have a lot of different influences. The guitar player and the keyboard player and both into Yngwie and bands like that. The singer, he's into Sting and the bass player, he's into a lot of the funkier bands out there. When we all come together, a good song's a good song. It doesn't matter if it's heavy or soft or dynamic. We do whatever happens.

SJ: You work in a music store and play in a band. Are there endorsements in your future?

DJ: Well, I've been working with some possible endorsement people. I've been working with the people from Zildjian and Vader drumsticks. It's hard when you're not on the cover of every magazine and not I the charts on MTV. There's definitely interest. I'm friends with Steve Smith who played drums for Journey and I recorded an album in his house and he's very helpful with stuff like that. I definitely see the possibility.

SJ: Yeah, I'm in talks with Ibanez right now about my signature model.

DJ: The Jeremy Coulson model?

SJ: Yes, the Jeremy Coulson Signature Series.

DJ: Good luck with that.

SJ: Thanks. Speaking of instruments. What do you play? You seem to have a lot of toms.

DJ: Yeah, I play on a full double bass Tama Star Classic drum set with Zildjian cymbals and special hardware. I have 3 rack toms, 2 floor toms, 2 snare drums, and some other little trinket stuff. Whatever sounds cool. One the next album, I want to get some more different sounds. I want a sequencer.

SJ: Have you been writing any material for the next album? How is it?

DJ: Yeah. We're actually recording it in January. It's heavier. We're trying to maintain the technical and get heavier.

SJ: I was impressed with the keyboard performance. Too often, the keyboardist hits a chord in the background as atmosphere.

DJ: We try to put they keyboard up front.

SJ: Any plans or secrets to divulge?

DJ: Just be on the lookout for a new album. It's going to be heavier and we're going to take over the world.