Centershift

Destination Centershift

Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Vivian Ortega of So Finch Photography

Centershift formed as a new project from Jasan Radford, vocalist and guitarist of Onesidezero, a band that VH1 said released one of the top most underrated Nu Metal albums of the 2000’s. Radford and Onesidezero led an Alternative Rock revolution that spanned a wave of platinum artists and sound that impacted a generation of music. This newest project aims to deliver the thoughts and emotions of his life experience and wisdom, while writing intelligent alternative rock that reminds people that rock is far from dead.

The band is rounded out by Ryan Shane Stuber (formerly of Shuvel) on guitar and Ted Wenri (formerly of Bemus) on bass and Stefan Storace on drums.

After a recent show at the Last Call in Tarzana, Highwire Daze caught up with Jasan Radford of Centershift to find out more about the current happenings of the band as well as his time spent with Onesidezero. Read on...

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Centershift, and how long the band has been together.

Hey, I’m Jasan, and I play guitar and sing for CENTERSHIFT. CENTERSHIFT, was started in 2019, by Ted and I, but had been a Nameless project he and I had been trying to get off the Ground since mid 2000’s.

What do you think about the current Los Angeles music

scene?

That’s a great question, I come from the late 70’s, 80’s Punk Scene, so when the 90’s came around, as Musicians trying to cut our way through the Sunset / Hollywood Hair Metal times, a real Scene was being created!!

Bands like SOAD, STATIC (before the x) ENDNASWAP,

HUMAN WASTE PROJECT, BLUPRNT, LAVA DIVA,

SNOT. The list goes on. were all coming together and doing shows like every night at The Roxy, The Troubador, Shit if we could get a slot at The Whisky back then, this was the new Rock Scene of Los Angeles, an amazing time to be a Band!

As for now, I see it growing again, there is a resurgence of bands in the Post Hardcore vibe, some great Bands out there killing it, And with the Cobalt Cafe back and doing Satelite Shows all over LA as “The Cobalt Presents” the Scene is definitely Growing again, the Brother / Sisterhood is becoming amazing again!

Is there any overall concept behind the new EP title Of…

Of… is Part 2 to the overall concept of the Full Length Release, out November 11. We felt to release the full Record in 3 parts would be something cool for People to figure out the Puzzle, while showing the Growth of the Band over the Year, with the Shows and the music on each Release. When you get the full Length, We have added some treats, We wanted to bring back that, Buying a Record at the Store feeling, in this digi World.

What is the inspiration behind the lyrics to the song From Where We Are?

For me, it’s a Mental state of Dealing with Myself Emotionally and in Reality. Water is a Cleansing Element and Being from SoCal and a Beach Kid, The Ocean always heals… especially Hangovers when I drank hahaha. As Artists and Humans, we try to stay in “The Storm”, at least for me, but we “watch it dry”

Tell me about the song And So and the special guest Tallulah of Grumpy Plum.

And so… is in essence, different chapters for me, Sobriety, Growing Older, Pushing on in my Career and love for Music and the Fans that have Supported us, weather in previous Bands, Or CENTERSHIFT.

We met Tallulah at the end of our first trip to Cleveland, while recording with her Band, Grumpy Plum with Jim Wirt, and needless to say, I was Blown the Fuck away!!!! There was a lot going on emo wise when recording the early songs of the Record, and Tallulah was the perfect Voice “of reason” so to speak for And So..

Another standout Centershift song released earlier this year is My Own World. Give me a little background on that one.

Well, when I was Drinking and Using, “ having fun” lol, it became real clear when I quit, how much I reveled in My Own World, the selfish Ego I carried. Amends…

What was it like working with Jim Wirt again on these new songs?

Man! Jim is a Brother, as He had done the Bemus and ONESIDEZERO Records, for Ted and I it was a no brainer to go back to where it all started, wish it was still in Santa Monica, where it really started, Cleveland is Fuckin cold hahaha. Jim is the Mad Scientist, he becomes that 5th Member of the Band and pushes you to be your best. Love the man like a Brother.

How did the recent tour with Don’t Panic go and what were some of the highlights?

We’ve done quite a few shows with The Arizona DONT PANIC, I love them to death as peeps, and amazing Musicians. I had helped with putting a little run together for them,

and joined them myself, and it was definitely a test of ones spirit and gear hahaha (should have them tell ya, quite the story)

What could one expect from a live Centershift show

Hmm…I’ve thought about that lately….. in a Word, Organic

When you look back on your days in Onesidezero, what do you think of it all now in retrospect?

Ya know, ONESIDE came out at a very odd time in the World and Industry, although we had been a Band since the mid 90’s, the 2000’s were crazy. We couldn’t have continued to Tour or really be here with you, without the amazing family of people in the World that have supported Oneside through the up’s n down’s, and for the I am extremely grateful.

How did you wind up recording the theme for Power Rangers Time Force and are you a Power Rangers fan?

Hahahaha, I had done the Soundtrack for Digimon early in my Career, really for my little Brother who loved the Digimon and Pokemon craze lol. The Power Rangers came about from that really, Saban Ent. and the Producers I guess liked my vibe and asked if I would be interested, said HELL YEAH!!! lolol

Another film you participated in was Digimon The Movie. What was that experience like?

This was so early in My career, I was pretty damn Nervous haha. Little did I know this would be how People would know me hahaha, it being my first experience working for a Soundtrack, I really didn’t know how or what to feel, but overall it was a great time!

What’s up next for Centershift?

Well, with the Full Length, A Different Shade Of Color dropping on November 11, we are doing a Live Stream Show on November 13th on www.Stageit.com “Live From The Knitting Factory NoHo” yep, The Knitting Factory is Back!!!

Any final words of wisdom?

Wisdom, I do not have haha, Don’t Quit before the Miracle, you never know what that might be or when….

https://centershift.live/