PHIL X and KURT DEIMER Talk About KURT’S recently released solo EP, Their Experiences in the Film and Music Industry over the Years and Forging a New and Unique Sound within the Long-Running and Established Hard Rock Paradigm: “We Like To Present It Just The Way It Comes Out And Make It Catchy For Our Fan Base.”

There is no such thing as being too late to the party when it comes to hard rock, and few know this better than Kurt Deimer, who seemingly came out of nowhere a few months back and unleashed an EP’s worth of familiar yet highly unique odes to the aforementioned style. More discerning minds may well recall this enigmatic bass appearing in such noted films as Halloween (2018) and Trading Paint, alongside such auspicious names as John Travolta, Shania Twain, Judy Greer and Jamie Lee Curtis no less; a fitting prelude to fielding a band of musicians that carry a similarly high level of credibility. But rank novices in the musical realm don’t morph into de facto veterans overnight, and the whole story of Kurt’s rise to prominence as a rock front man also includes a background in music going back to the 80s that was subsequently put on hold for personal reasons until about 3 decades later.

In most respects, the concept of being a solo artist is a misnomer, and Kurt himself would be the first to point out that you’re only as good as the musicians with whom you collaborate. A few bumps in the road notwithstanding, he would hit pay dirt when making contact with big time producer Chris Lord-Alge, whose work includes such names as Joe Cocker, James Brown and The Rolling Stones, and whom would, in turn, introduce Deimer to veteran session guitarist and virtuoso Phil X, known for his auspicious work with Canadian rock icons Triumph, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, and his current gig with Bon Jovi. To state that the resulting union of Deimer’s yet to be tapped well of ideas with these two elites of the genre was a match made in heaven would be an understatement, resulting in one of the most unusual voices to grace the hard rock medium being gifted with the perfect sonic template upon which to shine.

True to its name, “Work Hard, Rock Hard” is a colossal display of raw intensity distilled down to a 22 minute package. Guided by Deimer’s philosophical drive to make the world a better place, one song at a time, the highly eclectic anthems that take shape are as socially relevant as they are sonically impressive. Whether it be the heavy chugging with a technically-charged edge that is “Naïve”, the sludgy alternative trappings with a hint of AC/DC dubbed “Ease It In”, the angst-driven with a side of blues-rocking goodness in “Back Of The School”, or the somber ode to societal decay and duet with former Queensryche front man Geoff Tate “Burn Together”, Kurt takes as much time to impart some good advice to the audience as he does lending his voice to a badass rock tune. Filler just isn’t in this project’s vocabulary, each moment captured on this EP is a carefully crafted one that is worthy of any listener’s consideration.

Though a larger than life presence in the studio, Kurt and his six-string counterpart Phil X are definitely one to provide a good humored and down-to-earth take on things in a direct conversation. Sonic Perspectives associate Jonathan Smith was honored to catch up with both of them earlier and get the behind-the-scenes take on how their creative process works, and also reflect upon the current state of the world in contrast to how things were back when Generation Jones and Gen X were growing up. Be sure to catch them live in the coming months on their spring tour in support of Yngwie Malmsteen. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.