|
NWMS: For so long, Seattle has had the ‘grunge music’ reputation. Maktub’s sound is at another end of the musical spectrum. What’s your take on the Seattle music scene today and how it’s evolved? REGGIE: It’s diverse, inhabited by everything from rock to trance to folk. Seattle’s always had a good folk scene. There’s quite a few great live bands, great rock ‘n roll bands. There’s a lot of cool clubs to play at. Seattle’s also got a really great improv scene as well. There’s such culture here. NWMS: You play a big role in the improv scene. You play out quite often with other musicians in the area and just improvise on stage. Do you think this is something you will always want to be involved in, regardless of how much success you experience? REGGIE: Sure, yeah, of course. I would actually call myself an improviser before anything else. There’s a core truth in that. NWMS: On the album Khronos, there are so many different flavors throughout. From old school hip-hop to R&B to rock, there is such an eclectic mix. What has influenced the band’s style? REGGIE: All of us have different tastes. Old school, R&B… I love house. We’re all into everything from classical to pop rock to electronica. That’s probably where the diversity comes in. NWMS: You also write all of the lyrics. How important is that to you? REGGIE: It’s something I love to do, even more so when I improvise the lyrics when making a record. I’m more into it that way. NWMS: You improvise the lyrics? REGGIE: Yeah, in the beginning I do. NWMS: What’s the regg-a-phone? REGGIE: Well, I’m tryin’ to wean the press off of that term but really it’s just an old telephone. NWMS: (laughing) It’s in the liner notes of Khronos. REGGIE: (laughs) I know, I know. NWMS: You guys covered Led Zeppelin’s No Quarter on the record. What made you choose to cover that song? It’s not something I would expect to hear from Maktub, but yet once I did hear it, I thought it was a great choice. You guys sound incredible on it. REGGIE: Thanks. It was mainly kind of a nostalgic kind of choice for me. I’m not sure for all of the guys, but I love Led Zeppelin. It seemed like a logical step. I thought ‘well, why not do it?’ It has a lot of the same feeling as different parts of the band. So we recorded it and it worked out really well in the end. We liked the feel of it. It was a little bit of a risk. NWMS: How did Maktub form as a band? REGGIE: The drummer, Davis Martin, gave me a call after I had broken up with another band. All of the guys in the band would get together to jam. He invited me down and it just kind of went from there. NWMS: How long have you been together? REGGIE: Well, we’ve been together technically for about five years. NWMS: And you’re already huge in Japan. Have you been over there yet or do you have any plans of going soon? REGGIE: We’re hoping. Yeah, it would be nice. You know, there’s all of these priorities right now but if it works out, yeah. We’d love to make it over there. We really want to go to Europe as well. NWMS: When are you going to Europe? REGGIE: No plans yet, just a desire. NWMS: You’ve also completed a solo project on the verge of what will most likely be a lot of success for Maktub. What led to the decision to record a solo record right now? REGGIE: I just had the opportunity. I’m always looking for different ways to be creative. If an opportunity pops up, I’ll definitely take it. The truth is, I really don’t have the time to devote to it and it wasn’t done for that reason. I just really enjoy creating, in whatever form that might be. NWMS: How long has it been since you’ve had a day job? REGGIE: Oh… let me think. It’s been… about five years or so I guess. NWMS: If you have to think about it to remember, then you are definitely at a certain plateau of success. (laughs) Well, be safe on the road. I know Maktub’s playing quite a few dates around the west coast. Thanks for taking the time to do this. REGGIE: Oh, of course, thanks. NWMS: Be safe. REGGIE: Definitely and remind your friends how lucky they are to have you in their life. NWMS: Thanks Reggie |
|
|
|