With a brand new album on the horizon and a couple of leading singles to sink your teeth into before hand, I caught up with alt-rock songwriter and artist Primordial Alien, to find out how the last two years have been treating him and what the new project has to offer.
We talk about inspiration, music production, songwriting, as well as the pitfalls of AI, the value of reality, performance, ambition, and plenty more. Here’s the conversation in full.
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Primordial Alien – great to catch up with you, new music on the horizon! What have the past two years brought about in your creativity and ambition?
Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long! It’s always a gift to be here. Quite honestly creativity has never been an issue for me, but over these years I have significantly improved as a songwriter and vocalist; which has allowed me to better express myself. These two years I’ve been putting my all into my upcoming album, so now it feels likes the album is all I know!
Ambition wise it’s the few but awesome fans I have, even if they don’t actually like my music they at least really motivate me to do better and be better.
What’s the name of the new album, and how did you come to choose that name?
I haven’t told anyone the name yet, so you’re hearing it here first- the album will be called “Baptism in Ammunition.” It defines the album well, once you delve in. It’s a very violent, dark, romantic, and political story and I don’t want to spoil too much. It relates to an execution but that’s all I can say.
Let’s talk about the stories of the new album – what are the themes, and why did you feel compelled to explore these?
A lot of this story was fact and fiction intertwined. It has a lot of my own experiences and the experiences I see outside myself in the world. It’s prophetic in many ways, more than one might initially notice.
It takes place in a dystopian empire, where an insurrection and revolution are taking place after the killing of a child, as seen in the song “Dancing In The Fallout,” which I took inspiration from the people of Iran who would die just to be free, who fantasize of being themselves and ridding their societies of oppression.
Are you working with the same producer from 2024, and are you still a solo guitarist and vocalist or has the dynamic shifted?
The producer I originally used really let me down and did a very poor job and got lazy; he called me threatening to come to my house and embarrass me in front of my family over a bad review I left him, I finished the last album on my headphones and decided to move on with a better producer, Guy Prier from Nine Six Recording.
The album releasing in the next few months is leaps and bounds better, and I consider it my true debut. I am a solo artist although I hired Raymond Martinez for the instrumentals, I’m still looking for musicians and all; it’s very difficult for me because unlike a lot of bands and artists I never grew up with musical connections who could get me shows or help me out. So I have to grow a really solid following first, which I’m working on and I’ve been growing exponentially the past 6 months, more growth then the rest of the two years. But it’s a struggle, to be frank.
Tell me about the inspiration and process for writing and performing Aileen?
It’s not long after the protagonist assassinated a holy figure, he knows his fate and is just reminiscing about the love he shared with his now deceased lover, how they grew up together. But like I said it’s based on truth as well, it’s also about the only girl I’ve ever been in love with and “letting go” as I say at the end of the song.
Aileen can mean “light” and she is the protagonist’s torch, guiding him even in death. It also can be interpreted in Scottish as, from my understanding anyway, “From the Green Meadow.”
The whole etymology is interesting. I wrote what I was feeling and relating to the protagonist where I could, I generally listen to the instrumentals Raymond produces for me and just write what I feel and take my time. There are many edits throughout the process.
The imagery is striking in this song, from romantic wonder to desolation and darkness – do you read poetry or take inspiration from other forms of writing at all?
I love poetry, and I’ve been writing it since I was 13; I was comprehending English at a college level when I was 14. Not so great at math though. I enjoy doing a hybrid prose writing and poetry combination. A lot of people can just listen to a song and get off on just the beat, I find lyrics just as important.
My greatest inspiration is reading the lyrics written by my favorite bands. I used to discuss songs and break them down with my friends like it was a book club. I also really enjoy the works of Edgar Allan Poe, but who doesn’t?
What else can we expect from this new album, both stylistically and in the emotions and ideas presented?
It goes further with the ideas presented via my single releases, but stylistically it stays true to itself. There is a lot of death, acceptance, doing what’s right for the greater good, it’s about coping with this world on fire. It’s about our own lives and fighting for your freedom and what’s right, even if it means not existing anymore to experience it but knowing your children will.
It’s about leaving something to be remembered by. How people just dream of being free, all over this planet, my heart breaks for them.
Is there a particular song you’re excited to share with the world, and if so, why does that one come to mind?
A track called “Long Gone and Out of Services,” just because a lot of other people liked it as I’m curious what everyone thinks of it. Super emo sounding to me.
As a musician, how do you continue to hone your skills – purely songwriting or do you also learn covers and new styles of music in your free time?
I wrote this whole album 2 years ago, and barely have written since because all my focus is on the soundscape and recording. I practice constantly, both my songs but mainly others. The amount of work I put into my voice is unreal, and when you practice a style or technique enough, the style comes naturally.
Do you have a career or lifestyle that runs alongside music that might seem contrary to it but that actually helps guide your intentions?
I am a retired U.S. Army veteran, I’m so blessed to have the money and time to do what I want and focus on music. Not saying I didn’t go through shit to get it. It taught and disciplined me and I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without serving.
Do you feel any sense of responsibility as an organic musician to help rebuild the live and purely human side of music, as AI continues to take over the streaming platforms?
Most definitely, I originally used AI for the album covers and some of my stuff, except for my music. The more I used it the more I hated it, I decided to rid of the AI and I’ve been delaying the release of my music just to get real art work.
But also I don’t think people understand how much money goes into making actual music. I’d get bitched out by strangers for using AI images but I can see why people would use it. In my opinion if I don’t have to use it, I won’t.
It’s honestly very threatening and scary, AI has many use cases I believe but at what cost I don’t know. Spotify doesn’t care about real artists or not, some of the top played songs recently have been A.I slop. But I don’t think it will ever completely replace artists, and hopefully not at all.
What’s the main thing you hope listeners take away from your new album?
Freedom is worth dying for, and you’re worth fighting for.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
My next and final single from my upcoming album, a cover of Jailhouse Rock by Elvis, is out May 1st, 2026! Go check it out, I’ll love you forever!
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Find Primordial Alien on Apple, Spotify, Instagram & his Website
