RONIN interview for www.BallBusterHardMusic.com > Sinbad Productions Inc. >
We were most surprise to find Captain T in the band & were wondering how this came about?
Ninja Boy: "Captain T contacted me in late 2002 when he was involved in a top secret mission in the Far East. I was training at the time, mastering the shadowless flying kick technique but because of the importance of his mission and my knowledge of the Asian underground, I was excused by my Sensei and joined him in his quest."
Ranger X: "I have known the Captain forever. I played on some of solo releases - US Aliens and Sinister Ambassador both feature some of my guitar playing. We have been kicking around together for years"
Where & what studio did the production of "The Sun Rises in the East" take place?
Captain T: "We recorded the CD in New York City where we all currently live. The studio is called Cliff Schwarz's Music. It is right in midtown Manhattan"
Ranger X: "Ninja Boy produced and engineered the CD. A great drummer from New Jersey named Michael Sapp played drums on it. We had some guest on it too - Emily Greene, who plays in a band called the Mynks AND Andy Avitabile of Apeanaut. The Madd Doctor does a little spoken word on the intro to America's Free Part 2. A real talented bunch of people."
Captain T: "Yeah, some real talented people - be sure to check out Andy Avitabile's website www.apeanaut.com"
Ninja Boy: "We mastered the CD at West West Side out in New Jersey."
What is the current scene like in your local area & how does Ronin fit in?
Captain T: "Ronin doesn't really fit in anywhere. Our music is very different. The New York scene does have some strong bands right now but it is strange because it is such a big city I think there are a couple little scenes going on at the same."
What's Ronin long & short-term goals as far as touring, recording, writing etc. ?
Ninja Boy: "A tour of the East Coast and mid-west including Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston. We also want to start writing more material when we are on the road. I can bring my portable minidisc recorder and my ibook, equipped with Logic Audio. A Portable Ninja Boy studio. If things work out as planed, then we can unleash another album by the end of the year. I want to release an album every year kind of like what the Beatles did back in the day. What do you think T?
Captain T: "Yeah, Kiss used to release a new LP every 10 months back in the day. Ronin has too much to give to just do one CD every three years."
What type of image would you say the band projects?
Captain T: "The image comes from our sounds - dark and moody - a little trippy at times. A lot of people don’t even know what we look like. I like to get a facelift every few years to keep things fresh. I just got some new hair plugs put in by the same doctor who worked on Axl Rose’s new hair line. Sometime I just like to wear my orange ski mask on stage. It makes me feel happy and warm inside but sometimes it gets too warm and it makes me sweat. I don’t like to sweat."
Do all members contribute to the writing & arrangements of your original tunes?
Ninja Boy: "The Captain and I usually come up with the initial ideas before we show it to the rest of the guys. Ranger and Sapp will then give us there input and then we finalize the arrangement. The Madd Doctor also contributes in the lyrics department. For example in "Six Eight", "America is Free" and "Ghost."
Are you happy with where the band stands today in the Int'l underground Hard music scene?
Captain T: "The web has helped a lot. We are always finding new Ronin fans all over the world. Just today I came across a great review of the "Sun Rises In The East" CD on Stoner Rock Chick.com www.stonerrockchick.com.
Of course, we want to grow. Why put out a CD if you don’t want lots of ears to hear it. The Underground is where it is at. I already got plenty of cash, I made my money before I got into music. Why sell out like those silly bands that you see on the TV? We sell CDs at the show and online, the band pays for itself."
Ranger X: "Yes, it is a nice sweet thing."
What does each member bring into the band?
Captain T: "We all bring ourselves to the table and we give all we have to give."
Ranger X: "Thanks, for your time."
Captain T: "Buy our CD online at CD Baby."
