
Raibard Interview
Q: What were the discussion like before recording The Queen of the Night? Did you guys know what you wanted to go for? The sound has a classic hard rock feel that I imagine would be hard to achieve without pre-production.
Adam: I jumped in post tracking to record bass parts. We tried to go for a live feel even though the bass tracks were recorded after the guitar, vocal and drums for the most part.
Phil: We hardly talked about the recording at all. We had just met and mostly talked about books and movies. Mostly Star Wars and Tolkien :) I’m pretty sure Dan had a master plan mapped out for the concept and sound and had most of the songs written already. We are both huge fans of classic rock and it definitely shows in our playing and sound. Daniel had these '67 Ludwigs and 60's zildjians in his studio. We got some Aquarian heads put on them and Ken at Jacks Drum Shop was kind enough to tune 'em up nice!! I knocked the dust of them and I think they really contributed to that classic sound as well.
Daniel: We really didn’t have a plan. Phil and I were rehearsing and having a great time playing together, and were actively seeking a bassist. So we would have these epic jams and we would practice material I had written. At some point I decided to record our practice sessions. Then we met Adam and the whole thing just came together. There was all of a sudden like this unexplained thing happening when the three of us got together; there still is. Actually it's even more now. So, anyhow we were getting ready as a trio to start recording, and I had a general plan, when I remembered the sessions I had recorded of Phil and I practicing. So I went through and was shocked that like most of the drum parts were done! The practice sessions sounded killer! So I then went about assessing how many guitar parts worked and Adam and I started overdubbing, guitar and bass, respectively. I also put down my vocal tracks, and recorded I think three more drum tracks with Phil. Looking back on it, I just had all these tunes and the sound was in my head as to what I wanted them to sound like. The truth is, I think that all three of us had that, a sound in our head, and luckily, our heads sound similar!
Q: There are three songs close to the ten-minute mark. I enjoy these long form songs but what is the creative process like which deviates from standard pop structure?
Adam: When you push the envelope, that's when your music can take shape. Playing longer songs we feel is a way to express the meaning of the song but allows our playing to connect with the audience.
Phil: I think we just like to explore ideas and see were they go. Like riding a wave into the stream of unconsciousness. Being open to flowing with ideas and hopefully having some epiphanies on the way and ultimately, if we are really on, reaching a higher awareness, understanding and shining through with the light. Bang !! Like a bolt, an awakening and back to the form. The songs have a basic structure but certain parts lend themselves to unfold however we are feeling that day. Sometimes ten minutes, sometimes a full rehearsal and sometimes not at all.
Daniel: Learning to listen is where everything is in playing and writing music. What does the music need? Where do we hear it going? When this is the approach, and I think there's no mistaking that this is Raibard's approach, there is what appears to be a deviation from standard form, but from our perspective - standard form has deviated from true musical intent and quality. The true standard in music should always begin and end with the question “what does the music need?"
Q: Can you talk about some of themes of the album? What ties it together?
Adam: One major theme is that music is a binding force that ties people and musicians together. “Forest of Song” is about that exact concept. Each musician's energy adds to the growth of the metaphorical forest and the more energy there is, the bigger the forest gets! The "space" section of “Forest of Song” gives each musician a chance to show their inner personality.
Daniel: There is a theme of hiddenness. That there is this hidden world that we all share and it is filled with real beauty and intense emotions. And there is a ruler of this world, the hidden world; which is what The Queen of the Night is all about. It is kind of the opposite of an authoritarian structure actually. In the inner/hidden world EVERYONE is included precisely because everyone expresses true emotions at some point in their lives; we can all learn from the true expressions of others.
Q: I thought the production was great. Do you have any tips for other DIY musicians who aren’t working in a professional studio?
Daniel: Hey so glad you dig the production! I worked really hard on this aspect of it. Perhaps it almost drove me a little nuts. I mean recorded, edited, mixed and mastered by one person, me, is insane. I mastered it 13 times for example. Really. And I just couldn’t do anymore.
My advice is keep searching for your sound. Once you find the equipment you need, don't buy anything else. Work on your skills and learn to lead with your ears. Your ears know MUCH more than your brain. Trust them. Don’t change something because it 'should' sound better if it doesn't. Also, spend as much time in professional studios as you can. In any context. The knowledge and experience of professional engineers will rub off, at least a little anyway. I spent many years in professional studios around the world recording all sorts of music; this helped me a lot when I decided to take it into my home, as I had a good reference point for what things should sound like, and how stuff works.
Q: What are you live shows like? Do you play with session players to mimic the album which often has multiple guitars?
Adam: We play as a trio and try not to stick to record 100%. There is often some improvisation and free form ambient jams. It's hard to accomplish in less than 45 minutes but we do our best.
Phil: Horrifying, emotional, fun, communal, exciting, exhausting, exhilarating, mysterious, powerful, visionary, odd.
Daniel: The essential idea is that concert and CD experiences are different and should be approached differently from the beginning. We want more to include the audience in a shared experience than we want to show them how good we are. So it's just the three of us playing live. Our interactions are what is interesting, and not our ability to play exactly like the CD. I mean if anything, when you come see us, you'll get more than what's on the CD. Like every time we play we might take things into different places. It's about the experience not the performance. Although I should add we do perform to a very, very high standard. Like I said, if you come see us there'll be more than what is on the CD not the same or less. There'll be more music, more ideas, more experience.
Here's an example of a rehearsal that went into a totally improvised jam. This is exactly where we are going live also. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygd-QETRgfA
Q: What are your plans for 2017 and beyond?
Adam: Promote the band by word of mouth, social media and playing out in clubs. Beyond that...more shows and more recording!
Phil: Continued practice of reaching enlightenment through music.
Daniel: We'll keep playing out and recording. And we'll set our sights on the highest and deepest emotions and hopefully be able to share that vision with as many beautiful people as possible. We'd love to have the honor of playing for larger audiences also. Although it is a total privilege to play for even one person.
Q: What were the discussion like before recording The Queen of the Night? Did you guys know what you wanted to go for? The sound has a classic hard rock feel that I imagine would be hard to achieve without pre-production.
Adam: I jumped in post tracking to record bass parts. We tried to go for a live feel even though the bass tracks were recorded after the guitar, vocal and drums for the most part.
Phil: We hardly talked about the recording at all. We had just met and mostly talked about books and movies. Mostly Star Wars and Tolkien :) I’m pretty sure Dan had a master plan mapped out for the concept and sound and had most of the songs written already. We are both huge fans of classic rock and it definitely shows in our playing and sound. Daniel had these '67 Ludwigs and 60's zildjians in his studio. We got some Aquarian heads put on them and Ken at Jacks Drum Shop was kind enough to tune 'em up nice!! I knocked the dust of them and I think they really contributed to that classic sound as well.
Daniel: We really didn’t have a plan. Phil and I were rehearsing and having a great time playing together, and were actively seeking a bassist. So we would have these epic jams and we would practice material I had written. At some point I decided to record our practice sessions. Then we met Adam and the whole thing just came together. There was all of a sudden like this unexplained thing happening when the three of us got together; there still is. Actually it's even more now. So, anyhow we were getting ready as a trio to start recording, and I had a general plan, when I remembered the sessions I had recorded of Phil and I practicing. So I went through and was shocked that like most of the drum parts were done! The practice sessions sounded killer! So I then went about assessing how many guitar parts worked and Adam and I started overdubbing, guitar and bass, respectively. I also put down my vocal tracks, and recorded I think three more drum tracks with Phil. Looking back on it, I just had all these tunes and the sound was in my head as to what I wanted them to sound like. The truth is, I think that all three of us had that, a sound in our head, and luckily, our heads sound similar!
Q: There are three songs close to the ten-minute mark. I enjoy these long form songs but what is the creative process like which deviates from standard pop structure?
Adam: When you push the envelope, that's when your music can take shape. Playing longer songs we feel is a way to express the meaning of the song but allows our playing to connect with the audience.
Phil: I think we just like to explore ideas and see were they go. Like riding a wave into the stream of unconsciousness. Being open to flowing with ideas and hopefully having some epiphanies on the way and ultimately, if we are really on, reaching a higher awareness, understanding and shining through with the light. Bang !! Like a bolt, an awakening and back to the form. The songs have a basic structure but certain parts lend themselves to unfold however we are feeling that day. Sometimes ten minutes, sometimes a full rehearsal and sometimes not at all.
Daniel: Learning to listen is where everything is in playing and writing music. What does the music need? Where do we hear it going? When this is the approach, and I think there's no mistaking that this is Raibard's approach, there is what appears to be a deviation from standard form, but from our perspective - standard form has deviated from true musical intent and quality. The true standard in music should always begin and end with the question “what does the music need?"
Q: Can you talk about some of themes of the album? What ties it together?
Adam: One major theme is that music is a binding force that ties people and musicians together. “Forest of Song” is about that exact concept. Each musician's energy adds to the growth of the metaphorical forest and the more energy there is, the bigger the forest gets! The "space" section of “Forest of Song” gives each musician a chance to show their inner personality.
Daniel: There is a theme of hiddenness. That there is this hidden world that we all share and it is filled with real beauty and intense emotions. And there is a ruler of this world, the hidden world; which is what The Queen of the Night is all about. It is kind of the opposite of an authoritarian structure actually. In the inner/hidden world EVERYONE is included precisely because everyone expresses true emotions at some point in their lives; we can all learn from the true expressions of others.
Q: I thought the production was great. Do you have any tips for other DIY musicians who aren’t working in a professional studio?
Daniel: Hey so glad you dig the production! I worked really hard on this aspect of it. Perhaps it almost drove me a little nuts. I mean recorded, edited, mixed and mastered by one person, me, is insane. I mastered it 13 times for example. Really. And I just couldn’t do anymore.
My advice is keep searching for your sound. Once you find the equipment you need, don't buy anything else. Work on your skills and learn to lead with your ears. Your ears know MUCH more than your brain. Trust them. Don’t change something because it 'should' sound better if it doesn't. Also, spend as much time in professional studios as you can. In any context. The knowledge and experience of professional engineers will rub off, at least a little anyway. I spent many years in professional studios around the world recording all sorts of music; this helped me a lot when I decided to take it into my home, as I had a good reference point for what things should sound like, and how stuff works.
Q: What are you live shows like? Do you play with session players to mimic the album which often has multiple guitars?
Adam: We play as a trio and try not to stick to record 100%. There is often some improvisation and free form ambient jams. It's hard to accomplish in less than 45 minutes but we do our best.
Phil: Horrifying, emotional, fun, communal, exciting, exhausting, exhilarating, mysterious, powerful, visionary, odd.
Daniel: The essential idea is that concert and CD experiences are different and should be approached differently from the beginning. We want more to include the audience in a shared experience than we want to show them how good we are. So it's just the three of us playing live. Our interactions are what is interesting, and not our ability to play exactly like the CD. I mean if anything, when you come see us, you'll get more than what's on the CD. Like every time we play we might take things into different places. It's about the experience not the performance. Although I should add we do perform to a very, very high standard. Like I said, if you come see us there'll be more than what is on the CD not the same or less. There'll be more music, more ideas, more experience.
Here's an example of a rehearsal that went into a totally improvised jam. This is exactly where we are going live also. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygd-QETRgfA
Q: What are your plans for 2017 and beyond?
Adam: Promote the band by word of mouth, social media and playing out in clubs. Beyond that...more shows and more recording!
Phil: Continued practice of reaching enlightenment through music.
Daniel: We'll keep playing out and recording. And we'll set our sights on the highest and deepest emotions and hopefully be able to share that vision with as many beautiful people as possible. We'd love to have the honor of playing for larger audiences also. Although it is a total privilege to play for even one person.