Interview

Babble & Beat - Rick, where you looking for a side project to The Last Dance or did it all just kind of happen?

Rick - To be honest, I was not looking for a side project beyond TLD (I have done one other side project in the past which was fun - Creta). Sapphire Solace basically happened because Velvet made it happen... me producing a few of her solo project songs, then her asking me to do a project with her, her flying to the USA so we could record and work together... I agreed because 1) I think she is an amazing singer, 2) I think she is a great song writer, and 3) through working together we have become cool friends and I am all about creating music with talented people who are my friends.

Babble & Beat - Velvet, what is it exactly about Rick that compliments your talents?

Velvet - Well, many people already know that Rick is a brilliant guitarist. He plays with such passion and totally immerses himself in the music he plays with his main band The Last Dance. What a lot of people do not know however, is how much of a great producer he is as well. I discovered this when I asked his opinion on one of my tracks, which I sent to him. His reponse was him sending me the track back after he had produced it, 'bringing out' the elements which he felt as a musician needed to be more focused. It was after I saw what he could add to my music that I felt he could give it what it was previously lacking. And we decided on starting a project together... combining his guitar work and his unique guitar sound with my vocals and songwriting, all rounded off with Ricks production quality.

Babble & Beat - One of you is based in California and the other in England. What is your normal routine for working on music together?

Rick - Aside from Velvet traveling here for a month, where we got most of what you have heard done, it generally works like this: Velvet writes a song idea, sends it my way via the internet, and I generally complete it. As for producing, I may have her do a line here or there differently. I get her song idea and we talk about what we think it should be. Then she basically trusts me to run with it and complete the song, whether that means new drum samples or guitars, or mixing or whatever. We share ideas and talk often online about the songs, and if it's one of those special creative moments, well, then a phone call happens.

Velvet - Yeah, traveling to the US was fantastic. It was actually my first time over there. To work with Rick in person, after we had began our initial work on music over the internet, was a great experience.

Babble & Beat - Rick, how do you choose what ideas / creations of yours become Sapphire Solace material versus The Last Dance material? What guidelines are you using to determine what is most appropriate for each band?

Rick - That is a great question. To be honest, for the most part Velvet comes up with the song ideas in Sapphire Solace, whether it’s a part only and then asks me to finish or a complete song idea that I then add to. I obviously do my own writing, some of which becomes TLD material, and some of which does not... usually because I have a general thinking of what is TLD and what is not song and sound wise. Also, as a producer of my own songs, I generally can tell after listening to them what would work with a female voice and what would work for TLD, Jeff’s voice. But as I said, Velvet usually creates the initial ideas of what the Sapphire Solace songs are and become. I will say that for one of our songs, 'Finally', I had written the music previously and was not super happy about it. So, I left it there and when Velvet was here she wanted to rewrite it and she did, then wrote lyrics, and turned it into one of my favorite songs we have now.

Babble & Beat - Velvet, are you also still doing solo work?

Velvet - Not at this time. I want to focus all of my energy on Sapphire Solace, because I have found that working with other musicians, and developing your sound as a project, makes you evolve as an artist. I wouldn't completely rule solo work out though, as who knows what opportunities may arise in the future.

Babble & Beat - We just heard the exciting news about Sapphire Solace being featured on the soundtrack of an upcoming thriller based on a Norm Applegate book. How did this opportunity come about?

Rick - This one is is for Velvet to answer... but I will say that I have spoken on the phone with Norm and he is a really great person, creative and humble. It's definitely exciting to be part of this film.

Velvet - Well, Norm saw our profile on MySpace, funny enough, and he was one of the many people who had commented on what he thought of our music. Then one day an email appeared in my inbox explaining how he would love to use our song 'Completely'. Apparently Norm, and his director J.L. Botelho, fell in love with the sound of that track. It wasn't such a case of them searching for music to find at that time... but our music finding them.

Babble & Beat - You are obviously both very creative and talented musicians. How often do you agree to disagree, and can you give us an instance?

Rick - Laughing here, we have our moments! It's fun actually. Velvet trusts me with mixing and producing and all that definitely, and generally leaves that to me, but we sometimes argue over certain parts and little things that no one would even notice. I do love the fire and passion in her... but know our arguments are not crazy, rather done while laughing. It's actually fun and part of the Sapphire Solace creative experience. For the most part, we are on the same page and agree. I think that is why this project is already doing so well, because we both do compliment the other in our approach and thought process on music.

Velvet - Yeah, most of the time we both visualise the same thing... so we don't have any major disagreements. But Rick is right, when we do bicker it's normally over something really trivial, but I trust his judgement and he usually wins... haha. How can you argue with 15 years experience in the music industry?

Babble & Beat - What are some events, or other musicians, that have been an influence on the music you are creating together?

Rick - Honestly, Velvet is the only influence directly on what I do with this project. Obviously, what I have done in TLD has created a style for me guitar wise, and my producing is, well, a Rick style that people recognize now. But as for creation, it would be a combination of all of those, Velvet and her writing and singing, my guitar style I have developed, and then producing the songs the way I have also developed into doing.

Velvet - I listen to a wide range of music, from Classical to Rock, and everything in-between, so really I'm not influenced by one particular genre either. What normally happens is either a tune will pop into my head, or a line of a song, and I will take it from there... thus begins the writing process. Rick's guitar work wasn't necessarily a major influence in the beginning, as I wrote the music as mostly electronics. Then I thought that incorporating Rick's guitar work into it would be a nice addition, but now after discovering his abilities with his guitar after working with him in person, his musicianship has certainly become more of an influence. I love that guitar sound, and tend to incorporate it more and more these days.

Babble & Beat - Have there been any live performances yet? Is there a future tour planned?

Rick - Nothing live yet. Our local hip club, Bar Sinister, has already asked us to play and we are talking to some festivals about doing live shows. Things are in the works and I am really looking forward to it, something different and again, fun for me. I love playing live, but as of now no live shows yet... but soon there will be.

Velvet - 'Yet' being the key word. Working with Rick in the studio is a great experience, so obviously I'd love to perform on stage with him... and it's definitely great news that venues are already interested in having us play for them.

Babble & Beat - Tell us a question you wish someone would ask you. Please also tell us the answer.

Rick - Do you like doing interviews??? Answer: No, I hate them to be honest. It's usually the same crap questions over and over. This one, however, is NOT that way. So thank you, I am actually happy doing this one.

Velvet - What's one of the craziest things you've ever done? Answer: Go on a transatlantic flight with a 2 year old for 20 hours. There's only so much Scooby Doo you can watch in one sitting.

Babble & Beat - When will the first Sapphire Solace album be available for purchase?

Rick - We are hoping for a late 2008 full CD. We have some interest from labels, and we have 13 - 14 songs that basically we need to just complete. So, we are pretty much there and ready. We prefer to get the word out first, like this interview, thank you very much, and get some songs out there in clubs and radio, etc. Then follow with the full length CD... basically an industry standard way of putting out new music.

Velvet - We keep getting asked this question all the time, and so many people are eager to buy our music. All we ask is watch this space and check our sites for updates! We are working on getting it completed and released!