The Flood - Interview With Vocalist Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson, vocalist for The Flood, was kind enough to take some time and answer a few questions for Metal Martyr. The Flood recently wrapped up their 2009 SnoCore tour dates with Static-X and is currently working on their debut album with multi-Platinum, Grammy award winning producer Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down, Johnny Cash, Smashing Pumpkins).

Eric: Hey Chris, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. First, could you tell us about The Flood? What’s the meaning behind the band’s name?

Chris: We’re a four piece band.  Ajay Marshall on guitar, Jeff Eason on bass, Nate Minick on drums and me, Chris Johnson on vocals.  We are four like-minded musicians, playing with the intent to bring timeless music to those who appreciate emotional music.  There’s a reason bands like Floyd and Zeppelin stood the test of time; they were masters of creating feeling.  There’s never a reason to write a bad song when human emotion is an unlimited resource.  We strive for this level of mastery with every song we write and we hold ourselves accountable to do just that.  As far as our name goes; I wanted to find a name that best represented how I felt about the music.

Eric: What are some of the strengths that each member of the band brings to the table?

Chris: Ajay is our newest member and has been a very important addition to the band.  Not only does he come with a fantastic attitude, he has only complimented our music.  Our bassist, Jeff, is a true professional.  He’s got a flashy style and is a real showman. To date he is the best bass player I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.  Nate is our drummer and has been a part of The Flood since the beginning.  His unique style and patience allows him to be a cohesive machine.  When I am creating music, I like to immerse myself into a topic that I feel strongly about revealing all the truths and possibilities no matter how ugly or how shocking it may seem.

Eric: How did you all meet?

Chris: Nate is the brother of my original guitar player Jessie Minick.  I’ve known him for about ten years and have been playing with him for around six years.  Jeff on the other hand was a replacement for our original bassist and he came to us through a friend about two years ago.  As I said, Ajay is our newest member. After listening to hundreds of demos and over thirty auditions we finally found Ajay. He was the perfect fit and real bad ass.

Eric: So who are some of your major influences?

Chris: Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, Tool, System of a down, Led Zeppelin, Sex Pistols, Fugazi, Slayer, Pattsy Clyne, Johnny Cash, just to name a few.

Eric: You just wrapped up your tour dates at SnoCore. How was touring with Static-X?

Chris: Their fans totally kicked ass.  The crew was awesome and Static’s members made us feel welcome.  Night after night, their consistency was amazing and gave us something to strive for during our first major tour.

Eric: Could you tell us one story that really sticks out in your mind from the tour?

Chris: Right before the first show on SnoCore, our bus broke down. I was able to diagnose the problem and find a place nearby to fix it.  Once we found out our coach would be fixed in time for us to make our first show, our manager, Darrick Jones, got so excited that he accidentally punched me in the face, loosening my two front teeth. I drank through a straw for the first two weeks of the tour. Of course all was soon forgiven with the excitement of the tour.

Eric: I’ve never been so excited that I punched a friend in a face, I think I’m gonna try that sometime. Do you have any more shows or tours lined up for the near future?

Chris: Yes. Something big soon. I look forward to making the announcement.

Eric: I look forward to writing about the big announcement! You have been compared to bands such as Korn, Tool and the Deftones. How do you feel about these comparisons?

Chris: To be compared to those bands is a real compliment, but I believe we have a unique style, one that sets us apart.

Eric: What is it like to be recording your debut with Sylvia Massy? Can you briefly describe the music-making process in the studio?

Chris: Working with Sylvia is amazing.  I know when we work with her we are in good hands and her studio/theatre is incredible both acoustically and visually!  I was really impressed with the history of some of the equipment.  Led Zeppelin’s song Remains the Same was mixed on the Neve console and the SVT bass amp that Jeff used, belonged to the Rolling Stones during one of their first tours.  As far as the process goes, we do the pre-production at our studio in Redmond, WA.  This means we get the platform ironed out before heading to Radiostar Studios.  Once in the studio, we play the songs for Sylvia.  She gives us a yea or ney and then we begin tracking.  When the instruments and vocals are tracked in studio A, we move to studio B and mix everything down.  When everyone’s happy with the end product, we come back home and master our tracks at RFI CD masters.

Eric: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

Chris: Finding chemistry in the people you play with and finding the right management and other people to help along the way.  We have over time assembled an awesome team and that helps us to overcome all obstacles.

Eric: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands, or be noticed by a label?

Chris: Don’t allow anything to get in the way of what you dream to be.  Life is one great lesson.  When you learn, you grow and with that you become a better you.

Eric: Well said. Is there anyone you’d like to thank for offering support on the way up?

Chris: My mom for living her dream and my father for showing me how to be my best.

Eric: Any final words?

Chris: I kind of feel like my journey is just beginning and I am just excited about the path The Flood is on.

Eric: I also think that you’ve only just begun. The Flood is set to explode on the scene, and I for one am looking forward to hearing much more from the band. Thanks again, Chris, for your time and great answers.

Follow The Flood on Twitter. While you’re at it, follow me on Twitter!