Name: Desert Storm
Members: Matthew Ryan (vocals), Ryan Cole (guitars), Chris White (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals), Elliot Cole (drums, percussion), Matthew Dennett (bass)
Interviewee: Ryan Cole
Nationality: British
Current release: The new Desert Storm full-length Death Rattle is out March 31st, 2023 via APF.

If you enjoyed this interview with Desert Storm and would like to keep up to date with the band, visit their official website. They are also on Instagram, Facebook, and twitter.



Where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play?

I think for me I started writing riffs / songs on the guitar back when I was 13 in a school band. 22 years later (16 years with Desert Storm) I still enjoy writing! It's not always easy though, I find I scrap a lot of ideas before I'm happy with something … I guess that's natural to be self-critical.

As for the impulse to create something, I think that's something that is just dialled into all of us within the band, we are all creative people, be it in the band or in our day jobs or other aspects of our lives.

There are often many sources of inspiration … particularly for Matt lyrically. On the new record some for example are in 'Bad Trip' which is about the loss of a good friend. Previous subjects / songs have included dream-scape scenarios and the idea of astral projections and lucid dreaming. There have been songs touching on drug abuse and addiction.

I think personally the more powerful lyrics are the personal ones, however Matt also has a great imagination and there is a lot of fantasy and storytelling in songs … often carried on into other works.

For me and writing on guitar, my mood tends to dictate what I come up with, but obviously listening to bands / artists helps inspire you as well … I think that's probably natural for most people writing songs.

For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualisation' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?

I think for us as a band we generally will start the song around a riff someone has written, and build upon the song from there. Matt will jot down lyrical ideas and themes, melodies and rhythms and the song gradually comes together … some quickly, some slowly. Our songs these days are getting more complex so generally the writing process takes longer than it used to.

So, I would say we do need some concrete ideas to get started, however it's not always the case-There have been times when we've kind of had writers block and nobody has any good ideas. So we start with nothing, and just play about and jam until something sounds cool. This is also quite an enjoyable way to see a song come to life.

Is there a preparation phase for your process? Do you require your tools to be laid out in a particular way, for example, do you need to do 'research' or create 'early versions'?

Not really, I don't think. Other than the helpfulness of bringing a few riff ideas to the rehearsal room, we don't need much else. Matt doesn't like to pre-write lyrics and would rather draw inspiration whilst listening to the music being produced at the time.

In terms of recording though, that is different, we do prepare for that, rehearsing the songs we are ready to track until we feel they are tight enough to lay down.

Generally, in the studio the drums and bass record together with a guide guitar and vocal track, and then the guitars and vocals are laid down after, with any overdubs / solos happening after the core of the track is complete. Some bands like to all record together, some completely separately one thing at a time.

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?

Not anything specifically. In the early days we would drinks some beers / smoke a few joint together whilst writing. That was fun, but it's a bit harder now as generally we had to drive to rehearsals now so it's usually more of a sober thing.

There will usually be pot noodles or kebabs consumed in the studio though, that seems to be a 'Desert Storm ritual' if I had to pick up on something, haha.

What do you start with? How difficult is that first line of text, the first note?

Usually starting with that riff. I don't think in 16 years of writing with Matt he has ever had an issue with the first line of a song's lyric.

Obviously there may be times where he struggles a bit and takes longer to finish the lyrics, but the first line he usually always seems to come across fairly easily.

When do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

Although the lyrics / vocals usually appear later than the rest of the song, they are being written and worked upon at the same time, so they grow together. In the very early days of the bands existence, some would emerge from a place of their own, but these days they are done with the music.

Often the sounds help Matt come up with ideas and the mood of the song is important to capture the lyrical subjects and themes.

What makes lyrics good in your opinion? What are your own ambitions and challenges in this regard?

Personal experiences / real events and things people can relate to are more powerful in my opinion. That isn't to say I don't like Matts Fantasy story telling lyrics, I dig them too, and they are very well crafted and thought out. I like how many vocalists don't do that so much - I admire that about Matt that he does both, It makes it unique. But like I said if I had to choose, I prefer the real lyrics.

Also, a strong memorable line that gets stuck in your head with a good melody is also vitally important I would say. I think less is more sometimes, less words can be more effective.

Once you've started, how does the work gradually emerge?

Once the initial riff ideas are being jammed with the drums, Matts taking notes and thinking of lyrics and melodies. Or harsh gutteral growls! The song usually comes together once everyone chimes in with ideas and thoughts on how to structure and piece together the song so it seems to flow and work.

There are rare occasions where a song will be fully written by Chris or I and everyone is happy. Perhaps just needs some overdub / harmonies added and then that is it … obviously on these occasions Matt has to write his lyrics to a whole pre-written song. He doesn't like that approach as much, so it doesn't happen that way as often.

Many writers have claimed that as soon as they enter into the process, certain aspects of the narrative are out of their hands. Do you like to keep strict control over the process or is there a sense of following things where they lead you?

I think when we create music, we tend to follow things and see where they lead us more.

We try not to be too controlling, but I think sometimes the element of control is harder to let go of when it's your riffs / lyrics / drum beat and others suggest changing things. But ultimately if it helps serve the song and works better, then its' important to keep an open mind and consider things.

Often, while writing, new ideas and alternative roads will open themselves up, pulling and pushing the creator in a different direction. Does this happen to you, too, and how do you deal with it? What do you do with these ideas?

Yes I would say this happens a lot and is one of the best parts about the writing process. It's important to embrace it and go with it where you can. Sometimes this can also bring out ideas for other songs too.

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

Personally I would describe the creative state as a challenging and fun experience. Sometimes emotional if it's particularly personal.

For example, there have been riffs I have written that reminds me of certain events / times in my life and I remember these events played an important part of how those riffs came to life.

I can't speak too much for the other guys in the band, but I believe some of Matt's lyrics carry an element of spirituality in them … probably more so the older lyrics from the earlier albums.

Especially in the digital age, the writing and production process tends towards the infinite. What marks the end of the process? How do you finish a work?

I think that's very true, with Desert Storm some songs just feel they are done and every seems to just know … however there are songs which are harder to know if they are finished or not, but eventually you have to be able to draw a line under it and call it done and in the bag.

As songwriters we are self-critical and always ask the questions 'Is it good enough? Is that definitely finished?' But we seem to find a way together to know when it's complete.

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

It's important for sure, although in the previous question I mentioned drawing a line under it and accepting it, which is true, it's also important to re-evaluate after time …

You have to be completely sure before tracking it in the studio, because then there is no going back.

What's your take on the role and importance of production, including mixing and mastering for you personally? How involved do you get in this?

Yeah this is essential. We all get pretty involved in this, particularly in the mixing stages. It's a very critical, time consuming and expensive process, but vital to get a finished record we are all happy with.

Mastering is equally important. We used someone else on this album to the previous records - Audiosiege. Sounds great.

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

Yes definitely emptiness. Almost immediately we are thinking about the next record, but luckily, we are kept busy by touring the recent release for a while.

I still write and record riffs on my phone at home all the time. So when the time comes to start writing again at least we'll have a few ideas to jam.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you personally feel as though writing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

It's long lasting which is nice. Music once released, is there for good, that's the beauty of it.

I work as a chef in my day job which is also creative and enjoyable, but the trouble with that is you spend ages preparing a nice meal that looks and tastes good, but within minutes its gone! It's still enjoyable but the satisfaction you get from writing music that we all dig and are proud of is another level.

And when you make fans touring it and see people enjoying the music … not much else compares.