Discover the secrets behind a rock star's journey! From childhood church choirs to electrifying performances, this musician reveals how passion and respect for legends shaped his career. ...
Source: eventworld.co
Thanks to the assistance of Almaty rock vocalist Tora Torkheim, who acted as a translator, we had the opportunity to speak with this musician.
- Ronnie, how did you start performing covers? You write original music and have your own band, Lords of Black.
- I think every musician begins by playing songs from their favorite bands. When I was around 14 years old, I formed my first band with classmates. Naturally, we played covers of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Creedence, and many others. I believe that when you start taking music professionally, you want people to know who influenced your creativity. Plus, as a fan of rock and metal, you want to pay tribute to the musicians who helped shape your career. So it's a mix of different factors. But the main point is that I don’t see myself merely as a professional musician; I'm also a music fan. I love singing and performing the songs I've listened to since childhood. That is my motivation.
- How do you assess the current state of the music industry? For instance, the emergence of AI. Right now, you are on tour in the former USSR countries. Do you see a difference between European musicians and ours?
- In terms of musical skill, I don’t see a significant difference. The only thing musicians here should develop is experience. That is what helps to better showcase their abilities. But in terms of purely musical skills, the difference is minimal. Unfortunately, due to current events, opportunities for exchange between musicians have decreased. It's hard for performers to come here, and local musicians to travel abroad, which is unfair. That’s why I’m not afraid to come to these countries. After all, I’m just doing music, and it has nothing to do with politics.
- What Queen songs do you enjoy performing? Who curated the playlist? Was it your choice?
- It’s a mix of ideas. Such shows are aimed at a broader audience, not just rock fans. Some people aren’t particularly fond of rock but know Queen and come to the concert. Therefore, it’s essential to play the most famous hits - A Kind of Magic, Bohemian Rhapsody, and others. But we also include lesser-known songs in the setlist, like a track released after Freddie's death. Each song is challenging not only vocally but also in terms of embodying Freddie's stage persona. He was a true showman, able to connect with the audience on a completely different level.
- You have never been to Kazakhstan. What do you think about our country?
- Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to explore the city because my flight was delayed. The day before the concert, I had a rehearsal, and then I fell asleep very early. I might come back here someday. I see that it’s a very beautiful city. It resembles my hometown in Chile. We also have mountains just outside the city. And that’s great.
- Which modern rock musicians do you like?
- I have many favorites. But I’ll mention a few colleagues who are also my friends. For instance, my favorite singer is Dino Jelusić. I think he’s an excellent singer, a fantastic musician, and a great composer. He’s a young guy who is just starting out, but you know, I believe he has a brilliant future ahead. There are many cool bands today. For example, there’s a band from Serbia called Big Deal, which is also very cool. I think the rock scene has a bright future. We just need more opportunities to showcase ourselves... when the great bands step down from the stage.
- Do you have any rituals before going on stage?
- It’s not a ritual. I don’t believe in that. But I do have things that I always do the same way. This helps me relax before the show. I arrive at the venue, do a soundcheck. Then I go to the dressing room, call my wife, and we chat a bit. After that, I eat something light. I drink a beer or something like that. And then I just watch Netflix until it’s time to go on stage.
- In your childhood, you sang in church. What about your beliefs and rock music? Isn’t that contradictory? Because in many interviews and on various websites, there’s this stereotype: if you’re a rocker, you’re a Satanist.
- I think that has always been a misconception. This image was perpetuated by the media in the 70s. It just so happened that people who listened to rock music often used drugs or abused alcohol. I believe that it’s unrelated. Moreover, if you believe in God, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy various things. I grew up in a religious family. But my father, who was a pastor in the church, was a huge fan of Deep Purple. He introduced me to rock music. From my perspective, music has nothing to do with religion. In fact, many songs I listened to as a child, and even some of my own songs, help people cope with depression, for example. You can write positive lyrics and still play rock.
- What’s the secret to your voice? How do you keep it in shape?
- Actually, it’s not a secret. There are two very important things that every singer should know. First, you need to find the vocal range in which you feel comfortable singing without forcing your voice to sound unnatural. For example, if you asked me to sing Iron Maiden, that would be difficult for me. It’s not my range, and I would have to struggle, drink teas, and avoid talking before the concert. So it’s crucial to know your limits and find the range in which you can sing comfortably. Once you do that, it’s just about taking care of your health. This includes proper nutrition. I think a lot depends on psychology. If you convince yourself that you will get sick, you really will, because your brain is set up that way. Therefore, it’s important to lead a regular healthy life and not think about your voice only before concerts. You need to take care of your body constantly. Even if I don’t have a tour or a recording session, I still stick to a healthy diet. The secret is to always be ready to sing without overloading your voice.
- What would you recommend to the new generation of musicians? How can a new band break into the world in the age of the internet and universal music accessibility?
- I know for sure that today musicians, especially young ones, have a multitude of tools at their disposal. They can help in advancing their careers. When I was young and played in my first band, there was no internet or YouTube. There was also no easy access to musical instruments. That’s also an important point. We struggled to get our first drum set or our first guitar. Our parents weren’t wealthy. It was very expensive.
Now, if kids want a guitar, they have the best guitar they can find on the market. They can record their own albums right in their rooms. Shoot music videos without leaving home. It comes very easily to them. But I would tell young musicians: just get out there and play. There’s nothing better than being with your band in a garage, learning songs, making mistakes, going on stage, playing in a club for 10 people, for 5 people, getting paid in beer for it. But feeling the process of playing. Music should be something alive and analog. It’s very hard to capture its true feeling when everything is digital. Therefore, I would advise young musicians to make an effort, step out of their rooms, put down the camera, and just go to bars and play.