Rick Rascati - interview for 'Lost Frontier' by Javier Bedoya

One of the factors that more have contributed to musical development is without a doubt the technological advance, not only for the fact that current intruments allow us to make things that were unthinkable just a few years ago, but also to have a small recording studio nowadays in your home is not reserved to a few ones. Evidently this makes possible domestic productions of scarce quality, but it has also smoothed that talented artists have been able to develop their creativity.
On the other hand, the Internet is achieving something that without a doubt will revolutionize the world: the direct and immediate communication among people of any part of the planet, the global village.

Rick Rascati has known how to see the possibilities that all of this offers and he is beginning to explore his own world of sounds, with undecided steps at the beginning, but taking him toward more interesting places at the present time.
A prove of it is the trakck we have included in our first compilation album and this interview.

-What kind of music were you used to do before?

-Although I played guitar in a rock band, I always listened and loved New Age music as well as many other styles.

-Could we say that leaving your old rock band meant a kind of liberation for you?

-I actually enjoy making music more now than I ever did. I don't have to show anyone the parts and, can record anyday/anytime, not to mention not having to answer to anyone!

-You've said you played the guitar in a rock band. Couldn't you play keyboards in that time or you just enjoyed guitar?

-I originally took piano lessons for a few years when I was in my early-teens. My grandfather who was a classically trained violinist and taught over 20 instruments showed me the basics. I probably didn't excel as much as I should've back then, my heart was being a guitar player in a rock band.
My band Vanishing Point was a Heavy Metal band and I felt the keys didn't fit the music at the time. This was also a parallel existence for me because I was getting into New Age music on the side and had a feeling I would one day incorporate that into my world. In some way, I've come full circle seeing as I've been spending time rediscovering keyboards in the last few years.

-By the way, nowadays your music is completely played with electronics. Have you ever considered to play the guitar again?

-I will definitely incorporate the guitar in the future and will be the first to say that I am a better guitar player than a keyboard player. But, by playing everything on the keyboards it has forced me to redevelop my keyboard technique. Also, I wanted to take advantage of all the great sounds I have at my fingertips. I still play and enjoy guitar a lot, I actually have a lot of ideas that I will combine with synth parts soon.

-How did the Medwyn Goodall competition influenced on your musical life? Was it a great encouragement?

-The MG competition showed me how even New Age music can be competitive, but this is a good thing. It forces you to be on your toes and keeps you abreast of the latest musical styles, equipment, and range of talent out there.

-How do you describe your music?

-Although I call it "New Age", it encompasses a lot of styles, ethereal, ambient, techno, world, and piano new age. As long as it's called GOOD, i don't mind what it's named.

-What is your aim with your music?

-I always wanted to write music for film & television. I.E., movies, documentaries, and tv shows. Writing music for theme parks such as Disney, or Universal Studios would also be a thrill, combining my music with their visuals for a true experience. Albeit trite, I would eventually like to do themed CDs on the ancient mysteries of the world. Stonehenge, the Great Pyramids, Angkor Wat and the like. I am always open to other ideas as well.

-Is the music you are composing now a kind of soundtrack for such an album? I mean, do you think your tracks are part of an unity or maybe they must work separately?

-As I was saying a bit earlier, the songs on my site reflect my interest in many styles of music, but some were written with specific genres and styles in mind for Taxi music service. When I do a "themed CD" I will write all new material and take it to another level.
I've always had a fascination with the ancient mysteries and the ultimate would be to devote an entire CD to each topic, but, this is not the most practical. I may condense them into one long CD and have a few songs from each topic, a global compilation if you will. I have nothing planned as of yet. I've really just been experimenting with different styles and hoping one pays off.

-Do you feel your style is evolving?

-I really hope so. I am constantly experimenting with different sounds, styles, and ideas. Hopefully, this will take me to a better place as a musician.

-I think you are walking a long way and you are at the first stage, but I have noticed (specially in your 3 latests compositions) you are doing things well, I mean, listening tracks such 'Lost Frontier' or 'Awaken The Dream' I can feel you are evolving to deeper and richer sounds. Don't you feel the same? Are these pieces specially motivated for something?

-Thank you, I hope I continue to evolve as opposed to de-evolve.
I've been considering putting a note on my site to let people know that the songs on the bottom of my download page are my newest compositions so they can see the growth. As for the newer material, I've always gravitated towards darker, moodier, material. Without sounding pretentious, I'm going to coin a new musical term about myself that I can live with, "MOOD". I guess this is an amalgamation of my interests in ancient mysteries, the cosmos, parapsychology, and the hereafter. I like where the mood takes me and hopefully the listener does as well. I can promise you it will only get better!

-Talk us about your home studio and the way you work on your music.

-My home studio consists of a Mac G5 with Apple Logic Pro 7, a Korg Triton Extreme Workstation, a Yamaha DX21 synth which functions more as a MIDI controller as of late. I also have a Korg D1600 Digital Recorder which I recorded a handful of songs that are on my site, this was before my current setup.
Inspiration usually comes from what I call "sound searching", this is going through the banks of sounds on my Triton or on Logic to see what inspires me to create. This could take days as I am conscious of sounds that will work together.
It usually works in this order: sounds, ideas and arrangements. Sometimes I have an Idea in my head but the sounds have to be right first before I can develop them.

-Have you ever thought seriously about selling your own releases?

-I have thought about releasing a CD, it's just that I wanted to have all the songs in a particular style before I do that. This way it would be more cohesive. Part of the reason why I have done so many styles is that the particular tunes were geared towards Taxi music service which is genre specific.
Note: No, I haven't had any big payoff with Taxi.

-What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?

-People would be suprised by what I listen to. I listen to a broad range from the Ramones to Emerson, Lake & Palmer. But, for New Age Tangerine Dream was the band that opened my ears. David Arkenstone is another huge influence, every CD is an adventure with him. Also, Ed Van Fleet, Loreena McKennitt, Medwyn Goodall, Llewellyn, not to mention people who do soundtracks. Christopher L. Stone is another favourite of mine.
There are countless bands and genres that have influenced me, this is merely a modicum of what I listen to.

-Are you in touch with more artists like you (in the States or wherever they are)?

-Honestly, the only artists that I correspond with are on the message boards of sites like 'Lost Frontier' and 'Nuevas Musicas' at this time. I hope my network continues to grow seeing as I am always looking to exchange thoughts and ideas with people.

-Do you think that the Internet is going to change the way in people communicates?

-The internet has vastly increased ones chances of being heard. I never thought that one day I would be on the internet radio such as 'En El Aire', and people in other countries would hear my music days after I created it. It has truely made us a global village and brought us together. It will only get better!

-Do you believe the Internet is a good way to promote you?

-You can also apply the last question to this one. I think it is a great way to showcase ones talent across the world. It takes a lot less capital in the way of startup costs than conventional advertising and has more potential.

-What do you think about music industry? Are they too much worried about the money instead the artist or the listeners?

-In every industry it is financially driven, that's how they exist. But, in the music industry, pop, country, and hip-hop are the big driving forces (at least in the states), this requires more money being put in to market them so they have to recoup there expenses. This puts more of a burden on the artist to sell.
Many artists are dropped after once CD these days if their sales are low. With New Age/Instrumental music it tends to be a lot less demanding, and the artists seem to have a lot more creative control over their careers. Sounds good to me!

East Heaven, Connecticut, USA
September 8th, 2005

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Rick R. is included on our first free downloadable compilation album with his track 'Madagascar'.