Dark Matters was a talk show featuring independent artists of all calibers. It ran from 2013 to 2014 on JammerStream One.
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An Interview with Ra’s Sahaj Ticotin
Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with a legend of loud in the form of Sahaj Ticotin from the rock band Ra. As the world cautiously opens up and the venues begin to fill, Ra are set to take their music on the road with fellow acts Awake At Last, REDDSTAR, September Mourning, Any Given Sin and Killakoi on select dates. The tour begins this Friday (August 20th, 2021).
In this interview we talk with Sahaj about the new tour and their latest album, ‘Intercorrupted’, Ra’s musical history and where Ra is headed musically.
Ra is a band that, in my opinion, came out at the right time. I remember the late ’90s. I also remember, it was getting a bit boring in regards to music. Ra was my ‘Holy Sh*t!’ moment. That glorious mix of middle eastern and modern western that is ‘Do You Call My Name‘ made me play the guitar in front of my stereo again. Their genre-redefining at the turn of the century turned the century into a place that could survive creatively. ‘Intercorrupted’ is a continuation of such and sees the band take a more accessible and melodic approach. Where could the band be headed next? Actually, there is an answer in the interview.
Watch and enjoy!
About Ra
Formed in 1996, Ra took off in 2002, when their song “Do You Call My Name” from their album From One was released. Their music was described as “exotic yet familiar, heavy yet funky, direct yet sophisticated, sensual yet soulful, unrelenting yet cathartic.”
The band is known for their hit songs “Do You Call My Name,” “Fallen Angels,” “Don’t Turn Away,” and “Broken Hearted Soul.” To date, Ra has sold 400,000+ albums in North America alone.
In the 8 years since Ra’s last studio release (2013’s Critical Mass), Sahaj has been hard at work replicating the formula for his success by producing other artists while the rest of the band has pursued independent projects; however, collectively, they feel now is the time for a comeback. What makes the timing so special is that all original members of the band will be together again to not only create the new album, but tour it as well. After a very successful re-emergence on 2020’s Shiprocked, the band has again tapped into the fan based that sustained them all these years.
About ‘Intercorrupted’
Ra released their new album, ‘Intercorrupted’, via Wake Up! Music Rocks on March 19, 2021. The album has guest features from Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust and Dustin Bates of Starset.
The band is hitting the road with the two runs announced for August and November.
Prior to the release of the album, the first single of the albums same name debuted in October 2020.
RA ARE:
- Sahaj Tictotin – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Ben Carroll – lead guitar
- P.J. Farley – bass
- Skoota Warner – drums
Featured image by Chet Atkins/Sweetwater Studios.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRA
https://www.instagram.com/officialraband
https://twitter.com/ratheband
https://twitter.com/raband
https://raband.net
https://www.youtube.com/channel/RaOffficial -
Ask Carol Release ‘Run With You’ Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)
Ask Carol have released their new video for the track titled ‘Run With You’. And, with this being their first actual music video, there is no better way to make their visual debut than with the eye candy set forth with ‘Run With You’. Constructed not only as a visual accompaniment to the song but as an artistic statement in of itself, the video gives visual punctuation to the percussiveness of the song while highlighting the hook and becoming almost a canvas for the song to paint on instead of the music becomes a soundtrack. This is essential because, as someone who reviews music every day, it is exactly what a music video should be; an introduction to the music.
Click HERE to watch Season 6 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 5 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 4 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 3 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 2 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 1 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.ABOUT ASK CAROL
“Run With You” is Ask Carol’s first-ever real music video, made by the band themselves, under the corona-lockdown. Filmed around Carol’s home in the Norwegian woods, this short story portraits two girls, two sisters, desperate to get away. One of the sisters is in a bad, abusive relationship, reluctant to get away, while her sister tries to convince her otherwise. Eventually, she’s had enough, and the abused sister takes matters into her own hands. They escape together as the story unfolds in a dark, Nordic environment that sets the mood for this dramatic story. Given the special circumstance of the corona-lockdown and that Carol, Ask (Ask is a real Norwegian name) and Carol’s sister was quarantined together, the three is the only people involved in the music video. Carol and Ask filmed, produced, directed, acted in, and edited the music video, and Carol´s sister played the sister in the movie. A real Corona-lockdown DIY project.
“Run With You” is Ask Carol’s first single of 2020, a catchy disco-punk alt-pop tune with a retro vibe. Intimate vocals and grungy guitars setting the mood, with a dreamy background and pulsating beat.
The first of several releases planned for this Summer and Fall, leading up to debut album early 2021. The song was written long before these challenging corona times, but lately, the song has come to mean something more to us. We feel it represents a longing for just going away, to get away from it all, a feeling that has grown more intense as we all have to stay home for such a long time…
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/askcarol
https://www.askcarolmusic.com -
Magnus Premieres ‘Detachment’ Album (The Week in #Indie Segment)
Magnus has released their sophomore effort titled ‘Detachment’. ‘Detachment’ is an album that, if listened to in order, gives a brilliant perspective of the artists involved. Partly because of the songwriting but there is more than that. There is this fire of creativity within the guitars, vocals, and rhythm that bubble up and sometimes feel as if they need restrained. The hooks are encapsulated within a barrage of soundscapes both dirty and clean that give a wonderfully decadent vibe throughout no matter what the overall vibe of the track is. This is one of those albums you just hit play and drive down that highway, letting ‘Detachment’ attach itself to your future memories.
ABOUT MAGNUS
Sydney band Magnus formed in 2012 to bring their urgency, fearlessness in experimentation, and healthy disregard for genres to Australian music. Their name, derived from “Magn-hus” and translating as “powerhouse” in Old Norse, is a testament to their live performances. A casual open mic at Melbourne’s world-famous Cherry Bar landed them a residency there and eventually nomination for the Best live band of the year award by invite of owner James Young Himself.
Their debut album, “I”, received critical acclaim by both online and print media with The Sydney Morning Herald states: “The band clearly likes to tease and with terrific self-confidence, in their undoubted abilities the approach does create a lively anxiousness within their music.”.
In 2017 work on Detachment started with a DIY approach which resulted in recorded demos in their rehearsal space mixed at their home studio. Convinced this album needed to have an “all-or-nothing” approach, these demos were sent out around the world and sparked interest from big names such as Steve Albini, Alan Moulder & Bob Clearmountain.
In 2018 recording of the album took place under the supervision of five-time Aria award-winning producers Paul McKercher. With COG’s Lucius Borichon drums it promises an even more raw and visceral approach, yet maintaining the unexpected twists and turns Magnus has become known for.
Both Paul and the legendary Bob Clearmountain (multi-Grammy winner & nominee, USA – Rolling Stones, Springsteen, The Preatures) are credited in mixing and Big Bass Brian Gardner (multi-Grammy winner & nominee known for QOTSA Songs for the Deaf and his work with Dr. Dré), for mastering the album. Upcoming single “Detachment” came together in a completely haphazard way.
After stumbling over an essential bass groove, the band plugged it into their recording kit and made the rest of it up as they went along. Running themes for the song were inspired by a combination of the bleak aggression, stabbing guitars, and call to arms U2’s “Bullet in the Sky” boasts juxtaposed with the story of a man opting for a life of detachment. Detachment is set for release tomorrow (April 24, 2020).
LINKS:
https://www.entermagnus.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7nh8fJMJ1lLweOkBLJkUtS?si=6tJlDg9lRI-obMMJiwAocQ
https://entermagnus.bandcamp.com
https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/magnus/1452892942
https://www.facebook.com/entermagnus
https://instagram.com/entermagnus
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmRwaCZMSRE6smrseUT2ies5wBAeboVr5
https://soundcloud.com/entermagnus