Punk rock is a life-changer. Just ask Zoli Téglás: as the longest-running lead vocalist for Orange County political hardcore destroyers Ignite, punk’s power to change runs in Téglás’ veins.
What are the names and roles of the members of Ocean Hills?
Peta Lukacs / Guitar
Dani Keys / Keyboards
Reinder Oldenburger / Guitar
Joe Slave / Bass
Zoli Teglas / Vocals
How do you get started in music? What's the backstory there?
Ever since I can remember I always wanted to be a musician. From an early age I would stay indoors and listened to albums all day all night. I started playing in bands when I was a little kid and we would practice in our parent's garages. I got a chance to sing for the band aid 19 1994 and a month after I tried out for the band I was on the first European tour as Ignites new singer. I've been very lucky that I've had amazing opportunities through touring with ignite to join other big punk bands and rock bands.
I have sung for Pennywise, The Misfits I and I did a musical for The Who called Quadrophenia. I have had roles in the movie Terminator. I've also had roles in TV shows called the Tyrant and the Alienist to name a few. I've been very lucky because from all the training from stage you can their music you have to be honest. In acting you have to be honest. And if you can be a good frontman you can be a good actor as well. So I got a lot of training from the years of stage and touring so that I can get in front of the camera and be confident and comfortable in front of a crowd of people to nail some lines over and over again.
Acting is really easy until it isn't. The rolls I've had haven't been that many the Lines but when you move into, say, Leonardo DiCaprio's world, that's a whole different universe. I'm very lucky to be able to tour and make a living doing music and when I'm not touring be able to have the opportunities to perform in and to act in some of these big movies and big rolls that I have been in.
How did Ocean Hills come together?
A good friend of mine, Joe Slave and I have been writing music together for many years. I was introduced to one of the world's greatest guitarists, Peta Lukacs and he introduced me to one of the most talented songwriters and musicians Dany Keys. When the four of us will get into a room we would just write songs and I came so easily because these guys are so talented and such good songwriters that they would give me really good songs to sing on and then I could put my lyrics to their music that was of high caliber with great chord changes and musical progressions. We have all been friends for a long time and that's what makes this band so fun to be in because I really love each and everyone of the guys in the band.
What is the songwriting process?
To be completely honest I have no clue how to write a song or to compose a song. I've never had the ability or gift to sit down and finish a song from scratch. I've had to work very hard on every part so that he could live up to a standard to make the song as good as it can be. In Ocean Hills I am the weakest link in the worst musician of the band. I am very blessed to be working with amazing songwriters, amazing musicians and very very talented people so that when we sit down and write songs together great things happen.
What inspired "Death Or Liberty"?
"Death Or Liberty" was originally written for that Pennywise album I was working on. I always liked the vocals and I always like the lyrics for the song. Randy Bradbury bassist for Pennywise wrote the song Death Or Liberty. Since I always liked that song and it didn't make the cut for the Pennywise album I try to reuse it for the Ocean Hills album. I transpose the lyrics in the vocals to different keys and I put it on top of a song that Danny wrote while he was in Los Angeles writing music for the new hills album. Death or Liberte is a song that was written about how politicians pretty much just steal and don't represent the people that they're supposed to help.
I always despise people that come and say that they're here for the betterment of a country or they here to help the elderly or they are here to save the environment while they're stuffing their pockets with cash from big business and not caring about anything but their own profits. I have never understood the need for more and more and more and more. Somehow greed is such a powerful thing dad these politicians will start wars in murder thousands And hundreds of thousands of people to promote their businesses or their shareholders profits. It's a very sad state of affairs in the world today when it comes to politics.
What do you hope that the fans take away from the video?
For the last 20 years I've been on stage promoting social environmental and political stances with the band ignite. And Ocean Hills I wanted to write music that the average person can listen to. I want to write music that the plumber to the construction worker to the hospital worker will listen to and enjoy in the musical format that really hits their heartstrings and takes them back to the rock'n roll roots they enjoyed so much when they were younger.
I've always wanted to write music that any working man or working women can use as their musical theme songs. I really would like the listener to forget about their problems while they listen to our songs and hopefully our music and take them to a place that will bring them some happiness and some joy.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
I have a nonprofit that I started a long time ago. We rescue pelicans, seals, oceanic wildlife etc. When the world is going crazy I load up the boat and I go out to the ocean and spend the entire day looking for animals to help. I feel that mother Theresa has died so it's our turn to do what we can to make this world a little better place. There's not many people that rescue oceanic birds are pelicans and I am very needed out there in the ocean.
This is not a guilty pleasure and it's not very fun most the time but I feel like I have accomplished something when I saved an animal's life from dying at the hands of abusive people out in the oceans or dying from fishing line or dying from being trapped in fishing nets etc.
Why do you make music?
There are two things that I'm really good at: One is singing. The other is rescuing pelicans. There is a love hate relationship with both of these things that I do. But the reality is I could not imagine my life without doing all I can for wild animal rescue or singing on stage to a live audience. The reason I do music is because it's what's in my heart and music is what keeps me alive. The reality is I'm not good at much of anything else. My purpose on this earth is to be a musician and to help the environment.
How are you handling the coronavirus situation?
This is my Moto for life. “And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation - some fact of my life - unacceptable to me. I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.”
There is not much I can do about this crazy pandemic. Day to day everything changes. It's killing people worldwide and destroying the world economy. But what can I do about it? So I go out and rescue pelicans because there's nothing else I can do to help the world but that. I hope everyone reading this is healthy and staying safe and taking care of themselves and their families.
What's next for Ocean Hills?
Our plan was to go on tour throughout 2020 and 2021. The coronavirus put an end to that plan. So we will be writing more music and putting out more content via social media platforms. We will be writing more songs and working hard and keep people interested and excited about the Ocean Hills album. We will be touring as soon as we can and we will try to tour as much as we can to make up for this lost time because of the coronavirus. Until then stay tuned for our next releases.
We have a bunch of new songs and videos coming out very soon. We can't wait to see you on the road somewhere in the world when we come play for you live hopefully very soon. Stay healthy. Stay safe. And stay positive. It's all going to workout. Life is good!