Best known as the unmistakable voice behind the iconic post-hardcore band Underoath, Spencer Chamberlain has built a name for himself in the heavy scene. With his newest venture, slo/tide, Spencer steps into a different light, trading breakdowns for alt-pop melodies.
Following the release of his first solo album under this project, titled The Blur, we caught up with Spencer to discuss starting anew, the personal and musical growth that inspired slo/tide, and more.
MSM: What inspired you to launch slo/tide after so many years fronting a heavy band like Underoath?
SPENCER: Honestly, I have done my fair share of writing for/with other artists in just about every genre. It was really Covid that had me working nonstop for others when I decided maybe I should just make my own record. Pretty much since the reunion of Underoath, or shortly thereafter, we decided when it comes to Underoath we work together as a group, no solo pieces of work being brought in to make into “Underoath” songs. This left me with a lot of spare time and I needed to fill it with something for me, something different.
How does your creative process differ when writing for slo/tide vs Underoath?
With slo/tide, I make every song alone, and play every instrument before then hitting the studio with a producer of some sort. Also, lyrically, I try to really write from a completely different headspace than Underoath. With Underoath, we work as a band.
With slo/tide, are you aiming to show a different side of yourself emotionally or thematically?
100%, I definitely have a different side to myself than just this dark emotional side you hear in Underoath songs. I wanted to make music that made me happy and made me feel completely different than Underoath, so yeah, the lyrics and vibes are about as opposite as it can be.
Do you feel more vulnerable releasing music under slo/tide, or does it offer more freedom?
More free, I would’ve been nervous moreso if the record came out when it was supposed to, but after all this time I’ve been more learning on the “let’s just get this thing out” kind of energy.
Can you walk us through your studio setup or production process?
I write everything at home on my laptop, I’ve got a studio full of guitars, keyboards, mics, bass guitars, etc, just depending on the mood is what I use, most of the sounds though aren’t final till I go cut the album album.
Are visuals and aesthetics as important to you in this project as the music itself? How are you crafting the visual identity of slo/tide?
I had a friend Matt Meiners do a lot of it, and yes, the visuals are very important. If I had a decent budget, I’d have music videos match what I see/want in my head, but unfortunately that’s not been the case with this project just yet.
Could we ever see slo/tide and Underoath on the same bill, or are they totally separate worlds for you?
Nah, I don’t think I’d ever want to. I also don’t think this music is for the average Underoath fan, it’s kind of catered more to the people that might not listen to UO.
After years in the heavy music world, how has your definition of success or fulfillment in music shifted with slo/tide?
I just make this music cause I want to, talking about it with you to playing it live to having anyone like it is a success to me, it is a pure passion project.
What do you hope listeners take away from this new chapter in your musical journey?
I hope they enjoy the music, that’s all really want, I know it’s not for everyone but hopefully if you don’t dig this, you dig Underoath and visa versa.
If you could describe the slo/tide project in just one emotion, what would it be, and why?
Vibey cause the songs are just that for me, whatever I was feeling or wanted to feel I wrote about. I made a record I wanted to hear driving my car late night down a quiet road and that’s pretty much the gist of it.
