The Band: Rusty
Pacemaker
Country: Austria
The Man: Rusty (all
instruments)
Rusty is a talented
musician that created his own project some years ago and has delivered already
two good albums under his mark Rusty Pacemaker. He says he is not an extraodinary
guitarist, but he has the ability to transmit emotions, and in my opnion that
is more important than playing very quick or very technical solos.
Hi Rusty, this 2015
you have released “Ruins”. But before going for it let’s talk about your solo
project called Rusty Pacemaker. When did you start it up and why a one-man
band?
Well, I started to play guitar pretty late at the age of 28
and only because I got a Strato imitate and a mini amp as a present. I would
never even have thought me to start playing guitar that late. Nevertheless I
consider that moment when I tried to get the first tones out of this guitar as
the start up of my career as a musician. It must have been 2003, I guess. From
the first moment on I wanted to invent every tone and riff by myself and
consequently I dreamt of creating my own music. It felt like if you would open
a valve and creativity started to flow. Everything happend quite naturally and
to be honest I didn’t even think of being in a band. I just did it, all by
myself. Over the years I collected instruments, recording devices and improved
my skills on the instruments, on recording and producing. At least I have a
drummer and I am lucky cause he is a professional and exceptionally good one.
A curious history,
indeed, and one of perseverance, for sure. If I’m not wrong this is your second
album as Rusty Pacemaker. To be sincere I haven’t listened to your first effort.
Are there any important differences among them?
You are right, my debut album “Blackness and White Light”
has been released in 2010. The most obvious difference is certainly the
production quality, the sound. When creating my first album I did everything
the first time, songwriting, recording and production. I was not experienced at
all in this process of creation and for sure one could hear this. I would say
that “Ruins” is heavier and more Metal influenced than “Blackness and White
Light” which I would describe more as Dark Rock. Though there are differences
between the two albums I think that still they have many in common especially
the dark and melancholic atmosphere.
Have you counted with
some help or contribution when composing the new songs for “Ruins”?
I write and compose all by myself. Preproduction and
composing happens at the same time in my studio. I always come up with a riff,
intro or melody line on the guitar and record. Upon this idea I build up the
whole song then. Concerning the drums I program a simple rhythm on the computer
and when the song is finished I hand it over to my drummer and he arranges the
perfect drumtrack for my music.
How long did you need
to have this “Ruins” ready?
Well, between “Blackness and White Light” and “Ruins” lie
almost 5 years of time. That’s quite long, I know. The main reason for this is
simply that I run my musical career beside my regular job and beside having a
family. I haven’t got so much time left to work on my music like I’d love to
but I really don’t want to complain about that cause actually I feel privileged
and grateful that I am able to create and produce art. It‘s just amazing that
this is possible for me in this life. Nevertheless I do hope that it won’t take
another 5 years until album number three will be released because I’m just too
curious of how my future songs will sound like.
I understand you and
share your vision, it’s actually a privilege to do in this life what you most
like, especially when you can do it without paying no accounts to anyone, just
your own creation. Tell us a little about the story of “Ruins”. What do you
talk about and what did you want to transmit with it? Is there any personal
story behind it?
Writing lyrics is always something personal. Everything what
is expressed in any form by someone is a result of these personal experiences,
thoughts, wishes or fears and fantasies. That is unavoidable, I think.
Generally I like to use simple wording for my lyrics. I always seek to bring it
to a point in a direct and simple way. I’m searching for wisdom and wise words
are always simple, easy to understand and nothing complicated. Thematically I
try to describe humanity's weakness and frailty. I write about the human being
as an egoist and I think that the source of his weakness resulting in his evil
behaviour is the fear of death. But at the same time it is very important for
me to show that there is hope, light in all the darkness and that is love. This
might sound strange to you but actually I use darkness trying to make the world
a better place. Being an artist I consider this as my responsibility.
It’s very interesting
and I totally agree with your opinion, fear of death, egoism and greed are dark
and strong forces. In my opinion you are a good guitarist, good solos and
riffs, but you also know how to create dark or emotive atmospheres. What part
do you like more when composing?
First of all thank you very much for your compliment!
Actually I don’t consider myself as a good guitarist. I really love my guitars
and enjoy playing them but when composing my guitar is just an instrument, a
tool that helps me to express feelings
and create atmospheres. No matter if it‘s a riff, a melody line or a solo, each
and every tone should serve the atmosphere and feeling of a song. That is what
art is about. Artists try to give feelings a transportable form and try to
achieve that the consumer is emotionally touched by the artwork. And so do I.
And what is the most
boring of finishing up an album by yourself?
By far the most boring and at the same time exhausting part
is editing. As I told you before I don’t see myself as a very good guitarist
neither I think that I am a very good singer. Consequently I have not enough
selfconfidence that I record one take and say: “Well, that’s it, let’s do the
next part!“ I always record three, five or even more takes. To listen through
the takes, to decide which one would fit best to the rest of the material and
to edit is a lot of work what exhausts and sometimes bores me. But in the end
also this work leads to a satisfying result and when I‘ve finished a song it
just feels good. It’s so nice to listen through the raw recordings when all
takes, tracks and instruments harmonize so very well.
I suppose the guitar
is your favorite instrument, isn’t it? As a guitarist, what are your main
influences?
That is an interesting question for me as I never thought
about it before. Well, as every Rock or Metal guitarist I am impressed by Tony
Iommi especially when it’s about riffs and rhythm. His style is so clear, pure
and direct. I also love the guitar playing of the Cavanagh brothers. Both are
awesome guitarists but never put their extrordinary skills into the foregound.
Their soulful playing always serves the composition and create these beautiful
sounds which are so typical for Anathemas music. I think I have a similar
approach when creating my music but I can honestly say that as a guitarist I
don’t try to imitate anyones playing. This wouldn’t make sense to me. We are
all individuals, so am I and as such one I have to find my own individual
style.
And about the music
style in general, what bands have marked your sound?
I have a pretty large collection of albums at home and for
sure I’m inspired somehow by all these bands in a specific way. When I discover
a certain atmosphere or feeling in a specific song then I try to recreate this
atmosphere in my own style. Very often something completely different comes out
and I find myself surprised by this sound what is an amazing experience. In
these moments it feels like if I wouldn‘t have any control over my songwriting.
I don’t mind this happening, I rather enjoy it. Anyway, if you want me to name
bands I feel inspired by these would be Black Sabbath, Anathema, Enslaved,
Tiamat, Lake of Tears, Bathory, The Blood Divine and many, many more.
My favorite songs are
“Ruins” and “Candlemess”, where you get to play not only great parts of guitar
but you are able to create also awesome
atmospheres and instrumental passages
Thanks again for your appreciating words about my music. The
two songs you named are more of an epic style and I really like them a lot. But
to be honest I don’t have any favorites among my songs. If I would have
favorites it would mean that I like other songs less and that‘s just not the
case. I put so much work and passion in each and every song, you know. I also
have different memories to each song and so an individual relationship to every
song is developing and it’s kind of impossible for me to prefer one to any
other.
Have you played your
album in a live show?
I never did live shows and there are no plans to do any at
the moment. The reasons for that are mainly of private nature. On the other
hand never say never and I want to be openminded. If there are fans out there
who want me to play live maybe I will one day. This would consequently lead to a band situation what
would be interesting as well. But I don’t want to force myself into anything
like touring and gigging, it has to come naturally otherwise I wouldn’t have a good feeling about it.
You are from Austria,
how do you see the Metal scene over there?
Austria is a small country and so is the Metal scene. If you
want to become internationally successful then Austria is not the best place to
start off. It exists only one bigger label and that is Napalm Records. All
other labels are more underground. To find a proper distribution company is
very hard too. But we have some really interesting acts and though the
underground scene is not very big it‘s alive, especially in Vienna where most
oft he gigs and concerts take place. My personal favorite Austrian bands are
Summoning, which are well known also outside of Austria, and Hollenthon.
Do you work in
another projects apart of Rusty Pacemaker?
No. I don’t have enough time to work in other projects. It
would be just too nice to make a living with music only and work in different
projects, wouldn’t it?
Yes, it would be a
dream come true, I guess, as I said before, to work in what you love every day
of your life. What are your plans for the future?
Well, life is what happens while you make other plans. But
concerning my musical career I can tell you that I will finish the promotional
and label work soon to be back on the guitar and to write new songs. I am just
too curious of how my future songs will sound like. It is always an amazing
experience to be creative and I’m looking forward to it. The plan ist to come
up with a new album as soon as possible.
A wish for 2016?
No wishes, no hopes and no expectations. Sounds pessimistic
but I don‘t mean it pessimistic at all.
This is a Spanish
Metal blog, and I know you speak Spanish quite fluently, so..: Muchas gracias
Rusty por tu tiempo y enhorabuena por tu buen disco. Espero que el año que
viene hablemos de nuevo, feliz 2016!
Gracias a ti Alberto. Si, hablo espanol pero no
perfectamente. Sobre temas faciles puedo hablar bastante bien pero por ejemplo
sobre mi musica sera dificil para mi expresar exactamente lo que quiero decir.
Yo tambien espero que seguimos el contacto y les deseo un feliz ano nuevo.
very great interview vpower, rusty is a great artist.
ResponderEliminarGood music, interesting opinions... as Clouney would say... what else?
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