Interview with Sahaj Ticotin of RA

RavenzCraft Arts

Artist Update Interview 2020 featuring Sahaj Ticotin 

Ra is an American alternative metal and post grunge band from Los Angeles, California, taking their name from the Egyptian Sun god-, Ra. 

The band was formed in 1996, and took off around 2002, when their song "Do You Call My Name" from their album From One was released we have been fans ever since! 

We have recently had the opportunity to have a talk and update with Sahaj Ticotin about his career and exciting news about the upcoming 2020 album!

1. So for those of us who dont already know can you start with a brief backround introduction, where you are from?,   and when was it that you first really started to realize that you wanted to be a musician professionally? 

I was born in the Bronx and I was raised in Queens I was five years old when I started singing and by the time I made it through high school I had decided that I was going to be a full-time musician.

2.Was there anyone early on in your life personally that was a big inspiration or helped you reach and discover your potential ? 

My brother brought home a wide variety of music including Stanley Clarke, Return to forever, and Peter Gabriel. I was heavily influenced by that and then later discovered the police.

3.What about professionally, what were your 1st favorite bands or artists that influenced you as a young artist?

the police is my biggest influence it then moved into Black Sabbath Soundgarden, Korn, Joe Satriani, and Queensryche.

4.So..What are you jamming/listening to currently today? 

If we were to pull up your playlist what would we see? 

on the rocks I die like bring me The horizon and asking Alexandria on the pop side I really like Billie eilish Khalid and Bruno Mars.

Any current favorite movies, directors, artists or tv shows you are following? 

I'm a big marvel fan so all the marvel movies are fun for me. I also really enjoy a good Sci-Fi. I really enjoyed the Last blade runner and I also watch curb your enthusiasm on TV.

5.So take us back a bit to the very start of the creation of the band RA , 

The name Ra obviously named after the egyptian sun god ..but

Can you tell us a little more in detail why you chose this name for the band,? 

My favorite artist was Sting and he used to write a lot of songs about the moon and when I was young I just wanted to do what sting did so when I started writing a bunch of songs I ended up writing about the sun. as time went on I needed to come up with a good name for the band and as a result I chose Ra as the connecting rod to the sun metaphor.

6.I noticed you sometimes have a theme and have lyrics relating to spirituality in your music ...I have always had an interest in Egyptian traditions..Do you have an interest in egyptian mythology or in Heka..egyptian magical practice? 

not in particular although I was always very fascinated with Egyptian history and culture as well as ancient Greek and Roman culture.
The story of the Pharaohs in the dynasties were very very dramatic and intense and of course the technological advances made by that society were instrumental in creating the modern world.

7.I see you have traveled and performed in many different parts of the world 

What were some of your favorite places you traveled to? 

Have you ever visited Egypt or the pyramids personally? Or plan to in the future? 

I'd love to go to Egypt and see the pyramids in person but alas I have not. I've been to India and Europe but I've also traveled all around the United States and have found that for the most part the most beautiful things I've ever seen were here at home.

8.So What about some of the other band members, were some of you friends from before or did you meet 1st professionally ? 

All the other band members are essentially people that I met through the band although we've been together so long that we've moved beyond friendship into family.

9.Throughout your career im sure you have met some amazing people..

 have you had a chance to meet anyone that you were excited about and are a personal fan or follower of ? 

one of the biggest moments for me was meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger. I got to spend quite a bit of time with him and he was one of those people that you instantly understand why they are successful. His charisma charm and wit dicex any moment in any situation to where he is immediately in control. Very influential person in my life.

10.Any artist or performer that you would be super excited to do a collaboration project or song with? 

Of modern artists I would love to write with Billie eilish or Bruno Mars but if I had to pick someone out of history it would still be sting

11.So it seems to me that you create music when you feel its right..when you want to....

I understand some artists must create to "pay the bills" and there is nothing wrong with that i can completely relate..but what really drives you to create music? 

I work full-time as a producer and a writer so creating music is my job and it does pay the bills but I've been blessed in having a pretty steady stream of artist to work with and projects that are meaningful. When it comes to the band I really only can dive in when there's been sufficient motivation and creativity to do so.

12.So on the topic of creating new music ...we know there is some new Ra content in the making! Yes? ..possibly soon to be released correct? 

Anything you can let us in on that isnt known already about the focus or content of the release? 

Are you planning to make this album special in any way? 

Anything you can let slip about the details of the project yet? 

I'm very excited about the new record, it's going to be something that showcases a lot of my growth as a producer in a writer but also stays very true to the DNA of the band.

It will lean a little bit more mainstream than critical mass did simply because I like to cycle those elements from album to album.

From one leaned a little heavy and duality leaned a little commercial and then black Sun leaned a little commercial with some heaviness and critical mass was probably our heaviest record but I want to counter that with the new album and make that a straight up the middle great hard Rock record.

13.So what about other interests besides music?..anything interesting you like to do when you have the time?..

I'm fairly obsessed with formula 1 and I'm a pretty DieHard car Guy I also enjoy gaming and tennis.

14.How do you feel about todays current political and world event happenings, so much crazy stuff going on its hard to keep up dont you agree …

the current state of the world reflects a level of division that I've never experienced growing up but I understand that in a world where information is instantaneous you have very little time to process and digest a moment before you're getting hit with the next moment.

It's easy to understand why people retreat to their corners where they're comfortable in order to preserve whatever reality is holding them up. It's a little sad that we have so much anger at the moment but I truly believe that down the road social media and the world in general will balance out and self mediate.

How do you stand on the legalization of cannabis? If we may ask? 

I live in California at the moment of this interview, and legal weed is an accepted thing. I personally don't think weed is even as bad as alcohol but I can understand the concern when it comes to productivity and discipline. I personally don't smoke weed on a regular basis but I also try to avoid alcohol for the most part.

15.Hows life living in L.A?

 We have currently moved from midwest to las vegas ..big change ..we are still adjusting to it ...

What do you like/dislike about living there? 

Los Angeles is the best illustration of the widest Dynamics you can have in a city. It is stunningly beautiful stunningly rich in diverse landscape and opportunities but it is also horribly superficial and can destroy your innocence and motivation and isolate you in a very very hard way.

16.You have had quite a career, and im sure it had its ups and downs ..do you have any real life advice for upcoming artists and musicians today that may be struggling and  trying to "break the mold" and make their way to being well known and sucessful? 

I always say the same things which AR to focus on songwriting make sure whatever project you're in whether you're the singer or not that the vocalist has something special to offer both via their personality and the tone and delivery of their voice.

I also think it's worth exploring online tutorials to at least have context to design what your actual Target goals are in fact if you want you can watch mine and Bob Marlette's YouTube channel called Rock U Now as we enter the beta phase of our developing the channel. There are about eight or nine lessons on there right now and we will be adding more every month.

17.So all in all i guess id like to ask what you future goals are with Ra and your music career? 

It sucks to say but all great things come to an end eventually.. so we hope Ra continues for years to come still! 

Plans to do any more solo projects, or are you being featured on anyone elses new releases? 

The band will continue to make music as long as there's people who want to listen to it as will I whether it's via riding for other bands or doing a second solo album. I don't know how to do anything else and this is what I love so the future is just more music and hopefully some hit songs!

18.Is their anything you would like to say, add or mention to all the readers and followers out there? 

Closing statement?

as a group we are very excited to be active again we're very excited to be able to move the needle with the project that has sort of lived underground for most of its career but if shiprocked is any indication of the reception you will all be seeing us all over the place!
Thanks!
/////////////

Special thanks to Sahaj for doing this interview and the band RA for creating legendary music!

Follow and hear music from RA at this link below:
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRA/




Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel here at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC95bFF-xNLMcxAzRO7rFiCQ

See the music video trailer we created for RA and this event here :
https://youtu.be/S-55s0rEiAo


Stay tuned for more interviews and video projects to come this season!

RavenzCraft Arts Interview with Vvildr

RavenzCraft Arts Interview Project presents 

Interview with Vvildr

Hello and welcome to the RavenzCraft Arts interview project!

For those of us who are not familiar with your work,  please tell us your name about where you are from, and how your interest in art and music began? 

Hi. I am Ferenc/Vvildr, I live in Hungary,..
I was born in Transylvania and have a Székely heritage. I don’t really remember how or when it began, I was just the kid who could draw (slightly better than my classmates). At my teens I listened to all sorts of metal music, mostly scandinavian metal.


I bought a guitar, but I didn’t have any talent (I am left-handed but I play on a standard right-handed guitar) so I gave it up for a decade. I got an electric guitar in 2011 just to record a few ideas on my computer, I planned nothing more. I released 6 albums since then under different monikers. The most known of them is probably Vvilderness, It’s an atmospheric metal project influenced by black metal, folk music and post-rock. 

So we have seen your album cover artwork online for Black Hill and other album cover projects and it is absolutely amazing. When did you first start creating illustrations and custom album artwork? 

It was obvious that I should draw the covers for my albums. During the process I developed a trademark drawing style that is a mixture of ink drawing and digital painting.
I met István Csarnogurszky (Black Hill) in 2013, probably he was the first person who gave me a commission.

We first discovered your artwork and music from your collaboration and work with István, how did you first meet and connect with him? 

I put out my first record in 2013 (it was a quite poorly produced one) and István wrote me a few weeks after that. He intended to release the first EP of his ambient post-rock project Musicformessier, so he had a few questions.
We talked about music and how we see things and we talked a lot. He’s one of my best friends since then. We never met in person.

You also have a new collaboration  project with István/Stvannyr, "Realm of Wolves".

Can you tell us more about the "Realm of Wolves" project, i really like this album, every track is very good, can you tell us more about the expression and meaning of this album? 

István made only ambient, acoustic and post-rocky things before, but he’s famous of being eager to collaborate with other musicians. He showed me his black metal guitar recordings he made years before that were not meant to be released, but as I started my metal project Vvilderness and people received it pretty well despite my screaming vocals, we decided to elaborate some songs of István/Stvannyr together.
We decided to use these „black metal artist names” too because why not.

Also we got to know Ghöul, a brilliant bassist and multi-instrumentalist who really leveled up the band. By the way he is shamelessly young compared to us and even more talented.
He has his own one-man-band too, it’s called Ephilexia.

So the song structures, mood and atmosphere are entirely the creation of these two people, I wrote the lyrics, recorded vocals and made artworks.
It was a project only for fun so we were kind of surprised when we saw how many people actually loved it.

Do you have any artists, musicians or bands you looked up to and were inspired by when you were really young? 

As a teen I was in love with the first 4 albums of In Flames, really liked their super melodic approach, folky vibes and acoustic inserts. Also I learned to appreciate extreme vocals listening to their music. Later I listened to classic black metal, mostly the melodic kind like Emperor or Dissection, only for the instruments.
I couldn’t stand traditional BM imagery and lyrics though.

What artists or music do you follow and enjoy today?

John Baizley of Baroness is some kind of idol to me. He’s a frontman of a very versatile and endearing band and he’s also a top notch artist. All their cover arts he made are beautiful.
Speaking of music, I really like Myrkur and Saor, these two are relatively new. Also I listen to a lot of instrumental post-rock and post-metal. We Lost The Sea, Tides From Nebula, Explosions In The Sky to name a few. I follow a lot of visual artists but on Instagram only.

I noticed one of your past latest single release is called Danu’s Tears. Is this related to the celtic goddess Danu? 

Yes and no. The lyrics were about an all-river-goddess first, whom I made up. There are a lot of rivers in eastern Europe named Don, Donec, Danube etc. This is a very ancient river name, thousands of years old (river names change very slowly in history). So I made Danu a river goddess, although the original irish goddess with the name had different qualities.

Can you explain more about your path and spiritually and following and how it plays a part in your music?  

I am not a religious person, but I like how one can tell his thoughts through the allegory of mythological events and deities. Also I deeply appreciate the european cultural heritage, I think it’s much more human than the great religions nowadays.

If I look at it really serious, the only religion that makes sense to me is sun worship. The heat and light of the sun created the conditions early life needed and it’s still maintaining it but also it could destroy us in a second. There is something beautiful in this fragile dynamic equilibrium of our pale blue spot.
This is as close to science as a religion can be, and it’s beautiful.

We know you have just been working on the Realm of Wolves project, but can you tell us if there is any more plans for new albums or singles in the future? 

Glad you asked. All songs for a second Realm of Wolves album are already written by Stvannyr, currently we’re working on it with Ghöul. I think it’s a matter of just a few months.
Also the second album of Vvilderness comes in january 2020, it is a more elaborated successor of Devour The Sun with surprising new elements and I am very proud of it.

9. What inspires you and gives you ideas to create? Do you have any interests that inspire your work like mythology, history, or folklore or nature that plays into your expression with your music and artwork?  

I watched every series made by Sir David Attenborough when I was a kid. I was really concerned at the time about mankind destroying environment and I thought that nobody really gave a damn, so the future seemed dark.

Nowadays this climate change thing is everywhere, some progress at last but it’s far from enough and future seems even darker to me. So nature is the main inspiration, obviously.
Ancient mythologies were very close to nature and folklore evolves when you have a lifestyle that adapts to the change of seasons and natural resources.

There is no room for tales when you focus on consumerism and growth, and that’s horrible. Lyrics or musical themes inspired by myths and traditions will be always an important way to express myself.

10. Would you be  interested or open to creating or collaborating with other artists or musicians in the future? For example a special single track or music video project with another artist relating to your genre and style? 

Not just a single, but I’m already working on a new project that is atmospheric, dark and has only clean female vocals. I’m seeking a vocalist right now...

11. So all in all what do you like best about being a artist/musician? Is it the ability to reach and inspire others with your music and art? The power of expression? Tell us what you enjoy most? 

Those rare times when you get the flow and a good artwork or a great song is about to shape, almost independently from you, that’s an uplifting experience. I struggle a lot with these things, but it’s worth it. Reaching people, no, I don’t think that was a factor.

I don’t want to deliver messages or educate people. Of course there’s some kind of message in my lyrics but not the lecturing kind. Inspiring others, yes, indeed, that is an awesome thing.
I get a lot of feedback from people I don’t know personally but they keep an eye on everything I do, so this is a responsibility too. I mustn’t make something scratchy and trivial, I have to give my best instead.

12. What are your goals with the future of your career in music and art?  Where would you like to see yourself in a few years? 

How much potential is there in this thing, that I don’t know yet. Maybe 3 or 4 albums? When I notice that I am tired of something, I explore new fields. For example, I set up a screen printing workshop last year, now I’m about to learn it by trial and error. 

13. Well all i can say is that im thankful for all the new technology and social media for showing us and connecting us with your amazing artwork and music.

Any closing statements or anything you would like to say to all the fans and followers and supporters of your art and music? 

Thank you RavenzCraft Arts, keep on finding and supporting independent artists!

And thank you all for all the support and constant feedback throughout the years. It means a lot to me and I can’t say it often enough. You’re awesome.

Thank you for saying that..we do work hard on these projects and appreciate your time and willingness to share a bit about your personal life and experiences..

We just want to say thank you for talking with us, and creating such amazing music and art,
  interviews like this help to learn more about unique artists like yourself and it inspires others to pursue and create as well....you Stvannyr, and Ephilexia are doing some awesome work! 

Thank you for all you do! 

Follow, Support and hear more music from Vvilderness and all of his collaborative projects at these links below

https://vvilderness.bandcamp.com/


https://realmofwolves.bandcamp.com



Follow Stvannyr here

https://stvannyr.bandcamp.com/

Follow Ephilexia here

https://ephilexia.bandcamp.com/

Special thank you to Vvildr and his amazing music!

Stay tuned support and subscribe for more updates on new projects and interviews on Youtube at 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC95bFF-xNLMcxAzRO7rFiCQ

Stay tuned for our special video talk interview series coming soon in 2020! 

Special thank you to all the fans and followers out there we appreciate you all!

-Tim Raven Rotar 

-RavenzCraft Arts