Loaded Guns Interview on Debut EP ‘Unstoppable’, Signing with Century Media, and Puking After Shows

Floridian band, Loaded Guns, play the type of balls-out rock & roll that makes you want to drink, screw, smoke and drag race. With their debut EP Unstoppable out now via Century Media Records, many a loud music fan is going to be adding these tunes to their various musical listening doohickeys. As they hype up their single “Bring Us Down” with a brand new music video (watch below), we caught up with vocalist Raf Salazar to chat about their inner workings.

What is your writing process like?
Raf Salazar: It’s very sporadic and but unconventional I suppose. Although my brother and I are the primary songwriters, other members of the band or other musicians will inspire something. At times I’ll come with an almost complete song or I’ll have nothing but one word. It’s constantly changing, I think it keeps things exciting and fresh.

When you write do you do so with the live setting in mind or do you write a song just for the song’s sake?
Salazar: Definitely for the song’s sake. We can always worry about perfecting it at rehearsal later. Besides, rock isn’t meant to be perfect but it’s definitely meant to sound good.

Along those same lines, do you take advantage of technology and email riffs and parts back and forth, or do you get together in a room in a more traditional sense and write together?
Salazar: Oh yeah! Use of modern technology is the most practical way to get music to one another the fastest and clearest way. Especially if the band doesn’t live together. I can imagine it would be tougher for bands before all this technology to share music.

What’s the story behind the name of the band?
Salazar: “Loaded Guns” hit me as a name when listening to a Bon Jovi song… I thought to myself “what an awesome name for a band.” Then I was thinking more about it’s street definition. Loaded Gun… “An accident waiting to happen.” “Something dangerous.” “Playing with something that shouldn’t be messed with.” I thought, this explains us perfectly!

What is the story behind the name of the new record?
Salazar: It’s actually taken from one of the lyrics from the track “Bullets”. The song was originally called that but we changed it to fit the song better but as a package the EP felt “Unstoppable” to me because of how much work was put into it and now it’s going to see the light of day.

What do you think of the current state of the rock/metal world?
Salazar: It could be better… I mean rock has its resurgences and whatnot but we definitely aren’t in a “golden age of rock” right now. Though I think it makes it a lot easier to filter out the fakes. If you are a rock musician today, you’re doing it because you must love the music not because of the money or fame.

Do you have any touring plans in support of the new recording?
Salazar: Oh yeah! We are working closely with our team to get Loaded Guns to every part of the globe. If you don’t see your city on the tour poster, then let us know!

What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
Salazar: It was finally signing with a record label we liked. In 2016 Century Media Records discovered us in Churchill’s Pub by accident, they caught me after the show throwing up. So that was a pretty rockin’ moment.

Check out the video for the new single “Bring Us Down”