The final episode of season 2 for The Soundcheck's podcast Behind The Soundcheck is proof that sometimes in life it’s worth shooting your shot. For Schuylar Croom, vocalist and bewitching frontman for North Carolina rockers He Is Legend, a timely shot occurred when he tweeted his way onto the last ever Soundwave here in Australia in 2015, resulting in him rubbing shoulders with and featured alongside Faith No More, Soundgarden and an insane array of others many years ago. For Behind The Soundcheck host Tiana Speter, she shot her shot reaching out to Schuylar himself out of the blue through a fortuitous series of events to ask him to come on this very podcast - and, as this episode proves, it paid off. But there’s more than just blind luck and timely tweets to the He Is Legend success story; a band who can trace their origins back to high school in the 90s to becoming one of the most beloved bands in the heavier realms, there is undeniably no one quite like He Is Legend, from their bewitching brand of melodics to their sonic tenacity amongst raw and viscously grittier textures.
Like a possessed nursery rhyme that swaggers, dazzles and blisters with jaw-dropping dexterity, one visit with He Is Legend is all it takes to fall head over heels into the rabbit hole with one of the undeniable modern greats - and, because 2022 is the gift that keeps on giving, the band are currently now armed and ready to release a seventh studio album, with Endless Hallway officially due out this Friday the 11th of November.
Initially releasing two tantalising singles in the form of LIFELESS LEMONADE and THE PROWLER, it’s clear that 2022 is He Is Legend at their boldest and most bodacious yet, which is genuinely saying something after the ballistic success of their 2019 album White Bat and previous releases. In true He Is Legend Fashion, leveling up the ferocity with each new release, Endless Hallway is set to be a boundless and gripping journey through glamorously dirty rock amongst many other genre flavours, and while speaking to Schuylar just before the band dropped another pair of singles, SOUR and HONEY FROM THE HIVE, it’s clear that the true secrets behind the band’s versatility and otherworldly abilities stem from a firm DIY ethic, infectious passion and a genuine humility surrounding their inescapable popularity. Chatting everything from tweeting his way to Australia, to conjuring the new album amongst global and personal hurdles, memorable album artwork and matchbooks - join host Tiana Speter with the incomparable Schuylar Croom from He Is Legend for this very special episode.
IN THIS EPISODE:
The welcome craziness currently happening for He Is Legend, and dream plans to return down under in 2023.
The moment the plug was pulled for He Is Legend during the pandemic coming off the back of White Bat's momentum and success.
The surreal return to touring, gratitude, planning new shows, and the drastic hurdles the pandemic posed to He Is Legend, as well as musicians and the world at large.
Schuylar shares the exact moment he stepped back onstage post-COVID to perform onstage alongside health struggles and barrels of emotion.
Schuylar's love for Australia, He Is Legend's current MO and their adoration for the HIL global community in the brave new world post-pandemic.
Relishing once again having new music out in the world and seeing people's reactions to the new material.
Endless Hallway's spiritual yet contrasting connection to Suck Out The Poison, and the origin of the album's heavy playfulness.
Schuylar's lyrical inspiration, the origin stories behind multiple He Is Legend album artworks, and ultimately deciding the title for Endless Hallway.
Schuylar's love for hand-written lyrics, and some special surprises in store for the He Is Legend physical copies.
He Is Legend as a self-managed, self-contained DIY band, Schuylar's life as a self-professed "song and dance man", and the magic relationship behind the band.
The He Is Legend high school origin story, from meeting to making DIY posters, being "shithead" young punks living the rock'n'roll lifestyle to meeting some genre heavyweights and the pivotal moments that led to their ongoing success story.
Schuylar's visceral standout live music moment that fittingly links to Australia; from a well-timed tweet to coming offstage to witness Chris Cornell mid-song performing Black Hole Sun.
Schuylar shares his current matchbook collection, as well as the reasoning behind his love for these story-rich trinkets (AND! We're getting He Is Legend matchbooks for Endless Hallway).
CATCH SCHUYLAR ON THE FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON 2 OF BEHIND THE SOUNDCHECK BELOW, ON SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCASTS - OR CHECK IT OUT WHEREVER YOU USUALLY GET YOUR PODCASTS FROM.
BEHIND THE SOUNDCHECK
HOST & PRODUCER: Tiana Speter
GUEST: Schuylar Croom (He Is Legend)
THEME SONG: Hall Of Shame by Osaka Punch
HE IS LEGEND'S NEW ALBUM ENDLESS HALLWAY IS OUT FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER VIA SPINEFARM.
FOR MORE INFO HEAD HERE.
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BY TIANA SPETER