Emerging rock band Hazel Gaze is set to captivate audiences with their upcoming release, “Dirty Little Secrets,” a classic rock anthem that delves into the realms of concealment, dishonesty, and the hidden layers of our world.
The upbeat classic rock tune sets the stage for a sonic journey that is both energizing and thought-provoking. To add an extra layer of depth, the song kicks off with a brief quote from President Barack Obama, serving as both an evocative prelude and also beckoning listeners to reflect on the broader implications of the song’s narrative. “This song was written to represent the general concept of concealment. This can be interpreted in many ways, ranging from secrets kept during a relationship, to information concealed to maintain the status quo, or, as in the video, a government official or institution concealing information from the public,” says writer and band member, Russ Soper.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Russ about AI in music, dream collabs, the latest project, and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
This AI thing is getting way out of control. I have students using ChatGPT to write death metal songs about country music…and country songs about being sad. You can feed some Ais a text prompt and create a Hollywood-quality short film. How do you feel about this new wave of technological innovation?
[RS] – There is a tremendous amount of focus these days on Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT. The technology does have potential to automate many tasks, however personally, I’m not worried about it from a creative musical perspective, particularly songwriting – at least not yet. The music that resonates with me has a distinctly organic human element to it. The AI-created music I’ve heard thus far simply doesn’t replicate that. I could see it having uses in mixing and mastering as well as EDM in the near future though.
I know it’s hard…but what’s your favorite song and/or favorite artist of all time? If not favorite, in your top 3?
[RS] – That is such a tremendously difficult question. There are just so many genres and styles, it’s so difficult to narrow it down to 3. For my top 3 artists, I’d have to say, Led Zeppelin (I worshipped at the altar of Jimmy Page throughout my formative years – and still do!), The Black Crowes and Boston. While I’ve gone through various phases and love other genres and styles, these bands have been mainstays through much of my life. If I was allowed to include a 4th place runner up, it would be Triumph, or The Allman Brothers, or maybe Rush? Can we make this a top 20? That would be much easier!
For top 3 songs, I’d go with Led Zeppelin’s “The Rain Song”. I suspect many people would think this an uncommon choice for a favorite Led Zep tune, but that song always deeply resonated with me. The arrangement and instrumentation are so emotive and personal. For #2, I’d pick “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd. It has such a beautiful, honest and haunting quality to it. The fact that it was written (along with much of the entire album) about their former founding guitarist Syd Barrett, makes it all the more special. For #3, I’d pick “Fight The Good Fight” by Triumph. I’ve always felt Triumph were one of the most underrated rock bands and Rik Emmett is such an incredible guitarist, vocalist and songwriter – again, just tremendously underrated, one of my all-time favorites. The lyrics are inspired by Rik’s Aunt dying of cancer – something that unfortunately most people can relate to at some point in their life.
All three of these songs will take you places, if you allow them. I think that’s the mark of a truly great song – if it stirs emotion in the listener. If I was allowed to include a 4th place runner up, it would be “Descending” by The Black Crowes. The piano is just so soulful and beautiful in that song.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific or different with this “Dirty Little Secrets?” What’s the back story?
[RS] – I enjoy writing a range of material, from stripped down quiet acoustic guitar pieces, to heavier, fully instrumented up-tempo tunes. It’s important to me that the album has a range of music, so there’s something for everyone, so to speak. It also gives our live shows a range of material and takes the audience on a journey – from high energy pieces to stripped down, more intimate moments.
Lyrically, Dirty Little Secrets was written to represent the general concept of concealment. This can be interpreted in many ways, ranging from secrets kept during a relationship, to information concealed to maintain the status quo, or as in the video, a government official or institution concealing information from the general public. Dirty Little Secrets is the heaviest song on the album, as I thought the lyrical content would be more impactful with a powerful, straight-ahead driving rhythm.
What drives you to create? What keeps you going, especially on the bad days?
[RS] – As the expression goes, “Inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just show up and get to work”. I’ve always had music in my head, constantly. As a child, I’d always be tapping my foot and humming melodies in school, (much to the dismay of my teachers!) and I still do that to this day, which now drives my daughter nuts! I find being around music really helps my creativity, whether it’s seeing live music or just listening to music, that inspires me to come up with ideas.
I play guitar most nights and tend to come up with riffs and chord progressions constantly. For me, the trick is to quickly record the idea on my phone before I forget it. Similarly, I’ll have a lyrical idea or a vocal melody in my head – I’ll quickly walk into the corner of a room and hum the melody or lyric into my phone to ensure I retain it. Every time I think that I’ll remember something later – I usually forget it, so quickly recording the idea is key.
When it comes time for songwriting, the challenge for me is not usually about coming up with new material, it’s quite the opposite – it’s about narrowing down which material to use.
While I always had musical ideas throughout my life, I’ve only crystallized that into songwriting and recording in my later years. I’ve found the creative process of taking a chord progression on piano, or a vocal melody or guitar riff and fleshing it out into a full song with lyrics, vocal melodies, instrumentation and arrangements – then recording it, to be incredibly satisfying. Like most things in life, the hardest part is getting started.
Lastly, I’d say it’s very helpful to find people you’re compatible with. Whether it’s bandmates, producers, songwriting partners, etc.. it’s so helpful to bounce ideas off others – I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a band where everyone’s a fantastic musician, but more importantly, they’re all great people. We all have different backgrounds and musical tastes, all bringing different skills and perspectives to the table – and we’re all dear friends. It’s really a great situation – and quite rare.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why?
[RS] – I’d have to say Jimmy Page. While he’s certainly an iconic guitar hero, I’ve always more been in awe of his songwriting and arranging skills. The way he layers instrumentation and his use of alternate tunings is fascinating to me. He’s also remarkably versatile – he wrote incredible blues songs, some of the best rock songs of a generation and even folk tunes.
Where is the best place to stay connected with you?
[RS] – The band website and social media are probably the best places:
I appreciate Your time. Want to say anything else before we sign off?
[RS] – On behalf of everyone in Hazel Gaze, I’d love to say a very sincere “Thank You” to everyone who have supported us throughout the years. Particularly to our friends and family members, who’ve put up with us making noise throughout our lives, thank you so much – your love and support truly mean more to us than you could ever know.
