“It’s not techno,” is what I should have tattooed to my forehead. Although being defined by what you’re not is kind of lame, so maybe I should start with what RS is. It’s electronic for starters, thus the provoking of the disillusioned responses of “oh, it’s techno.” It’s alright, though. I have a tendancy to call Indie rock alternative and Country music mind melting mash, like a bowl of cold cereal that’s been left to soak for 2 hours and isn’t even fit for the dog anymore. So, no worries.
Much of it is definitely danceable, although a good portion of it is, from what I’ve been told, ballads. If there was such a label as indie-electro-dark pop than that would probably be it. Quite a few of the songs are in the old 4/4 time (nothing wrong with that), but I also try to mince it up (yes mince) with some time signatures not as welcome in the electro scene, such as 6/8 and 5/4, and 65.5/3x.04.
Oh, and we are an actual “band” now, which is a big relief. You have no idea how weird I felt showing up to venues and events and getting asked, “So where’s the band?” and I just say, “… I am the band.” It’s like having Robin Hood and his merry band of thieves, but then for some reason it’s just him! That’s not a band! It’s just some guy holding up the 7-11, screaming, “GIVE ME THE MONEY! GIVE ME THE BLOODY MONEY OR I’LL BLOW YOUR BLOODY HEAD OFF!” Or like a marching band in a parade, but oh wait, its just a guy with a tuba! That’s not a marching band. That’s a traffic hazard.
So I’m not really sure what my point was, but we are a real band now. I’m Justin, the philosopher with all the new ideas that have already been thought of, the guy who writes the songs (and consequently maybe the guy who put words to Beauty in Dissonance that have no coherence or meaning what so ever… maybe), and sort of the band mom. Then there’s Matt who is the guy the guitar. He’s awesome. I don’t know what makes a guitar player awesome, but he brings an element of an organic, not-programed nature to RS that redefines my face everyday. I don’t even know what that means, but that’s how awesome he is. And there’s Amber. She sings. And dances. And plays the lute. Actually no lute, just sings…
-Justin Kesselring
