Interview with vocalist Jeff Scott Soto

I recently had a chance to speak with Jeff Scott Soto about his newest release, One Night In Madrid, the latest offering from this incredibly talented vocalist. The project originally started out as a DVD release but became a CD release as well. One Night In Madrid offers a wide variety of musical sensibilities. Just when you think you know what the band is going to sound like they change things up, refusing to be pigeonholed. The CD portion of this disc rocks like nobody’s business but the DVD is really where it’s at. A killer production accents the excellent musical chops of the band and Soto turns in performance that is nothing less than stellar. Here is how our conversation went…

Now that your brand new CD, One Night In Madrid, is complete, how do you feel about it? Are you satisfied with the outcome?
Jeff: Well, lets not forget, it’s a live DVD as well, the idea started as a new DVD release and the CD was issued as an additional item. I am very happy with the overall show as well as ecstatic on the performance from the band. I was worried that night as I was just ending a pretty bad cold that hit me about ten days before we played Madrid. Normally not much to worry about but having sung so many shows while ill I thought I would trickle into this one with little or no voice… chalk one up for adrenalin eh?

What can fans expect when they pick up a copy of One Night In Madrid?
Jeff: My first live DVD was done at a small festival so the crowd wasn’t necessarily ‘my people.’ I covered more aspects of my career instead of solo material as it really was my first outing as a solo artist. This new one concentrates more on the solo releases and less on my other bands/performances. Of course I kept a few key things that have come to be expected at my shows but for the most part I wanted it to focus on the solo efforts especially the latest, Beautiful Mess.

What kind of preparation goes into your live show?
Jeff: The main thing for me is entertainment value, aside from choosing the set list and making sure every note works. I want to make sure I give them something visually stimulating along with clever segue ways and things to remember the evening by. Not having a huge production or budget on my tours, it’s all about the bare basics and we use them to capacity… sing-alongs, laughs, tender moments and most important of all, rocking it hard!

All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you prepare for the physical demands of a tour?
Jeff: I work out daily pretty much all the time, I try to limit my alcoholic activities when I know I am about to batter the voice on tour so it’s all about responsibility in making sure I don’t disappoint someone who is working hard all week to escape for two hours at one of my shows!

Along those same lines, do you find that the rigors of touring are taking more of a toll on you as you get older?
Jeff: Not at all, you learn to pace yourself as well as know what you can and can’t do. Every tour and band is different so it’s all about finding your pace and keeping it. There have been times I could blast out each show with a bottle of vodka, others I wouldn’t have so much as a beer during a show!

What are some of the songs you get the best audience response to?
Jeff: People love the classics so in my case it would be an old Talisman song or even something like “Stand Up” from the Rock Star movie. But more and more they are reacting to things from Prism and Lost In The Translation which is really nice!

What are your touring plans for 2010? Any plans to hit North America?
Jeff: The first goal and idea is to see about getting the new project W.E.T. on the road in the Spring, possibly even into the festivals this summer. In those plans are possible shows in the US… hopefully!

What is the toughest lesson you ever learned in the studio and on the stage?
Jeff: That no one is bulletproof… I was doing things in the studio in my 20’s, even 30’s that I thought I would be able to do forever but the throat if not taken care of can be like a pair of sneakers, eventually they wear down and when you get holes in them, you have to throw them out… there is no way to get a new throat!

Did you ever imagine you’d be releasing albums so many years later?
Jeff: Hell yes, this has all been part of the master plan except I should be about 50 million albums deeper by now. I sold my soul to this career, it is all I want and all I know!

How is the current economic slump affecting your band?
Jeff: Same as everyone in every aspect of life, less money means less going out. Luckily in my profession we still offer that escape I referred to, the same as movies or video games. It’s a chance to let it all go away for a couple of hours, put on a smile and direct your attention to something other than reality. This is what people will always want and need regardless of their status. Entertainment helps us through the hard times so we’re there for each other really.

In a hundred years from now what will the music history books say about your band?
Jeff: Genius, someone who gave it all heart and soul, what a guy!

Any closing words?
Jeff: When it’s not fun anymore, it’s time to move onto something else!  [ END ]