"If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.” (Napoleone Bonaparte)
Istanbul is a fascinating, sapphire-like city and RISEBACK are its gold ring.
This Alternative/Gothic Metal band was formed in 2010 and is influenced by contemporary rock and melodic metal sound.
Their female voice blow through heavy guitar riffs and strong drumming.
Well, meet ... Riseback.
LFdM: You come from Istanbul, one of my favourite city. Full of colours, scentes and sensuality like Riella's voice. So we can say that you embody the pure essence of this land?
R: Thank you for this nice question and compliment. Istanbul as you say is a colorful city. Carrying Many feelings, many stories from past to present. Wonderful people and artists lived in this city and have their trace... It's an honour for me to be resembled voice vise to this city. The city is always alive and deep in soul. And yes we as a band might embody this energy. We are all born in here and lived our childhood experiences, youth excitements and professional growth here... So it would be correct to say that we somehow reflect the pure essence of this land but also we posses the energy of the entire earth and universe. We as a band are open to connect to everyone living with us in this moment of time, having the roots from this land, we are wiiling to expand and embrace all kind of expressions around us, being able to reach universally through our musical creations...
R: Thank you for this nice question and compliment. Istanbul as you say is a colorful city. Carrying Many feelings, many stories from past to present. Wonderful people and artists lived in this city and have their trace... It's an honour for me to be resembled voice vise to this city. The city is always alive and deep in soul. And yes we as a band might embody this energy. We are all born in here and lived our childhood experiences, youth excitements and professional growth here... So it would be correct to say that we somehow reflect the pure essence of this land but also we posses the energy of the entire earth and universe. We as a band are open to connect to everyone living with us in this moment of time, having the roots from this land, we are wiiling to expand and embrace all kind of expressions around us, being able to reach universally through our musical creations...
LFdM: You are an alternative metal band with some of goth and prog influences. You play rock with depth and passion. How did your story start?
R: Thank you again for defining very well what we are into :) Everybody has their own story, since years we are making music, studying, pratcticing, playing with bands, creating and performing. Riseback started its journey in 2010 with me and two other musician friends aiming to put together our musical ideas and starting to share our exctiement and build a longlasting musical entity. It's known that this is a long road with many ups and downs with many updates and changes through out the time. Riseback crew changed over time, production wise and instrumentalist wise the band had several changes. These changes were never personal but in order proceed in a much strongerway...we always need to take correct steps to survive. Our main goal is to create music. Create freely, joyfuly and lovingly. We as a team never let any obtacle to prevent this reality.
R: Thank you again for defining very well what we are into :) Everybody has their own story, since years we are making music, studying, pratcticing, playing with bands, creating and performing. Riseback started its journey in 2010 with me and two other musician friends aiming to put together our musical ideas and starting to share our exctiement and build a longlasting musical entity. It's known that this is a long road with many ups and downs with many updates and changes through out the time. Riseback crew changed over time, production wise and instrumentalist wise the band had several changes. These changes were never personal but in order proceed in a much strongerway...we always need to take correct steps to survive. Our main goal is to create music. Create freely, joyfuly and lovingly. We as a team never let any obtacle to prevent this reality.
LFdM: Music is based on emotions and feelings, but often has its roots in something known, even if only a memory or a recollection. Have you drawn your inspiration from something in particular?
R: As mention previously rock metal music is our motivation it self. The inspiration comes naturally. Me, I am writting songs with piano almost every week I have new melodic ideas that I put together and record than my band members are professional instrumentalists in their own areas, very talented and gifted. They are everyday playing their stuff, and we combine their ideas with mine than a wonderful blend comes out, very pure and original. Riseback, I 'm not saying because its my band :) but believe me , it is one of the most original music band. Because the ideas we put on songs are really fresh and new, straight coming from our musical minds without any interferance from any kind of rule or strategy just naturally flowing through our ideas and creating our own stuff. Of course we have many many influences from many many other great existing bands but we create our own music and I love the way this band works... Very natural and real..
R: As mention previously rock metal music is our motivation it self. The inspiration comes naturally. Me, I am writting songs with piano almost every week I have new melodic ideas that I put together and record than my band members are professional instrumentalists in their own areas, very talented and gifted. They are everyday playing their stuff, and we combine their ideas with mine than a wonderful blend comes out, very pure and original. Riseback, I 'm not saying because its my band :) but believe me , it is one of the most original music band. Because the ideas we put on songs are really fresh and new, straight coming from our musical minds without any interferance from any kind of rule or strategy just naturally flowing through our ideas and creating our own stuff. Of course we have many many influences from many many other great existing bands but we create our own music and I love the way this band works... Very natural and real..
LFdM: Music, however, is not just a matter of the heart (although it is a fundamental part and, perhaps, the most important). It is also studying, practice, research. What can you tell us about this aspect? How do you prepare to tackle the recording of an album?
R: In terms of practice, well we gave our lives to this work. We reduce all kind of expenses just in order to spend more time in music. Education wise, we had our courses, certificate & BA degrees from music and performance. My drummer and I already give lessons to new beginners...Without practice and commitement there is no way that someone would acheive a place in this business. We are still practicing, still working hard and still have way to go. The musical journey never ends... When we prepare to record an album, it's a long process. First step is to create the songs which is one of the most important step. Demo precedures, songwriting, brainstorming, adding, excludig ideas, changing parts, adding new parts and so on... Sometimes we meet and rehearse sometimes we record ideas and send to each other. This is the way it goes. When the real production time comes, its like very serious work. Very detailed. Equipments, studio, engineer, timing, budget, pre record, practice... It is very serious but this is what we love to do. Hopefully, in Istanbul we have great recording engineer friends, very talented friends. Its a matter of being a real team. When this is managed, everything is like a puzzle, you put the right parts and than the result is wonderful. You can imagine Our second procedures as I defined above.... We are following these steps to reach a satisfactory conclusion....
LFdM: Tell us something about the new album: is there a particular theme in your songs?
R: Yes the new album will be great. We are getting prepared for it. Working on songs in a very detailed manner. Arrangements and rehearsals are repetitive in order to catch the maximum expression and musical style. It will be deeper and will be a more mature album. We finished debut recordings in 2012 an debut demos was in 2011 and since 3 years we went through a lot of stuff and changes. All those experiences and feelings will be carried in our second album, Technique wise, there will be more drums and keyboard presence, more symphonic elements, of course similar original modern metal guitar riffs and deep emotional vocals again... Lyrically, we went trhough similar attitude. Human soul, relations, feelings, appreciation, salvation, freedom themes. Couple of songs will have particular stories, particular subjects, vey impressive messages that I believe will touch many peoples heart...
R: Yes the new album will be great. We are getting prepared for it. Working on songs in a very detailed manner. Arrangements and rehearsals are repetitive in order to catch the maximum expression and musical style. It will be deeper and will be a more mature album. We finished debut recordings in 2012 an debut demos was in 2011 and since 3 years we went through a lot of stuff and changes. All those experiences and feelings will be carried in our second album, Technique wise, there will be more drums and keyboard presence, more symphonic elements, of course similar original modern metal guitar riffs and deep emotional vocals again... Lyrically, we went trhough similar attitude. Human soul, relations, feelings, appreciation, salvation, freedom themes. Couple of songs will have particular stories, particular subjects, vey impressive messages that I believe will touch many peoples heart...
LFdM. How do the new songs differ from your older material? I’m thinking about the first songs you released.
R: Yes thes songs will reflect a more mature state of mind. This time the lyrics will be longer. More phrases, more emotions, more explanations of ideas. But a similar attitude as I said. Because Riseback band lyrical themes always support encouregement of the free expression. Self developement and awareness, reaching a better reality, a reality that our souls really long for rather than what we are obligated to do and live... A natural flow, with less pain.
R: Yes thes songs will reflect a more mature state of mind. This time the lyrics will be longer. More phrases, more emotions, more explanations of ideas. But a similar attitude as I said. Because Riseback band lyrical themes always support encouregement of the free expression. Self developement and awareness, reaching a better reality, a reality that our souls really long for rather than what we are obligated to do and live... A natural flow, with less pain.
LFdM: Talking about the creative process, you say " there are always new aspects to learn and experience". You are always looking for new things or sometimes is important to learn from the past, from the pioneers of the music?
R: Yes exatcly. This is a never ending journey. A continious progression, always alive. Pioneers of music are the heros, they are those who thought us how to make our dreams come true by being role models, they are the influences. A huge respect for those people who committed their lives to enhance the musicianship of the universe and to create a musical reality where now all of us are getting into. They are the initiators and the brave ones... We follow thier traces.
R: Yes exatcly. This is a never ending journey. A continious progression, always alive. Pioneers of music are the heros, they are those who thought us how to make our dreams come true by being role models, they are the influences. A huge respect for those people who committed their lives to enhance the musicianship of the universe and to create a musical reality where now all of us are getting into. They are the initiators and the brave ones... We follow thier traces.
LFdM: What kind of role does love play for you and for your art?
R: Love in terms of all kind of love. Animal love, human love, self love, nature love. Lack of love, need of love, underestimation of love, over usage of love and so on... All forms of love have a big influence in our music and lyrics. Like in everybody else. This feeling is not easy to explain with words. But it is best felt with songs and melodies...
R: Love in terms of all kind of love. Animal love, human love, self love, nature love. Lack of love, need of love, underestimation of love, over usage of love and so on... All forms of love have a big influence in our music and lyrics. Like in everybody else. This feeling is not easy to explain with words. But it is best felt with songs and melodies...
LFdM: What you play is what you feel?
R: For sure. Otherwise there would be no sincerity. And without sincerity I don't believe there would be any kind of music.
R: For sure. Otherwise there would be no sincerity. And without sincerity I don't believe there would be any kind of music.
LFdM: What do you expect from this experience? What is the sign that the Riseback want to leave the world of music?
R: This is a lifetime experience. It can't be left. It can't be abandonned. We are idealist musicians. We will go for it the best we can. Without giving up and with giving all it takes. Riseback will bring our traces to this world. Our very own existence. With words and melodies. Our good intentions, and positive vibes which I believe if everyone could turn their cognitive and emotional frequency into positive forms we would already change the reality into a much cooler one... And If Riseback music can help with that, that would be a great mission to be remembered...
LFdM: Long life to Riseback guys!
Words, interview and english review by Michela, Dora and Alessia!
R: This is a lifetime experience. It can't be left. It can't be abandonned. We are idealist musicians. We will go for it the best we can. Without giving up and with giving all it takes. Riseback will bring our traces to this world. Our very own existence. With words and melodies. Our good intentions, and positive vibes which I believe if everyone could turn their cognitive and emotional frequency into positive forms we would already change the reality into a much cooler one... And If Riseback music can help with that, that would be a great mission to be remembered...
LFdM: Long life to Riseback guys!
Words, interview and english review by Michela, Dora and Alessia!
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