Interview with Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (http://petesrocknewsandviews.com)
PD: How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?
R: Other people should say that, my view can be very distorted 🙂 But I consider myself an original guitarist who is looking for new chords, riffs that I have already heard somewhere, for example I would never offer to Ramchat. Likewise, I consider Ramchat to be an original group, many say that no one else in the world plays like that…
PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.
R: We come from Slovakia, a country in the middle of Europe. Please do not confuse it with Slovenia :-). I’ve been listening to metal since I was thirteen, I started playing the guitar when I was seventeen, which is already 35 years…
PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?
R: There was a lot, from heavy, thrash, speed, death to black metal, so there is no point in listing dozens of bands that gave me something. And the lyrics? In those, I try to evoke dark, even horror-mystical moods through an old Slovak village… They are often stories. Alternatively, I will set some Slavic legend to music, fable…
PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?
R: Reach as many listeners as possible. Let them choose whether they like us or not… But to at least learn about Ramchat, because today is such a time that 150 new rock and metal albums are released every month. That’s a huge amount…
PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?
R: We are proud of the fact that our fans from all over the world are loyal to us, they support us by buying merch, music carriers… That’s the most – to have fans behind us.
PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms
in the day of the home studio. How is that going?
R: We are no longer among the newcomers, Ramchat has just released its fifth album, and last year we also released a selection CD compilation Tryzna a tmy in Japan under the label Red Rivet Records. But promo is always important, whether you’re a mega-famous group or a beginner… And how is it going? The way the world is now – it takes money.
PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?
R: Right now we are also finishing a mini Slovak tour. We mainly promote it through our Facebook, Instagram and other social channels. Times have changed, paper posters are no longer stuck…
PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?
R: These are the times, only collectors buy physical carriers, the main part of listening now goes through online channels. Of course, Ramchat has a profile everywhere where music can be listened to, from Spotify, Deezer, BandCamp, iTunes / Apple Music, Amazon Music… Nevertheless, we released our new album Krveľ on CD, cassette and LP. We are people of old times 🙂
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
R: I can’t answer that for you. He will come to each topic when the time is right for me…
PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?
R: I’m a little man here to shout what I don’t like. We want to play, create and reach out with our music. That’s what happens.
PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?
R: We started creating new songs, in the fall we would like to go into the studio and release a vinyl EP. You always do that between regular albums, it’s such an unwritten ritual.
PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?
R: Here:
BandCamp: https://ramchat.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7lmpom4dWMthrTnPYH5K8i
iTunes / Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ramchat/1222219174
Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Ramchat&i=digital-music&search-type=ss&ref=ntt_srch_drd_B06XYH3J5W
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/12235930
Merchandise: http://www.hiraxshop.sk/search?shop_search=ramchat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramchatband
Instagram: ramchat_band
VK: https://vk.com/ramchat_gruppe
BandZone: https://bandzone.cz/ramchat
Booking: +421/905/550303, management@ramchat.sk
Ramchat links:
Band/Artist location – Slovakia
Facebook – You Tube – Soundcloud – Bandcamp – Merch – Reverbnation –
Twitter – Instagram – Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer – Last Fm
Check our page for Ramchat
