In this interview spotlight, I chat with Southern California rockers and metal heads Revilution. We discuss challenges, their latest EP, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with music and links below.
Please tell us about the inspiration behind your new EP. We hear a lot of strong early heavy metal and old school heavy rock influences with a modern spin in there.
Dan Seitz, vocals, guitar: You hear correctly. The ‘80s is when I was getting heavily into rock and metal. I was 15 when I first saw “Metal Music 1/2 Hour” on MTV, and I was getting my paws on every rock record and cassette I could find. Black Sabbath’s “Greatest Hits” was the first album where I learned to play songs by ear. I love Kiss, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister…I could go on for DAYS here! I like heavy power chords, dark, angry lyrics, and memorable riffs, and I still listen to all those ‘70s and ‘80s bands, so that’s where the music comes from.
Scott Flint, guitar, vocals: We all grew up listening and playing those types of music styles, which translates into our music giving us our unique sound.
Marie B, vocals: I love all the songs but we had help choosing which ones to put on the EP. Pete DeBoer and Ricky Brewer listened to some of our songs and told us which ones rocked the hardest, so we re-recorded them for the EP. When they added their talents and experience with music, the songs rocked the way they were intended to when they were written. The inspiration is the music itself. While it sounds like some famous heavy metal bands like Metallica, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, influences like Winger are there too. I had vocal lessons from Kip Winger where I learned how to growl and yell without hurting my throat. REVILUTION sound is all that without being a copy of it. My singing voice comes from my experience in church choirs and singing along with music. I’m influenced by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sebastian Bach, and Tina Turner, to name just a few.
Having a female in a heavy rock band is a bit unique, what do you see as the biggest misconceptions about women in the music industry?
Dan: That they can’t handle the pressure. Unfortunately, women are still largely perceived as weak and sensitive creatures that need to be protected by big strong men, or as prey by misogynists and opportunists. Certain Stone-Age throwbacks only see women as a place to put their wing-wangs; some by trying to be “nice,” others by force. It sickens me, honestly; thankfully, I think that misconception is finally eroding with badass players like Lzzy Hale, Ann Boleyn, and Raine Hilai proving
they’re as capable and good as any man. And our manager, Birdee Bow is as awesome and capable as they come.
Marie: Misconceptions are listener based. I was born unique so it’s not unusual to me to be a woman in what is traditionally seen as a man’s business. It’s not as uncommon as it once was to be a female in a hard rock heavy metal band. Then again, since I am a woman in the music industry my view may be skewed
Biggest misconceptions about women in the metal scene?
Dan: That they’re only up there to look pretty. I saw an article on another music blog where women in bands were addressing these things. Some dips*** had said that seeing women in metal garb didn’t turn him on; the women’s response was something like, “we’re not doing this to ‘turn you on,’ we’re doing it because we love metal.” That’s the same reason I do it, sounds valid to me. Dips***s need to sit down and STFU.
Marie: Well, the women who were first in the metal music scene set the standard. What I’ve seen is some pretty hard living. Marriages that didn’t work out, children being kept from their mothers, drug and alcohol abuse, rape, theft of ideas and finished music are some examples. So I think the misconception there is that women are going to allow it to continue without learning from the lessons taught by these things. Due to what women in metal music have gone through, now women and men band together to look out for one another. It’s up to women to stand up and be treated fairly. We do that by standing together even if it means holding others up with us. That’s more evolutionary than misconception but misconceptions require a response, and action. Gals I see in metal music now are strong and smart. They don’t waste their time doing drugs and getting unplanned pregnancies. They stick to business and do their jobs. They’re good at it too.
In your opinion, is it more difficult to build a music career in this modern age than 10 years ago?
Dan: It’s probably about the same, really, except there isn’t nearly as much money in it; people don’t buy albums anymore because they can hear whatever they want on streaming sites, which don’t pay much to artists. But as far as notoriety, it’s always about getting heard. Before the internet you had to spend a bunch of money to make a good demo then send physical copies to labels. Maybe they’d call you, more likely they’d round-file your tape. Now it’s cheaper to record, and you can email songs or links for free, but the airwaves are just swamped because of how easy it is, so the difficulty is being heard above everyone else.
Scott: It’s much harder to make it as a band nowadays; the competition is a lot tougher, the club owners aren’t paying the bands anymore, and there are so many bands out there, it makes it harder to get bookings.
Biggest achievements in 2019 so far?
Dan: Playing The Whisky A Go Go In Hollywood, Double Down Saloon in Vegas (our first out-of-state show), and being asked back to Double Down Saloon.
Scott: Playing and headlining the show in Las Vegas and getting encores.
Marie: We were the headliner in Vegas. We also met Scott Travis of Judas Priest in person. He wanted our band shirt and wished us a great show. I’d say that performance has improved our live show and our musicianship. It was the show at Double Down Saloon that made us see what we’re made of and what we can do. Honestly, meeting our management team was a huge boost too. Online communication is not the same as looking someone in the eyes and giving them a big old HUG. I got to snap a few pictures with my cellphone. I’m not personally big on bragging…but it is proof when I’m telling the story. It also changes the way I see things. So, that’s a big achievement too.
BASTARD! Tell us, which one of you was called a bastard (we assume that fueled the lyric) and now is it really just a compliment? Because aren’t we all just trying to get by?
Dan: I’m the Bastard, and a lot worse, according to my three ex-wives! (laughing) The lyrics are really about how it’s so common to be pigeonholed, people tend to make snap judgements based on appearances or a couple of actions. The person singing was a man raised in a largely matriarchal environment, so his perceptions and beliefs are a bit different than most men. The result is a person who’s had to struggle to figure out who he is, but he persevered, and now is telling the listener, “this is who I am, warts and all. If you can handle it, great. If not, kick rocks.”
Marie: Bastard is a song Dan wrote because it’s about his life and life experiences. He’s the bastard in the song. (Dan isn’t an actual bastard; I’ve met his mother and seen pictures of his father who had died before I met Dan.) I don’t think it was intended as a compliment BUT when a man can get you so fired up you start calling names, it is a compliment whether it was intended as one or not. He got under the name caller’s skin. I’ll leave it at that. As far as just trying to get by I’d say that’s a matter of perception. Just trying to get by is a phase. I’d hypothesize that when a person is as low as they can go, almost dead, they look for something to try and get them by. What gets one person by isn’t going to be the same thing as what gets another person by. That’s why Bastard is such a great song. You hear it and it appeals to the part of you that needs to hear it. Yes, I think we are all just trying to get by.
New recording plans for 2019?
Scott: We plan to tour some and then hit the studio to record.
Marie: The fellas would like to go back to World Famous Studios (in Denver) to record a full album. I don’t think that’s logistically probable due to how long it would take. We’d have to be there too long. So I’d like to record in Southern California so we can all go home at night and stay fresh. We’ve also made new connections since we recorded the EP. I’d like to get Eric from the band Unpaved Highway to work with us. He’s got good ears for sounds and records in California.
Dan: Hopefully late spring or early summer, if we can get into a studio that’s close by.
What one thing would you like to tell your younger selves?
Marie: I wouldn’t tell myself anything when I was young. That would have messed up my divine purpose.
Scott: No drinking, no drugs, no fun! (laughing)
Dan: When that cute girl asks you to the dance, SAY YES!!!!
What country would you most like to tour in your career & why?
Scott: I would love to tour Europe, playing all the huge music festivals they have in the summer. The audiences are so large, it would be great!
Marie: The country I’d most like to tour is The United States of America. There’s tons to see and do here and you don’t need a passport to do it. Plus, our band mate Scott Flint or one of us has probably already been there or close by so we won’t get lost. Another reason I want to tour here is because the people of this country need hope for the present. They need to see that great music exists right here in our own country. The citizens of this country need to know that someone else has been where they are emotionally and it’s all gonna work out okay. We need mental wellness here. I think REVILUTION will show Americans how to achieve mental wellness, which would benefit the whole planet.
Please include your links and all places on line where your new EP can be downloaded and streamed. Thank you REVILUTION.
