For over twenty years, Spencer Chamberlain’s name has been mostly known for his prowess on stage and vocal talent as the frontman of post-hardcore legends Underoath. When the band came back with new music in 2018, the rock side of Chamberlain had its outlet once again, creating the void for his current side project, Slo/Tide. It is a dreamy synthpop project of pure vibes and catchy melodies, showing a different side of the singer, where most are used to his brutal screams and gritty singing vocals. Releasing the first single, Neck High, in 2021 showcased him uniquely utilizing his voice in ways that only appear in glimpses in Underoath. While it may be a different listening experience for fans who have followed his career, this new venture suits his talents so well. It has been a long wait for the debut album, which was released on June 6th, entitled The Blur.
The early concepts of Slo/Tide originated almost ten years ago during the Underoath breakup. “In 2014/2015, I started dipping my hands in writing for other artists, and I was doing a project at the time called Sleepwave,” he tells Soundlink Magazine. “My manager had me in rooms with different producers, bands, and artists in Los Angeles, which was out of my comfort zone, but I learned a lot about myself and what I was capable of.”
Being around tons of artists of all walks of life and styles back then prepared him for what would happen later down the road, as Underoath came back but also the world shutting down.
“When Underoath came back, that was put on pause, and COVID allowed me with tons of spare time by myself and I decided to make something for myself, and the idea was just doing what I wanted to hear in my car driving late at night…this was the outcome,” he said.
The release of The Blur wasn’t without hurdles, but the reasons as to why will remain private to the public, and he states it was “just out of my control, and I won’t let that happen again.”
Chamberlain has long supported rock music and artists making something authentic, but that comes from an overall love of music, which rock allowed to be the gateway for at a young age to navigate into other genres and music in general allowing the birth of a project like Slo/Tide to emerge and be something different that he has been a part of.
“If it makes me feel, I love it. At a young age, I was diving headfirst into Radiohead but also bands like Oasis, Stone Roses, and other Brit pop rock like early Coldplay before I started touring,” he says, reflecting. “That led me to Joy Division and Depeche Mode types of stuff, which happened later after getting into grunge and rock,”
“Tame Impala, Foster The People, Diiv, and Massive Attack have all been staples in my headphones for over a decade now, if not longer.”
The Blur was released a few months after Underoath’s The Place After This One–though it had been written prior–the latter being a band effort in writing, while Slo/Tide is just Chamberlain.
“The feeling of finally getting it out was a relief; it took so long that I wasn’t nervous, I just wanted it [The Blur] OUT,” he says. “With Underoath I reach into the darker side of my brain but those who know me know that is not all of who I am, I’m a really happy person with a alot of shit where I want it to be in my life so I wanted to make something from that side of my brain–even thoughsome songs do get dark.”
The Blur does have a vibrant tone and some carefree vibes throughout, but some songs do get pretty heavy from a lyrical side, such as Blood Hungry, Too Much Weight, and Battlefield, but Battlefield holds a different type of space for him.
“Honestly, I wrote that song the last day in the studio, and I wanted a song with no agenda and wearing everything I love on my sleeve. Listening closely, you can hear some of my favorite sounds all in one song,” he details. “Lyrically, it’s touching on the peace I would have if I gave up music and having to appease anyone; I fight that negative feeling because I know it’s not what I truly want.”
While Underoath is going strong, Slo/Tide has been playing shows and small tours when able, including just recently this Spring. Over-touring and doing it when it doesn’t make sense is something he will avoid doing.
“I’m going to play this by ear when the offers are right and needed, not doing it just to do it. Make the Slo/Tide shows important and necessary; Somewhere in the middle of not doing it too much, but also not disappearing so it can allow me to be home with my (soon to be) wife.”
His Underoath bandmate, Aaron Gillespie, drummer/singer, has had his own for over a decade with The Almost. We asked if there was a possibility for a side project tour in the future.
“Aaron and I talked about that recently. It was discussed during the Sleepwave era also; I’m not sure if it’ll happen, but it’s fun to think about.”
The Blur is out now, streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, and anywhere else you get music.
