Interview with Guitarist Rafael Hernandez of Screamking
By Mick Michaels
COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Rafael! Welcome to The Cosmick
View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's
greatly appreciated.
CV:
Given so many major changes over the last decade, do you believe the music
industry is a practicable and stable enough environment for new artists to even
consider making it a valid career choice?
Rafael Hernandez: In this day and age for a musician,
you really have to love what you’re doing, and unless you’re working a full
time job, you won’t have the funds needed to release your music / merchandise.
That may sound discouraging, but no I don’t believe the Industry structure is
stable for young musicians.
CV:
Can a level of sustainable success really be achieved in your opinion?
RH: In my opinion, I believe over that past 10 years
that the success rate is almost none. It was tough enough without the current
industry standard or what they have become.
CV:
What do you see as the biggest change in the music industry since you first
started out?
RH: The structure of the Industry has drastically
changed, It’s great for some things and totally wrong or bad for everything
else that it’s become.
The
tools you have now at your disposable are great for releasing, recording,
mastering, and getting your name out there, but what has changed is that music,
the one thing that you used to actually make money with is almost totally
free..but if you don’t conform to the industry standard you won’t get your
music out there and heard.
CV:
How do you see your music separating itself from your peers and avoiding just
being another cog in the wheel?
RH: All of our songs, since the beginning, were written
by me and our singer. I think we have a distinct, hybrid style of song writing.
There are elements of Metal, Thrash metal, Death and speed metal. We have had 3
releases since 2013 and I think each album has evolved along with the song
writing and we unintentionally stuck to that Hybrid style.
CV:
Has the industry’s many changes affected how you write music? Has it influenced
your songwriting style in any drastic form?
RH: Not at all…I have never been a trend follower, but
I will say I believe everyone is partially influenced by what they are
currently listening to while they are writing new songs. For that reason, while
writing songs I go through periods of listening to other styles of music that I
enjoy.
CV:
Has digital technology led the way for almost anyone to be a musical artist in
your opinion?
RH: Yes it sure has. That isn’t always a bad thing
though. I myself started recording with analog equipment and started recording
digitally way back in the beginning before it became affordable. That part of
the industry I like, because it gives those bands and musicians a chance they
otherwise didn’t have, but it was like part of one big movement that changed
the structure and led the way to the structure of streaming music that meant
practically giving it away, but it didn’t have to be like, and it wasn’t in the
beginning until streaming services figure out how to profit off of it.
CV:
Has music in general been broken into
too many sub-genres? Why do think there are so many classifications of music
types?
RH: In my opinion they have always had sub-genres and
as music evolves this will always happen.
CV: Can this be confusing for an artist who is looking to build a brand? As well, can it be confusing for the fans?
RH: I think fans listen to what they like…I know I do, and I don’t worry about what sub-genre the music is in. As far as a band looking to build a brand or play a certain style that would be all based on the combination of musicians in the band and what comes out of it.
CV: How would you define “iconic”
when it comes to being an artist or musician? What do you think makes an artist
iconic?
RH: I think “iconic” is reserved for those musicians who
have had a following and put out the music or tunes that people still listen to.
You know who your icons are every time you go to listen to your go to bands and
it has been 20 years.
CV:
Who would you consider to be a modern day “rock star?” And is being a “rock
star” something to aspire to?
RH: As a guitar player, I don’t really have a modern
day rock star guitar idol. There are still the same guitar heroes that I listen
to, and fortunately for me, some of them are still putting out really good
music. I don’t think anyone should aspire to be a Rock star and you love
playing whatever style of music it is you do.
CV:
Does music need to have a message to convey to the world for it to be worth
listening to in your opinion?
RH: No, music has to be something you like and enjoy
for whatever reason or mood you are in at the time.
CV:
What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming?
RH: We are currently supporting our latest release. I am currently working on 2 death metal projects for my band
Sea of Tranquility and an unnamed project and also a solo guitar instrumental
project that hopefully will be done at the end of this year for release in late
2022 or early 2023.
CV: Thank you again Rafael for spending some time talking and sharing with our
readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
RH: Thank
you for the interview. Please check out our latest release Screamking: “The
Indomitable Spirit” We have several special guest appearances on the release.
The CD was released on June 25th and has 14 songs.
The Digital release was on October 1st and has an additional 3 songs.
Check out Screamking at:
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SCREAMKINGMETAL
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/OFFICIALSCREAMKING
WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/SCREAMKINGOFFICIAL
WWW.SCREAMKING.HEARNOW.COMEMAIL:
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Music is the universal language that speaks to the depths of our souls and unites us across cultures and borders. It has the power to evoke emotions, stir memories, and transport us to different times and places with just a few notes.
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