6 Speed Supernova, the California-based hard rock quartet comprising Marie Gutierrez on vocals, David Ballon on guitar, Joan Torres on bass and backing vocals, and José Linares on drums, has forged a singular cosmic sound by weaving modern hard rock, alternative, jazz, and progressive elements with the spirit of 1960s and 1970s classic rock. Following the critically acclaimed 2022 album Galactic Boogaloo—which earned a “Best of the Year” placement from Classic Rock Magazine and led to an opening slot for Steve Adler of Guns N’ Roses—the band emerged from the pandemic’s reflective silence with renewed creative vigor. Their latest self-produced single, Starfire, released March 16 via 6SS Productions, channels frenetic riffs, commanding vocals, and groove-soaked rhythms into an empowering galactic voyage. In the exchange below, the band discusses the evolution of their interconnected ethos, the inspiration behind this new chapter, and the horizon of upcoming releases.
- After the pandemic halted your 2019 momentum and prompted deep reflection during the creation of Galactic Boogaloo, what internal realizations about your role as a refuge for outcasts and misfits ultimately reignited the band’s drive to chase the next groove?
Well, the pandemic was a global event that impacted all of us. It was a time filled with uncertainty, but it was also a time that demonstrated just just how interconnected we all are. Perhaps this led each of us to reevaluate what we found meaningful. While we started Galactic Boogaloo prior to that, our desire to finish it was fueled by a need to bring people something that could unite us, something that we could talk about and enjoy as a community. However, during that time we all experienced some changes. Our needs and wants impacted our musical expression, and that’s where this new string of songs comes along. Galactic Boogaloo was perhaps a snapshot of a time where more excitement and celebration fueled the music, whereas Starfire, Lonely Godzilla, and Begin Again were fueled by a need to hold each up so that we can rebuild with synergy and continue inspire each other to do the same.
- The single Starfire draws listeners into the furthest reaches of the universal mind through its electrified riffage and tight rhythms. How did the collective songwriting process transform personal contemplations on isolation and humanity into this expansive, mind-expanding sonic landscape?
As a band we always strive to serve the song in a way that feels natural and hits us the right places. There are always some early iterations where we don’t quite know the song just yet, but as we keep playing it, recording ourselves (even if just with our phones) and listen back to the output, we begin to understand more what it is that we mean to say with each song. This in turn helps inform our next iteration of the song. Perhaps we extend verses, choruses, or shorten them. We tend to be fairly open to trying things out and then discussing how we feel about it. Thankfully because of all the years we have worked together, and the love we put into our craft, it has almost become second nature for us to respond to a musical seed with the right amount of nutrients to help it grow into full-fledged song that we feel ready to share with the world.
- Your sound has always fused jazz and progressive influences with classic rock swagger. In what specific ways did the recording sessions for Starfire allow you to push those boundaries further while preserving the raw, groove-driven energy that defines 6 Speed Supernova?
A key area where we grew during these years was on improving our workflow for recording high quality demos week to week, month to month. We recorded a lot of these parts multiple times at home, or at our rehearsal studio. This allowed us to virtually be “in the studio” for months before we actually physically went to a recording studio to make the release-ready versions of the songs. We were able to push ideas in one direction, given them a listen, and then fine-tune as needed to get them to where they truly fit and served the songs. This workflow also made it easier for us to communicate with José Linares the drummer who collaborated with us all the way in Puerto Rico to lay down those heavy beats for our songs.
- With “Lonely Godzilla” scheduled for May 4 and “Begin Again” for June 1, these sequential releases appear to signal a deliberate new era. What narrative or sonic arc connects the three tracks, and how do they collectively represent your “Renaissance” following global turmoil?
We certainly feel like it’s a new era. We more deliberately worked on cementing our storytelling and almost theatrical approach to our music while working through these songs and the narrative arc pretty much revealed itself naturally. We didn’t want to take the songs where they didn’t want to go to fit a story so we were fortunate when it all lined up the way it did.
Pre-order “Starfire” on Bandcamp.
The story itself feels like it’s one about rebirth. In fact, we debated started with Begin Again because of how strongly that topic feels for this era of 6 Speed Supernova. One that’s about accepting the past, lighting a flame in your creative engine, and rebuilding the things that we love and make us feel whole. In that sense it made more sense musically and story-wise to start with “Starfire“. That songs sets the stage for us facing our fears and standing up for ourselves, our dreams and visions. “Lonely Godzilla” explores more how that path can be a long and isolating one filled with doubt and misunderstandings from others. When it really comes down to it, we are artists who long to be creative. Those emotions might delay us, but we were always going to “Begin Again.”
This arc represents our shared concerns that with so many terrible things going on with the world, why would people care about art? when would they even have time for it? We know one simple thing. We care about art, not just ours, but those from our favorite artists. We know their art helps us deal with adversity and we figure we could do the same for ourselves and others.
- The band’s ethos emphasizes providing an oasis for those who feel invisible. How do you envision the themes in Starfire and the forthcoming tracks resonating with audiences in live settings, particularly as venues reopen and communities seek connection once more?
I think we envision Starfire becoming anthemic. This is the kind of song with a big chorus that a large crowd could sing in unison and feel connected to its lyrics. Then again, even if you don’t feel comfortable doing that and you prefer to air-drum or air-guitar the parts, there’s probably something in there for you to let lose and join in on the fun. There’s something freeing about being at a concert and feeling yourself wanting to mime a part of the song you find iconic and realizing some of people around are doing the exact same thing. It’s not weird. It’s encouraged! There’s no need to feel self-conscious. We are all here to enjoy ourselves however we want! The upcoming songs have many of those same qualities, but touching on different layers and different moods.
- Looking beyond these initial 2026 releases, what larger projects or collaborative explorations are you developing-whether a full album, expanded touring, or new sonic territories-to continue serving as a voice in the silence and a light in times of apathy?
We may or may not have a full narrative for a concept album that may or may not include these releases. We’ll just have to wait and see. That might feel like a tease, but we do also want to be genuine with these choices and not do it because we committed to it even though it might not feel right anymore. We do hope these release will help us find new audiences that we can go perform for in cities we haven’t been to. We know there are people out there who don’t yet know they’d love to see us live.
Come what may, as bandmembers we continue being part of each other’s support group. A lot of our song ideas have come from “obscure sorrows” that we shared with each other unaware that it was a common issue we shared, but perhaps had no name or word for. For example, the feeling of being in the middle of a great meal, dinner party, movie, song, book and realizing that you’re really enjoying it all the while being well-aware that it’ll end. What do we even call that feeling? It’s a very human experience, but not one we seem to like acknowledging very often. We constantly dive deeper into those kinds of sorrows in order to create a score of what this emotion could be and gain more empathy, understanding, and mental wellbeing in the process. We believe music is able to do that, and what better vehicle than heavily-infused Jazzy-Prog Rock music that falls from the cosmos as if ignited by a supernova of the collective unconscious? That is how we serve each other in our band microcosm and by doing so serve all of those who feel similarly but don’t have the outlet we do.
