Dwayne Crawford, Bass & Taylor Richards, Guitar from the Alternative Rock band Royal Bliss. Royal Bliss. Interview November 7, 2012
Royal Bliss Interview
1. How was it recording the Royal Bliss album Waiting Out The Storm?
Dwayne Crawford – I’ll let Taylor take this one, I came in towards the end.
Taylor Richards – We chose to record with Brian Virtue (Chevelle, 30 Seconds to Mars, Deftones and more) pretty sweet track record. We recorded in Nashville, TN the music capital of the world. It was very inspiring. We spent about 2 months out there. A couple weeks of pre production and then banged it out in about 6 weeks. Brian was a professional at every aspect. It made us a better band because of it. We had to bring our A-game every day. We wrote around 70+ songs and narrowed it down to about 15 which was very hard, but we definitely picked the best bunch of tunes to make the album all come together. We used all of our own gear (amps, guitars, drums etc) minus the recording equip(consoles/preamps/mics) etc. Set up like a band rehearsing and jammed it out! I know we are all happy with the final product.
2. What are some of Royal Bliss’ current projects?
Dwayne – We’ve been writing some new material in our time off from touring, pretty stoked about the way it’s turning out so far!
Taylor – We are currently writing and cutting demos for the new album set to be recorded in early 2013. Currently we are on tour…it seems like we are always currently on tour though, haha!
3. Can you tell me about the tour you are embarking on with Royal Bliss?
Dwayne – Well, we’re hitting a few of our East Coast markets over the next month or so. We’re meeting up with a few bands that weave become friends with over the years like Hurt and Wayland. We’ll be stopping in some new markets and we’re even doing a couple of dates with the Twins of Evil tour! (Manson and Zombie)
Taylor – I’m pretty excited for the Zombie/Manson dates. And always excited for our headlining shows, we have the most amazing die hard fans!
4. What do you think of promo videos nowadays with everything being going on YouTube?
Dwayne – I think any kind of publicity can help today’s touring circuit. YouTube has been an excellent tool for promotional videos for everything, not just music. Taylor – it’s all part of the system, and there are always new ways to market and promote your music or band. I love the putting audio to video aspect, it gives the music a new perspective and the listener/viewer a new perspective too. It also opens up the music to a whole new audience too.
5. In the eyes of Royal Bliss what do you think of the music industry today and where it is going?
Dwayne – haha, that’s a tough one! I think things have definitely taken a turn that makes it harder for the average band. Labels aren’t really doing anything anymore which to be honest, has almost altered the average local bands “end goal”. Every band I knew when I was growing up in the local scene wanted to get “signed”. We’re in a new era, we’re in an era that people are starting to realize that getting “signed” isn’t going to get your name out there, it isn’t going to pay your bills, it isn’t going to get your record in stores. Good old fashioned hard work, shameless promotion and word of mouth are what are getting bands out there today. We’ve done the label thing, and now we’re doing the DIY thing and to be honest, we’re getting more results this way. The industry is tough for bands without endless amounts of money. It’s not about how good that undiscovered band/artist is anymore, it’s a numbers game.
Taylor – well put Dwayne. To add a few things, digital music is really improving. People are buying singles more and less albums. People are finding out about new bands via Facebook, YouTube, etc. all these avenues did not exist ten years ago!
6. Would you say the health of the Music scene is becoming stronger?
Dwayne – I wouldn’t really say it’s getting stronger. To be truthful, it’s heavily saturated with a lot of good bands, a lot of crappy bands and a lot of people with money that woke up one day and decided, “I want to be a rockstar”. It makes it difficult for the bands that are out there working hard every night to make it through the masses.
Taylor-I think certain scenes are growing. Electronic music and DJ’s are a fast moving scene right now. But there will always be rock or metal bands, that will never go away.
7. What were your earliest influences?
Dwayne – Led Zeppelin, Stone Temple Pilots and Primus were HUGE for me! Those bands have mind blowing bass players that really intrigued me! I was huge into Rage Against the Machine, Incubus, Deftones and Van Halen as a kid/young adult too.
Taylor – Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Cream/Eric Clapton. Were my early influences. Now it’s all over the place, Coldplay, Mastodon, Atmosphere. I am inspired by more than just the guitar nowadays.
8.What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
Dwayne – I am a HUGE Kimbra fan! She is a true genius! My current “Go- To’s” on my iPhone are Kimbra, Periphery, Adele, Zelliack, Thrice and Prince.
Taylor – Again I am all over the place…interesting? Frank Zappa, Phish, Eazy E, Young MC to Frank Sinatra. I listen to a lot of local bands too. Some bands demos or records that never get heard are actually really good! You’ll have probably never heard of them but, Rexway (Denver), Joel Pack(Salt Lake City), Codi Jordan Band(Salt Lake City).
9. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician on tour?
Dwayne – Wake up in a random Walmart parking lot, head to the venue for load in. Unload your trailer and set up for sound check. After sound check you head out for local radio where you talk about your show, play some acoustic songs and answer questions about your record and touring. Head back to the venue, stretch, drink some pre-show cocktails and walk on stage! Give it all you got, tear your gear down, load the trailer, rinse and repeat the next day! It’s a lot of sleepless nights and hard work, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
Taylor – what Dwayne said….except the rinse part! Haha!
10. Any words for future musicians coming from Royal Bliss?
Dwayne – A really good friend of mine once said this is a crazy persons job, he’s right! It takes a certain kind of person to stay away from home this much. It will be rough on your relationships, friendships and sanity. But, there is nothing more exciting than hearing/seeing thousands of people singing your songs! My advice, make sure this is REALLY what you want to do for a living, roll up your sleeves and dive in! Don’t ever give up and don’t ever expect ANYTHING to be handed to you just because people say your band is good. It’s a battle, be prepared to work for it!
Taylor – Don’t give up! Love what you do. And keep on writing new songs!
Extra Questions with Royal Bliss
Life without music would be Terrible! I’ve done it, never again! T- no life at all. We wouldn’t procreate.
Favorite movie hmmmm probably Tombstone or Snatch. T-Coming to America, ferris beuhlers day off, usual suspects. Favorite sport Not a sports fan, but I love attending baseball games (drinking beer). T-I love sports, It totally goes with music too. Football, Baseball, basketball and Winter sports(skiing snowboarding(I’m from Utah)
Favorite food BBQ. Southern BBQ, no one else does it right. T-Cheese Quesadilla
Favorite drink Non-Alcoholic: Diet Pepsi Alcoholc: Yuengling Diet Dr Pepper, IPA local brews.
Favorite saying Rome wasn’t built in a day. T-Life’s tough, its even tougher if you’re stupid.
Favorite car I would have to say that I absolutely love vintage cars. ( Bel Air, Chevelle, Camaro SS..) T-BMW or a LIMO w/ a driver of course
Favorite book I haven’t had the time or patience for a book in years! Haha T- recently…I liked the hunger games books, the girl with the dragon tattoo books, and the Davinci code trilogy’s. but you can t go wrong with Dr Suess!
Favorite band Kimbra is my favorite artist out today but, Thrice has to be my favorite band at the moment T-Led Zeppelin. Jimi Hendrix
Star Wars or Star Trek Neither! Haha T- STAR WARS!!!!!!!!!!
PC or Mac MAC! All day, every day! T-Once you go Mac you never go back.
Check out Royal Bliss Online http://www.royalbliss.com/