#rockrevolt

Chester Bennington

When someone who touches lives around the world with his voice and words for a living does something that many see as unconscionable like dying by suicide, it can tilt the world on its axis for many. Existence becomes foggy, and memories sometimes just hurt too fucking much to recall. Uncomfortable emotions fill us, and many are left unsure how to feel. Our emotions don’t make sense, but they remind us we are alive.

That was the state of things for many around the world when it was announced that Chester Bennington of Linkin Park had died by suicide on Thursday, July 20, 2017. The news sent many reeling – emotions ranged from devastation to sadness, anger to disappointment and judgment. How could the man that many had turned to for words of encouragement, for saving them in their own trials of darkness, for a sense of belonging when there was nowhere left to turn suddenly turn on himself? How could he abandon his post as icon and public feature? Didn’t he have anyone to talk to? He had it all – money, fame – what did he have to complain about? Did he not think of his family? His friends? His fans? And therein lies the problem.

Depression, mental illness, and addiction – all of which can lead to suicide – do not discriminate. They do not care who you are, what you do for a living, who you have in your life who may be counting on you, or how much money you have. They can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. And if you have dealt or are dealing with one of those things, please know you are not alone.

Statistically speaking, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America, and on average, 121 people die by suicide every single day. Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women, and the rate of suicides is higher for men of middle age. Suicide is an incredibly complex symptom of depression and mental illness (among other things), and unfortunately for us here in the music world, it’s one we are growing ever more aware of – and the statistics seem to become more and more real.

Chester Bennington

With the sudden loss of Chris Cornell in May, and now with the passing of Chester Bennington, it is more important than ever to raise awareness for suicide and its prevention. Many people say things like, “If you need to talk to me, I am here.” And that’s all well and good. But, what people don’t realize is that suicide is largely silent – though one may show signs of being ready to die by suicide, it is rare that the person is in a state of mind to reach out themselves and ask for help. Fear of judgment, shame, and ridicule paralyze many of those contemplating suicide, leaving them silent. To place the responsibility of reaching out for help onto the plate of someone who is in that mindset is not an effective way to prevent him or her from dying by suicide.

Suicide prevention can only be successful when others know what an oncoming suicide attempt may look like – when they know what to look for, what signs someone may be giving that they are contemplating suicide. And we must give others the confidence and courage to act when they see or feel or hear something that their gut tells them is amiss. We must trust ourselves enough to know that when we see or feel or hear something, we need to say something – without fear of judgment. It honestly could save a life. We must remember that oftentimes suicide is not something that openly advertises. It happens in secret because we in this country seem to be so ashamed to talk about mental illness and what it looks like.

So, instead of raising awareness, we light candles when our beloved icons die by suicide.

Chester Bennington was not exactly quiet when it came to dealing with mental illness and addiction, and his lyrics paint pretty vivid portraits of the battles he fought with his demons. It’s not our job to dig into his words and pick out things he said that may point to one thing or another. So many of us have used his words to heal, and that’s what we must do in the wake of his passing. Each of us must remember that we never know what is going on behind someone’s smile, and we must not take one smile in a day of sadness as a sign that someone is okay. We have to do better, and this has to start with all of us. 

As a society, we need to take care of each other. We need to see all of your faces in the crowds at shows, in the lines at merch tables, in the pit where you can leave it all behind. We all need to see you out there because the world needs you here, and Chester and Chris, and all of the other stars whose lights have dimmed far too soon would want to see you out there, also.

Chester Bennington

We cannot speculate on the “why”s in times like these – the why is none of our business. We only can focus on what to do from here. And that’s when we do better. Look out for each other, don’t take threats of suicide as a joke, and by all means, please act if you feel the situation warrants it. Resources and crisis centers exist to help people, and we here at RockRevolt Magazine urge you to utilize these resources to help save yourself or someone else. Please, start here. 

For many, Linkin Park was a first foray into NuMetal, and Chester was the first real emotive scream behind a mic that many of us experienced over the airwaves. It is those screams and that voice of hope through the pain that fans have clung to, and can still continue to reach for today. Chester Bennington left a catalog of musical healing for the masses. In the emotional turmoil over his loss, please do not forget the gifts he gave us all, the memories you may have of him, and his family who assuredly will be struggling more than any single one of us during this time.

He was one of the most iconic voices of our time, and while it may hurt to listen to right now, don’t let his passing take away the love and admiration you may have had for his work. His legacy will live on in his lyrics. He will always be a safe place for many of us to turn when we need a reminder that we, too, will find a place for our heads.

Chester Bennington

Take care of each other. The world needs you.

If you or someone you love needs help right now, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.

Tribute by Devon Anderson, RockRevolt Managing Editor Photos by Kinsey Blake Haynes and Steve Porter, RockRevolt Photojournalists

Seven years after their last release “Critical Mass”, Ra is back with their long anticipated single “Intercorrupted”.  Front man Sahaj Ticotin took some time to talk with us about the fact that we may have not seen or heard anything from Ra, does not mean he has not been putting in work.  During the time between Ra’s releases Sahaj has been sharpening his skills producing other artist works such as the upcoming solo album from Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust.  Hear what Sahaj has to say about Ra of the past and how excited he is to get all the guys back together and see what the next chapter of Ra has to offer

  http://rockrevoltmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Ra2-audio-edit.mp3

Be ready March 19th 2021 when Ra releases their first album in eight years 

    Ra is:

Sahaj Ticotin

Skoota Warner

Ben Carroll

P.J. Farley

  Connect with Ra (click icons):

  Interview by Ace Sims

  Connect with Ace Sims (click icons):

SETH SALOIS-VOCALS/GUITAR JAY SPYNE-DRUMS MIKE KAZ-BASS/VOCALS JOE NICOLAZZO-LEAD GUITAR

Rock band Psycle is kicking ass, and taking names! With a new album titled Kill the Machine releasing on June 16,2020, Psycle is definitely a contender for greatness that you should be keeping on your radar. The band released their debut single, also titled “Kill the Machine” along with the accompanying lyric video on March 24th, and they are not showing any signs of slowing down…So – sit back, relax, and read on to why this band is our Indie Band of the Week!

How do you describe your music to people?

I would say that our music is honest. I know something that we take pride in when we are writing songs is making sure that the song is serviced first. I think that songs can get away from you if there is any ego injected into the writing process. Sometimes we have to let the song be what it is and if that means a part that we wrote as an individual doesn’t fit or make it better, it probably shouldn’t be there. I think songs are at their best when they can breathe and you can hear each person part. I know that especially live we are very cognizant of our volumes and tones. I never want to step on Joe’s tone or drown him out. I think that to be at your best, you must complement each other.

What image do you think your music conveys?

As a band I think that we want people to have a sense of hope and belonging. Being at a point of feeling alone whether mentally or physically can be daunting. I hope that our music makes people feel included and presents a feeling of being able to overcome. We never go into writing a song thinking it needs to sound or be a certain way, just that it will be its best self once it’s completed. I hope people can feel the same way about themselves and that sometimes we are only partially down the road of our own story and there is a lot more left to see and hear.

Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to find your music to write about?

I think that any way that you can reach people is important. Things have changed so much due to accessibility and I think that it can be very positive and powerful. Being able to say thank you to fans, music critics, radio stations etc. is amazing and you can use it to push the words of your music. On the flip side of this, I think that you need to be careful what waters to find yourself in and you have to realize that some people may not like your music or maybe they are just out to get a reaction.  I think treating everyone with respect is important and more importantly something we forget “You can love people but you don’t have to love everything about them”. It is OK to disagree and sometimes if we are open enough, we may learn our way of handling something could be wrong or better serviced with more information.

How would you define the word “success”?

Success to me is reaching the most people with our music as possible. I have never ever written a song or a lyric thinking “Oh this will make us a million bucks”. To me, being able to make music full time and play in front of people is success. I want the music to be heard by as many people as possible. I want our music to affect people and make them talk about things and open up. I don’t believe any of us need to have a disguise to go food shopping or go to the movies to feel successful. I think that the longevity of the music and the effect it brings is success enough.

Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

Funny you should ask! Our bass player Mike just had this conversation on his Facebook live that he does every Friday night. He was asking about our first tapes, album and even 8-tracks hahaha. I can remember my earliest memories of my mother blaring Beatles records, Queen, Billy Joel, Elton John, Michael Jackson and so many more. That was a huge influence on myself and I know the other guys were influenced by albums such as Derek and the Dominoes, KISS, Devo and so many more. We have such a wide variety of influences and I think it does service us when we are writing.

Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

I think that our inspiration comes from each other. The 4 of us get in a room and we go off of how riffs or progressions makes us feel. It sometimes even just takes a small 20 second clip of something for us to run with it. We record all of our rehearsals so when we are done, Joe cuts them up and sends them to our emails to listen. A lot of times just a little jam warming up can lead to something. When we are writing and finishing songs, we make sure we play them until they feel broken in. Sometimes the songs need something very small for the last puzzle piece. I think hearing them on stage also helps. Getting in a different head space can sometimes spark creativity

Which famous musicians have you learned from?

I have to say that I find myself going back to Dave Grohl a lot. He just loves to play music and not just his music but with others and as a guitar player, or a drummer, or a vocalist. Dave’s passion is just very inspiring and I think that his determination is something to look up to. He has an acceptance that music doesn’t have to be defined in the genre that we play in. I think that by being well rounded you can open the possibilities in your own writing.

How do you promote your band and shows?

Promote everywhere you can and ask for help! With a lot of the social media sites being driven by algorithms, it’s important that you utilize any way possible to push your content. At one point in my life I wanted nothing to do with Twitter. Taking a step back I realized that so many others do and I would be cutting of my nose despite my face if I refused something like that. Find different ways, be creative, be memorable, and have fun with it.

What type of recording process did you use? Who produced your recording?

We recorded our 2017 EP “Surfaces” at No Boundaries Studios with Producer Chris Piquette. We went back to Chris when we decided t record our follow up album “Kill the Machine” which is out June 12th. I love the studio and I always feel more creative when we finish recording. Being able to hear all the work that you have put in separated and mixed is beautiful. It offers a new context on the music and sometimes you realize “You were playing that” to your band mate. With Chris, he works very fast and has his process down to a science. This allowed us an opportunity to be creative and try new things. I think capturing moments of inspiration is more important that a perfect take. Once you find that inspiration, you can fix the technical aspect later. Our music is meant to have a rawness to it and I love capturing those moments. I especially love the drums and how small things played a different way can change to mood and feeling of a song. We can’t wait for people to hear the whole album.

Do you have a band website? Why or why not? Do you have a Facebook or Twitter? Do you use Bandcamp, Spotify or SoundCloud to share your music?

We have every kind of site that will allow us content hahaha. I think that you should utilize every single site you can because you don’t know how people get their music. You can look at data and listen to others but you never know where people may be looking. I think it’s very important for your sites to look professional, remain accessible and make people want to explore. More importantly, make the music easy to get to. On our website, you can hear and listen to our music before you even enter the site. All of our social media pages are clickable on the intro page and we want it to be inviting for people to search thru the site for more content. Give people a reason to explore!

Connect with Psycle (click icons):

The Dodies are: Yoni Avittan – Singer / Guitarist Ran Aronson – Drummer / Synth Bassist / Backing Vocalist

We know COVID has been keeping everyone down, but it’s time to GET UP and start kicking the damn quaratine baking to the curb and start listening to some music.

This week’s Indie Band of the Week are THE DODIES. They are a young garage rock duo from the southern desert of Israel. Yoni Avittan fronts the band as lead vocalist and guitarist, as Ran Aronson sings backing vocals while simultaneously playing bass lines on keyboard with one hand and playing the entire drum kit with the other. He’s A HUMAN OCTOPUS.

So – lay back, take a read and take a listen to our INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK! THE DODIES!

How do you describe your music to people?

We like to describe our music as “suburban rock” – it gives an idea of our vibe. We also say garage rock, and 90’s rock influenced.

What image do you think your music conveys?

It depends on the song, some songs are more epic where its easier to imagine your hair blowing in a powerful windstorm, some songs are intimate and quite as if we’re playing beside you in the room, and some songs just make you want to kick things on the street.

How do you rate your live performance ability? (Be very critical. No clichés!!)

It varies.

Yoni – what usually happens is that I want the show to be perfect so if I make a little mistake it can make me overly critical. I’ll play the entire show thinking “this sucks dick” but by the time we get off stage I usually see a lot of happy faces in the crowd that really seem to have enjoyed what we did. It’s a big contrast to what goes on in my head and it’s a little confusing. So the question is a difficult one to answer, our objectivity is a little off the handle

Ran – I would honestly say our live shows abilities have become better. Being able to play a good live show is an ability you develop over time, especially as a two piece group with a minimal setup. The upside is that it intensifies the positive impact you may have on people if a show goes really well. The downside is the dangerous part – if something goes wrong, even with the gear (which we’re super depend on since we don’t have a bass player), we are screwed. It’s happened before, but I believe we’re even getting better at handling those situations over time.

The Dodies – It’s One Hell of a Ride

Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition? What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?

We have had a few nerve wrecking shows. Those are the shows where you feel vulnerable the most, when you feel like every little mistake or error could be a real career ending catastrophe. But the more shows we play, the more we realize being nervous is not something you could or should be fighting. Anything that could help you focus and live with the feeling, instead of getting distracted by it could work – meditation, a stroll around the venue etc.

What are your immediate music career goals? (Next 1 to 3 years.)

Touring every possible place, and bringing our music to as many people as we can by doing so is the immediate goal. Touring across different countries has always been our biggest dream – having lived in such a small country as Israel, let alone the fact that it’s not part of Europe or North America. This is what we’re aiming towards.

What about your long-term career goals?

Our long term career goal is to record all of our songs under various albums. We never stop working on new music . As long as we have un-recorded songs, we’ll always have the urge to record them, and it usually takes years.  

How would you define the word “success”?

It’s a hard one, since so many rock stars that reached the position we’ve always dreamt of ended up self-destructing. Being able to enjoy your creation for what it is, being able to communicate well with the people you create with, being connected to yourself enough to be able and appreciate the little things you’ve got. Those things are very hard whether you’re a rock star or just a rocker, and really achieving them would be considered a success.

What type of recording process did you use? Who produced your recording?

We started recording our debut album in Austin Texas, along with Matt Novesky and Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal. When we tackled some problems with getting back to the US, Ron suggested he would come to our hometown in southern Israel and we’d finish the record there, and that’s exactly what happened. We booked three days at a local studio, and Ron came to produce the rest of the album with us. After three days of tracking drums, guitar and synth bass at the studio, we moved on to Ran’s bedroom. There we used good ol’ Cubase and a condenser mic to track vocals, percussion, and all sorts of wacky sounds for all the songs. The recording process was then followed by months of mixing together, sending mixes back and forth between us and Ron, until we made everything sound exactly the way we wanted.

What are your songs about? In other words, what specific themes do they cover?

The songs in “It’s one hell of a ride” mainly focus on angsty feelings of alienation and depression. Our newer songs focus more on self-discovery and the willingness to except that we don’t know everything as much as we’d like to believe we do. All in all, our songs deal with personal experiences and feelings.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes, if we didn’t write our own songs until now we probably would’ve quit playing a long time ago. There’s something irreplaceable about writing your own music and finding your own sound. We believe it makes you committed to the music in a unique, profound way. That’s what made us believe in ourselves throughout the years.

How did you sell your CD’s/Audio Files? (Consignment? Live sales? iTunes? CD Baby? Amazon.com? Tunecore? Through traditional distributors/stores?)

Up until recently, we would take a bunch of CD’s with our demos on them to every show. We burned all the CD’s, one by one on our home computer, and Yoni would draw a different drawing on each of them. Over the years we’ve probably handed a few hundred of them to different people. They are scattered out there, waiting to become a rare collectors item. We are proud to say we’ve since moved forward to the 21st century, and our new album is now available (through Tunecore) on all the streaming platforms.

Connect with The Dodies (click icons):

Unfamiliarity or a lack of intrigue seem the last set of problems that’d plague YouTube and music sensation Poppy. What started as a seemingly innocuous project, if not a shade or two creepy, now boasts a dedicated fanbase of friends, several feature albums, and as of today, a graphic novel. Poppy: Genesis 1, a title as straightforward yet layered as any string of words uttered by the subject herself, is an ‘origin story’ of sorts to the enigma that is Poppy.

Set in a concealed Hi-Tech factory where Poppy is kept, the novel revolves around an exploration of what as well as who Poppy really is, versus what the world receives her as. An Android with an advanced AI system that is capable of producing startlingly man-like speech, and thought processes, the reader is greeted by a signature “I’m Poppy,” and an invitation to be friends- completely on brand for the YouTube personality. The plot follows what is supposed to be a psychological assessment of Poppy, that aims to determine her readiness for a mysterious “final update” that would make her one of the most powerful tools any organization could possess. Needless to say, things hardly go as planned for any of the characters as chaos ensues.

Granted, the idea of AI androids with a likeness to humanity has been done to death, however the graphic novel remains a surprisingly clever piece and an engaging read. For a book that is meant to finally address the innumerable theories as to the meaning behind the entire project, the answer remains about as straightforward as anything involving Poppy ever is. The mass populations and fans go as far as to deem her a symbol anarchy and a challenge to the mainstream appreciation and idealization of art. However, there lingers a suspicion that there truly is nothing more to her words than meets the eye; that all the audience sees is a reflection of what they wish to see. 

Connect with Poppy(click icons):

Review by RockRevolt journalist Stan Rastogi

Diamante – Coming in hotter than ever

Sporting bright blue hair and a leather jacket, someone not hip to the rock scene would imagine that Diamante is not someone to be trifled with, a badass who doesn’t want to talk to you because why should she care what you think? However, upon saying hello and being greeted with a hug instead of a handshake, it was clear that Diamante is, quite literally, one of the nicest folks one could have…

Sporting bright blue hair and a leather jacket, someone not hip to the rock scene would imagine that Diamante is not someone to be trifled with, a badass who doesn’t want to talk to you because why should she care what you think? However, upon saying hello and being greeted with a hug instead of a handshake, it was clear that Diamante is, quite literally, one of the nicest folks one could have the pleasure of meeting. *Make no mistake, she is still very much a badass…*

I caught up with the pint-sized powerhouse at the Cleveland date of what is easily one of this summer’s hottest tours, where she finds herself taking the stage right before of her own musical influences (more on that in a second), Dorothy, and then kicking off the guys in Three Days Grace, Chevelle, and Breaking Benjamin. It’s hard to believe such a heavy lineup can exist on one stage, and to be in on the action, Diamante says, has been incredible.

“We have tailgate parties in the parking lots before shows. We make hot dogs, it’s all very wholesome,” she laughs as she eases back onto the couch in her dressing room. With this tour stacking the deck night after night, and kicking off with two female-fronted acts, it’s easy to see how it would be an incredible experience. She says she’s been a fan of Dorothy since she was 18, and that they hang out and do one-off club shows together off-tour as well. “It’s an insane honor being able to play alongside her,” she laughs. “Ben even said that the ladies are out here killing it way more than the guys on this tour.” It’s true – he did say that. And, those women are clearly kickin’ ass and taking names in each city they grace with their presence.

For anyone who hasn’t seen Diamante live, first of all, get that fixed ASAP. Second of all, be prepared to be blown away. Her stage presence is massive, and her sound fills the air all the way to the parking lot. “Though she be but little, she is fierce,” wrote William Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. And it seems Diamante is the embodiment of that famous quote on every midsummer night (and winter, and spring, and you get the jist). When it comes to touring, Diamante says her favorite venues are either arenas or small club shows, as in both, she can see the fans’ faces and everyone is packed in. “Outdoor shows make you all feel too far away from me. I prefer to be able to see everyone sing every word, sweaty and having a good time.”

Diamante has known since she was ten that the stage would be her home. She’s always loved music and singing, but she was always super shy and “nerdy” (her words, and I don’t believe her). She discovered her passion for the stage during musical theatre. “I went on the stage with no mic, just my voice projecting in front of 200 people. And I realized, WHOA! I just discovered a whole new part of myself.” She’s known ever since she wanted to be on the stage, in front of as many people as possible, every chance she gets. “I love being on the stage because of the audience. I feed off of the energy. It is just one of the best experiences you can ever have. It gives you a different kind of high than you will ever have anywhere else in life.” In fact, her dream tour (aside from this incredible lineup she gets to be a part of every night) would include Papa Roach, Shinedown, Halestorm, Marilyn Manson, and Guns ‘N Roses. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?!

Lyrically, Diamante’s songs are incredibly relatable. From breakups to make ups, false friends and empty promises, Diamante sings the songs straight out of the hearts of her fans. She says it is important to give fans that because that’s the whole point of music. She sees music as a vessel for those emotions that some feel are hard to express. The music she listened to and fell in love with, she says, most of the time were songs that taught her to understand how she was feeling at the time.

“I was eleven, twelve at the time, and I knew what love was (laughs). I was feeling things for the first time and didn’t know how to put them into words. And then, I’d hear a song and it described it perfectly. And then, that song was my anthem. I want to put that into my albums – especially for the young people who want to listen to rock. I want to be that voice for them.” 

With that voice comes a responsibility of sorts to bring her fans the songs that they can feel in their guts, their hearts, their minds. Her ner song, “When I’m Not Around” is a beautiful example of that kind of song. Written by legendary songwriter Diane Warren (she also wrote Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” and Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me”…) and brought to life by Diamante’s haunting, gravelly voice, “When I’m Not Around” spells out, in great detail, a woman scorned’s promise to her former paramore: she will, quite literally, be everywhere they exist…

“It’s gonna rip your heart apart when you don’t have me You’re gonna wish for a different ending to the story You’re gonna see my face in every dream that you dream I’m gonna haunt your every thought, you won’t escape me You’ll wish you still had me”

Taking the work of such a prolific writer and making it her own was a challenge for Diamante, but one she was more than able to conquer. “She wrote the whole song, but I still felt like it was my story. I had gone through a pretty brutal emotional breakup a few months back, and just struggled to understand how I was feeling about it. So, I heard this song, and I remember thinking, ‘Wow! This is it.’” Having never recorded someone else’s song that wasn’t a cover, Diamante found lots of pressure to do the song justice, while also adapting it and making it fit her own emotions. “I pride myself on writing my own music. I just think it’s really important.”

When it came time to shoot a video at the famed Viper Room for the song, Diamante and her team came up with their own concept based on the lyrics. Taking each lyric damn near line by line, the video shows the basic premise of the song in Diamante’s own words, “You messed up, bro.” Showing up in every scene, Diamante says, “I am everywhere. I’m everywhere. There is no escaping me. We wanted to take the lyrics literally, and we did.”

Video – “When I’m Not Around” -Diamante

Once this tour wraps in the fall, Diamante will be back in the studio writing, beginning the demo phase of her new album – that is, provided she isn’t picked up on another tour! She says she new record will be an evolution of her debut, Coming In Hot, based on the songs she has written for it already. “I wrote most of my first album was I was nineteen. I feel like I have lived three lifetimes since then.” Being only twenty-two years old, she hasn’t quite lived three physical lifetimes, but it can be easy to see in anyone’s personal evolution how time passing and experiences mature us. She says, “I feel like my songwriting has gotten so much better.” She is going for the more personal, more vulnerable side with her new songs. “Being vulnerable is the scariest thing for me. But, if I want to be personal with my songs, I have to do it.” And there is a definite power in vulnerability that only Diamante can put her own touch on – I cannot wait to see what the future holds!

Interview by Devon Anderson, RockRevolt Managing Editor

The Hunger Artist Interview

The Hunger Artist just dropped a new 3 song EP entitled “Uh. . . “ and a music video for the single “Gotta Live a Life”. The three songs on the E.P. are “Gotta Live a Life”, “i k(no) i don’t k(no)” and “Darling Please”. All three are catchy, hooky and quirky with a punch. We spoke with Hunger Artist vocalist Travis Moor about all things “Uh. . . “.

Let’s get started with the basics. The Hunger…