King’s X guitarist, songwriter, and co-vocalist Ty Tabor's new solo album, Shades, is out on March 4 via Rat Pak Records. The upcoming album features 10 brand new songs with 3 bonus tracks and follows the successful release of 2018’s Alien Beans. Shades is available for pre-order in various configurations including CD, vinyl and digital download, here.
Tabor recently spoke with My Global Mind's Robert Cavuoto about the making of Shades, as well as King's X's current plans including the release of their next album. Following is an excerpt from the interview.
Robert Cavuoto: After eleven solo albums and all the King’s X albums, when you are creating music and coming up with riffs, do you tend to hear your voice or dUg's (Pinnick) voice in the back of your head more often?
Ty Tabor: "I don’t hear any voice, just the melody. When I end up singing the melody, it sounds so different than what is in my head. It’s weird, and I have to get used to it. It doesn’t sound as good (laughing). On the other hand, when dUg sings songs that I write, I hear and love the vocals with its melody. I prefer that dUg handle if he feels comfortable with it for King’s X."
Robert Cavuoto: Tell me about the importance of finding your own voice as a solo artist.
Ty Tabor: "The toughest part about it is that I have to sing (laughing). I have never been comfortable singing and still not comfortable with it. I have almost the majority of another album written musically and ready, even before Shades is being released, but there is not one note of vocals on any of it because I dread doing vocals that much. I can’t stand doing vocals. It is something I have to force myself to do. I don’t like hearing my voice. Talk about a buzz or creative kill when I have to put my voice on something. It’s drudgery to get my vocals done (laughing)."
Robert Cavuoto: Will you tour as a solo project before the King’s X album comes out?
Ty Tabor: "We will definitely tour for King’s X this year as we have things booked. I had a slight setback with a broken finger. It has been going slower than I wanted, but I have full confidence that I will be back to normal or close enough to tour this year. That is the goal. I don’t have a solo band because I played everything myself. Over the last two years, I didn’t want to get people together. I would like to tour for my solo stuff at some point, but I think that King’s X is about to get very busy."
Read the complete interview here.
From the opening chords of “Come Home,” it is clear that Ty Tabor’s trademark guitar tone lays the bedrock for his latest solo release Shades. Ty tackles a wide array of emotions and topics with layered harmonies, hooky pop sensibilities, and the total riffage that remains a crucial ingredient to the King’s X sound. Songs like “What You’re Thinking,” “One Drop Of Water,” and “Doesn’t Linger” show Ty’s penchant for crafting tunes with tremendous melodies, while songs like “Shallow,” and “Your Fantasy,” trend heavy and exemplify why Ty is one of the most influential guitarists of the last three decades.
Shades tracklisting:
"Come Home"
"Shallow"
"Your Fantasy"
"What You're Thinking"
"Sister Genocide"
"Best Day In A While"
"Insane"
"One Drop Of Water"
"Doesn’t Linger"
"Leaves Falling Down"
"Ashes" - (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only]
"Political Nonsense" - (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only]
"Ashes" (Acoustic) - (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only]
"Sister Genocide" lyric video:
"Insane"
(Photo - Reames Photography)
