In today’s A-Z challenge, we find out all about Rikki Rakki as vocalist/guitarist Erika Blatnik takes us through 26 questions, with a little help from her bandmates.
A song that made you want to make music?
Erika: “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” – Bob Dylan.
Matt Luger (guitarist/synths): “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” Led Zeppelin version.
Andy Brown (bass): The Specials’ self titled album. The whole thing front to back.
Jay Kole (drums): “The Weight” – The Band.
Best rider you’ve had?
A giant bucket of PBRs (not a great idea in retrospect).
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
On tour in Philly, played an awesome show then sang karaoke with all the bands and fans, went to a late night deli where we witnessed locals fighting over Philly cheese steaks, then lost our keys to our B’n’B for what felt like hours, FOUND them and slept in what we refer to as “the porno basement.”
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
I feel a bit pretentious answering this question lol but let’s see…
Lo and behold I have still got a soul
A collection of selves made of heavens and hells
Loosely arranged, bits of memory and space
Just a series of moments, serious and strange
I think probably like most people, I grew up viewing “the self” as this solid entity that exists in a specific time and place, but the older I got, the more I realized that we are constantly changing and parts of us live in the past or the future – we’re made up of billions of atoms buzzing around and our skin is constantly being shed and regenerated and we are 100% not the same person we started as and the only thing keeping us together is our memories and it’s kind of mind-boggling and poetic. And also kind of a relief to think that we can, in a way, start over.
Easiest song you wrote?
“Cryin’ in the Uber” was pretty fast and easy; I pretty much just wrote about a night in the life of my drunken self – a bit of self-deprecating humor / coping mechanism during a hard time in my life. I showed it to the band, and it became a crowd favorite shortly afterwards. Guess it was worth it?? I’m proud to say that I’m now almost 1.5 years sober and Uber is still one of my faves to play.
Favourite song in your set?
I think right now we all love playing Snaggletooth the best — it’s super fun and makes us v happy!
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
In a dream world, NEIL YOUNG. In this world, our friends!!!
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Coordinating schedules as working adults. And learning how to communicate while workshopping songs – it takes awhile to develop a common language and understanding of how to shape the sound we want.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Erika grew up homeschooled in the mountains of Montana.
Andy started playing bass because he was the only kid in his middle school orchestra class who was big enough to play a double bass.
Matt has a dreamy solo project called SourLips (check it out!!).
Jay has 19 tambourines!!!
Also Matt and Jay have known each other since they were 10 and have been playing music together since they were 13 :’)
Jokes you have in the band?
Chicken wings, chicken tendies, and everything in between.
Key to writing a song?
Record everything so you don’t have to try to remember anything — then just freeflow / sing whatever comes out. You can listen back for reference if you need to, and catch the moments that you liked the best to keep.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
Asheville or NYC.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Personally, Japanese Breakfast and Caroline Rose were some of my favorite live music experiences. And we’re always inspired by our local scene here in Richmond.
New band you’d recommend?
Maybe not new, but we’ve all just gotten really into Greg Freeman, Ten Pound Snail.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Big Thief, Wednesday, Angel Olsen, Palehound, Pinegrove.
Place you’d most like to tour?
The West Coast, Europe, Japan.
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
“And all that glitters is gold.
Only shootin’ stars break the mold” – Smash Mouth.
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
“Sing, Cicadas!” is a line from our song “Walk On,” on our new EP. The EP is full of summer vibes in Virginia, and all about finding joy and resiliency in nature despite the looming threat of climate change and the horrific / depressing af news cycle.
See us live at?
Brown’s Island for Friday Cheers in Richmond, opening for Bully on May 9!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Nah—we’re not that old. In short: Spotify / the algorithm are both a blessing and a curse, the DIY music community is everything, and there is great music from every era. Art always wins in the end.
Unusual merchandise?
I created an art / lyric booklet to accompany the digital release of our record Breaking Skin. Growing up, I loved getting a new CD and flipping through the insert, reading the lyrics and looking at the art. I wanted to have physical media to give folks that nostalgic, tactile element of the listening experience that we usually miss out on these days.
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
We like to twang up our set for certain shows; sometimes we’ll go acoustic, have Andy play stand-up bass or Matt play slide guitar, that sort of thing.
What do your fans mean to you?
The fans mean everything! When people sing along to our songs, tell us how much our music means to them or how the show impacted them, it makes all the hard emotional work of songwriting and long hours of practice really feel worth it.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
Not exactly band-related, but the song and album title Breaking Skin is a reference to spills I’ve taken at dumb drunken moments, so in that way I suppose I could say some injuries tie into the music.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Probably mine (Erika), but tbh we’re pretty damn punctual. We pride ourselves in being “an adult band” lol.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
Moo Deng. Because we’re CUTE & FIERCE!!!
Picture credit: Joey Wharton