• First of all, I would love to welcome you to this interview. Thank you for joining us. First, I would like to know how your supergroup was formed at the start…and supergroup is the least I can say about such a wonderful lineup. 

I’m not sure I’d call Centersshift a Super Group, but I am blessed to play with amazing Musicians and Brothers. Stefan and I were in BLüPRNT in the early nineties, when LA had an amazing rock scene happening every night. On any random Tuesday, you could see Rage, Tool, our Brothers, and SNOT at Rajis, Club With No Name, or some random Coffee House.

Ryan and I were with Nova Entertainment. Shuvel and ONESIDE were managed by Nic Adler, Nova Ent. We had always talked about teaming up someday.

Ted, well, Ted and Bemus is a whole chapter in itself….. Let’s just say Bemus, ONESIDEZERO, Tour, welding trailer axles, Amstel Light, and flip phones!

• How does your vision for Centershift differ from that of Onesidezero, Shuvel, Bemus, or BLüPRNT?

I feel the vision has always been the same, honestly. 

I think now we bring a maturity in the music, not having the pressure on ourselves of, “we have to do this and that to get signed,” and keeping YOU in perspective brings an ease to the songwriting for me.

• I had a previous encounter with the band when I reviewed your track ‘Falling Into’ back in 2022, and I’ve been a fan ever since so it’s only fitting that I congratulate you now on the wonderful masterpiece that ‘Fire Within’ is. How did you get the inspiration for this song…and what’s the lyrical theme behind it?

Thank you, I appreciate your support!!!

Ryan came in with the Music outline for Fire Within, and we were all really moved by its deep undertone. We have a running inside thing when I get inspired by someone’s tune: “I got’s a melody for that!” usually in passing, hahaha.

When I had finished, or when I thought I had finished the Vocal for the Song, I didn’t feel I had my point in the Chorus yet, So Producer Jose Alcantar and I kept ripping it apart until Ted chimed in, “You should say poop” I knew then I had the Chorus.

• The production of this single is much more polished and balanced than ever. How did the recording and production process differ from previous releases, if I may ask?

It’s 100% the comfort of working in your own Studio, without the budget hanging over you or a shortage of time.

Oh, and being blessed to work with amazing producers is really all of them!

• I heard that you guys have been working non-stop at Blueprint Studios and Auspicious Recordings. How did these projects begin, and how do you envision their future?

I have always had a “give back” or “pay it forward” burn in me that I hoped one day I could put forth; with Ted having the same, the Blueprint Name was born.

From the Rehearsal studio Blueprint, there now is The Blueprint Sessions, a TV show about the Next Gen Musicians in the World, and the Non-Profit, The Blueprint Music Academy; this speaks for itself. (more to come with this!)

• It must have been hard to schedule making your own music as well as the studio and record label. How did you guys manage to keep up with all that work?

Writing and shows are the balance for the rest; without the creative, I don’t think I could be creative and put all of this in motion.

But when it comes down to it, knowing this is not about us but about doing for others keeps the drive strong.

• What, in your opinion, makes an Alt Rock record listenable and likable in 2024?

Most listeners nowadays probably don’t know what “alt” Rock is in Music, hahaha.

I try to get sucked down the rabbit hole with new music playlists all the time to, hopefully, get grabbed by a Song or Album, and I am happy to say there is a lot of great stuff out there in many Genres.

• We already had (multiple) listens to your awesome single, Fire Within, but that’s only because we get the VIP treatment, I guess…when can we expect you to go public with it?

Well, we’re getting some stuff squared away, but we should have updates soon. Thank you again for your Ears!

• Can we expect Centershift to collaborate with any other band or artist in the near future?

I would love to!!! 

I have always dug collabs and personally think they’re a super cool way for fans, etc., to see the comradery and what a Family the Big Show really is.

• Your sound is heavily influenced by other popular bands, but I’d like to know which artist(s) you consider to have had the most influence on it.

Hall and Oates

• Do you plan on touring soon, and if so, where can your fans expect you?

This is the best question; yes, but I have to iron out the wrinkles, so….. 

• Finally, thank you, guys, for giving us some valuable time and early access to your awesome single. I hope to catch you on tour one day and scream along to your energizing tracks. Cheers.

Thank YOU, Akram, from us in CENTERSHIFT, and xoxoxo from Ted.

Centershift kickstarted The Ride with a hooking melody in a classic alternative sound, before slowing things down with an atmospheric verse with deep groovy bass. It smoothly escalates, gaining momentum till reaching the catchy emotional chorus, as The Ride has a big progressing sound with a deeply emotional layer and hypnotizing ambient vibes that keep the listener hooked. It has a flowing structure that smoothly takes the listeners through its twists and turns, getting harder as it goes and keeping the energetic boost going without compromising its soft heart-hitting core. The vocal melody’s powerful progression is very interesting, it shifts and takes forms that even magnify the music’s energy and feel, giving it an extra edge and easily translating it. 

The Ride is another solid piece with a multi-layered sound and strong delivery by Centershift. It perfectly shows their detailed writing and catchy flow, reflecting seasoned writing skills and deep influences. Looking forward to more from Centershift, keep on rocking. Cheers!

Falling Into opens with a super energetic and extremely melodic riff that instantly gets you into it. Keeping up with the song’s melodic sound comes the verse, with a warm vocal melody and on-point harmonies that carries the listener slowly to a catchy hooking chorus that slips into the back of your mind and will stay there for a while. Centershif’s solid melodic writing created a unified flow of unstoppable streaming melodies, all this was successfully provided within an engaging dynamic structure that kept on pushing the song into a bigger and catchier sound as it progresses. 

Centershift is one of those bands that acts and sounds like an unbreakable, unstoppable unit. Their chemistry appears clearly in their sound and energy, and that was strongly reflected on Falling Into’s writing and arrangement. It shows those guys dedication and well knowledge of their sound, as well as their strong writing skills and good command of their instruments. I’m always looking forward to more from Centershift, keep on rocking guys. Cheers!

Check out Centershift previous features here

Centershift’s “From Where We Are“ starts with a big hard-hitting sound that dragged me into its mood right away. Right after that massive intro, they smoothly shift into a warm soothing verse with a lovely groove and dreamy subtle guitar melodies carrying us to a kick-ass catchy chorus that turns out to be the song’s powerful and extremely melodic intro. I loved how the vocal melody played a major role in driving the song’s dynamics and progression alongside the rest of the instruments, and the way Centershift carefully steered the song’s structure to serve its energetic dynamic shifts was amazing. Their choice in making this video a live-action one with the band playing helped show their energy and made me wanna go see ‘em live, awesome call from Centershift .

“From Where We Are” is an energetic rocking tune by Centershit with an amazing flow and great dynamics, its catchy melodies, open sound, and engaging riffs got me hooked once I hit play and made me play it over and over even after I already took my notes for this review. I’m totally recommending this to everyone I know, and I suggest you do the same. Looking forward to more from Centershit, cheers, and keep on rocking guys!

Centershift is a powerhouse. Fronted by Jason Radford, of Onesidezero fame, on vocals and guitar, he is a frontman with sensational abilities. Armed with a clear and strong voice and a versed hand on the rhythm guitar, he manages to make every song relatable and grounded with his rich and accessible singing, while retaining a very huge presence through the massive riffs they deliver. ‘Of…’ is the second of three recorded releases that will see the light of day during a 12 month period. Produced by Jim Wirt who worked with Incubus and Hoobastank, the sound is lush with calculated reverb and bone crushing drums, the guitars are overdriven to perfection and the bass is warm and embracing, leaving nothing to note against the speckless sound.

Where this release truly shines though, apart from the individual talents of the bandmates and the fantastic Mr. Wirt on production duty, is in the songwriting. The songs are all sublimely written and thought through pieces of tasteful rock music, with minimal excess or electronic wizardry, the songs manage to stay rich and detailed largely using the natural sounds of the instruments and the well-written riffs, guitar and bass lines, and drums. ‘And So’, the starter is manic and driving. Featuring an absolute juggernaut of a drumline, courtesy of Stefan Storace. The drumming on this song alone is worthy of drawing a comparison between Storace and the finest of the drummers that we have ever heard. A little over 2 minutes of immaculate, groovy, fun, and crazed drumming along with a delicious guitar riff that’s equally skeletal and exciting. ‘From Where We Are’ sees the band soar even higher. The main single is moody and mystical, With a brooding chord progression and a guitar riff that’s a perfect fit. The verses feature Radford’s warmest vocal delivery on top of a spacious backdrop of heavenly, reverb-full atmospheres while the chorus feature one of the catchiest and most creative riffs that I’ve heard a guitar play since I heard Radiohead’s ‘There, There’ years ago. ‘Falling Into’ is nice nu-metal. The band can easily trace back their roots to the late 90s nu-metal craze, and it’s on ‘Falling Into’ that we see this influence clearest, in the quick and cleaner-than-expected guitar riffs and tones. The lyrics can fall a bit to the background underneath all this heavyweight musical shootout, but make no mistake, the songs tell a continuous story that will continue on all three EPs.

‘Arise’ sees the band channeling Muse at their earliest days, and their rawest stages. Something keeps telling me that this album, as a whole, might be very close to what the fans of early 00s Muse have been waiting for the better part of a decade now. The composition is grand and the riffs are adventurous. A gentler mid-section features a beautiful solo that’s played, primarily, using guitar harmonics, which sound devastatingly beautiful. ‘What If’ is a gorgeous closure. Again, the mystical chord progression, the duality of heavy and light, loud and quiet, are used to such a great effect and with such smooth incorporation that the song ends up sounding untouched, organic and raw. A clear-as-day sign of epic vision and songwriting talents.

A true class act of a band. Experienced, motivated, active and creative. I can’t wait to listen to the remainder of what they have to release if it’s going to be as sublime as this release.

Centershift

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