ISSA

SATURDAY, JULY 05, 2008
Interview with Issa Koberstein
Heavy Metal Time Machine
By Metal Mark


Guitarist/Vocalist Issa Koberstein has a fairly new band called ISSA.
I recently got to interview him to find out more.

MM-Tell us a little about the history of your band?
Issa-This is a band I formed after my trip to Arkansas in January of this year, where I recorded with Grammy winning musicians, John LeCompt and Rocky Gray of Evanescence, and Phil Taylor of Future Leaders Of The World. I had a clear idea of what I wanted for this band and who to get for the project, so I asked them and off we go. We are a heavy melodic metal band and we are all convinced that this is the project we have all been working for our whole lives. It's magic when we work together! We are a five piece band. I play Lead Guitar and Vocals, Jayson Breeton on bass, Kevin Wayne lead vocals, and Dwayne Taylor on drums and Greg Gleeson also on guitar. We do a lot of vocal harmonizing along with very dynamic songs and try to be as professional as possible at all times. We are all very serious hardworking musicians who also know how to keep it fun, we love it!

MM-What were some of the first albums you really got into?
Issa-Some of the first bands I got into were Pink Floyd “The Wall” & “Dark Side Of The Moon", “Jimi Hendrix Experienced”, all of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Black Sabbath, “Masters of Reality” and “Paranoid”, all the Led Zeppelin's albums and many more. I later ventured into more heavy things like Metallica, “Ride the Lighting”, “Master of Puppets” and “Kill Em All”, Megadeth all albums, Testament, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Alice in Chains (all) and Pantera. I am still heavily influenced by all of them.
MM-You recently got to travel to Arkansas and record with John LeCompt and Rocky Gray (former members of Evanescence) and Phil Taylor from F.L.O.W. How did this opportunity come about and what was the experience like? Was everything written before you went there or did you go there and figure things out?
Issa-Yes! This trip to Arkansas was one of the most inspiring things I have ever done, I am very grateful! It all started when a band called Machina came through town and played at the Samurai Duck here in Eugene. I had heard that some of the band members were from Evanescence (John LeCompt and Rocky Gray) and Future Leaders Of The World (Phil Taylor)I got a chance to meet them. I loved their music and was very inspired by their professionalism. Anyway, a couple months went by and then I contacted them about an ad they had posted for collaboration and recording. I was stoked when they said fly on out to Arkansas and record some of my original songs and collaborate on a song together. I knew that John LeCompt and Rocky Gray were both Grammy winners so needles to say, I flew out and stayed for a week at John LeCompt's house where he and his family made me feel right at home. We worked around the clock on these four songs starting the very day I got there. "Triton", "Reign", "Smokey Belly", "Dogwind". Reign is the song we all collaborated on, and “Triton”, “Smokey Belly”, and “Dogwind” are my originals that I brought with me. “Triton” is a song I wrote on the acoustic guitar about 4 years ago. “Smokey Belly” I wrote most of it a few years ago but finished it in Arkansas, I actually wrote the lyrics for it with the help of Phil Taylor at John's house. “Dogwind” is a song me and my friend Bob Kessler wrote together a few years ago. The whole time I was down there it felt like a dream, it was pure magic working with these guys! They inspired me so much and what made it even more surreal is that they said I inspired them! It was great being so close to where I grew up in Summertown, Tennessee.


MM-Your current project just started early this year I believe. How did this come about? How did you find the other bands members?
Issa-Yes, I formed this band within 2 weeks of getting back from Arkansas.
I knew I had a rare opportunity being on this EP, so this was the perfect time to finally get this original project off the ground. While I was down there I already had an idea of who I was going to ask to join the band, they are all people I have worked with in the past. They are all dedicated and seasoned musicians.

MM-How is your current band different from other projects you have been in before?
Issa-This current band is very different from my other bands because we focus on original material where as some of the other bands did a lot of cover tunes. It is also heavier than the others and we pay more attention to detail. I have a very diverse taste for music. I have been in blues bands, reggae bands, jam bands, metal bands. I love music! If it's good it's good.
I was a guitar player for hire for quite awhile also, and I still play with blues legend, Eagle Park Slim.

MM-What is the music scene like in Eugene, Oregon? Are there any great unsigned bands that we should know about?
Issa-Well, the music scene here - Heavy Metal Time Machine

SATURDAY, JULY 05, 2008
Interview with Issa Koberstein
Heavy Metal Time Machine
By Metal Mark


Guitarist/Vocalist Issa Koberstein has a fairly new band called ISSA.
I recently got to interview him to find out more.

MM-Tell us a little about the history of your band?
Issa-This is a band I formed after my trip to Arkansas in January of this year, where I recorded with Grammy winning musicians, John LeCompt and Rocky Gray of Evanescence, and Phil Taylor of Future Leaders Of The World. I had a clear idea of what I wanted for this band and who to get for the project, so I asked them and off we go. We are a heavy melodic metal band and we are all convinced that this is the project we have all been working for our whole lives. It's magic when we work together! We are a five piece band. I play Lead Guitar and Vocals, Jayson Breeton on bass, Kevin Wayne lead vocals, and Dwayne Taylor on drums and Greg Gleeson also on guitar. We do a lot of vocal harmonizing along with very dynamic songs and try to be as professional as possible at all times. We are all very serious hardworking musicians who also know how to keep it fun, we love it!

MM-What were some of the first albums you really got into?
Issa-Some of the first bands I got into were Pink Floyd “The Wall” & “Dark Side Of The Moon", “Jimi Hendrix Experienced”, all of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Black Sabbath, “Masters of Reality” and “Paranoid”, all the Led Zeppelin's albums and many more. I later ventured into more heavy things like Metallica, “Ride the Lighting”, “Master of Puppets” and “Kill Em All”, Megadeth all albums, Testament, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Alice in Chains (all) and Pantera. I am still heavily influenced by all of them.
MM-You recently got to travel to Arkansas and record with John LeCompt and Rocky Gray (former members of Evanescence) and Phil Taylor from F.L.O.W. How did this opportunity come about and what was the experience like? Was everything written before you went there or did you go there and figure things out?
Issa-Yes! This trip to Arkansas was one of the most inspiring things I have ever done, I am very grateful! It all started when a band called Machina came through town and played at the Samurai Duck here in Eugene. I had heard that some of the band members were from Evanescence (John LeCompt and Rocky Gray) and Future Leaders Of The World (Phil Taylor)I got a chance to meet them. I loved their music and was very inspired by their professionalism. Anyway, a couple months went by and then I contacted them about an ad they had posted for collaboration and recording. I was stoked when they said fly on out to Arkansas and record some of my original songs and collaborate on a song together. I knew that John LeCompt and Rocky Gray were both Grammy winners so needles to say, I flew out and stayed for a week at John LeCompt's house where he and his family made me feel right at home. We worked around the clock on these four songs starting the very day I got there. "Triton", "Reign", "Smokey Belly", "Dogwind". Reign is the song we all collaborated on, and “Triton”, “Smokey Belly”, and “Dogwind” are my originals that I brought with me. “Triton” is a song I wrote on the acoustic guitar about 4 years ago. “Smokey Belly” I wrote most of it a few years ago but finished it in Arkansas, I actually wrote the lyrics for it with the help of Phil Taylor at John's house. “Dogwind” is a song me and my friend Bob Kessler wrote together a few years ago. The whole time I was down there it felt like a dream, it was pure magic working with these guys! They inspired me so much and what made it even more surreal is that they said I inspired them! It was great being so close to where I grew up in Summertown, Tennessee.


MM-Your current project just started early this year I believe. How did this come about? How did you find the other bands members?
Issa-Yes, I formed this band within 2 weeks of getting back from Arkansas.
I knew I had a rare opportunity being on this EP, so this was the perfect time to finally get this original project off the ground. While I was down there I already had an idea of who I was going to ask to join the band, they are all people I have worked with in the past. They are all dedicated and seasoned musicians.

MM-How is your current band different from other projects you have been in before?
Issa-This current band is very different from my other bands because we focus on original material where as some of the other bands did a lot of cover tunes. It is also heavier than the others and we pay more attention to detail. I have a very diverse taste for music. I have been in blues bands, reggae bands, jam bands, metal bands. I love music! If it's good it's good.
I was a guitar player for hire for quite awhile also, and I still play with blues legend, Eagle Park Slim.

MM-What is the music scene like in Eugene, Oregon? Are there any great unsigned bands that we should know about?
Issa-Well, the music scene here - Heavy Metal Time Machine