Authority Zero – Persona Non Grata

By starrymag | February 26, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound? 

Jason: An eclectic mix of Rock and Punk Rock mixed with varieties of reggae tone influence and ska.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences? 

Jason: Everything under the moon. Good music from punk to country. Anything that is enjoyable and has a solid message.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Ah Hell.”

Jason: The idea stemmed from when I was about eleven years old. There was a big dirt lot where I used to live in Wyoming and within that was a long hill with a large jump where we would all ride BMX bikes. On one occasion there was a little kid being pressured into making the jump though inexperienced. He went ahead and did it and ended up unexpectedly doing a double backflip and landed on his face shattering his teeth and bone structure. He was bullied and I saw that very clearly to where he could have not made it. The song is very open to each individuals concept, but that’s where the initial idea stemmed from.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

Jason: Hopefully the idea of self-strength and ambition to do you and be yourself.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it? 

Jason: Our good friend Elisabeth played the main roll in the video. Conceptually it’s based on insecurity, lack of confidence and inspiration. Trying to find yourself, creativity, and expression within while facing your demons.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? 

Jason: It all comes pretty naturally. Typically, a melody in the head, straight to the guitar to help it come to life and then a melody.

 

Q) Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

Jason: They both seem to come at different times. Lyrics first some days and music first the others.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music? 

Jason: Quite a lot. We’re all very hands on and help shape the sound and ideas of each album along with the producer.

 

Q) Persona Non Grata is your first studio self-release in seventeen years. What made now the right time to return with new music?

Jason: We’re always coming up with new songs and ideas and rather than just sitting on them we like to shoot them out and express what’s going on at the time to move forward onto the next chapter.

 

Q) What songs off your Persona Non Grata LP are you looking forward to performing live?

Jason: “A Blind Eye,” “Atom Bomb” and “Derailed.”

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your upcoming LP as a whole?

Jason: Self-awareness, confidence, strength in yourself and a feeling of knowing if in pain that you’re not alone.

 

Q) You’re headed out to do some European shows in April. What can fans expect from a live Authority Zero performance?

Jason: Intensity and one hell of a good time is always our goal.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

Jason: That’s a tough one! We’ve been so fortunate to play all around the world so it’s difficult to pinpoint a handful of spots. Wherever the kids get rowdy and sing their hearts out we’re stoked!

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future? 

Jason: I think it would be great to work with Bad Religion, Tim Armstrong of Rancid and I would love to do a track with Jesse Michaels of Operation Ivy.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?  

Jason: Right now, I’m really diggin’ on some Chuck Ragen and Flatliner buddies.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans? 

Jason: It’s changed the game completely with promoting music awareness, not only with the connection of fans but also between bands. It has helped substantially to put tours together and build bands in a much more rapid pace.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work? 

Jason: Thank you so very much for everything and we look forward to seeing you at the next show!

 

 

All Questions Answered By Vocalist Jason DeVore