In this interview spotlight, I chat with Rebel Rampage about their latest project, challenges, motivations and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
We are a protest rock power trio band from Los Angeles with heavy and unrelenting riffs anchored by bombastic ‘machine gun’ drumming while delivering important messages through high soaring melodic vocals reminiscent of the great scream-singers Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) and Layne Staley (Alice In Chains). The ever-expanding list of topical issues addressed range from immigration and women rights to free press and the failings of the U.S. health care system. Our mission statement is – “Armed with words and music to resist oppression by the government and inspire change for equality and justice for all!” We feel that rock music recalling the likes of Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden, and Rage Against The Machine, to name a few, in a current sound and format provides the best framework for this kind of content.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
The 2016 disaster of an election really sealed the deal for me to start this project after Trump got elected. I felt helpless and turned to music as an outlet and platform to speak out about issues that are important in order to find truth and justice. Our government is severely broken and needs an overhaul. I think it’s our duty as artists to help the national dialogue and stand up for each other. It’s a deep inner drive and motivation to help people vent through the music and inspire them to take action. There is no other option but to stay the course and do what’s right. We are in some very disturbing and troubling times when so much hate and division is being spread through the rhetoric and deceitful actions of our supposed leaders. We are going backwards and need a course correction fast before it’s too late. We are here to help through music and make a difference whatever way we can. This is just the beginning.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
This is our first release as a band with our debut album ‘Divided We Fall’. This is different than all other projects and releases we’ve been a part of collectively and individually, because it has a laser focused message to resist oppression and corruption by the government and inspire people to take action for equality and justice. We are out to accomplish many specific things including getting people to vote and be active participants in local, state, and national campaigns and issues, give people powerful music and messages to get inspired and rally behind, and most importantly give people hope for a better future united together with love that’s free of hate and anger.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
Oh, you mean the challenges of having to constantly post on multiple social media accounts trying to cut through the over-saturated overwhelming bombardment of information just to maybe get people to take a listen to your music? Sorry, being a little sarcastic but it’s tough doing everything yourself and I find the most difficult part is just trying to get it in front of people’s faces to pay attention and get them to listen. There is just so much in people’s news feeds and everywhere that a lot gets lost. We don’t have the outlets or pocketbooks to pump it out to the masses through the right channels like major labels do where they monopolize the market. However, on the flip side, technology does help make it easier for indie musicians to release their own music on different platforms as well as provide a vehicle to eventually get it in the right hands and ears to build a team around it and build a real strong fan base. The technology does help to have that access and ease of communication quickly. It can just get quite overwhelming quickly.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
Here is a link to our album on your preferred platform for streaming/download as well as links to band merchandise etc. The one stop shop – https://smarturl.it/rebelrampage
And here are our socials online to follow and stay tuned.
Anything else before we sign off?
Yes, we have our album release party on 11/18 at the York Manor in Los Angeles where we are extremely honored and excited to partner with the ACLU SoCal and have special guest Angelo Moore (Fishbone) perform with us, who is also on the album. There will be complimentary beverages + food, guest speakers, and more. It’s free entry with a suggested $15 donation. See attached flyer.
We strongly urge everyone to do their part and take action to help change things. See the links to turn music into action below.
Links To Turn Music Into Action:
Call your Senators and Reps
- Find your Senator
- Find your Rep
- Donate / Sign Petitions at ACLU.org
- Register to Vote and Vote at Rock the Vote
Take Action, Show Up In Person, Protest!
