Reverence Interview Questions
1. What are you working on right now?
Scott: Right now we are putting the finishing touches on our long overdue live album that we hope to have out there within the next few months.
Paul: Right now the band is writing new material for our next album. The creative process is always fun and challenging–Reverence has a really high standard and a track record of great songs. So the bar is always high and we all push each other to create the best possible music. It’s easy to come up with great riffs and ideas but the true craftsmanship of songwriting is putting it all together into a great song. It has to be great and it needs to stay true to the Reverence metal style.
Paul: Right now the band is writing new material for our next album. The creative process is always fun and challenging–Reverence has a really high standard and a track record of great songs. So the bar is always high and we all push each other to create the best possible music. It’s easy to come up with great riffs and ideas but the true craftsmanship of songwriting is putting it all together into a great song. It has to be great and it needs to stay true to the Reverence metal style.
2. What does your band name mean and where did it come from?
Paul: It was taken from the lyrics of one of the songs on “When Darkness Calls.” We have a degree of “reverence” for the music we all grew up listening to—classic metal like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio, Savatage and bands like that. That influence shows up in our music. We want to carry the metal torch forward, so to speak, with “reverence” and respect for the bands that came before us.
Bryan: Yeah, the band name came from the very first song we wrote together called ‘Revolution Rising’ the lyric says ‘Bow down in Reverence, bow down in fear’. My wife Tracy actually took notice of the lyric line and thought that was a perfect name us, we agreed. It was a cool simple name that had a deeper meaning like Paul described.
3. Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics?
Scott: It’s a collaboration between Bryan, Paul and myself really. We write about many different topics but the main thing is our music has a certain power and energy level that pull you in so collectively the lyrics will do the same.
Paul: Bryan and I start working out ideas and then we start to craft it together. There’s input from Scott as well. It’s a team effort–everyone contributes. We are all critical of what we are putting together, songwise. For me, I would never want to put out a song that I wouldn’t want to listen to myself. It has to move me. I know that if it works for me, it’s going to move the listener as well.
Paul: Bryan and I start working out ideas and then we start to craft it together. There’s input from Scott as well. It’s a team effort–everyone contributes. We are all critical of what we are putting together, songwise. For me, I would never want to put out a song that I wouldn’t want to listen to myself. It has to move me. I know that if it works for me, it’s going to move the listener as well.
Bryan: I’ve been told that some of our material seems to have a political or religeous leaning to it be thats not by design, if any of us has a topic that has some substance or message, we’ll run with it. I don’t think you’ll be hearing any chasing woman or party songs from us.
4. Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Bryan: Typically it all start with a riff or chord progression, I can hear stuff in my head usually at the most inopportune times like in the shower or even in the middle of a conversation with someone, I have to excuse myself to do a quick recording, humming the idea on my phone. The main riff of the song ‘Too Late’ was written that way. Then its all a matter of putting all the puzzle pieces together, thats actually the hard part, trying to make them all flow properly together to make the best song possible. Its an odd thing really, some songs just flow and almost write themsleves others are very difficult to finish.
Paul: We all record song ideas and parts constantly. We sort through it and select the best stuff and create full songs from it. Then we continue to refine and create until we have something that works and kicks ass on every level. The standards are really high in this band–and the music we create is a result of putting everyone’s talent and work together. Each member has veto power on songs that are being written. If somethings not working or isn’t up to the level someone thinks it should be, it either gets scrapped or reworked until it is.
5. How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Bryan: I think it all about growing and learning, what works, what doesn’t work, its really a natural progression to me. Trying to take the music somewhere the listener isn’t expecting, a left turn in the middle of a song. Some songs call for more layered texturing while others just are straight up kick you in the face metal songs. Even after three albums we’re still hungry, we work hard to make sure the next album is better than the last.
Paul: This is a new band for me–every band has a different dynamic as far as writing and creating. The songs on the previous Reverence albums are great–classic metal with melody and hooks–we want to stay true to what we do moving forward and keep doing it better.
Paul: This is a new band for me–every band has a different dynamic as far as writing and creating. The songs on the previous Reverence albums are great–classic metal with melody and hooks–we want to stay true to what we do moving forward and keep doing it better.
6. What has been your biggest challenge as a band?
Scott: Keeping a band up and running proves to be quite a challenge. Especially in todays world were almost no one pays for new albums or product anymore. It gets depressing after awhile when you put so much into something and get very little in return for what you do.
Paul: Obviously the band losing Pete is an understatement (guitarist Pete Rossi passed away in March of 2017). Me being the new guy in the band, it takes a little time to understand the chemistry and get things moving forward. This band has good musicians who are also great people. It works. It’s a great fit.
7. What’s your ultimate direction for your band – fame and fortune?
Scott: Fame and fortune is a dream. It’s a nice dream and I do not knock people for trying to live that but that is not my reality. I never did anything that had to do with music thinking I’m going to be famous for this. It’s done out of my own self gratification and ability to create something I can put out there and hopefully some people will dig it.
Paul: We just signed a distribution deal with Rock of Angels (Roar) Records. Our market is more in Europe than the USA. This will give us more reach in Europe. We plan on playing live in Europe in the future, Reverence did a European tour before I was in the band and I can’t wait for us to go back.
Bryan: We plan on releasing as many albums as we can, take it on the road, head back to Europe again and basically just try to take the band as far as we can and give it the best shot. We’re very happy with the new partnership with Akis Kosmidis from Roar, he’s a fantastic guy and runs a stellar operation.
8. Who are your biggest influences?
Scott: Steve Walsh from Kansas would be my absolute favorite vocalist. In his heyday he had it all. Angelo Moore from the band Fishbone would be next. Another disgracefully underrated and overlooked talent and probably the best front man any band can ever have. When I first heard Bruce Dickinson I was like ok now Id like to give this singing thing a shot.
Paul: Originally it was the classic rock bands—I was really into bands like Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. I started playing guitar in 1982 when I was 14 years old and really got into Randy Rhoads and Van Halen. A bit later it was Yngwie, Warren DeMartini, George Lynch, Michael Schenker, Criss Oliva, John Sykes, Gary Moore’s pre-blues stuff—all guys that play with a great deal of conviction. Expressive guitar players with killer vibrato do it for me.
Musically it was all the classic 80s metal bands. I’m glad I grew up during that time period and got to see them all live in their prime. I love great songwriting. Along with bands like Savatage and Queensryche, some of my other favorite albums are Quadrophenia by The Who and Three Sides to Every Story by Extreme—incredibly great songwriting on those albums.
Bryan: I was heavily influence by Criss Oliva, Randy Rhoads, Rik Emmett, Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, I really grew up on a healthy diet of Accept, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, I really love the dual guitar bands, it adds such a cool dynamic to the band with harmony solos, etc. we love incorporating that kind of sound.
9. Who do you sound like?
Scott: Some people tell me I sound exactly like a fellow named Scott Oliva.
Paul: As a guitar player I think I sound like me. When I listen to my playing, I can tell who my influences are, though. Reverence sounds like classic metal. You can hear our influences but I think we still sound like ourselves. Bryan is a great songwriter and has a knack for coming up with great riffs and hooks as well as song arrangements.
Bryan: Hopefully we’re carving out our own sound but with many of the bands I mentioned above as influnces, I think there’s elements of those bands in Reverence, hence the name of the band, we Revere the music we grew up on and bring that into this band as something new but still familiar. Great songs…its all about great songs!
10. What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Scott: Can you give me some advice? Seriously its a constant array of learning from your mistakes.
Paul: Make sure you have your act together–both as a person and a musician. Time after time, personal problems are what cause the most trouble in bands, not the music. You obviously have to have it together as a musician to make it, but if you have an addiction, drinking or other personal problem you’re not going to make it for the long haul–it will end up causing problems. You have to be disciplined and focused in both your personal and band life.
Paul: Make sure you have your act together–both as a person and a musician. Time after time, personal problems are what cause the most trouble in bands, not the music. You obviously have to have it together as a musician to make it, but if you have an addiction, drinking or other personal problem you’re not going to make it for the long haul–it will end up causing problems. You have to be disciplined and focused in both your personal and band life.
Bryan: It really isn’t about just finding the best players, its about finding good people that can work well together, people that can tolerate each other without clashing egos, no drunks or drugs and then of course be great players on top of it. Not an easy thing to find…but don’t give up!
11. How do you feel about the internet in the music business?
Scott: Well no business is music business thanks to the internet. It’s a different world and we grew up getting the chance to see it all happen and take over. It sort of swallowed up the industry.
Paul: It has changed everything. You can collaborate with anyone, anywhere. It’s made the music world “smaller” in many respects. You have to have a really good product. We are able to connect with our fans anywhere in the world. It will never be a substitute for seeing a band live, though. There’s something about that concert experience that never gets old. It will always be there.
Paul: It has changed everything. You can collaborate with anyone, anywhere. It’s made the music world “smaller” in many respects. You have to have a really good product. We are able to connect with our fans anywhere in the world. It will never be a substitute for seeing a band live, though. There’s something about that concert experience that never gets old. It will always be there.
12. Any last words?
Scott: Check out the new Reverence live album coming out soon. We are also currently writing for the third full length album and so far its coming out great.
Paul: I’m really happy to be in this band—I was a fan before I joined. Unfortunately the opportunity came from the tragedy of Pete Rossi’s death. So it’s an honor and big responsibility for me to carry that torch now in Reverence. I’m really looking forward to working with Rock of Angels Records and getting this next album out and continuing to play live. And especially looking forward to seeing our European fans soon!
Bryan: I hate those guys in interviews that say ‘Come and see the band, and buy all the records.’ They always sound so insincere. So I’d like to say, really sincerely, come and see the band and buy all the records! But seriously, I think the fans are going to love our new live album coming out this fall and will show everyone how amazing this band is live.
