Toronto musician Andy Du Rego is no stranger to reinvention–nor is his solo project, Black Suit Devil. With the brand new album, The Eternal Sleep, he has pivoted from a folkier sound and channeled his early influences. The new songs offer a heavier style, including grunge, indie rock, alt rock and punk. We caught up with Andy to chat about the new Black Suit Devil music, what first made him want to be a musician, and his non-musical hobbies.
From The Strait: Tell us about the new album, The Eternal Sleep.
Black Suit Devil: The Eternal Sleep is a snapshot of where my mind was at the time when I wrote these songs in 2020 during the lockdowns . I was thinking a lot about everything going on in the world and where the future was heading with AI and politics and such. Also thinking about my personal life and all the different experiences I had over the years leading up to the album. The album is definitely darker and heavy in nature. The feelings I had during that time.
The album was written and bed tracks recorded in a Two week span during the lockdowns in 2020. I spent a week writing ten songs (eight that made the album) at my home in Brantford Ont and quickly recorded the acoustic guitars and vocal scratch in my home studio . I would go on recording the rest of the album off and on through out 2020-2024 in Hastings Ont and San Pancho Mexico . I recorded and produced this album myself and had two musicians John Brand on Bass and Vic Freitas on Drums
From The Strait: What can you tell us about the focus track, “Shut The Punk Up”?
Black Suit Devil: Shut The Punk Up is a road song about life as a touring independent musician. The good and the bad times . Living in your car and travelling to new places . I wanted to showcase some great people that I have met over the years on my travels so I name dropped a few people and places. I wanted to give this song a live feel to it almost like a stadium of people chanting the song in unison . I had a lot of fun multi layering vocals to make it sound as tho thousands of people are singing along. I also added so crowd noise to really drive it home. Definitely a really fun track that closes off the album perfectly.
From The Strait: What is your favourite thing about playing live, and what can fans expect from your live shows?
Black Suit Devil: The connections I make with people. When my lyrics hit the heart and someone is really moved by them. I plan to have a lot more full band shows on this album cycle. Showcasing the new songs the way they were written . Also still touring in a raw format as a solo artist
From The Strait: What first made you want to be a musician? Was it a song, an artist, or just an undeniable pull to make music?
Black Suit Devil: Hearing Metallica’s “And Justice For all” album as a kid really changed my life. I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life I just had to figure out a way to do it. I discovered it in 1994 and nothing was ever the same for since. I fell in love with the guitar shortly after and never looked back
From The Strait: What’s one album you can’t get enough of right now?
Black Suit Devil: Been really enjoying Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel Album . I love his raw sound and mix of country / Hip Hop vibe . Really cool stuff.
From The Strait: What are some of your non-musical hobbies?
Black Suit Devil: Playing Basketball ball is always an escape for me . I love shooting around to just clear my head also rollerblading for exercise
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Check out The Eternal Sleep, the new album from Black Suit Devil!
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And the album’s focus track, “Shut The Punk Up”:
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