San Diego-based alt-rock outfit Sluka recently released their new single/music video, “Sunset Screamer,” which already has amassed more than one million views on YouTube. The track is from Sluka’s upcoming album, Cautionary Yell.
Sluka is fronted by Christopher Sluka, who sings, writes songs, plays multiple instruments, owns a label, and is a pilot. Sluka’s music is big in Japan and Europe.
Christopher Sluka was always musically inclined. He remembers his first instrument as a trombone, but on his eighth birthday, his parents gave him a guitar. They were living in Germany at the time, and someone showed him how to play a few chords. Learning to make harmonies quickly became his favorite thing to do. And while he claims not to be an expert musician, Sluka can hold his very own on the piano, drums, bass, French horn, percussion, trumpet, and of course, the guitar. He oozes talent.
One thing led to another, and in 2021, Sluka released their 13th studio album, Figure it Out. While Christopher covers guitar, keyboards, and vocals, he’s joined by bassist Anna Eppink as he was on their 2019 release, Ready to Connect.
Christopher shares, “Anna has a very unique style. She comes up with bass parts I never would have thought of. She also has many ideas visually for our videos and our live show. And she influences me greatly through our endless discussions of life on this planet.”
Tattoo.com spoke with Christopher Sluka to discover the inspiration for “Sunset Screamer,” the best show he ever played, and the highlight of his career.
How would you describe your own music?
It fits into the Progressive Alt Rock category, mainly because it doesn’t really fit into any of the other categories but often incorporates aspects of every one of them. It is very song-oriented, in that we try to uncover what the song requires in order for it to resonate with the listener.
Tell us more about “Sunset Screamer.” Walk us through your mindset as you recorded.
Well, the main idea is that we as a society used to dismiss and ignore people who would angrily rant and rage at various things… like a sunset. Nowadays people who yell the loudest and rant their ravings are elevated to positions of power and influence. And ‘sunset’ was also chosen as symbolic of ‘the end of daylight,’ a metaphor for where we may be heading.
“Sunset Screamer” is from your upcoming album, Cautionary Yell. What can you share about the album?
It’s taking what we did on the previous album ‘Figure It Out’ and pushing even further with expressing and reflecting on our species and our relationship to other species, the environment, and how we make sense of living our lives on this planet.
With “Sunset Screamer,” what was your main focus? What did you really want to try and achieve with this record?
Although I explained earlier about how there was a time when an old white guy ranting and whining was ignored and dismissed as a lunatic, now it seems the more outrageous, angry, and loud people like the orange jesus becomes… the more they are worshipped by their cultlike followers. And it inspires more of these charlatans, con artists, and ignorant uneducated bullies to do the same…. And yet… we also wanted to create a song that is fun, grooves and gives you a respite from all that chaotic non sequitur-laced insanity.
What was the best show you’ve ever played?
When on tour in eastern Europe, we were booked into a biker bar. The musicians in the band were terrified. One of them said we were going to be eaten alive. I remember saying that all we can do is what we do best, that confidence is attractive. As we walked out on stage there was a deafening silence. But then we won them over with what we do best. It’s always great to have a supportive audience that is already familiar with your music. But it is even better when you win over an unfamiliar, even somewhat hostile audience. That didn’t need to like our music. There is a lot of popular music out there that I don’t like. But I very much respected this particular audience for keeping an open mind and giving us a chance.
Now, I do want to ask as well, what’s been the highlight of your career so far? Maybe touring or who you’ve played with, something that’s really stood out.
I’ve met a lot of well-known musicians and others in the industry and learned a lot. The most common and effective advice I’ve received is that, although we always hope to entertain and engage an audience, we can only make music that we find authentic and emotional for ourselves. It is hopeless to try and please others. And another challenging aspect of the music business is that, although publicity is necessary to let others know you have new music… fame sucks. Music and the other arts can be profound and seriously move us, emotionally and intellectually, and provide valuable sustenance to our lives. But while some people equate fame as powerful and important, it is really just fleeting silly drivel.
In my for what it’s worth opinion, much of contemporary music doesn’t follow the traditional song structure: intro, verse — chorus — verse — chorus —bridge — chorus — outro. Yet your songs do follow a more traditional structure. How do you explain that? Is that the way you were taught, or did it just come naturally?
I never sit down and write songs in the conventional sense. They usually pop into my head while I’m doing something else. I’m a distance runner, and sometimes while out on a long run a song enters my head, usually at the tempo of my running pace, and it plays over and over, complete with the melody, lyrics, and even the arrangement of the instruments. So, without thinking about song structure and what are the chords or keys, the song is complete and on repeat. And then when I get back to my home studio, I begin the process of learning to play those parts, sometimes on instruments I never played before… which can be a challenge. Then when I have a demo, I present it to the other musicians and Alan Sanderson, who has recorded and produced our last three albums at his Pacific Beat Studio here in San Diego… And then we all get to take it to the next level.
Which do you enjoy the most: writing, recording, practicing, or playing live?
I know it’s evading, but I really do like them all. They are equal and imperative parts of the process of being a musician. And they are all very satisfying and rewarding when everything comes together.
Knowing what you know now, if you could go back and start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve been fortunate enough to make a living as a musician… doing what I love and what comes naturally to me.
What’s next for you?
The next thing that pops into my head. Thank you for taking an interest in this music. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.
