In an age dominated with bubble gum pop music, it is hard to find a band that is creating music for the experience and the desire to touch the souls of their fans in a way only music can. However, that is the case for Shaun Morgan, Dale Stewart, Pat Callahan and John Humphrey, the four bandmates hailing from South Africa that make up the rock band Seether.

For those drawing blanks, Seether is the band that released “Broken,” featuring Amy Lee of Evanescence on the soundtrack for the movie Punisher in 2003. After the song’s success, they re-released their debut album, “Disclaimer,” with the now famed track added on.

Already achieving a gold record in the U.S. with the previously mentioned album, “Disclaimer II” went gold in Canada with impressive speed. Now they’re out with “Karma and Effect,” released on Tuesday.

Stewart, Seether’s bassist, says the intention of the breakout song was never to make an impact in the pop market; it just happened that way.

“The ‘Broken thing’ was really good,” he says before performing at the El Mocambo in Toronto last week. “It got us released all over the world and gave us really great exposure. We originally recorded it to be a soundtrack song. We never intended it to be a pop single.”

The song threw the band into the spotlight of the pop scene, and they quickly found themselves standing next to complete opposites, like Ashlee Simpson and Christina Aguilera. “We felt a little bit out of place. It was like that double edge sword.”

On one side, they were getting fame and attention. On the other, they were being branded as a pop band. Listen to any of their songs besides “Broken” or see them in concert and you would know that they are not pop at all, and are one of the few bands in the current rock scene that stay true to themselves and their music.

To paraphrase a quote from the band, the point of their music is not to get their face shown on TV, but as mentioned, to touch people in ways only music can. Their sound, style, and lyrics naturally make the band stand out, and their music has been identified by many, encompassing a wide range of fans from insurgent teens to motorcycle-dads.

Seether’s first hit single, “Fine Again,” off “Disclaimer,” influenced a drug addicted teen to seek rehab, and also gave her the will to live.

“It was a really good feeling,” Stewart says about how their lyrics have had the power to affect someone in such a positive way. “She was like 16 or 17 and was already in the hospital. It gave her hope.

“You write music and you hope it will have a positive effect on people, but it’s almost like you never really expect it because it’s so bizarre, especially when you are starting out. It blew my mind. It makes you want to do it even more.”

During their concert later that night, Seether played tracks off their new album, including the first single, “Remedy.” They also rocked some of their past tracks including “Fine Again,” and an acoustic version of “Broken.”

Seether will be touring all summer long across the U.S.






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