Today, we sat down with BLACK REUSS to talk his start in music, fun stories in the recording studio and much more! Be sure to check out Black Reuss music video “Hole” below after the interview!
Interview:
How did you get your start in music?
That is a good question. I’ve been asked that a lot lately, so I’ve had to face that question which was funny. Man…. it’s been so long. I think it all started with Elvis Presley when I was a teenager. Elvis was the opener to rock for me. As the years went by, it got harder and harder and I was influenced by other artists, but Elvis was the door opener. He was a complete artist. Great songs, a mega performer with incredible charisma. I realised that music is a universal language with which you can reach everyone in the world. That’s what I wanted to do and learn.
What type of music did you listen to while growing up?
I grew up in an Italian family and as a child there was a lot of Italian music from artists like Lucio Dalla, Adriano Celentano, Lucio Battisti etc. Later I discovered Elvis who opened for more Rock Music in my live. After Elvis the time of Guns N Roses, Mötley Crue, Van Halen etc came. I am a big Grunge fan especially Pearl Jam, but also Soundgarden, Alice In Chains or Nirvana (to name a few) have released a lot of music I grew up with. Ten from Pearl Jam, and Nevermind of Nirvana are still favorite album. I also listened to harder Bands and Master Of Puppets of Metallica was very important door opener to harder metal. That was the time of bands like Slayer, Testament, Forbidden, Megadeth etc. Until I had a listen to Clandestine of Entombed, that was the early 90s. They opened to even harder Music. Today I listen to very broad range of Music. My musical horizon is very broad. I listen to everything from classical to jazz, from alternative rock to metal, from doom to stoner rock…from electronica to urban. But rock is my thing. That’s the music that touches me the most. Especially Rock with a certain Melancholic touch.
What are fun stories you can share while you’re in the studio recording music?
There are a lot of stories…on that comes to mind while recording journey happened at Newsound Studio. Where we recorded the Drums with Diego Rapacchietti from the legendary Swiss band Coroner. At the desk there was Tommy Vetterli, from Coroner as well. So…. As I really like cooking, I decided to cook a good pasta for the boys. The thing I didn’t know was, that there was a very sensitive smoke detector in the kitchen. So I managed to start the fire alarm and Tommy was suddenly running around and had to manage to avoid that the Fire Brigade comes.
What is your latest song or album you can share with us?
The current project consists of four albums. Metamorphosis, Journey, Arrival and Death. This is my life flow and the four milestones each packaged as an album. The second album Journey was just released back in May 2022. In terms of the second album, this is how I experienced the journey. At some point, when the transformation is far advanced, you have enough strength to go on the journey. The whole thing starts with Exodus, that’s the outbreak. Then comes Dejection where you realise that a lot of things are routine, but the pressure of suffering is not enough to continue working on you. Egression is the realisation that mistakes, and setbacks are okay, and that you can also draw new energy from them. With Hole I address the fact that much of life is simply material rubbish and that it doesn’t matter. With Fail you realise that making mistakes is human and that you don’t have to be afraid of them. When you realise that, you are sitting deep in your life’s saddle. If you then also give your feelings space, little can throw you off track. But there are always setbacks, and the danger is, that what you have changed becomes routine and then everything starts all over again. You need these moments regularly. I often call this life spring cleaning. Get rid of the old negative, take the positive with you and make room for the new. I think you are very well advised to create so few dependencies in your life. Because these make you slow and rob you of spontaneity. That’s what Dependence is about. In the end, you realise that integrity is something enormously important. One of my most important values is to have integrity. And don’t forget that affection is the fuel of life. Both giving and receiving. I am lucky to have people around me who give me a lot of affection and I love to give it. It does the heart so much good and is a gift. All this together leads to redemption. The decision to seek happiness and find redemption there. Even if there are setbacks again and again, or even if you carry signs on you forever from your struggles. If you search for happiness, there is at least the hope that you will eventually arrive and become one with yourself.
Where can our fans find you on social media for any music updates?
…to make the long story short, on www.blackreuss.com you find everything. And of course on a few socials, like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and TikTok….
Music:
