Seether: an interview with Dale Stewart

by Renee Clark

SN: When did you decide to make music a career instead of just a hobby?  What made you want to take that chance to just go for it?
Dale: You know what.  I’ve always loved music and I never realistically thought I would be able to do it as a career.  Because in South Africa it’s not realistic to be a musician and that’s what you do. I mean I played in bands all my life pretty much.  I always in the back of my head I knew I had to always keep working and one day I would have to give it up to get a real job. I think when we started hearing our stuff on the radio then in South Africa I started considering it.  Like when they started playing the music and we were like “hey you know there are some people out there that like the band and like the music” and we started to book up more shows.  I think that’s when I actually quit my day job and actually started considering doing this for a living.  This was the first time I was in the position to do this for a living.  Obviously when we got the record deal from Wind-up then it was pretty much a no brainer at that point. 

SN: Right you have to take those chances and go for it!  Did you always want to be a musician?  What did you want to be when you were 5 for example?
Dale: I wanted to be a mechanic.  A motorcycle mechanic (laughs).  Because I loved bikes and I loved cars and fast things pretty much in general.  I always loved music but in South Africa I was never really exposed to rock music before I became a teenager.  Then my friends started giving CDs to listen to or tapes to listen to.  You know so that’s when I really got into the rock scene.

SN: What do you think you would be doing right now if your music career didn’t take off and if you were still in South Africa?
Dale: You know that’s hard to say.  Before the band really started taking off I used to work for my dad.  He had a fishing tackle business.  I’d probably still be there.  It’s really difficult to stay.  My life is so much different than it was then.  If I were still in Africa I would probably be a completely different person.  With completely different interests.  I think that I have definitely changed in life.  Hopefully in a good way.  Hopefully (the change was) not for the worse (laughs).

SN: Have your goals as an artist changed at all since you first started performing?
Dale: I think all of us have goals and depending on how successful you are they will get bigger.  When we first started the band our goals were to get a song on the radio. Back home on the local radio stations.  When we got that we said “wow” people like the song you know maybe we could get a record deal.  Then that happened.  The goal was to keep going.  The goal now is probably to….I dunno I havn’t even thought about that in a while….seeing how far we can go.  Maybe sell platinum on this album is I think a good goal.  You know I think just to be a band that’s going to be around in another 10 years is a huge goal.  That is the main goal to just one day still be doing this and still be doing it for the right reasons.

SN: What was the hardest track to write or lay down on Karma and Effect?
Dale: You know what it all went pretty quickly actually because we had been living with the songs for so long.  When we recorded “Broken,” we were originally supposed to go into the studio then and record an album.  Then “Broken” hit really big and then we went out touring for another year.  We wrote a lot of new songs in that year but also the songs we had already rehearsed and everything.  So by the time got ready to make Karma and Effect we just went into the studio and it took us three weeks to do drums and guitars.  We just nailed it out.  I guess some of the songs were a bit more tricky like “The Gift” for me personally it has bit of a more intricate bass line.  It took me a bit more time than a straight forward rock chord like “Remedy” or something.   I think for the most part we were really excited to be in the studio and finally getting to do the next album.  We just nailed it.  We were pretty much on top of the game.

SN: I know that you played guitar on the road at shows.  Did you play guitar at all on the new record?
Dale: No. I didn’t play any on this one.  We have a new guitar player now that is a permanent member.  So it wasn’t needed for me to play guitar anymore (laughs).  Pat’s really good.  He’s such a good player and he’s got great ideas.  And also what’s cool is like Shaun will play something and then not play something, add my piece then pat will come in and add his piece.  And we’ll have three different pieces that are working together.  And he and Shaun are playing different parts all the time so there is never a song where they are both just strumming the same riffs or playing same chord.  Most of the time they are playing these different melodies that kind of intertwine.  That’s really cool what they have done.

SN: My first impression of the album was “wow this is the Seether I know!” I think it sounds a lot heavier and just like your live performance.  Was heaviness something you set out to do or was it something that just happened along the way?
Dale: It definitely was something we had set out to do because the last album the recording process was a lot different.  There was more emphasis on playing the part over and over and over again until you get it perfectly right. Almost machine like.  I don’t like things to be too perfect you know.  I prefer it to sound live like Pearl Jam or you know or something like that.  Even Korn their recordings sound very live.  I have always loved that.  I think Disclaimer sounds great.  But it definitely is very like I say very much so with the emphasis of getting all the parts right.  Whereas with Karma and Effect we put more emphasis on capturing certain moments.  So instead of choosing that part or trying to get that part to be perfectly in time or mathematically perfect, we chose to go for the take that actually sounded good and had the emotion and had the feeling.  We were all trying to catch that moment.  So we definitely did set out to do that and I’m glad you noticed it!  That’s cool! (laughs)

SN: Did you have complete control over the artwork and everything this time around?
Dale: Yeah this time around the label was really cool.  I guess partly because on Disclaimer II we were pretty much responsible for all that artwork and we had a good response from that.  So (this time) they called and said “well guys what do you wanna do?” We said “Ok well we have this artist and these images” they said “cool that’s good.”  So they were pretty much relaxed about it.  Which is really cool for us so we could really make an album that you know musically we wanted to make and visually it looks cool with the artwork and everything.  So it was all us this time which was cool.

SN: The record sounds like you guys have been playing together for years.  Do you think the chemistry you and shaun have with your new band mates has been a key in brining you to this new level?
Dale: I think so.  I definitely think there is a chemistry between the four members now as we are.  And I definitely think its helped the sound a lot.  I mean Disclaimer is just Shaun and I you know straight out of South Africa in a studio for two months just laying these tracks down.  Where as now it’s a band.  We don’t’ have a session drummer now.  We actually have a band drummer who has invested interest and emotional attachment to all of the songs.  You know laying down his parts.  Not just a session guy playing the same he does on all the session albums that he plays on.  Also it helps us having toured so much in the last three years.  Pat’s been with us for like two and a half years and John’s been with us for a year and a half.  I guess that’s not very long to be together in a band say but we definitely clicked as people as well as players.  Its nice because it’s the first time we actually have a band.  Its not just Shaun and I anymore.  We actually have a band and the whole lineup.  And the guys that play on the album are the guys you see on stage.  So in a lot of ways we feel like this is almost our debut album.  As Seether.  As the four guys in Seether.  So that’s really cool and exciting for us and exciting for the guys who got to play on the new album. 

SN: Do you think that you will have to work as hard on this album to earn (widen) your fan base again or do you think it will be easier since you already have a wide fan base now?
Dale: You know I think the fans base we do have the 500,000 fans which we do have are pretty much loyal fans because they are not really MTV fans.  I find MTV fans are pretty fickle like if your on MTV you will have those fans that will come to the show but you know when your off MTV they will only got see the Usher show.  Or buy the Usher CD or the Ashlee Simpson.  I think a lot of those kind of TV fans follow the trends.  But I think the fans that we have made with all our touring are more solid fans.  Because we’ve been to the towns hung out with the people after the shows you know.  Other towns we have been to five or six times you know we’ve played for them.  I think radio helps a lot too but I think most of the fans we have made from playing live.  You know if a fan comes to the show and they are a fan of the live show then I think its more of a solid type fan.  You know a fan that is going to be there.

SN: What is your favorite song to perform and why? Off the new album? 
Dale: Yes.  Its kind of tough to say because we havn’t really performed those live yet.  But I enjoy playing remedy.  That’s the new single and people really know it now.  You know so there is a good response to that.  And its fresh.   A lot of the songs on the last album we have been playing some of them since when we were in South Africa still.  I think any stuff off the new album is going to be fun because it is fresh.  I do really like playing the more up tempo songs live.  I enjoy those more because its up tempo and the crowd gets crazy and you can feel their energy.  The slow songs are nice too because people hold up their lighter and stuff.  Its just a very different energy for the rock songs.  The rockers.  I think like The Remedy, I’m The One or Burrito any of those I really enjoy (playing) that.

SN: What is one thing that you are you looking forward to the most about getting back on the road?
Dale: Sleeping in my bunk (laughs).  Actually I do like sleeping in my bunk because its dark and cold.  I’m like a mushroom (laughs).  I don’t know I think just getting out on the road being able to play music every night.  That’s why you start a band in the first place to play music.  Playing every night’s awesome.  I mean there is partying and getting wasted with your boys and that’s cool.  All members of this band love touring for various reasons.  For me its just playing and just having fun.

SN: What is the one thing you are dreading the most? 
Dale: Missing your home (laughs) because always when you’re on the road you wanna be home.  You miss home and you miss your girlfriend and everything.  But then when you’re home you want to be on the road because you miss playing and the whole lifestyle.  It’s a toss between the two.  I think missing just friends and family and girlfriends and stuff on the road is the worst part.

SN: Are you looking forward to the tour with Crossfade?  I think their fans will definitely dig your music because you guys are kind of in the same boat. Their album isn’t as in your face and hard as their live performance. 
Dale: I think its going to be cool we’ve done two shows with them so far.  We did one in South Carolina and we did one in Kentucky for the Kentucky Derby.  That was cool.  They are cool guys I like the band.  We had a couple of drinks with them.  Everyone is really excited about the tour.  We are all friends and in good spririts that is always good.  There is nothing worse than touring with a band you don’t like.  It makes you wanna go home even more.  Totally (laughs).

SN: What is one band that you would like to tour with.  One that you think you would do well with?
Dale: I would love to tour with the Foo Fighters.  I’m a big Foo Fighters fan so I would like to tour with those guys.  I also like Staind.  I’d like to tour with Staind also. I am a big fan of those guys.  I think actually that would be awesome.  If we could get on a tour like it would be sick.   

SN: What do you want people to take away from your music?  Any certain message?
Dale: I guess people should take their own message or interpretation of the music.  I know lyrically Shaun will never officially go out and say oh this song is about this or that.  I’ve never even asked him about the lyrics.  You know I take my own meaning from them.  So I’m sure the same song will mean something totally different to me that it does to Shaun and to what Shaun was feeling when he wrote the words.  Yeah I think anybody can take their own interpretation.  I think its therapeutic especially if you break up with your girlfriend or something.  I think it’s a lot of relationship type inspired stuff.  So I think if your really pissed off at someone (laughs) it’s good to listen to.  Good to vent to.

SN: How do you think you have grown as a performer and musician since being a part of Seether?
Dale: I think that I have grown a lot.  I really have.  I think all of us have grown as musicians just playing wise.  Just being in the studio and listening back to the songs.  Listening to Shaun’s playing and singing.  I think my bass playing is much stronger on this album.  It just comes from playing every night just about.  Just continuously playing and being in that environment and being around those creative people feeling that creative energy.  I guess you can’t really do anything but grow in that environment.  I think we have all grown live as well.  Just on stage the way you read the crowd and find the crowd out.  Put on a good show and be entertaining for people to watch.  I think we definitely in the past three years have learned a huge amount.

SN: What do you think sets you apart from all of the other up and coming rock bands?
Dale: Hmmm I dunno.  Maybe the fact that we are from South Africa originally (laughs) I think one of the things that sets us apart is that we get pretty heavy sometimes like some of the stuff is super heavy but then we will also have an acoustic song.  So we definitely are writing from different places and we have different states of mind and are influenced by different artists.  I think a lot of bands these days stick to one specific style.  We have our style but its quite dynamic.  Where I think many bands these days lack a bit of that dynamic.  I’m not saying it’s wrong or that it’s a bad thing.  But I think that does set us apart.

SN: Right and your not trying to be someone else you are trying to be yourselves.
Dale: Yeah I mean especially with this album I think we have definitely gone in our own direction.  We all matured as people and as musicians and I think it definitely comes through in the music.  Its more intelligent music.  Its better written.  I think the songs are better songs than we have written in the past.

SN: What do you think has been the best thing about being in a band?
Dale: The chicks! (laughs) no I’m kidding (laughs)!  I think the best thing is just doing what you love and getting paid for it.  I think playing live for me is also one of the best things about being in a band.  That kind of instant gratification. You know you get up play a song and people go crazy.  Nothing beats that feeling of just being up there and looking up and knowing that the people are enjoying it.  Its awesome!

SN: Is there anything you know now about the music business that you wished you would have known when your first started out?  (Any lessons learned the hard way).
Dale: Yes many, many things (laughs).  I think the bottom line is to just be weary of people you know don’t be too trusting.  There is a lot of things that anybody who in a band bas a couple of horror stories of people who have wronged them in certain ways.  Definitely everyone goes through it.  Definitely there is a lot of stuff that I wish I knew and know now.  But it’s a bit late! (laughs)

SN: You have been compared to a lot of bands what do you think is the weirdest you have been compared to?
Dale: Weirdest band?
SN: Yeah one that you wouldn’t even picture your music sounding like at all. 
Dale: Well someone has compared us once to Metallica.  Which I don’t think we sound anything like.  We’ve been compared to Nickelback.
SN: Ohh god!
Dale: Yeah I wasn’t too happy about that one (laughs).  I dunno I guess we’ve been compared to all kinds of people like The Pixies we’ve been compared to.  Which also I have no idea why.  I mean I love The Pixies but I don’t think we sound anything like them.  I think those are the weirdest one I can think of right now.

SN: With your website seetherville.com are you guys planning on doing updates regularly while your on tour? 
Dale: Yeah the site is just being redone and its coming out either today or tomorrow.  So you should check it out.  That’s our band run site.  So we’ll play a show and we’ll take pictures at the show and put them up the next day.  We are going to especially try and keep it up to date as much as we can.  With Seether (.com) the wind up staff are really busy, they have a bunch of bands so they can’t get stuff up instantly as we’d like sometimes you know like pictures and stuff.  That’s what seetherville is for to try and keep it updated as we can.

SN: I love that you guys have a shit list too I think its great (laughing)
Dale: Yeah. Ohh yeah (laughs)  I don’t want to make any comments and get in trouble!

SN: Right! (laughs) Everyone has a right to their opinion though!

SN: So Where do you see yourself or where do you hope to be 5 years from now?
Dale: Still playing.  Still recording music and touring and hopefully people still like it.  So we can still keep doing this.  I think if we can keep doing this and make a living and still enjoy it.  That’s awesome.

SN: Is there anything else you would like to add or say to your fans?
Dale: Just thanks for bearing with us (laughs) and waiting for the new album and to check out Seetherville!