Interview with the Band Ristridi (Germany)
By Mick Michaels
COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
CV:
Do you feel Heavy Metal music in
general is viewed differently by fans in Europe compared to fans elsewhere,
especially in America, and if so why?
Ristridi:
I don’t think so. To me it feels like we are all a big family. I have many
online friends over in America, who I’ve never met, which I for example
collaborated with or chat with regularly. It’s always nice to hear their new
music and finding out that we share many tastes.
CV:
What do you feel makes Heavy Metal
music so alluring to the fans? What is it about the music that personally resonates
so strongly with you?
Ristridi: It’s just very
energetic and has soooo many possibilities to express oneself – talking about
the many subgenres in Heavy Metal. I think there’s something in there for
everyone, it’s just a really diverse kind of music.
It heavily resonated with me as a teenager and a
young adult and I’m still not over it. The crazy musicianship in those
legendary bands always have and will astound me.
CV: Has
Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus, making it harder
for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style over another? Is it confusing for fans as well?
Ristridi: Of course there’s
a bit of a jungle with all those sub-genres…but that’s also what makes it interesting.
Being creative and creating a “new” mix of sub-genres is what will keep Metal
alive in the future. Also, I think that making new “classifications” is a bit
overrated. What matters is that the music has a certain originality, of course
– but you also don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just write music that
inspires, without caring too much about the classification
CV:
How would you describe the current state of the music business considering we
are now living in a post-COVID
society, and maybe even feared world? Have things drastically changed long-term
for artists and bands given the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
Ristridi: Things have
changed drastically. Many bands, even big bands can’t afford to tour anymore
and cancel their tours. And small concerts are often overlooked and don’t
gather enough visitors. Online Streaming is still only good for the Top 100. So
yeah, the music business is in my opinion pretty f***ed. But nonetheless,
people have the drive to create, to make music. That’s something that will never
change and thus, there will always be new music for the music industry.
CV: What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach to songwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
Ristridi: I think that the mix of melancholy, catchy choruses but still complex riffs and ideas is what makes our music shine. We want to invoke feeling in the listenerand also make it interesting to listen to, hence the prog influences. Music will always be a part of our lives, I think that is what will keep us together.
CV:
On a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and songwriting
separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
Ristridi: It’s something
people can relate to. Mental illnesses are an important topic in many
industrial countries and it’s not talked about quite enough. I hope that my
music can help those in need in their darkest times – as these songs were kind
of my therapy.
CV:
Can an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing as being
unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences making an
artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists today are
destined to be just copies of those who have already come to pass?
Ristridi: Of course we all
rip off each other all the time. Everybody has influences…nobody is “truly”
original. But what matters is…do you get people to feel what you want them to
feel? Does the artist and listener find a common ground? If the music of an
artist touches your soul, in my opinion it has reached its goal and deserves
attention.
CV:
Are there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel
cannot be taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
Ristridi: Oh, there are many
life lessons, but I wouldn’t say that you couldn’t learn them elsewhere. One
example would be that perseverance over time is key if you want to be
successful. Success won’t come over night. You have to keep at it for a long
time, until you can reap the benefits.
CV:
What do you feel makes someone a “rock
star”? Does being a rock star automatically make one iconic or are the two
completely different in your opinion?
Ristridi: Being a rock star
means having a big following and “living the dream.” You put everything into
your art and are successful with it. I don’t think it automatically makes you
iconic. Being an icon is definitely above being a rock star. :D
CV:
What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming as the world looks to surmount
a new normal laced with a load of restrictions?
Ristridi: Next for me/us is the
new EP “Dark Solstice” and our release gig for that EP. It will take place in
Freising at Vis-à-vis on 23rd of September 2023.
CV:
Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It
was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Ristridi: Glad
to talk to you and thanks for having me.
Check out Ristridi at:
Official: https://ristridi.de/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ristridi
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ristridi
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