EMQ’s With Rick Massie

EMQ’s With Rick Massie

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Metal solo project, Rick Massie. Huge thanks to him for taking part. 

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Hi! I’m Rick Massie, a musician living in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. I play guitar, bass, and do vocals, as well as programming for lots of different instruments. I started this project in 2017, after about a 14-year break from writing or playing music at all. 2017 brought some unexpected life changes, and along with that, I realized that I really needed music back in my life and decided to jump back in by writing and recording an album. There was no practicing or research done. I just started trying to get the melodies out of my head and onto my computer. And before I knew it, I had written three albums worth of material. “Eclipse” came out in 2020, and “Guided to an Imperfect Light” came out this year. Album 3 shouldn’t be too far off now!

How did you come up with your band name?

My band / project name is… Rick Massie. Yep. About as unoriginal as a band / project name can get! I had a great name that I had used for a single I released many, many years ago. However, when I started working on my first album in 2017, I did some googling and found that the name had been taken… by a wedding cover band. Disappointing to be sure. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t come up with anything that felt right, so I kept it as my own name. 

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

I’m from Whitehorse, Yukon, far up North in Canada. It’s a pretty remote place, do we don’t really get any Metal bands travelling up here for shows (although Iron Kingdom is the one band who does make the effort to come up here!). There’s a huge music scene here, a lot of Folk Music and Eclectic Rock, for a lack of better term. There’s also a few Metal bands, but very few, and the amount of shows are even fewer and farther between. With that said, the bands that do play here are incredibly talented. I’d recommend checking out The Animal Warfare Act and Antarticus, both of these bands make sure our Metal scene is top-notch. We don’t need quantity when we’ve got such great quality. 

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

My new album “Guided to an Imperfect Light” came out in June of this year. It’s an epic journey across many moods and musical styles. A bit of an everything-but-the-kitchen sink approach to Metal, but with a very strict intent – which is to tell stories and create musical soundtracks that flow like a movie or a book. I’ve often been told that it’s got something for everyone, no matter what style of Metal they like. 

Who have been your greatest influences?

My most recent musical influences have been Devin Townsend and Marianas Trench. I’ve been told many times that my music reminds people of Devin Townsend. Perhaps it’s the big wall-of-sound approach, multiple styles within each song, the use of orchestras and choirs, and the use of uplifting melodies. 

However, a lot of my older influences still shine through. I can’t escape the influence that bands like Opeth, Edge of Sanity, Katatonia, Sentenced and Harem Scarem have had on me over the years. I certainly wouldn’t be writing music like this if I hadn’t spent so many years absorbing their melodies into my brain. 

What first got you into music?

My father got me into music. And I’m forever thankful for that. I remember sitting in the basement with him listening to Alice Cooper and 70’s Prog. Well, I can’t remember which 70’s bands they were, but I’ll never forget Alice Cooper. And I listened to Alice Cooper for years, until I finally got to buy my own cassettes for myself. For anyone who remembers the Columbia House catalogues, they had this great deal where you could sign up and get a bunch of tapes for free. So of course, I ordered “The Fresh Prince of Belair”. 

Well, what I didn’t realize was that they also had this “feature” where you automatically got sent the “pick of the month” unless you specifically opted out. So, imagine my surprise when this strange tape shows up form a band called Skid Row. Well, that was how it all started. Just a lucky fluke. From Skid Row, it went to Slayer, Death, and then eventually onto Opeth and more. 

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

I’d love to work with Josh Ramsay (Marianas Trench) to work on some scores and orchestral sections for some of my songs, and to get a chance to work with him to make some Progressive Metal. He’s got such an incredible sense of composition; I’d love to see it incorporated into a Metal style. And if I could get him to do some vocals on some tracks… it would be like a dream come true. One can hope!

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

I’d love to play Cruise to the Edge. It seems like such a fun, positive experience, and there are so many great Progressive and Metal bands that play throughout. I think I’d fit right in with my music, perhaps find some new fans, and I’d get to see a ton of great performances. Plus, I’m originally from Newfoundland, where I lived right on the ocean, so I’d feel right at home on the ocean!

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I don’t play live, so I haven’t had much of a chance to get any gifts from fans. However, if anyone wants to send me something weird, I’m all for it! 

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

There’s always hope. As dark as times can get, there is always hope. 

Anyone who listens to my music will probably know this already, but I think it’s important to reiterate. There will be times when you can’t begin to see the light, but be patient. And work hard. It can come. 

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Probably Chuck Schuldiner. He was such a huge influence on me when I was younger, he showed me a new world of music that I couldn’t have possibly imagined. He was a true visionary, and I’d love to see the wild areas he would have explored if he’d been around for longer. It’s such a sad, tragic thing. I’m so thankful that he was at least able to leave us with the amazing music he did. 

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

The most rewarding thing is hearing the music in my head come together in a song. What starts as a simple idea or melody eventually turns into a huge, grand soundscape with layers of instruments and harmonies. When it all comes together, and you can just listen to it, there’s a magical feeling that can’t be beat. 

In terms of the worst part of being a musician, it has to be self-promotion. I’m pretty modest and quiet, so I hate having to try and sell myself and my music. I just feel like I’m bugging or annoying people, and I wish there was some way around it. But I really want people to hear these creations, so it’s an unfortunate reality. I just have to find ways to let people know about it without coming across as annoying. 

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

The bad seeds. Meaning, the people who perpetuate the corruption. the sexism, the misogyny, the racism, and the need for power and control. For me, I’m happy with my place in the industry – I’m an independent artist, and I don’t have to deal with those terrible things. So, if I could change one thing, it would be to get the bad people out of the industry, so that other artists who experience those things can be free of it all, forever. 

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

“Deconstruction” by Devin Towsend. It’s such an unhinged, all-over-the-map expression of musical creativity. Without a doubt, it’s my favourite album of all-time. And the title track is my favourite song of all time. I’ve been listening to it for years and years, and I still find new things to appreciate every time I listen. I’ve been searching for albums that come close to recreating this type of sound, but there’s really nothing else like it out there. A true gem. 

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?

CDs all the way. It’s got great sound quality, is easy to transport, and gives you a ton of options for great artwork and booklet layouts. And some of those special edition CDs I’ve gotten over the years (like Cradle of Filth’s “Cruelty and the Beast – Celtic Cross Edition”) really show how amazing the packaging can get. Plus, the smell of the liner notes just after you open the CD… Pure nostalgia. I still order CD’s for any albums that I truly love. I never got into vinyl, and have some old cassettes, but the hassle of rewind and fast forward, plus the fact that the booklets are so small, really keep them from being a viable option for my buying habits. 

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

I don’t play live, so my best gig hasn’t happened yet! In fact, I haven’t even played any of my songs all the way through in one sitting. I write and record them and haven’t played any of them since. 

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I also have a day job as a communications officer – writing and researching and creating web content. So that’s my main thing. I was also a professional photographer, until I decided to take up music as my “part-time” job. So possibly photography as well. Whatever I do, it tends to involve creating things in one way or another. That’s what brings me joy. Creating. 

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

I’d want to invite Devin Townsend for sure. However, with him being a vegetarian, I’m not sure I could pull off a menu that would satisfy the others. So, I’d enlist Josh Ramsay (Marianas Trench) and Cowboy Kent Rollins to help create the ultimate vegetarian-friendly menu, since they’ve got the cooking show and skills to pull it off. Then I’d invite Pete Lesperance and Tobias Forge (Ghost) to round it off for some interesting conversations. They’re all creators I’d love to chat with, to pick their brains and just learn from. 

What’s next for the band?

Album 3. The base songs are all recorded, including main vocals. Next up is adding in additional layers and embellishments to bring them to the next level, and then on to mixing and mastering. I hope to have this next album out for fans by mid-2023.  

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

I’ve got a presence on many sites that Metal fans tend to use. The best places to find me are:
Bandcamp https://rickmassie.bandcamp.com/ 
Website http://rickmassie.com 
Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/rickmassiemusic/ 
Twitter https://twitter.com/rickmassiemusic 
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/rickmassiemusic 
YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYP00ehdXc42rcBDa8guBQg 
YouTube Music https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCSW42VyKh5XxvtVn_y-2Qtg
Spotify  https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OnNWLouJqbKl3glksSkR2 
Apple Music https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/1486053559 

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

I’m a Newfoundlander who lives in the Yukon… I don’t even know what a Jaffa cake is! But going solely on the name, I assume it must be a cake. Otherwise, someone did a really terrible job of naming it!

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview! I truly appreciate the support.

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.