Interviews

Alex Koehler - Ameonna 'Rediscovering Happiness I Let Myself Forget'

Walladmin

Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Jan 21, 2024

7 min read

If you haven’t already heard – 2024 is turning out to be one for the history books due to the comeback of ex-Chelsea Grin members Alex Koehler, Jacob Harmond and Pablo Viveros under the guise of Ameonna. We suggest you climb out from beneath the rock that you live under and acquaint yourself with the alluring sounds of the trio’s debut EP, titled Goddess Wept.

It’s no secret that these three musicians have played essential roles throughout deathcore’s developmental stages, when the scene was nowhere near the rich melting pot of immense talent that it is today. Which is what makes this comeback of paramount significance. To learn more about the project, we grabbed vocalist Alex Koehler so he could shed some light on how this new band came to be, where the idea for their unique band name came from, what direction they’ll be heading in the future and lots more…

Alex, thank you for taking the time to talk; I’m chuffed to speak with you! What have the past few years looked like for you?

Oh man, I feel like I could write a book about the last few years. A lot of it was absolute hell. My departure from Chelsea Grin caused me to have a significant identity crisis, which in turn made my struggle to stay sober that much more challenging. There were a lot of obstacles to overcome, but I’m thankful I have such an amazing family that stuck behind me. Some tough love was certainly necessary occasionally, but I’m grateful for all of it. I started touring when I was still in high school, and I feel like I kept that childlike mentality for most of my career because there were a lot of obstacles in life that I was able to skip over.

My struggles with addiction and the obstacles I was able to overcome are what finally made me grow up and become a man. Though it was extremely difficult, I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s cliche, but what doesn’t kill you truly makes you stronger. I’m a better person today because of it.

After such a long break from the deathcore world, how did you find the process of stepping into the studio to record this EP?

It was a trip. I hadn’t done extreme vocals in 6+ years. I was honestly worried that I wouldn’t be able to do it. Luckily, I’m the kind of person who does clean singing nonstop while I’m driving. So that played a massive role in being able to jump back into it after such a long break. I practiced a ton and soon realised my vocals sounded better than ever. Being healthy also played a fantastic role in that aspect. Regarding vocals, your whole body is your instrument, and I was finally caring for mine.

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‍How has the deathcore landscape changed since you were last involved in the community, and how have you navigated those differences?

Jaek always makes fun of me, but I was (and still am) extremely out of the loop with new music. So I wasn’t sure how things had changed. I just decided to focus on my strengths and write what felt good. I had a lot to say, and I knew if I were honest and vulnerable, people would be able to grasp onto it.

We had the chance to sit and talk with Left To Suffer vocalist Taylor Barber in September of last year. He shared some details of a four-track split vocalist EP he has been working on with you. What’s going on there?

I owe a lot to Taylor Barber and Luke Fiadino. They got my feet back in the game before Jaek had reached out with the idea to start a new band. I had given up on music. I was made to believe it was bad for me, and unfortunately, I listened. Taylor and Luke really gassed me back up though. They reminded me that there was still a big following of people who appreciated what I did and were hungry for more. They reminded me how much I love making music.

Our project together has been put on hold for now, as all three of us have our own ventures that keep us remarkably busy. However, we do have material written. We’ll get it out there eventually!

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‍How did the idea of Ameonna come about? Who approached whom? Who else was approached?

It was Jaek’s idea. He had approached me about starting a project. I owe a lot to him, too. I had already begun to dabble in music again with Luke and Taylor, and I still wasn’t very confident. Jaek didn’t give up, though. He helped me realise that I shouldn’t give up on my passion and that I still had a lot to give.

Once he and I had decided to give it another go, Pablo’s addition followed shortly after. Then, we were off to the races! We all worked incredibly hard on this stuff, and it turned out better than any of us had expected, and our expectations were reasonably high.

I’m very grateful for those two. They helped me rediscover a happiness that I cannot believe I let myself ever forget.

Why was it necessary to execute this project with Jacob and Pablo rather than working on something completely new with other musicians?

The sense of familiarity is enormous. Finding a group with the same creative vision is not always easy, not to mention how incredibly well we work together. I’ve known Jaek for a LONG time. Back when we were both in different local bands fighting for a spot at the top (giggles). Then Pablo and I have been super close since day one. He was my partner in crime on tour back when it was still fun, and I hadn’t yet slipped out of control with my addiction yet.

There’s been confusion about Pablo’s position in Chelsea Grin since the announcement of his involvement in Ameonna. Does he intend to perform with Chelsea Grin at any point in the future? If not, does this mean that he is all in for Ameonna?

Unfortunately, it’s not my place to speak on that. However, I’ve been assured that some clarity will be given to the public very soon.

Having gone through so much in your personal life since departing Chelsea Grin, are these tracks amongst some of the most cathartic and expressive songs you’ve ever written on a personal level?

Most definitely. Many of my lyrics early on were me trying to write the same stuff as the vocalists I looked up to were writing at the time. Then, it later evolved into my fascination with the concept of “heaven and hell”. Some personal lyrics were sprinkled in, but nothing quite like this new stuff. I also hadn’t gone through anything nearly as traumatic back then. So it only got so deep.

As hard as it may be, sometimes the best art comes from the darkest of places.

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Was it essential to choose a band name that represents the significance of your comeback within a new landscape of deathcore? Has ‘Ameonna’ achieved that while relating to its true meaning of ‘Japanese yōkai thought to call forth rain’?

I had a few names that I came up with. Ameonna was the one that jumped out to Jaek and Pablo immediately.

Ameonna is portrayed as a woman who calls forth the rain. She’s also a demon. The sense of something that could be viewed as beautiful AND evil simultaneously fit perfectly with what we were writing.

That correlation will make even more sense with some of the material we have yet to release. *wink wink.

What sort of response is necessary to see the three of you on stage together under the Ameonna banner? How might an Ameonna performance look?

The response has already been so incredible! It has lit an intense, newfound fire in all of us. Nothing is set in stone at this time, but I wouldn’t count it out whatsoever.

Where might Australia sit in your top list of countries to visit if demand for worldwide touring with Ameonna is significant?

Australia has always been a personal favourite destination of mine. I love the scenery, I love the people, I love the thriving music scene. I honestly wish I could live there! If an opportunity to get back out there was put in front of us, I’d probably just force the guys to do it, even if they didn’t want to (laughs).

What’s the next step in the plans for Ameonna?

We won’t be one of those groups that makes a big “comeback” splash and then disappears for another couple of years. We have a TON of material, and the writing process hasn’t stopped once since we started. I won’t give away too much of the surprise, but you can expect to see a lot from us for some time to come.

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Obviously, your eyes are set on emerging projects like Ameonna, but you’d have to be living under a rock to miss what modern Chelsea Grin is up to. Have you streamed their latest double record? What did you think?

I honestly haven’t. I have no bad feelings towards the current members, but it was a tough pill for me to swallow for a long time. CG was my baby. It was difficult for me to accept not being a part of it. I’ve done a lot of healing since then though, and this new project has filled a void I had in my soul for a long time. So, I definitely need to listen to it now. I’m sure it’s incredible!

I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving to carry that mantle than Tom.

Do you have any final thoughts for fans?

Words cannot describe how grateful I am, truly. I am so lucky to have this second opportunity, and it’s because so many of you never gave up on me. There’s so much I want to say, but I’m at a loss for words. Just know this means the world to Jaek, Pablo and I.

All I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart. I get quite emotional when I think about the journey. I’m such an incredibly lucky man. I love you all!

Stay tuned for more from the world of Ameonna.

Interview by Adam Rice

Ameonna’s debut EP Goddess Wept is out now.Stream/Pre-Order Vinyl and merch here