Nearly a decade removed from their last full-length release, Treehouse, I See Stars are stepping back into the spotlight. Long regarded as pioneers of electronicore, the Michigan-bred band have returned with their sixth studio album, THE WHEEL–an album described by the band as a “time capsule” of the past seven years
As they take this new era on the road with their headlining Spin The Wheel Tour, frontman Devin Oliver is reflecting on his “why” and navigating mental health on tour.
We caught up with Oliver to talk about the band’s evolution, the meaning behind THE WHEEL, and why, after all these years, the most important thing is simply reminding people that they’re not alone.
AJ: How’s tour been so far for you?
Devin Oliver: It’s been good. It’s, just it’s a very stacked tour, we’re doing 90 minutes every night and we’re hosting after parties, so we’re just like, we’re out here and we’re just trying to make the most of it.
That’s awesome to hear. What really keeps you going, what is your why?
When I think about the why–it’s cheesy as hell–but I think it really is just ’cause I love it, I don’t even think that you can do this if you don’t. Making music is always fun. Even performing is a lot of fun. It’s all of the stuff in between, so I think the first thing I would say is just ’cause I love it.
I think if we go a little deeper and try to dig past some surface level answers here, I think a lot of it has to do with my guys. I love them too, and we have so much fun doing this and we care about each other and we make beautiful music together.
And then if I go a little deeper, I feel like it’s also just because I feel like it’s my small way of making a difference in the world. Makes people happy.
I think spreading awareness and my, through my music and, trying to help fans.
That’s a great answer man. People can really tell that you put on a great stage presence and it’s real emotion tied to your music. Because you never know what somebody’s going through and you have a voice and you’re using it in a positive direction.
So as far as electronic core, metal core goes, would you say the newer sound is going in a different direction?
Yeah, definitely like THE WHEEL is touching on some things that we’ve never really touched on before.
There’s a lot of new personalities just from the vocal standpoint and I think with THE WHEEL it’s a little bit more ambient electronic. It’s also it’s very dark record and we’ve pride ourselves in not writing the same album twice
It’s very inspiring to be on tour and to be covering all grounds across all of our records–you really grow this new profound appreciation for your history.
You’ve touched on your mental health in the past, what helps you? Is it performing? What do you do on tour to help with your mental health?
I think being on tour, trying to figure out how to continue your day to day life on tour is very important. Sometimes it’s as stupid as hanging up your clothes, sometimes it’s just like having normality on the bus.
The simple things. Having things that you feel passionate about outside of just being on tour, and the daily grind. ’cause it can really start feeling like Groundhogs Day out here every day is the same.
Sometimes I’ll go to a coffee shop, bust out my laptop and just start writing a song. Or I’ll FaceTime my parents or people in my friend group.
I think those things are really helpful, and having a really strong support system too, on and off tour is so important. I am so lucky to have not just like a support system at home, but also you know my band
When all is said and done, Devin Oliver, I See Stars, what do you want to be remembered as?
I think about as an artist, I want people to remember me as fearless. It doesn’t matter if you’re an actor, if you’re a painter, if you’re a musician, it’s very easy to be be fearful of what you do and is it good enough.
I think as a human, I just really want to be as authentic as I can. When I come off stage, I want to be able to like, be approachable. I want people to be feel safe around me.
What do you want to say to your fans that have been rockin’ with you since the beginning?
I’m very appreciative when I see fans showing up. ’cause it’s hard to go to shows, it’s hard to perform shows.. to pretend. like nothing’s wrong out there.
I just want to thank fans that have been coming out to the tour and remind them that, we’re all in this together. We all are feeling the same feeling right now. You’re not alone. You’re not crazy if you’re feeling super sensitive right now, if you’re feeling incredibly vulnerable and lost at sea,
Right now I think it’s so important for us all to feel a sense of togetherness. And, and I’ve been really feeling that out here, on tour, on the stage, and like a real connection.
And if there’s a reason why I’m out here that it’s just as simple as that.
Thank you guys all so much for coming out to the show. Thank you for all the love. It doesn’t matter if you are been in into our band since high school or if you’re just now catching a wind of what we’re doing.
It means so much to us to see everyone coming into these walls and whether you agree or disagree or you, we can all agree that we just love music. And that to me is so simple and so perfect and so untouched and no one can fuck with it.
Catch I See Stars on the remainder of their SPIN THE WHEEL TOUR:
Tickets available here.
3/30 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
4/1 – Kansas City, MO – Warehouse On Broadway
4/2 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
4/3 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe At Old National Centre
4/4 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
Keep up with I See Stars: Website // Spotify // Instagram // Facebook // X
