Interview – Shawn Albro of Hopes Funeral & U.P.O.

In 2000, a band named U.P.O. came blazing onto the Hard Rock scene. Their 2000 debut album No Pleasantries peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and the singles “Godless” and “Feel Alive” peaked at number 6 and 25 on the Mainstream Rock Chart. They released their solid sophomore album The Heavy in 2004.

For almost a decade the powerful enchanting voice of U.P.O. Vocalist/ Songwriter, Shawn Albro, has been dormant. In 2012 the beast awoke and brings us a new project entitled Hopes Funeral. Recently we sat down with Hopes Funeral mastermind Shawn Albro for an in-depth look at the past of U.P.O., the future of Hopes Funeral, and the passion that drives him.

Crypticrock.com – You have been involved in the Rock and Metal scene nearly three decades now. U.P.O. achieved success in the early 2000s with both No Pleasantries and The Heavy. Your new project is called Hopes Funeral. Briefly tell me what spawned the formation of Hopes Funeral?

Shawn Albro – I’ve been writing these songs for a while now; at some point you have to stop and say, “Ok, I think I have enough here.” So, I started recording some of the new music and the first few tracks I did were for Darren Lynn Bousman (who directed the Saw movies); who put them in his new movie The Barrens starring Stephen Moyer (from the True Blood series). It kind of jump started a whole new project.

Crypticrock.com – That is inspiring to here. From the samples out there the new Hopes Funeral’s material… it really sounds great. It is very melodic, heavy, and dark. What was the writing process like for this new material, and when can fans expect to hear more of it?

Shawn Albro – The writing process is the same for me as was for U.P.O. I write from personal experiences and things I see. I bang on the guitar, get a structure hammered out for the song I’m hearing in my head, write the lyrics, and it goes back and forth. By the time everyone’s heard it… I’ve already probably played it a few hundred times. As far the music goes, it should probably be done by summer’s end.

Crypticrock.com – Great! Can we expect an album and to see Hopes Funeral on tour anytime soon around the USA?

Shawn Albro – Yea that’s the whole goal; but I’m recording now and was about to jump on a tour. However, from all my experiences, it’s just better to set it up properly. I’m just going to take the time, record a badass record, and I think the fans can expect to hear something by Hopes Funeral real soon.

Crypticrock.com – Looking forward to hearing more of the music and seeing it performed live. Your lyric style and themes have always been very dark and poetic; from U.P.O., now to Hopes Funeral. Do your lyrics come from personal experiences?

Shawn Albro – Most of those songs are from personal experiences or just things that I’m living and seeing all around me.

Crypticrock.com – Very interesting. Now, we want to ask more about U.P.O. The debut album No Pleasantries was honestly mind-blowing. Those who have heard it would agree it’s one of the most underrated Hard Rock albums from that time period. With Hopes Funeral your top priority now, could fans have any hope of hearing a new U.P.O. record in the future?

Shawn Albro – I love that record, and there could be another record if it was the right circumstances. I’ve been approached to release the second UPO record, The Heavy, with a handful of unreleased U.P.O. tracks. I’m just busy with the new band; so I really haven’t thought about doing another U.P.O. record. Although, there are a lot of tracks that definitely would make another U.P.O. record.

Crypticrock.com – Really, so there are tracks left over from The Heavy album?

Shawn Albro – Yea, I actually have stuff from No Pleasantries, The Heavy, and a bunch of killer tracks from when I was in the process of doing for a third record, but we pulled the plug on it. Instead of reworking it, I left all those tracks alone. So, maybe I’ll just readjust them, but yea… there is definitely another cool record of that material.

Crypticrock.com – That is very exciting information. You also still keep in touch with Zoltán Báthory; which a part of U.P.O. for The Heavy album. That said, do you still keep in touch with the rest of your former U.P.O. bandmates?

Shawn Albro – Yea, Zoltán has been crushing it with Five Finger Death Punch. Tommy (U.P.O. drummer) is out there with Attika 7 on Mayhem Festival too. I talk to most of the guys, there mostly playing live and out living life. Chris Weber is doing good, he’s the proud poppa of two beautiful daughters. He’s doing great; that guy can get hit by a bus and just keep coming. Chris is just working, being a dad, and that’s taking a lot of his time, but he’s just doing great.

Crypticrock.com – That is great to hear. Now as stated earlier, you have been part of the Rock music scene for nearly three decades. Your drive and dedication to making music is obviously very strong. Tell us, what keeps your hunger and driven to make your musical visions reality? Furthermore, how difficult is that in the ever-changing music industry?

Shawn Albro – I’ve always had the drive and passion to make music and sing… it’s just what I do, it’s always seemed natural. The world is ever-changing; so I see and feel new things every day, and there’s no lack of new material. As far as what keeps me dedicated… survival. (Laughs) That and the fact that people like what I do, and that’s great.

As far as the ever-changing music industry I don’t see any problems making it and making your visions reality. There are so many venues for content these days. You can get it together and get it out there, plus, you can do a lot on your own. You still need a great team to make it all happen though. As far as I go, I can just write the best songs I can and make sure my ends are tight. Once that’s done it’s in the hands of the people. (Laughs) I just write great songs and hope the rest will take care of itself.

Crypticrock.com – Right. Good music should find people no matter what. You have a very powerful and unique singing voice. That stated, who are some of your vocal influences?

Shawn Albro – I like all the Rock greats Freddy Mercury, Dio, Halford, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, and Corey Taylor, as far as all the modern contemporary killer Rock guys. Growing up I was lucky my parents had a good love of music; so, I listened to everything from Johnny Cash to Bach to Country, or whatever. I learned to imitate and appreciate tons of different styles. I basically gravitate to singers that have that ‘it’ in their voice and you can really tell what they were behind what they were saying and singing. You can feel it; whether you felt they had a great singing voice, just a message, a combo package, or just a singer and the song. I gravitated toward those who I feel are just living it.

Crypticrock.com – It is definitely more believable when you can feel it; whether they have a really good singing voice, or real message you behind the words. Your music has always been atmospheric and heavy in more than one respect. Your songs have always lyrically and musically have been emotionally heavy. Out of curiosity, what some of your music influences?

Shawn Albro – Again, I have a pretty wide influence base. Blues, Metal, Soul, Classical, Indian. All kinds of ethnic music; I’ve really been catching lot of stuff and Trance as well. I am pretty diverse.

Crypticrock.com – That is a wide range of tastes and it does bleed through in your own music. You can certainly all them bleed through in what you write. 

Shawn Albro – Yea, you will hear a lot more with Hopes Funeral. I have around 100 new tracks, and I’m still working on a bunch of new ones. There is some really killer stuff in there and I am anxious to get it out there.

Crypticrock.com – That is great to hear. There is no question that a lot of fans are anxious to hear this new material. Our last question for you is regarding films. CrypticRock.com is a music and film publication, with a concentration in Horror; so we like to focus on all genres. Are you a fan of Horror films, and if so, what are some of your favorite Horror films?

Shawn Albro – When I was a little kid I liked the original The Wolfman (1941), Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), and The Mummy (1932). Those stuck with me my whole life. I love all the modern day Horror flicks, but after the 1,2,3,4 and 10 sequels… we get numb to certain kind of things. That is why it’s cool when something refreshing and new comes around. As far as my new favorite Horror stuff, I like The Barrens… because they just put two new Hopes Funeral songs on that soundtrack. (Laughs)

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