Jason
Ritchie talks to Paul (December 2009)
www.getreadytorock.com
1. What are you currently up to? (recording,
gigs, plans)
At the
moment we're just beginning the promotion process of our new album "Darkness Falls" - which was released on
7th December 2009 & preparing for live dates next year. We have a new drummer in Dave Thurlby & old friend Darren
Jhuboo - who played on 2007's "Shake" - is back on bass. So as a new collective we have songs to learn.
Though
the UK isn't the easiest of lands to conquer on the live front - due to the lack of any music scene - dates do arise,
so we like to make the most of it.
2. Could you take us through
the songs on the 'Darkness Falls' album (e.g. ideas behind the songs, songwriting process etc)?
Regards
the writing process, I pretty much take a finished song to the band, the guys are then very welcome to make any
suggestions and participate in the tracks development. As it goes, really the rest of the band are musicians whereas
I really consider myself as a composer. So it works out quite nicely. But there's no ego, it's just the way we've
come together.
The new album has 13 studio tracks,
4 of which were from our debut album "Lay It On The Line" (2004). Although it had 10 tracks it was a demo - a way
of showing there was more to the band than 3 or 4 songs - so to re-record those tracks to this high production standard, not
to mention that we've improved as musicians (and they have slightly different arrangements) is great.
There
are lot's of songs with distinct themes - lyrics that tell a story: "TV Movie", "Music Man", "Top
Of The Class" & "No-one Knows (War)" - the last of which inspired the album's design concept &
was inspired by the TV series Ross Kemp in Afghanistan.
"Everybody"
has elements of dance music, as I've been a club DJ for 16 years, "Down" is a very modern heavy & aggressive
song, "Best In Me" mixes 80's rock with a modern feel & "Little Miss Sunshine" is the
big ballad, with individual string arrangements.
3. The band have been
through a fair few line-up changes of late. Is it hard to keep a steady line-up when the band are not full
time musicians?
Very much so. Other commitments (family, day job etc) rightly
get in the way. We have to be careful what gigs etc we accept as it could mean losing out on regular income to pay the mortgage
- it's not easy at all.
Travel, time restraints and
being responsible to those that need you around has to come first. But the current line up is a great bunch of friends as
well as band members and we seem to have found a happy medium so far. Fingers crossed it can last...
4. What keeps the old creative fires
burning in a band like Sacred Heart? Have you been pleased at what the band have achieved compared to say five years
ago?
Honestly, music is my life - I sing, write
songs, play guitar and DJ for a living.
There's nothing like
standing up with a group of friends (with a similar outlook) and seeing/hearing something come together.
More
than ever, I'm finding this fun! And I think the other guys would say the same. Mark Stephenson & I have been in this
from the start and I've never seen him so motivated or passionate. It's awesome.
More
than anything I want the world to hear my songs, so I'd say I'm disappointed that that hasn't happened, but those
who have and write to us saying how much they enjoy our music makes it very worthwhile.
5. What have been the most memorable live shows for you and why?
Possibly the last 2 - Cambridge Rock Fest 2009 & supporting
Bonfire at JB's, Dudley. The crowd were simply amazing at Cambridge - dancing around, singing along - great experience.
The response was equally as astounding at JB's. It was just Mark & I playing stripped back - not easy! But there was
silence throughout the performance and as soon as we finished each song the crowd roared. The feedback from both was phenomenal
and playing with Bonfire - of which I'm a huge fan - was an honour.
6.
You've gone down the route of releasing the new album yourselves. Is it hard to sign to a label when you've not had
past musical history like many projects/bands that sign to labels like Frontiers? Do you think you ultimately get better sales
and a better deal for the band going down the self-releasing route?
Unless you're an established musician you've got little or no chance of
being signed by the bigger of the small rock labels but as an independent you get 80/90% of the income, as opposed to 10%.
However, the labels have far better promotional tools and routes in place. So they'll sell more, but we'll possibly
make more back towards costs.
7. Have social networking sites like MySpace
and Facebook helped get more people aware of the band or is it just a case of getting loads of friends but not much back in
terms of CD sales/downloads and people at gigs?
At the beginning Myspace
made us a lot of friends and sales - but now it's pretty much all about the music/bands. If you have 30 people say to
you come and listen to this you're gonna switch off. Facebook is doing us the world of good at the moment, lot's of
new interest and sales - which is flattering. Also, that little bit of effort on FB - getting to know people - really helps.
We've
done really well on the download front - I would have been happy to go down that route alone, but people will always want
the physical product. Plus, you need something for new & old fans alike to go away with something from a gig.
8. Have
you seen an upswing in the interest in hard rock and melodic rock over the past couple of years? Amy other newer
bands out there that have impressed you?
I like
Crimes Of Passion - they're not stuck in the past. They tip their hat to old school, like us - but are incorporating new
sounds & techniques. Nickelback & Hinder are my two favourite modern bands and although I've liked Kid Rock since
'99 it's great to see him have some commercial success. It's all good for the rock music scene.
9. How did the Cambridge Rock Festival go this year and any plans to release a
live DVD at some point?
Cambridge was fantastic. We were early on
the bill - which even the stage manager couldn't understand. If we'd have been on later in the day we would've
cleaned up. Made alot of new friends though and a lot of fans travelled a long way to partake in some SH led rock 'n'
roll tomfoolery! Great fun!
We have
a live date in Worcester (W. Mids, UK) on Sunday 28th March - it's in a renovated church - we're gonna film that as
the backdrop will be astounding. So you never know...
10. Who are your musical influences and why?
Melody, passion & power is what influences me, so I'd have to say Chad Kroeger, Jani Lane, Joey Tempest,
John Sykes & George Lynch. If you know who they are - you know why they get my creative juices flowing.
Message
for your fans...
Thank you
to all of SACRED HEART's friends/fans - your continued support is why we keep going. Also, thanks to Jason & the GRTR!
team for all the effort on our behalf.
Merry Xmas & a happy new year to you all. We hope to see you on the
road in 2010.
