Jammerzine Exclusive: An Interview with The Neverlutionaries

Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with The Neverlutionaries founder Christopher Harold Wells. Having released what I consider one of the most diverse albums in the last few years, The Neverlutionaries is as much Christopher’s music lab as much as it is music project.

Having cut his teeth and added his resume with some of the most prolific people in music, Christopher now demonstrates his extreme diversity with The Neverlutionaries new eponymous album filled with tracks that really make the album sound like it has multiple artists throughout. Like completely different bands. I have no other way to say it, so I just said it. Check out the playlist below.

In this interview, we talk with Christopher about The Neverlutionaries, the songwriting and recording process and how he maximizes his output, especially in this pandemic, as well as the next evolution for The Neverlutionaries.

About The Neverlutionaries

The Neverlutionaries’ self-titled debut LP album is an unfiltered expression of the heart that seamlessly straddles moods and genres. The brainchild of multi-instrumentalist songwriter Christopher Harold Wells and bound by his distinctively soulful timbre, the eponymous 11-song + bonus track release tints hook-laden alternative rock with psychedelia, shoegaze-y jazz, and subtle funk.

“The only parameter that I set for myself is that, at some point in the process, I got to get some kind of goosebumps,” Wells explained. “That’s like the cosmos’ way of letting you know you’re onto something.”

Having originally made his name in the vibrant North Carolina music scene (notably with Peasants of the Apocalypse), Wells has been performing, recording and producing in San Francisco for the last few years. As well as songwriter, he’s also an exceptional melodic rock vocalist, bassist and guitarist. Wells currently divides his time between SF and Nashville.

Testament to Wells’ stylistic versatility and open-mindedness is a resume that includes playing in The All Time Low Stars with Peter Keys of Lynyrd Skynyrd; working with everyone from Lauryn Hill to Bubba Sparxxx; and opening for the diverse likes of Metallica, Aquarium Rescue Unit and Def Leppard. Not one to chase trends, his music has always been hard to pigeonhole.

“The longer you write, the more you kind of dial yourself in and hopefully come into what your sound is to be,” offered Wells. “But with my sound, there are so many parts that make it up because I dig a lot of different kinds of music.”

His influences include everything from the church choirs of his youth, to Rush and Tool; Kaskade and The Cure, to The Mars Volta, Massive Attack, and even Joy Division. But he reserves perhaps most respect for artists like Prince and Jimmy Page, who’ve mingled multiple genres while maintaining the essence of their expression.

The Neverlutionaries comprises a core line-up of regulars at San Fran’s legendary Hyde Street Studios, augmented by an all-star cast of guest players. Constants are SF staple and frequent Wells collaborator Chris McGrew of Pamela Parker’s Fantastic Machine on drums; fellow Fantastic Machiner Ryan Hickey on keys; and former Psychefunkapus guitarist Jonnie Axtell. For future touring, blazing Nashville six-stringer Kenny Olson (Bootsy Collins, Sheryl Crow etc.) and original Brian Jonestown Massacre member Ricky Maymi are tapped to join them.

Helmed by #1 Billboard charting producer Jaimeson Durr (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani etc.), The Neverlutionaries was recorded in Hyde Street’s storied Studio C, where classic albums by the Grateful Dead, Santana, and Creedence Clearwater Revival were cut. The LP is preceded by otherworldly balladin-waiting “Ariana” on October 2.

“‘Ariana’ represents that concept of a dream love. Upon finally meeting her, what would I say? How would I feel inside that moment, and what would those feelings sound like?”

In a modern music landscape choked with bands making music to match commercial expectations, The Neverlutionaries mark a refreshing return to simply, yet expertly, just doing what feels and sounds right, free of creative margins.

“Write what is in your heart and stay true to who you are,” Wells concluded. “I’m not singing from my ego as I once did. Music is very sacred to me and I feel you have to honor it by letting it come from a real place inside of you.”

First single “Ariana” dropped in October and was accompanied by a music video in December, second single “Stumble” was released in January with Neverlutionaries live-stream events and – once safe to do so – touring planned to further support their debut LP. The Neverlutionaries’ self-titled debut was released by Polychromatic Records on February 12, 2021.

Featured image by Michael Phillips.

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/TheNeverlutionaries
https://www.instagram.com/theneverlutionaries
https://soundcloud.com/the-neverlutionaries
https://open.spotify.com/artist/761GJflRuZzXhuuCh9yaKD?autoplay=true