SANTA MONICA, CA- It was a night to remember at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica on November 24, 2023, as The Egos took the stage, captivating the audience with their electric performance. Following their show-stopping act, I had the unique opportunity to sit down with Sherif Serag, the band’s charismatic lead singer, to delve into the essence of The Egos.
In this exclusive interview, Sherif and the band shed light on the band’s journey – from its inception to its place in the rock music scene. We explore the diverse musical influences that shape their distinct sound, the collaborative dynamics that fuel their creativity, and their approach to live performances that leave fans yearning for more.
As we navigate through the conversation, each member’s passion for music and their vision for The Egos become palpable. From discussing their favorite songs to perform live to teasing upcoming projects and merchandise, this interview is a dive into the heart of a band that’s not just playing music, but creating experiences.
Join us as we uncover the story behind The Egos, a band that’s rapidly carving a niche for itself in the rock panorama, and get an insider’s view of what makes them tick, their aspirations, and what fans can eagerly anticipate in the near future.
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BLURRED CULTURE: Can you tell us about the origins of The Egos? How did you all came together to form the band?
SHERIF SERAG: In early 2023 I was introduced to Brent through a mutual friend. Brent had recently moved from NYC to LA and was looking to establish a band out here. We hit it off immediately! Brent had already produced the bones of several song ideas he envisioned for the band – drums, guitar, everything. I came in with the vocals and lyrics and we were off to the races. For the next couple months we jammed with a few different groups of potential bandmates, but the first time we had Graylen, Terrence, Brent, and myself in the same room, it was like… okay this is it.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped the sound of The Egos?
All four of us have strikingly different influences we bring to The Egos. It’s honestly a miracle they blend together so well, but at risk of sounding pretentious as hell, I think that blend is what gives us the “unique sound” we have so far. I’m into everything from Alkaline Trio to Elvis Costello, but as the lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist in The Ego’s I think I draw a lot from Jack White, Robert Plant, and big homie Dave Grohl. Terrence (bass) brings the RnB influences that drive his solo projects, and blends that with his love of hard rock in The Egos. So you’re hearing flavors of Michael Jackson in some moments, and System of a Down in others. Graylen’s (drums) favorite drummers are John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and Jerome “big foot” Brailey (parliament-funkadelic). You can hear a lot of her inner-Bonham on our song “Out of the Way.” Brent’s production background has been mostly hip hop, but as a guitarist he’s deeply influenced by a lot of pop punk, and you can hear a ton of classic Weezer and My Chemical Romance in his lead compositions.
What is the band’s songwriting process like? Do you all collaborate on songs or does one member primarily take the lead?
All four of us play a huge role in the songwriting process, which is rare in bands and is really awesome to experience. There’s definitely songs, especially our earliest ones, that Brent and I already had pretty much fully formed on our own, respectively, but a lot of them come directly from our rehearsals. And even when I’ve brought songs of my own like “Growing Now” to the band, the creative contributions that then come from everyone really transforms those records into a new and distinctly ‘Egos’ record.
You recently performed at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica. How do you prepare for live shows, and what do you want your audience to experience during your performances?
Honestly it’s a lot of rehearsals together and in pairs. It’s super important to us to bring people the best possible live shows we can, especially with how expensive tickets can be sometimes. Even if we only have 25 minutes to perform for you in an intimate little bar, we want you to come out feeling like you just saw Green Day from the front row.
As the lead singer and leader of the band, Sherif, how do you navigate band dynamics and decision-making
Again, it’s truly a collaborative environment. While Brent and I are the founding members and “co-lead” the band together, all decisions we make are brought to the group and discussed to reach consensus. Brent probably talks the most in general though, so there’s that, lol.
How do you think The Egos are contributing or bringing something new to the current rock music scene?
We’re just bringing ourselves and hoping people can take away something they really enjoy and resonate with. So far so good. We’re extraordinarily grateful to everyone that has told us the music makes them feel something.
What are each of your favorite songs to perform live and why?
SHERIF: “Want From Me.” The lyrics are the most personal to me so far. And I love screaming those choruses.
GRAYLEN EASTWOOD: “Honestly.” There’s a ton of disco pop grooves in that song where I get to pull out lots of hi-hat tricks.
BRENT BUTLER: “Out of The Way.” The song is deceptively simple, in that we’re all bouncing through a ton of different playing styles all on one record.
TERRENCE WILDE: “Old Friend.” The bassline is so groovy and fun to play.
What’s next for The Egos? Are there any upcoming projects or tours that your fans should be excited about? When can we expect “official releases”? When can we expect merch?
2024 is all about releasing music for us! We’ll be hitting Jan 1st with roughly six months under our belts and a lot of records we want to share with everyone, so keep your eyes peeled! As for merch, we’d love to make that happen in the first half of 2024. If you’ll wear them, they will come.
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