Getting to Know… The Rift | Interview 🎤

In the 285^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from So. Cal power rock band, The Rift.  

“W

e want to keep getting our music out there and really take things to the next level so we’ll see what happens, but I know no matter what the music we make will kick ass.” Sounds like a ‘kick ass’ mic 🎤 drop 💧 to me, 🎙 The Rift! In response to an earlier burning question on our 285^th Q&A (onward to 300!), the southern Cali-based power rock band asserts, “We always wanted to do our own thing and not put ourselves in a box and let the music happen organically.” Yeah, that’s a mic drop too! Like our many Getting to Know Q&As, we get the inside scoop on the band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and of course, current, and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… The Rift: Interview No. 285!

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For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

🎤 I think for one thing we definitely have our own sound which was intentional.  We always wanted to do our own thing and not put ourselves in a box and let the music happen organically.  We really pride ourselves on being a great live band so we’re always looking for ways to bring the audience in live and top our live shows, you won’t see any backing tracks when we go on stage just raw energy.

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Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did The Rift form and what were some of the goals or visions you had early on?

🎤 Well, the band, as is, really came together after my last band was sort of falling apart.  Ovais and I had always jammed and made music together but not in a band context before that.  I was actually spearheading an album with my last band when all the other members quit, fortunately, turned out to be for the best as I asked Ovais to step in and things just really took off from there.  The Rift was born, and I think it was meant to be that way.

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Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

🎤 I think time and just the nature of the beast changes your perspective.  Being in a band is no easy feat and making it successful is a challenge these days.  We certainly keep a level head about things, but we still have big aspirations.  We want to keep getting our music out there and really take things to the next level so we’ll see what happens, but I know no matter what the music we make will kick ass.

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Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Whom would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

🎤 So many come to mind, but for us Metallica, Foo Fighters, Muse, System of a Down, & The Police are big influences.  All of those bands stayed true to themselves, and that’s something we take inspiration from.

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Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.  

🎤 One time we were playing in a motorcycle bar which was cool a big amp cab fell on my arm and made a large cut on my arm before we started playing.  Before I could go wash it off a bunch of fans from the bar bought me some tequila and then proceeded to pour that onto my open wound screaming rock and roll,  haha. Hurt like a son of a gun but everyone ended up having a good time!

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Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

🎤 🎵 “Rock Narcotic” for me I think is my favorite that we recorded, it was one of the first songs Ovais and I really came up with together.  I also felt it kind of helped us find one of our more unique styles where we blend some reggae, flamenco, classical, thrash metal, and prog into one song, it was sort of a launching point for us in that regard.  Also, pretty cool that it helped us break onto major FM radio.

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Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

🎤 Ovais is a voice-over pro – no joke – he does awesome voice acting for video games, movies, etc. Dude can do any voice impression, haha. I do a pretty good Christopher Walken impression but that’s about it.

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In closing, what is The Rift currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

🎤 We’re currently recording our 2^nd full-length album and it’s sounding great so excited for us to finish that up and see where it takes us.  

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

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🔗 Follow The Rift: Facebook • Twitter • Spotify • Website

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Getting to Know…The Rift: Interview No. 285 [📷: Alfred Derks from Pixabay, Brent Faulkner, Darkmoon_Art from Pixabay, The Musical Hype, The Rift]

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