Eminence Ensemble is gearing up for a busy time with the release of their new album, “Inside Looking Out.” The new album has a unique blend of influences, with the band describing it as a “cosmic cocktail of genres.” The addition of new members Dylan Gleit and Will Snyder has contributed to bringing fresh inspiration and a more collaborative spirit to the songwriting process. This newfound energy is a driving force behind what the band considers their “clearest and most creative musical vision yet.”
We had the chance to dive deeper into the band’s creative vision. The interview explores the process behind the album, what fans can expect from the live show experience, and the special bond the band shares with their audience. The band also talks about the upcoming tour alongside jam band legends, The Motet, and the special stylistic connection between the two bands.
Congratulations on the upcoming release of “Inside Looking Out”! I’m curious, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about this album?
Justin: The first word that comes to mind is “cosmic.” Although the record is centered around a more palatable Rock sound, there are some very cosmic, almost otherworldly moments, both lyrically and sonically. The textures, the vocal harmonies, production techniques, etc all led to a very deep and thought-provoking space. Also, most of these songs were written during the pandemic, when we had a lot of time to think and wonder…thoughts and ideas had time to grow and develop in a different way. Creatively, this led to a very naturally occurring psychedelic sound.
Wil: I think of how grateful & honored I am to be a part of a musical family. I never thought I would have a group of friends this loving and supportive – and amazing musicians to boot! I think of how far we’ve come as a team and individually over the last few years since I joined the band. Long ways. This album coming out symbolizes a close on one chapter and opening the next. Onward and upward!
You’ve described the album as a “refreshing cocktail of genres.” Can you share a specific example of how you blended different influences into a unique song on the album?
Justin: The song Moonshine is a great example when it comes to fusing genres. The verses are brought to life with an exciting array of funk rhythms, reminiscent of bands like The Meters, CHIC, and Lettuce. The chorus keeps the funky spirit but shifts to a carnival feel more reflective of Dr. John with its voodoo-like energy. After the vocal breakdown in the bridge, the song introduces a more hip-hop/neo-soul vibe with a colorful set of chord changes and a J-Dilla-inspired drum beat. The song then transitions to a funk-fueled instrumental section, inspired by bands like Snarky Puppy and Vulfpeck. The talk-box guitar solo that follows has a very 70’s feel to me since guitar players like David Gilmour, Joe Walsh, and Peter Frampton were popularizing the talk-box in that era. This fusion of genres combined with the intricacies of the composition itself reflects our band’s Progressive Rock nature. Moonshine is a funk song at its root, but the branches of our musical influences make it a very unique, and genre-blending song.
Wil: Recording “Believe It” was one of my favorite experiences working on this album, because I got to throw some Miles Davis’ “So What” piano voicings throughout the track. I always love throwing jazz stuff into our work, when the song calls for it. So the feel goes from Kind of Blue to a shredding guitarmony ending.
“Inside Looking Out” marks a new chapter for Eminence Ensemble with the addition of Dylan Gleit and Will Snyder. How did their arrival influence the creative process for the album?
Justin: Dylan and Wil’s addition to the band had a very positive impact on our record. First off, Dylan and I were able to bounce a lot of creative ideas off one another, and since he joined mid-pandemic we had time to work a lot of those ideas into songs. The excitement we’d get from each others’ writing was very inspiring and lighthearted, and it led to a lot of individual inspiration too. We ended up writing the entire album off that same energy.
Aside from his writing, Dylan’s skills in sound engineering and production were the pinnacle of the album’s sound. He put an incredible amount of time and energy into making every moment of the album shine.
Wil’s addition brought a vast knowledge of jazz melody and harmony to the record. Since a lot of our music is rock-driven, Wil added a lot of color to the record with complex chords and a diversity of tones. His approach to our music is also very playful in general…and that added to the uplifting sound and feel of the album.
You have also mentioned that this album is your “clearest and most creative musical vision.” Can you elaborate on what makes this vision so distinct for Eminence Ensemble?
Justin: We’ve gone through many stages as Eminence Ensemble, most of which were experimental. The band’s early years were spent learning about the music scene, trying to identify its musical trends, and figuring out how to apply them to our music. When you are young, you have to experiment to find what your true voice is…and that’s just what we did. We started writing instrumental songs that were very adventurous, but somewhat disjointed. As the years went on, our songs became more lyrical, but we were still figuring out exactly what we wanted to say and how we wanted to say it. We were “sifting through the dirt” trying to find the gold. When Wil and Dylan joined during the pandemic, the creativity skyrocketed. The excitement, the ideas, and the energy began cultivating a strong musical voice.
I also started recording constantly during the pandemic. Whether it was just a riff or an entire musical vision, I became obsessed with searching for and building on new ideas. It turned out Dylan and I both were doing this, and we had created and collected 150+ recordings. We eventually narrowed those down to about 30 fully written songs, then sat down with the entire band to decide which songs would make the most “palatable” album. We had a new lineup, a new sound, and a new outlook on songwriting, so we wanted to put that across in the clearest way to a new audience while holding the attention of the fanbase we already had.
The subject matter reflects the duality of life, in all the different forms it comes in. Many late nights were spent finessing the lyrics to perfectly match the music in each song’s individual message.
Wil: Well, firstly, we truly want to include all our diverse influences. This vision is so clear to us, we simply had to get out of the way and let the magic happen. Having the right team makes all the difference, the rest just took care of itself. Because we surrendered to serving the album, the album has an amazing flow to it, diving from genre to genre while remaining fluid and accessible. The ultimate goal was to combine all our favorite influences, make it our own, make it relatable and we did just that.
Following the album release, you have a string of tour dates. What are you most excited about for hitting the road again?
Justin: The road is basically the full spectrum of human emotion…concentrated. At its heart, we’re on a mission to spread our music to as many people as possible, but what happens in between the shows is equally as important to me. When we started playing music together, there seemed to be an abundance of time and energy that allowed us to constantly grow as both musicians and friends. As adulthood settled in, that time and energy became harder to come by…so when we get to head out on the road, we can all hang out, laugh, write, and meet new people without the preoccupations of adulthood. In that moment, all of those things become part of our “jobs” which is what we are naturally good at. I’m excited to share the stage with the amazing talents of the Motet, to meet and share moments with friends new and old, and of course to eat some delicious food! It’s been quite a while since we’ve been on the road, and we’re all ready to get back in the saddle and do what we were put here to do…play music.
Wil: Personally, I’m excited to hang with the Motet more, catch up, and see all the homies in the South!
Opening for The Motet is a fantastic opportunity! Are there any stylistic overlaps between your bands that you think fans will enjoy?
Justin: There are indeed. We’ve looked up to The Motet for decades, so to play a string of shows with them is always a pleasure. I would say both bands really utilize elements of Funk music. While The Motet is certainly rooted in Funk, we fuse its upbeat feel and techniques into a more “Rock/Jam” setting. In addition, there is an overlying emphasis on individual musicianship as we all the group as a whole. Both bands work to create a massive sound while also spotlighting each member as a soloist. Also, both bands are equipped with very soulful vocal powerhouses.
You describe your live shows as a “safe space for expression.” Can you elaborate on how you cultivate this atmosphere at your concerts?
Justin: This atmosphere starts with an agreement to play as a unit, to serve the song before ourselves, and to create the most efficient way to connect with the crowd and each other. We often freely improvise and experiment with our songs, which spices up each individual show and allows us to feed off the crowd in real-time. Even if we get into some strange territories musically, it’s all a journey for us with no judgment from any members on stage. I’d like to think that freedom from judgment carries through to the audience, so we can all share a moment of magic.
Wil: The safety begins within the 6 of us. Since we know we’re loved, we can take risks and be free to explore new territories musically. I know the guys will have my back no matter what left turn I might take in a jam. Or with writing, same idea. Because we feel safe, I would like to believe that creates a sense of safety with our fans. So, we expand that safety to the audience through a reciprocal energy. In a way, we create with the vibe of the audience. On a more literal level, we always emphasize safety in our crowds, so people can be themselves, have fun, and let loose.
With over 400 shows, you’ve perfected the art of high-energy performances. What goes into crafting a unique setlist every night to keep the energy flowing?
Justin: We usually come up with a general “plan” for the set in terms of setlists, but it’s very difficult to predict exactly how a crowd will react in the moment. We often call audibles that may not have been on the setlist but are perfect for the energy of the crowd. Also, a big part of these shows is the energy exchange during our jams. If the crowd is really feeling one of our improvisations, we will take it as far as we can and swirl their energy with ours, creating the most exhilarating experience possible.
Tanner: you have to know who your audience might be and what they might like, but you also have to be able to read the room and call an audible if needed.
Wil: Fresh ideas are always key, or changing small things in our songs to see who notices! Ultimately, it is a flow thing as well. We audible so many times during sets because we take notice of the crowd loving a specific vibe, sometimes our pre-written set doesn’t even happen! But they’re always bangers.
“Inside Looking Out” captures your signature sound in the studio. Do you plan to incorporate these intricate jams and production elements into your live shows as well?
Justin: We plan on utilizing many of the intricacies of the album live, mainly in terms of composition and instrument tones. Since we wanted to put out a strong studio album, we went deep with post-production, which is difficult to recreate live without playing with pre-recorded tracks (which we try to steer clear of…). The energy from the album itself will be there in full force live, but some of the “ear-candy” from ‘Inside Looking Out’ will only be available on the studio release, just as intended.
Eminence Ensemble has fostered a strong community around your music. What do you think creates this special connection with your fans?
Justin: I think at its root, we like to have fun. We take our music very seriously, but if we can’t enjoy it when we play then how is anyone else going to enjoy it? If something musical makes us laugh, it’s usually a great idea…we come from so many backgrounds, in music and life, but humor is one thing we can all agree on. I also think outside of our music we’re pretty funny, entertaining people, but also just humans. When we get off stage, we’re just like everyone else. I think that common ground between us and our fans has really allowed for a natural and genuine connection between the two. I think all of Eminence Ensemble can agree that “rockstar” complexes and big egos really hinder that true connection between the artist and their audience.
Wil: I think we create that special bond by just being ourselves and attracting like-minded people. We truly care too and want to get to know our fans. I’d just call them friends personally. Kind hearts, creatives, lovers, we are all in this together. We’re honored that our music attracts such amazing humans.
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