Seismic State formed in early 2018 when former bandmates Sai (guitar) and Liam (bass) were joined by Matthijs (drums) and Nicole (vocals).
Their debut EP, State of Things, was released in September 2019 with all tracks receiving airplay in New Zealand and internationally. Genius, the first single, reached #47 on The Generator FM’s weekly airplay chart for the week ending 31 May 2020. Genius also held down the #58 spot on The Generator FM’s 2020 Kiwi 101 chart.
In late 2020 Rogina replaced Nicole on vocals and rhythm guitar. Major support slots soon followed, including for Aotearoa Music Award award winners Dead Favours on their Riffing & Yelling tour in June 2021.
2024 is set to be a big year for the quartet with new music, which builds on their established alt/rock style while incorporating a touch of Rogina’s blues influences, scheduled for release in March.
Seismic; Adjective, of enormous proportions or effect
State; Noun, a condition or way of being that exists at a particular time
“Seismic State are a breath of fresh air for the NZ rock scene. For far too long rock bands have taken themselves far too seriously and it’s so great to hear a kick ass band playing rock music that is not only compelling but also fun! With killer riffs, banging drums, smooth bass lines and incredibly honest and poetic vocals; they are a definite must see” Toby Lloyd, Tiny Triumph Recordings
"2 Homes" Single Review
The track begins with a steady stream of melody and crunch. The track steadies itself as the rockin' first verse unleashes its full intensity at the chorus. The guitar work is top notch as it swirls in and out. The vocals are easy to sing along with and the chorus will have the listener rockin' out with ease. The guitar solo around the two minute mark comes in out of nowhere and puts its stamp of Rock approval on the track. The track closes out with a whirlwind of Rock fury that showcases the unreal talents of the band.
Verdict:
Seismic State blazes a rockin' path with their new single.
-Interview- (3/9/24)
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? How did the name "Seismic State" come about and is there any meaning to it?
Our sound comes from our various influences and musical tastes. Blues rock, funk rock, alternative rock, grunge, progressive, etc. all mixed together. Sometimes one of those influences dominates in a song and sometimes they all mix together into something new.
When we were looking for a name we wanted something to represent Wellington, where we’re based - Wellington is mainly known for wind and earthquake, so after bouncing a few ideas around we settled on Seismic State. The dictionary definition of those words is also pretty cool - basically our way of being is that of enormous effect.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
That’s a big question. If people listen to it and like it and listen to it again and tell their friends about it, that’s pretty much what we’re after.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
straight up and down rock, with a bit of blues & funk thrown in.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Royal Blood, Queens of the Stone Age, Shihad. They pretty much represent the range of our style, we even used to cover a Royal Blood song. Shihad, for those who aren’t familiar with them, are quite simply New Zealand rock legends!
5. How has Covid affected what you do?
Basically all shows stopped for a while, and even getting together to jam and write new material wasn’t possible. We had a tour booked, to promote our debut EP, State of Things, which we had to cancel. Our original singer also left the band during the peak of Covid, which meant rebuilding, but we’ve done that are now better and stronger than ever. Things are back to normal now, though some bands and venues didn’t survive.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Rock?
It’s not exactly the mainstream at the moment, but there’s definitely a market out there for good rock music (just ask Foo Fighters). There’s some great artists who continue to evolve the genre. See Q4 for some examples of that.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in New Zealand?
There’s a pretty vibrant rock music scene in NZ, lots of great bands releasing great music and putting on great shows - we’ve been fortunate enough to play with a bunch of them, and look forward to rocking out with more in the future.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
Of course we would love to be paid more, the more that trickles down to indie bands has to be a good thing, but to be honest it doesn’t really impact unless you’re getting millions of streams - which we aren’t yet. Currently most of our revenue comes from playing shows and selling merchandise.
9. What’s next for Seismic State?
We have two singles coming out in the first half of 2024 and show dates booked around New Zealand’s North Island - it’s going to be a fun few months.
10. Any shoutouts?
TKO Music Producer, who produced our two latest singles - he definitely took them to a new level!
