Earshot

Earshot are a Los Angeles quintet that play dark-toned hard rock with elements of industrial metal. The band formed in 1999 but have gone through several personnel changes since. The two constants in Earshot’s lineup have been guitarist Scott Kohler and frontman Wil Martin. Currently, Earshot also include guitarist Travis Arnold, bassist Billy Blair and drummer Daren Pfeifer.In 2002, Earshot released their first album, Letting Go, on Warner Bros. A musically aggressive record, Letting Go drew criticism for its sonic similarities to Tool, the gold standard for alternative metal. Not helping matters, Martin’s whispery, growling vocals were reminiscent of Tool singer Maynard James Keenan’s style. As opposed to Tool’s antiauthoritarian stance and lyrical attacks on societal decay, though, Letting Go focused more on personal relationships. “Get Away” and “Not Afraid” were modest hits, but Letting Go failed to garner significant sales.Two years later, Earshot returned with Two. Almost indistinguishable from its predecessor, Two enjoyed some success with the singles “Wait” and “Someone,” but it couldn’t set to rest the rumors that Earshot were merely a second-rate alt-metal band.Earshot and Warner Bros. parted ways after the release of Two. Around the same time, the band also experienced major personnel turnaround, with only original members Martin and Kohler staying on. Signing with the independent label In De Goot Recordings, Earshot released their third album, The Silver Lining, in August 2008. The first single, “MisSunderstood,” made a dent on mainstream rock radio and featured a more melodic approach than previous Earshot songs.Travis Arnold - guitar
Billy Blair – bass
Scott Kohler - guitar
Wil Martin - vocals
Daren Pfeifer - drums
Wil Martin, describing the songs on Letting Go.
“A lot of the songs are about relationships or about having a bad day, where nothing seems to go right, or where you just dwell on the negative. But the album as a whole is about getting past all that. We want to play heavy rock music, but take it a step further.”

Wil Martin, on his influences.
“A lot of writers and artists have influenced me musically and lyrically. Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Thin Lizzy, U2, Metallica, Soundgarden, my list could go on and on. But I’d have to say people in general, and a lot of my own life experiences, also inspire a lot of my lyrics as well. Probably 90% of them.”

Wil Martin, on who Earshot are compared to musically.
“When a lot of people hear it, a lot of people think of Soundgarden or Tool or Alice in Chains. Those are the bands, when they hear us, people are familiar with – not that we sound exactly like those bands, but because those are the only bands [they] can think of to compare it to when they talk about it.”

Earshot Trivia:

• Guitarist Scott Kohler created controversy in 2007 by claiming that Britney Spears invited him, among others, to a party at her Hollywood home, where she allowed one guest to snort cocaine off her chest.