Review Fix Exclusive: Gregory Wallsten Talks Volcano Burst and More

Review Fix chats with Sigurd Wallsten’s Gregory Wallsten, who discusses the motivation and creative process behind the band’s new album, “Volcano Burst.”

About the Band:

From Paso, Texas, we find instrumental rock/prog based artists SIGURD WALLSTEN, who have a new twelve track CD out called ‘Volcano Burst’.  Volcano Burst is a superb blend of many influences that merges rock and metal genres into a unique instrumental creation. The project is led by Gregory Wallsten who handles all the instrumentation throughout the album with help from his son Zachariah.

Gregory Wallsten started playing electric guitar when he was ten years old in Boca Raton, Florida. His mom told the youngster that he must play an instrument. He chose the electric guitar believing his mom would force him to play a band instrument, which thankfully she did not.  In fact, she bought him a Les Paul copy with practice amp and he was ready to go.  After a slow start, Gregory just continued along with little progress until he was in his late teens. During his high school and college days, he joined local bands playing mostly cover tunes. When he joined the U.S. Army, he continued to jam and even formed a few bands with friends, but nothing that lasted due to frequent moves and numerous maneuver exercises.

Review Fix: Why is music important to you?

Gregory Wallsten: Personally, music is the best release from daily stress and aggravation.  When I listen to great music; I forgot about my problems, my work deadlines and these little distractions that ruin your quality of life.  I enjoy listening to my favorite bands at night, but generally, I get swiftly disconnected from planet earth when I pick up my guitar and jam during the day or night.  I plug into my digital effects board, switch on my Marshall amp and it’s “Game on”!  I have focused this motivation into songwriting and production forming the Sigurd Wallsten band, a project I have dedicated to my grandfather.  Rock/Metal music has become a way of life for me and hasn’t diminished over the years because there is always something new; a new song, a new sound, etcetera, that inspires me to create and capture new work.

Review Fix: How did you first get involved in music?

Wallsten: When I was in middle school, my friends were Heavy Metal music fanatics.  This is when it began for me and continues today at full power.  Back then we would buy the latest albums from Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Van Halen or whoever was at the top and listen to them for hours.  We also went to see our favorite bands in concert which significantly added to our Metal culture.  Our girlfriends were metal rockers and at parties; we played Heavy Metal loud causing the police to chase us across town due to noise complaints!  The passion created my need for expression and when I started to play guitar, I made the ultimate discovery that would change my life. I found the key I was searching for; the path to a better life by living dreams and discoveries through songwriting.  Another advantage is the people you meet.  Serious musicians are those people who strive for excellence and they tightly bond with similar musicians which magnify the creation process.  I enjoy this camaraderie and over the years have many awesome memories to show for it.  Getting involved in music turned my longing for expression into reality and now that I have released two instrumental albums (Roman Battle and Volcano Burst), I have contributed to our rock/metal music world something tangible that can entertain and continue to inspire.

Review Fix: How was “Optimistic Fool” written?

Wallsten: I wrote this song after a bad day at work.  Right after I graduated from college, I was working for the investment firm, Morgan Stanley as an account executive.  I had a fellow friend and broker who was really getting overly optimistic on very high-risk investments in which his ego (and money) was fully invested.  I had to stop and think about what he was doing to see if I was missing the rocket flight to riches.  Fortunately, my intuition was right and unfortunately for him, he was fired as those investments crashed.  I originally intended to have lyrics with this song, but since singing isn’t my forte, I converted it an instrumental.  While jamming one night, I kept thinking of his optimism and how foolish one can be once they have convinced themselves of success before the course of events is completed.  I’m all about optimism, but have a strong foundation and scrutinize the facts first!  For the song, I wrote the intro riff first and then the verse and chorus riffs followed in a natural sequence.  My songwriting is driven by sensing the rhythm/melody and then sort of asking the question “What comes next in this song?” If you try to force in parts, it will sound commercially fabricated or worse, disjointed.  I feel the flow of the song and then compose it.  This has worked very well for me.

Review Fix: What makes it a special track?

Wallsten: This track is fun for me to play and its energy level is higher than most songs.  Mainly, it has special meaning to me because it reminds of my friend as I hear it.  Playing instrumentals is challenging because 100% of the song must be entertaining without words.  Though music invokes feelings, lyrics enhance the expression.  This makes instrumental songwriting harder to effectively accomplish and why I focus on guitar leads to drive the songs.  Considering the future, my view of ‘Optimistic Fool’ might change if ‘Volcano Burst’ gains success as a break-out album for Sigurd Wallsten.  In truth, all undiscovered artists are looking to write, release and market that song that elevates their work to a new higher level.  As my development process generates new songs, I always believe my current song will be the “Hit” that will get Sigurd Wallsten recognized.  Looking back, it is just a motivational aspect of songwriting to maintain the drive for excellence.  This does keep the fires burning!


Review Fix: How do you want this album to be remembered?

Wallsten: I want ‘Volcano Burst’ to be remembered as the album that elevated Sigurd Wallsten into a new level of music industry success.  After more than two years of work, I made the commitment to release an album that has the potential to rival all others.  I also intend to have “Optimistic Fool” as one of the essential songs on the album.

Every band/artist has that one song that we all remember as the ground-breaking composition.  Like ‘Paranoid’ for Black Sabbath and ‘Round and Round’ for RATT.  Every band needs a beginning when entering the mainstream and that is how I would like ‘Volcano Burst’ to be remembered; as the defining composition for Sigurd Wallsten.

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Wallsten: Most unknown indie artists are striving for financial gain as they aim to establish themselves in the music industry by selling music and playing gigs to make a new living.  With the Sigurd Wallsten project, music is always first.  Whether we earn $1 or a million dollars a year, my composition and music release strategy remains and will remain the same; two albums per year.  I mention this point because I believe the 100% commitment to music leads to better songwriting and greater musical expression.  This is not to criticize those attempting to break into the business, only that it is easy to get distracted when you are more concerned with earnings from your music at the expense of songwriting.  I have the means to record and produce new music for the next 10 years without earning $1 on sales.  I have the desire to create a great song and that’s my emphasis.  Now that I’m on my journey, I’m not looking back.  I’m immersed in the music and I hope that my songs will have a positive impact on my friends, fans and family.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Wallsten: We are promoting the ‘Volcano Burst’ album and working to build up a solid fan base.  For indie musicians, gaining more fans is a full-time task even with the expansive reach of social media.  Often the results are disappointing, even frustrating.  As most artists want to entertain millions of fans, finding your niche and steadily building your following requires far greater dedication than any other aspect of the industry!  This is one case in which “more is better” and that is why your songs must be the best you can physically, spiritually and mentally produce.  With that in mind, our next step is maximizing “Volcano Burst” popularity to entertain the most fans.  In the works, is the third Sigurd Wallsten release titled “Valley of Decision.”  This album is also an instrumental work will be released later this year.