Ripped
Ripped is an intriguing four-piece band from Ontario province in Canada. From most of their photos you'd suspect they might be some sort of industrial/goth outfit, but listening to their music reveals a band who fit squarely into the pop-rock realm.
Songs like "Show Me", "Second Chance" and a cover of Blondie's "Call Me" are light and melodic enough to have the potential to be radio friendly, but still manage to preserve a considerable amount of rock credibility. Lead vocals by Sandra Olender are not overly powerful, but they are pleasing to the ear and she shows a nice ability to adapt her style to the needs of each song. Instrumentally the band doesn't appear to offer any virtuoso elements but all are quite competent and the guitars buzz along pleasantly, with just enough toughness to keep things interesting. Other band members include Iain "Moody" Carroll (guitars), Attila Elek (bass) and Todd Stewart (drums). Their first full-length album, Bloodshot, was released in 2003 and their second, most recent album is Blow Your Mind from 2005.
Ripped is definitely worth giving a listen. It's difficult to tell exactly where they might go from here in musical terms - I'm guessing they probably view that as a good thing.
Ripped Interview
TCZ: Can each of you tell us what influenced you the most to pursue a music career
Moody: Sandi influenced me the most. She wanted to start a band with me. How could I possibly say No ? She was hot, beautiful girl with a brilliant mind and very creative too.
Sandi: I seen "Jailhouse Rock" with Elvis Presley when I was 5 years old with my grandmother. I became a huge fan of Elvis and began learning the guitar right away. I started writing my first songs that year and decided I wanted to be a songwriter.
TCZ: Tell us about your gear, how did you acquire your first hardware, brand and what your using now.
Moody: My first amp was a Traynor and it sounded horrible ... my first electric guitar was Sandi's Onyx, she sold it to me and then bought it back later when I got a Yamaha semi-acoustic. I was similar to Billy Duffy's (The Cult) guitar and he was my favorite guitarist at the time. My preference ( and what i use now ) is a Marshall amp with a Gibson Les Paul.
Sandi: My first electric guitar was an Onyx, it came with the lessons. Then I bought a Fender Stratocaster and played that for a few years in a band called "Pestilence". I now play a Gibson Les Paul which I love! My first amp was a Peavy Bandit that my parents got me for my birthday. I just bought my first microphone this year. It is a Rhode NT2.
TCZ: What was the first concert you ever attended and how did it influence you?
Moody: Billy Joel ... it did not really influence me at all ... i was so young , that i can barely remember it ... i went with my Mother and it was in Maple Leaf Gardens.
Sandi: My parents took me to several concerts while I was growing up and so did my older sister. I really can't remember the first one I seen. Some of them that influenced me were David Bowie, Billy Idol, Prince, Joan Jett, Veruca Salt and Blondie.
TCZ: Your biggest influences in your music career today?
Moody: I am most influenced by producers mostly ( not bands ) , my top 4 are Butch Vig(Garbage, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins), Scott Humphrey(Rob Zombie), Dave Ogilvie(Nine Inch Nails, Manson, Bowie & Ripped) and Jim Steinman(Sisters of Mercy, Meatloaf, his own stuff). I really like to focus on production and sound when I listen and write music.
Sandi: I love the production, songwriting and vocals of Garbage. They have been a big influence. There's really no one band in particular that I'm influenced by. When I write a song I am usually looking for a certain feeling, not trying to sound like a certain band.
TCZ: What female musician has influenced you the most and why?
Moody: Debbie Harry ... Blondie was my biggest love growing up as a kid. I loved the band too, they all looked great together and she has the most beautiful voice.
Sandi: Deborah Harry! She was very open-minded to all kinds of music and didn't act too tough in her stage performance. She seemed very down to earth and not phony.
TCZ: You're feelings on Podcasting. Does it help or hurt??
Moody: Thank God for podcasting ... it is music directors at the grass roots level ... there is no greater equalizer than the people taking new music and spreading it to the world ( from their own hands and out of the major radio stations ) ... Podcasting gives common everyday people ( the true lovers of music ) the say in what should be played and what should be skipped. I think the future of music is podcasts and the independent music director. True response to your podcast will be seen when you have thousands of subscribers and your message is heard and wanted to be heard.
Sandi: I love it. We've gained many fans through it. I have people writing me all the time that discovered us on a podcast somewhere. I listen to them myself and have discovered some great bands out there.
TCZ: Tell us about the Ripped, how did you meet? What led to the name, Ripped.
Moody & Sandi: Sandi & Moody met in the mall ... Sandi said " I am starting a band , would you like to jam ? " ... Moody " Sure ... you have nice teeth ! " ( now Moody feels a little silly ) .. Sandi " do you play anything ? " ( now Sandi feels a little silly , asking some one to join her band before she knows if they can play ) ... Moody " sure, i can play guitar and sing a little , very little ) .... and so it began.
TCZ: Could you share a little about your band mates and what are the greatest strengths they bring to the band.
Moody & Sandi:
Sandi: she is the melody maker and true creator of the "HOOK".
Moody: gets the lyrics down and leads the band into action ... he is the organizer.
Attila: strong motivator and positive attitude , always there to help with everything & part time comedian.
Todd: solid , solid , solid drumming and character ... now question, he is truly 1 in a million ( or at least 25, which is how may we tried before we found him .TCZ: Do you have any "rituals" or habits you employ when your writing?
Moody & Sandi:DON'T THINK !!! ... something else ( your higher self ) writes the music for you ... let all emotions and thoughts go ... then it comes all by itself .
TCZ: Describe to us a day in the studio while recording Blow Your Mind.
Moody & Sandi: try try again , try this, then try that, nothing is permanent , it can ( and will ) be changed tomorrow .... oops, let's try something different ... when it is perfect, then you can hear it ... followed by many glasses of wine and several days of partyin'.
TCZ: What was the hardest song to produce on Blow Your Mind and why?
Moody & Sandi:"Waiting for the Night" ..... we were trying to change it from the demo so much that it was like writing a new song.... although we wanted to record this song , we thought there was too much missing for it to make the album, so we spent hours fixing and re-editing it until Moody & Ashton came up with the perfect rendition.
TCZ: "Show Me" and "Anodyne" both appear to be fan favorites. What do you think it is about these two tracks that appeal to your fans the most?
Moody & Sandi:They are very unique and can be compared to nothing ... we get asked "what do you sound like ?" and then we can't respond accurately ... these songs have the edge and new sound of new millennium.
TCZ: What would you say is the hardest song for the band to perform live and why?
Moody & Sandi: "Afterglow", ......... there was so much extra production and tracks put on to that song, that we would need 9 people to play all the parts in it. We compromise and play the basics .... it still comes off good.TCZ: If you could pick one track of Blow Your Mind, that you think best represents the band which track would that be and why?
Moody & Sandi:"Anodyne" .... because is says "I would like to bow your mind ..." , which is our theme and we like to live this in our everyday lives.
TCZ: There are a number of ways fans can experience your music and videos online. Could you tell us about that please.
Moody & Sandi:We have our own website at www.rippedmusic.com ... this has streaming audio for several songs and all 4 of our videos. You can also buy our merchandise there or link to all the digital distributors that carry Ripped.
We also have a myspace page that can accessed at www.myspace.com/ripped.
TCZ: What are your goals for Ripped??
Moody & Sandi:Write the best songs ever and get the whole world to hear them.
TCZ: Describe Ripped for us in one word.
Moody & Sandi: Enlightened
TCZ: Any plans to Tour the US in 2006?
Moody & Sandi: not yet, but ready willing and able.
TCZ: What can we expect from Ripped in 2006?
Moody & Sandi: more music, videos, interviews and shows .... we love the whole aspect of the industry and enjoy each part of it, ( writing, recording, performing, marketing )
TCZ: Is there anything you would like to add or say to your fans??
Moody & Sandi: we love to hear from you ... without feedback, there would be no point ..... your letters and questions are the highlights of this career ... we respond personally to letters and like to help in any way we can ....thank you for your support.