Mississippi based musicians and songwriters Joel Case and Zakk Murray create music together as Odyssey Generator. Their new single “Could This Be Heaven” is now available.

We had the opportunity to interview the guys so keep scrolling to learn more about the musicians, the music and to find links to all their goods.

Who is Odyssey Generator? How did you form?

Joel: Right now.. Zakk and me are Odyssey Generator, but this band is a fluid thing. We will eventually bring in more musicians, and I’m not against playing a solo show.. I knew I wanted to be accompanied by other musicians, I’ve tried doing the solo singer/songwriter thing, but always felt something was missing. Part of the artistry of music is working with other musicians to make good music great.

Why this name for the band?

Joel: At first we were going to go by Joel Case, but that name is already in use by another artist. At first I tried using it anyway, but it was too much trouble. So I came up with Odyssey Generator. I like the concept of the name. Its better than Joel Case anyway. Way more fun..

Who or what influences your sound?

Joel: Bob Dylan mainly his more obscure stuff, I get sick of his 60’s sound pretty quick. I like albums like New Morning and John Wesley Harding. In the 90’s when I was growing up. I was really into Everclear, The Offspring, Smashing Pumpkins, 3rd Eye Blind, stuff like that… I remember the first time I heard Semi-charmed kinda life ..blew.. ..my.. ..mind.. It gave me such an intense feeling of Euphoria.

Zakk: Well, for me, this style of music is a new thing, but Joel told me when bringing me in to work with him it was my difference of background that he was excited about trying to utilize. So my influences are probably the furthest things from what we actually sound like. People like Paul Waggoner, Paul Masvidal, and Dimebag Darrell are probably the ones that stand out the most for
me really. Outside of that, I simply draw off of Joel’s songwriting and emotion a lot. He is great at portraying his art emotionally and that makes him a great source of on demand inspiration for how to play a lot of what we are looking for, and that makes using my odd source of influence in a way that fits our music pretty easy.

What has motivated to keep you making music all these years?

Joel: The fact that some music makes me feel extremely good, and I think making it is the some of the best functional utilization of my time. People also have told me I have real skill and have expressed genuine disappointment when I did not make the most of my musical talent.

Zakk: Well, honestly, we feel we have our mark to leave with our given time, and since the first time I picked up a guitar I knew that’s how I wanted to leave my mark. Even though I have thought at times it could end up being something different, I also end up back playing music, specifically guitar.

What’s in store for Odyssey Generator in 2016? Any big releases, events, tours?

Joel: We are researching how to get in on record company tours, we will also be putting out more fully produced singles.

Where can we connect with you online? Stream some music?

Joel: Our home base is odysseygenerator.com.

You can hear us easily on youtube or soundcloud.

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What was the last song you listened to?

Zakk: Tricscapes-Digital Dream Sequence Album… yes the whole thing.

Joel: Kate Miller-Heidke ‘O Vertigo!’ The best version is the live performance at Double J Launch

Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?

Zakk: Well, I definitely want to thank all the people who have made Odyssey Generator an almost overnight success in our eyes. We literally started this just a few months back and have already covered such a large area with a level of success I don’t think Joel or myself thought possible this early on. As long as you guys keep listening, we’ll keep playing.

Joel: True that, we are nothing without our listeners and our friends, and I think even the listeners we have never met are practically friends already on a musical level. I’m glad people like us but even if they don’t, odyssey will be generated regardless…