Aaron Stoquert

es, there is a genre for zombie folk music. Aaron Stoquert takes us to a creepy realm of the living dead. If zombies had guitars this is what the music would sound like and I am a fan. Freakishly dope. Check out the 5 track release “Run For Your Life” available on his site and for download. - SMUT

With apologies to John Coulton, there really isn’t much work being done in the niche genre of rock music from the perspective of a zombie. Enter Aaron Stoquert, an NYC folk singer/songwriter whose five-track EP Run For Your Life does just that with great effect.

If you are into melodic, creepy, haunting tunes heralding the cold inevitable reality of cannibalistic demons posing as family members tearing apart society one limb at a time, press play immediately.

Head to Aaron’s site for the rest and we encourage you purchasing. - Weird Things

Fans may recall that Zombie Zone News‘s own Surfin’ Dead introduced our readers to Aaron Stoquert back in February. Since then, I have had the very great pleasure of persuading Aaron to discuss his EP, Run for your Life, with us. His is a new and innovative take on music for the undead. In fact, one might argue that it is music entirely from the zombie perspective. The album seeks to convey the stark sadness and hungry desperation of the zombpocalypse to come. Stoquert encourages introspection over mindless fear, knowledge over cowering in darkness, as he explores the eventual comfort of reluctant acceptance. The world is ending. Humanity is winding down. Why not relax with a drink and a couple of tunes?
These are songs for zombie fans, horror lovers, depressive, soul-searching admirers of the dark and dangerous world of the lowly zombie. In Run for Your Life you will find love songs; murder ballads; folksy, heart-felt crooning; and a genuine emotional connection with the undead.

WLF/ZZN: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions for us. Let’s start with a bit of background. Can you describe your introduction to zombies? What was your initial impression of the walking undead?

No problem, thanks for having me. I can’t recall the first time I was exposed to zombies as I’ve always been intrigued by the cultural aspects of Halloween and the Horror genre in general. After first seeing Night of the Living Dead I can remember thinking “this is could actually happen…I need to know more…”

The first impression I had of the walking undead was anchored by a deep curiosity. I wanted to know how and why they acted the way they did. I wasn’t necessarily frightened. Ok, maybe a little.

WLF/ZZN: I had the pleasure of listening to Run for your Life a few times recently. I was reminded of murder balladeers like Johnny Cash and Nick Cave. Do you consider your work to be in this subgenre?

I am honored—to the bone—being mentioned in the same sentence as Johnny Cash and Nick Cave. That being said, the murder ballad sub-genre is incredibly interesting so if my music falls within that I am entirely ok with it.

WLF/ZZN: Your album differs markedly from most zombie-related music. Typically, horror it is either loud, heavy music (Goblin, Return of the Living Dead sndt), or light comical tunes (Jonathan Colton, Voltaire). Can you reveal the origins of this innovation?

The idea to write the songs came out of a small frustration with the stereotypical representation of zombies in pop culture i.e. zombies eat brains, humans shoot zombies, humans make witty remark about shooting zombies. My songs are written with this in mind: Just because someone or some zombie cannot not verbally express how they feel doesn’t mean they can’t experience a range of emotions.
Eating flesh is a way–albeit grizzly– of communicating desires, frustration and love loss. I wanted to try and capture this with the entirety of the song, not just the lyrics, melody or the guitar riff. The whole feel of the E.P. needed to convey heartbreak and fear.

WLF/ZZN: Your album is described as a perspective of the undead and the world around them.. Sounds like zombie sympathizer talk to me! Can you confirm or deny your relationship with radical undead regimes?

I must admit, that I can’t admit anything. Although I will say the perspective of a zombie apocalypse–viewed tragically–is usually of the human. What is more tragic to me is enduring an apocalypse being a creature of limited expression and an insatiable, somewhat unexplainable desire for flesh.

WLF/ZZN: The track titled I’ll See You Again says “I don’t care what you look like tonight; I don’t care what you feel like tonight. I don’t care if we’re alive tonight.” Is this level of apathy typical to zombies? If so, how do you reconcile this with the productivity with which zombies take over the entire world?
I think apathy is more situational than pervasive. That song was written as a commentary on obsessive love and just how far someone will go to quench that —as Johnny Cash put it—burning desire. The questions asked throughout “I’ll See You Again” are: What happens if a human manages to make love to a zombie? What’s more insane loving someone until they turn zombie or continue loving them while they hunt others for flesh?

Some humans have fixation issues that are hard to shake.

WLF/ZZN: I’ll See You Again is also called “A non-denominational exploration.” What exactly do you mean by that?

That’s more the small print than the large; I’m not referring to any religion in particular when referencing “God” and “Death” I’d like to think I’m an equal opportunity songwriter.

WLF/ZZN: You are credited on this album as the writer and sole musician. Do you worry that not having band mates will affect your chances during the zombie apocalypse?
While the studio gave me safe haven, I certainly have three others who join me when out in public. You can never be too careful. Max Campanie, Krista Masino and Cody Campanie provided excellent protection from the undead and those still very much alive.

WLF/ZZN: Soft Skin is by far my favorite track. I wish it had been around when I got married. It’s a beautifully sad, undead love song. Was it written for someone in particular? If so, how much did they love it?

Thank you for your kind words. It wasn’t written for anyone in particular but if it were, I would hope they love it.

WLF/ZZN: Stories like Night of the Fiddling Dead and Pontypool have asserted that sound and language can have a profound impact on the undead. What is your stance on this issue? How should the average human use sound to their advantage in a survival situation?

When I first watched “Pontypool” I was blown away by its premise. So much so that saying a particular word in rapid succession still creeps me out a little.
I agree sound and language can be a powerful weapon. Think of the times when you were young and frightened. Simply hearing the sound of someone you love can have calming feeling wash over you. On the contrary, when someone can truly hurt your psyche by simply calling you names, they won’t physically harm you but their words had a big impact regardless.
But I must concede, sound and language would NOT be my first line of defense at the onset of the zombie apocalypse. I will be wielding a crowbar—crowbar, crowbar, crowbar…

WLF/ZZN: How do you think your insight into the zombie psyche will help humanity once the zombies arrive?

I would hope it helps to better understand the plight of the zombie. This of course—as others have pointed out—would not bode well while the undead are gnawing at your flesh…so my advice is to try to understand at distance, with your preferred implement of destruction.

WLF/ZZN: The track Bunker Hill samples a news broadcast from Night of the Living Dead. Any other Romero homage(s) we should be looking for?

That is the only one on the E.P. but Romero is a big influence for me in general. So I would feel comfortable saying it’s all one big homage to him.

WLF/ZZN: What do you do when you aren’t making music?

As a graduate student, I sell my soul.

WLF/ZZN: Can you talk a bit about Zombie Science 1Z?

Yeah, no problem. Zombie Science 1Z is a spoof lecture on the real science behind the undead. Featuring live demonstrations and an online exam certified by the Zombie Institute for Theoretical Studies (ZITS). I’ve been in contact with Dr. Austin and his staff for some time now. They are currently on a lecture tour throughout the UK and are featuring my music as their official theme. I urge all zombie fans to check out their website and look out for their upcoming book release titled “Zombie Science 1Z.”

If you are zombie fan in the UK go see them live! Or, check out their blog.
Working with Dr. Austin and especially Davey the Janitor has been a lot of fun. They certainly know their zombiology.
Just a word of caution, I was recently informed Davey likes to take his lawnmower indoors. So be on the lookout for a rogue zombie janitor barreling down an office hallway on a John Deer.

WLF/ZZN: What made you decide to use the “Name Your Price” option to sell Run For Your Life? Is there a suggested amount?

There is no suggested amount. I’m only putting 5 songs out with a total running time of 14mins or so, if I implemented a minimum price (i.e. 3 – 4 dollars) it would just put more of a focus on the monetary side of things and be kind of greedy at the same time.
Any money that is donated or made off the E.P. is put right back into the music development process. With the money listeners have donated so far, I was able to get a t-shirt designed. I am currently in the process of finding a distributor that won’t charge outrageous prices to those interested in buying. I would like to sell the shirts for $6, it’s just a matter of finding a way to do that efficiently
With that said, I plan to release a full length album in October with 10 or more songs. That will be put online for no more than $1.99. At that price it will help cover the cost of making the album and help to book more shows nationally. Listeners will still be able to hear the album in its entirety online. .

WLF/ZZN: Can fans see you play live? How can fans stay abreast of your musical goings-on?

Fans can certainly see me play live. I am always looking to book shows. I will play anywhere, anytime. If anyone is interested in collaborating on a show feel free to contact me.
As far as staying abreast of my musical goings-on—I just started a Twitter account (@aaronstoquert). Literally, during this interview, brand spanking new, 0 followers.

WLF/ZZN: Thanks again for speaking to us. Is there anything else you’d like to say to your legions of undead admirers—or perhaps your living admirers?

To listeners, and everyone I’ve collaborated with and continue to collaborate with on zombie related projects, band mates and Irish sound guys alike, from the bottom of my innards, I can’t say thank you enough. Here’s to more songs about zombies.

WLF/ZZN: Cheers, Aaron! - Zombie Zone News

Et enfin finissons en musique avec albume digital Run For Your Life qui parle .. ba de zombies en écoute ici : - Paris Zombie

A thoughtful change from the more typical zombie songs. - Zombierama

While your reading Can You Survive a Zombie Apocalypse?, or playing "Class 3," you can listen to Aaron Stoquert's Run for Your Life.

Aaron says it contains songs about zombies and the feelings they might have. A comforting thought as a decaying loved one nosh's on you, I'm sure. Maybe he should call it Emoting With Zombies During Dinner. - Zombo's Closet

Wish Eels or Beck would write songs from the zombie's perspective? Aaron Stoquert's free EP comes close. Worth a listen. http://goo.gl/DzIsg - Poet and Author Ryan Mecum

From musician Aaron Stoquert comes the haunting EP, Run For Your Life, featuring five acoustic songs sung from the perspective of the walking dead. The EP is available for download from Aaron's website, and we at NecroScope would urge you to visit, check out all the tracks, and think about purchasing a copy. - Necroscope

Aaron Stoquert is a musician looking to make a name as a singer/songwriter. A musician of understatement, some might say as they listen to his first EP, Run For Your Life.

While it seems Stoquert is referring to love and lose and the way things take their course in life, I can't help wondering if he's referring to a zombie apocalypse. I know the sample on the opening track, "Bunker Hill" might make it obvious, but I couldn't let myself think such a concept could be so well done, and with such a subtle delivery too.

The delivery is the focus here. Stoquert is a talented musician, technically proficient and creative to not just play the notes. This is really brought out in his voice. I hate to use a cliche term for it, but his voice is soaringly haunting. On each song, I feel transported to the desolate air of the South in the 1930's. He gives a sense of desperation without passion, as if you know everything is lost, and you would love to get it back, but you know the odds...so you won't do a thing. This is especially clear on the track "Pass Me By".

This being his first, I think we can only expect great things from Aaron Stoquert as time passes.

Where to find him:


the album is downloadable on BandCamp where you can name your price - Blogger PJ Hagerty

New York singer/songwriter Aaron Stoquert released his first EP this week, a five-song album written from a zombie’s perspective called Run For Your Life, and kindly reached out to Rue Morgue to share his news and his music. The sparse compositions – in which Aaron sings and plays acoustic and slide guitar, bass and percussion in a haunting, downtrodden folk style – are a little shaky in spots but there’s definitely a strange sadness inherent in these songs sung from the point of view of the helpless undead.

Check out “Pass Me By” below, and go here for more if it catches your ear (…or that gaping hearing hole where your fleshy lobe used to be). You can download the album for free but Aaron would surely appreciate a small donation so he can keep doing his thing. - Rue Morgue Magazine

Un album concept, par Aaron Stoquert, un jeune auteur-chanteur-compositeur américain, simplement intitulé Run For Your Life.

5 titres à propos de zombies et ce qu’ils doivent ressentir, joués à la guitare acoustique avec un son retravaillé façon vielle radio. De quoi aborder l’apocalypse en toute sérénité…

Si vous êtes amateur vous pouvez acheter l’album, au prix que vous voulez sur sa page BandCamp.com et pour écouter, le lecteur est juste en dessous (magie de l’Internet 2.0). - Tuezlestous

Songs about zombies and how they might feel. It's a perspective of the undead and the world around them.

Aaron Stoquert recently emailed be about an EP he made. I don't get to review much music here, so I was kind of excited and cautious in excepting the offer to review his. I've listened to a few indie horror musicians before, and most of them come off as being a little cheesy and over-the-top with their horror themed lyrics. Aaron's 'Run For Your Life' on the other hand was something completely different and refreshing. Instead of being filled with computerized keyboards and insanely cheesy lyrics, the five songs on this EP had lyrics that were about zombies of course, but could have been about a lot of other things if you were in the mood for them to be. I love songs with lyrics that can be interpreted differently by everyone. It's very hard to do and Aaron pulls it off with an artistic flare. Also, the songs were done to nice, simple folk rock music, which gave the songs an extra level of creepiness. Overall, this is a great indie EP not just for horror fans, but for fans of good indie music in general. You can download the EP by clicking HERE (Oh yeah, did I mention you can name your price!?!) - Dollar Bin Horror

Hello Zombiology Students,

Please excuse the dramatic headline on today’s blog. It is in fact the title of an EP by New York singer songwriter Aaron Stoquert. He contacted the Institute to let us hear his splendid collection of songs about zombies and the feelings they might have.

I was asked just last week after a lecture whether a zombie had feelings or not. Whilst the Zombieism condition does present a loss of human personality aspects in a patient it is ultimately impossible to know what is going on inside the mind of a zombie. They simply lack the ability to communicate that information to us.

Aaron Stoquert
So it is wonderful that Aaron has stepped in to creatively theorise about this aspect of the zombie and express his research using music. His 5 track album begins with the song ‘Bunker Hill’. The line ‘but your memories are always intact’ implies that deep within the zombie it remembers it was once a person. Whilst ‘Z’s never coming back’ sadly reflects on the present incurability of Zombieism.
CCTV Image of Davey during 'Mop-Gate'
Our favourite track, particularly with Davey the Janitor, is ‘I’ll see you again’. In fact Davey won’t go to sleep until he hears it. When his mp3 player ran out of batteries he took four students hostage at mop point. Unfortunately the Institute has a non-negotiation policy in regard to terrorism. But new students are enrolling every day.

‘I’ll see you again’ proposes a beautiful humanising theory about zombies. The second verse goes, 'cause I don't care, I don't care what you look like tonight. I don't care, I don't care, what you feel like tonight. I don't care, I don't care if we're alive tonight. Can you stay here throughout the night--be right next to me?’

Perhaps zombies do gather together in mutual loving support. Free from the constraints of shallow conceits like appearance. This track really does bring a tear to my eye every time. And although this fog’s up my glasses increasing my daily accident rate tenfold, Aaron can be forgiven for creating such a moving piece.

Who turned out the lights?
The sound of this album is reminiscent of musician Mark Oliver Everett the son of a Physicist I once knew named Hugh Everett. Run for your life truly is an excellent way to relax of an evening and contemplate the wonder of the zombie.

We are proud to announce that tracks from Run for your life will be featured during our lecture tour as the Official Theme Music of Zombie Science 1Z. Do listen out for them and make sure you get hold of a copy of Aaron’s album, available at: http://aaronstoquert.bandcamp.com/ - Zombie Science 1Z

A couple of hours ago, the Zombie Cat crew sent me an email regarding an EP about which they were wondering if I would write a review. I figured why not and gave the EP a listen.

The artist is a gentleman named Aaron Stoquert. His EP, “Run For Your Life.” is summarized on the site as, “Songs about zombies and how they might feel. It’s a perspective of the undead and the world around them.” Upon listening to the five-track EP, I am definitely interested in hearing more from this gentleman. This EP, however, may not be for everyone.

First of all, it’s folk rock. To be specific, it’s folk-rock that’s produced in such a way to feel like material crafted in the 60s or 70s. This isn’t a bad thing, in fact, there’s something to be said about an opening track like “Bunker Hill” that sends me to double check what year “Night of The Living Dead” (which the track samples) was released.

In sampling Romero, Stoquert manages to set the tone for the whole EP. There’s an ambience created that fits very well with the farmhouse setting of the film. He manages to maintain that feeling throughout the entire EP, which is definitely a plus.

Lyrically, the songs are somber, reflective, and at times haunting and pleasantly disturbing. There is almost, at times, a subtlety created by the accompanying guitar, a sense that there is nothing completely out of the ordinary from the perspective of the undead creature in the song. You never forget what it is that is being talked about, but you might forget who or what is talking.

I have to wonder as I hear him singing the lyrics just how much his vocals were altered in post. By this I mean if the post-production effects designed to give the tracks an old-time, antique feel took away from the strength of his vocals. It will be interesting to hear more from him to see.
The best part about this EP, for me, is the guitar. Aaron Stoquert is a good guitar player. He is good with all the “instrumentation” on the album but his guitar playing is what stands out the most. There is not a weak track musically on the thing. The strongest track is easily “Pass Me By,” but none of the tracks are particularly weak.

I definitely recommend this album. However, I do so with a few notes of caution. The first is, again, that this is a folk-rock album. It’s best classified with the style of artists such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Tom Waits. This is not to say that he is as good as the aforementioned Young, Dylan, and Waits, but it’s in the same style as their work. It’s not the kind of music you might think of as “typical horror music,” especially if your taste in horror movies only goes back to the late 80s. The second caution is that the EP is flawed. It’s great as a concept or novelty EP but outside of the concept there are clear weaknesses. I wouldn’t call it something that would go in regular rotation on my iPod, but I might pull it out for special occasions. Most of the tracks sound like they could have been with a movie that never quite got made.

It’s definitely worth taking a look at. Go over to http://aaronstoquert.bandcamp.com/ and you can decide for yourself. Listen to it online or download it. Although it’s a free download, they suggest a donation to the artist and I can’t argue with that. - Zombie Cat Productions

Perspective can be everything. Especially considering a genre such as the one we cover here, an interesting viewpoint can be a difference maker in quality.

Enter Aaron Stoquert. This musician has made an EP titled “Run For Your Life,” which is five songs that tackle – you guessed it – zombies. However, the theme comes with a twist. All of the tracks tackle the idea of how a zombie may be feeling in certain situations, running a gamut of situations.

Lyrically, this is quite inspired work. It’s obvious that a great deal of time and care was put into putting these songs together. Here’s an excerpt of a lyrical passage from the song “Bunker Hill,” which is the opening song:

The wind won't blow and the fire is out
Arms of the dead have no comfort to give
Rock-a-bye baby--stay in one place
The world is coming to an end...

The music itself is deeply rooted in folk, and is very somber in it’s approach. Heavily dominated by acoustic guitars, and soothing – yet haunting – vocals, this EP is full of emotion that portrays a wide array of strong feelings. It’s very downtrodden, thought-provoking and masterfully crafted.

As I’m sure most of you have heard, a good deal of songs involving zombies can be quite silly in nature. Which isn’t a bad thing – a great deal of these songs are a blast to listen to. The fact that there is something like this that takes an introspective look into what a zombie may be experiencing, however, is a road that hasn’t been traveled until now.

Music that is full of thought and intriguing ideas is always welcome to this writer’s ears. “Run For Your Life” is a perfect example of that. Mr. Stoquert has done a brilliant job with this EP, which is a fantastic showcase of his talents. It’s well-written and performed, interesting, and has an approach that is beyond refreshing.

Be sure to check this out, as it’s easily worth the time. You can listen to all of the songs online – as well as download the EP for free – via this link (http://aaronstoquert.bandcamp.com/). There is the option to make a monetary donation of your choosing when completing your download, and I highly recommend you do so. - Zombies & Toys

Artists can be a passionate bunch.

I definitely don’t mean that statement in a bad way, and please note that I mean the broad definition of the word “artist,” not just those who draw or design: writers, musicians, actors, sculptors, dancers, comedians, anyone who takes something of themselves and produces a performance of some type is most definitely an artist.

And why shouldn’t they be passionate about their work? As a writer myself, I feel the highest of highs and the lowest of lows when someone praises or pans my work, and like many (authors in particular), I lament the fact that my work doesn’t seem to reach as many people as I want it to (i.e., every literate man, woman, and child on the planet). However, out of all of these different types of creators, I usually find musicians to be the most passionate about their work.

Take, for example, Aaron Stoquert. He is the creator of the five-song EP (which FYI, stands for Extended Play – longer than a single song but shorter than a full-length album) entitled “Run for Your Life,” featuring all zombie-centric tunes. After giving his music in-depth repeated listenings for this review, I reached out to Aaron to see if he had any insight into his creative process that he wanted to share with me. His e-mailed response of a few hundred words demonstrated to me that he truly put quite a bit of thought and creative work into these songs, and this commitment to his craft definitely shows in his work.

“Run for Your Life” has a very unique feel to it; these are not songs written about a zombie apocalypse, but instead are songs written during the zompocalypse. They all have a very bleak feel to them, and were created using a very “minimalist” approach in regards to accompaniment. If Johnny Cash were to live through a zombie uprising, I’d imagine that he would make songs that sound similar to those that Stoquert has created here.

As I mentioned, this mini-album features five different tracks. The opener, “Bunker Hill,” is a short but mournful ode lamenting the drastic societal shift that seemingly goes hand in hand with the dead returning to life. “Soft Skin” comes next, and it’s written from a very intriguing angle: a mix of jumbled memories and half-remembrances of a human turned into one of the undead. “Pass Me By” is a stark admission of the current state of the zombie-infested world and how one needs to be pragmatic and practical in order to effectively survive; even with this presentation of a harsh reality, it’s surprisingly the most musically-upbeat song of the bunch. Perhaps the most difficult of the group to decipher, “Make it Clean” seems to be an admission of a survivor’s passive aggression towards the undead and their inability to simply stay deceased. The final track, “I’ll See You Again,” gives a voice to one of the strongest-yet-unspoken desires that most survivors hold: the need for another living person, regardless of who they are, to simply stay close and help fight the all-encompassing feeling of loneliness.

Now that we’ve dissected the EP a little, let’s allow the Score to wrap it up:

G: General Entertainment – Repeated listenings of the EP will truly allow the listener to appreciate the above-average level of quality music and storytelling that Stoquert has crafted here. While the “minimalist” approach to the sound of the disc may seem a little like a cop-out at first, once you can grasp the concept of the story being presented, the arrangement of the music makes a lot more sense. 8/10

O: Original Content – We’re going to go just slightly higher than average here, because we have two very different aspects of how this EP is either unique or not. The story being presented appears to be a very standard, run-of-the-mill zompocalypse, so there is obviously not a lot of opportunity to add any special elements into a “classic” story such as this. However, from a production standpoint, the telling of this tale through the musical milieu is a singular one, with only a handful of other zombie-centric albums known to this reviewer. So the score of this category is going to let these two diametrically-opposed elements meet in the middle. 6/10

R: Realism – The tale being told by the music is grounded fairly well in reality. The only real complaint I have is that the songs aren’t overly connected together via any kind of linear plot line, but this was most likely done on purpose, as it would be especially hard to tell a complete story in only five songs totaling 16 minutes worth of music. 7/10

E: Effects and Editing – As I mentioned above, the more I listened to the music, the more enamored I became with its sound; I believe that it really captures how living through a zombie apocalypse might feel. Stoquert’s lyrics are very entertaining as well: from the opening line of “If you don’t remember falling asleep / well, you haven’t landed yet” to brutally-honest moments where we’re reminded that “here, flames are just heat” and “love is something of value locked by the Devil’s key,” the words of these songs are just as impactful as the instrumental sounds. Extra kudos to Stoquert for including an important sound bite from the original “Night of the Living Dead” at the onset of the EP. 9/10

TOTAL SCORE: 7.5/10
VERDICT: SWEET

“Run for Your Life” is a very unique addition to any zombie lover’s collection. You can get the 5-song compilation at http://aaronstoquert.bandcamp.com/, and the best part is that you can donate whatever you’d like to help support Stoquert’s cause. The creator mentioned to me that he is currently working on a full length album with the hopes of an October release. If you do go download the music, please be generous and give something – as most of us “starving artists” know, every little bit helps!

And now, my friends, you know the Score! - The G.O.R.E. Score

While you are killing Nazi zombies on Call of Duty -Black Ops, why not listen to Run For Your Life. It’s the perfect music as you run out of ammunition and decaying Nazi zombies surround you.

Aaron Stoquert, a 24 year-old New York singer/songwriter, released his first EP on January 26, 2011. A five-song album – written from a zombie’s perspective – titled: Run For Your Life.

The funebrial lamentation of a mournful spirit pales in comparison to these obsessive, disconsolate lyrics. Aaron Stoquert’s haunting and dolorous voice leads you deeper into this splenetic ambiance.

I wanted to know more about the man behind the EP; so, I emailed Aaron with a few questions. Not only did he respond quickly; he also answered all of my questions!

Angelica: Would you mind telling me about your musical background?

Aaron: I have been around music my entire life. My father is a successful drummer in the upstate central New York region, because of this a drum set has never been far, my two little brothers also play music extensively so for me, music is almost innate. I started playing guitar at the age of 15 and throughout high school I was involved in a few different musical projects fulfilling different roles (singer, rhythm guitar player, bass player and even a little drumming). In college I played bass for John Carpenter until he relocated to the west coast. Most recently In addition to my solo music, I currently play bass for Brooklyn’s Jim Heffernan.

Angelica: What is it about music that you love the most?

Aaron: Figuring out the difference between creating music and creating art. One makes music when they whistle or clap their hands, which is fun and interesting in and of itself. But what I love the most is finding the point when expression and melody meet up and say “Hey, lets do this.”

Angelica: Do you write all of your songs?

Aaron: Yes, all music and lyrics are written by me.

Below are the five songs appearing on the EP. Aaron’s performances, at the Coffeehouse Series – February 10, 2011, appears on the YouTube channel: HofstraConcerts . A hyperlink is provided (if available) for each song title. “Flesh and Bone” and “Dog Days” do not appear on Run For Your Life.

Accompanying Aaron on the HofstraConcerts performances are: Max Campanie, Bass and Krista Masino, vocals/tambourine.1 Max and Krista do not appear on Run For Your Life, but they will be featured on an upcoming full-length version – tentatively scheduled for October 2011.

Bunker Hill:

“Arms of the Dead have no comfort to give,” Sad words, that ring with truth. The melancholy mood brings forth a vision of desolation – wrapped in the grey hues of a lost world.

Soft Skin :

The dying embers of a blazing romance. When you are dead to the one you love, it isn’t much different than the knife physically plunged through your heart.

Last Day:

The most anguished song on the album; plagued lyrics confess there is nothing more to give. An irrevocable path is laid out before you, ‘quick and painless’ your final request.

Pass Me By :

Both the lyrics and acoustical expressions, in “Pass Me By” break away from contemporary folk to a more
blues-like sound. It appears, Aaron allowed more self-expression with this piece – evident through the inflection of his voice.

I’ll See You Again :

The expression, “Love is blind” applies perfectly to this song. When our time comes to leave this world, nothing will matter but the heart. Material possessions, social status, and the flesh will all turn to ash. The poetic lyrics and emotional depth, make this song seem more personal and heartfelt than the other four songs.

Flesh and Bone

Dog Days

Those new and old – to the zombie genre – will enjoy Run For Your Life. Aaron’s work will be appreciated by those that love music, artists, musicians, and poets/writers (like myself). Personally, I anxiously await the upcoming full-version. - Buy Zombie

I’m pretty sure that Cannibal Corpse has outright lied to me for the last couple decades. They always professed that death metal was the official musical language of the undead, but now…I’m just not sure.

You see, Aaron Stoquert has reached out to the zombie community with his new EP Run For Your Life. He has taken the time to truly bond with his new revenant comrades, and you can really hear the anguish of the undying…through tender folk songs. And isn’t that what you’d expect from the hordes we’ve come to love? An acoustic guitar is certainly more portable for the zombie on the go…

To find out what goes on in a rotter’s brain (other than thinking up new disemboweling techniques), you can check out Run For Your Life in its entirety on Stoquert’s web site – and even buy it at a price of your choosing. He has created a stark musical landscape that reeks of loneliness and desperation…and hints of gnawing hunger. But even though you may learn to sympathize with their plight, I still wouldn’t recommend hugging the undead…no matter HOW damn poetic they may be.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to unlearn everything I’ve been told about death metal. I mean, are we expected to believe that a zombies could lug around Marshall stacks and drum risers? Man, I’ve been gullible… - Zombie Zone News