Interview with...
RUBY FAITH AND THE WAITING WORLD
A long history behind the 3 members
of this band, but until now they were not able to release a CD on
some label. A big shame, because RUBY FAITH AND THE WAITING WORLD
is playing awesome 80s AOR in the style of WITNESS, HEART,
AVIATOR, NIGHT RANGER... In other words, this is Classic 80s AOR!
The band released a wonderful Tape Album several years ago that
contained 16 tracks. Now the band has put 8 of the songs ona mp3
CD which is also available from there. The songs of this band are
really superb.
The songs got everything you need to hear in a Classic 80s AOR sound. Keyboards, melodic lead vocals, hooklines and over-the-top catchy singable choruses. I can not understand why this band never got signed to any label. But it's never too late, the only hope for now is Europe, because this kind of AOR can not be missed by any fan of the genre. Especially if you like Classic 80s Female fronted AOR (like WITNESS, HEART, first ROBIN BECK, TANE CAIN...). I had the chance to do an interview with the lady who fronts this wonderful undiscovered AOR band. Let's see what she's got to say...
Please introduce us your
band, when did you form RUBY FAITH AND THE WAITING WORLD and did
any of you played in bands before RUBY FAITH AND THE WAITING
WORLD?
The core of Ruby Faith & the Waiting World have been playing
together since 1985. Tom DaPrato, Jay Ahl and I first played
together in an 80's cover band named Workin' Class. We were
pretty popular on the Long Island, New York club circuit. We
started doing original material and got signed by Slatus
Management in the late eighties. Unfortunately, we burnt out
quick. Workin' Class broke up in the winter of 1988 due to the
infamous "conflict of interests". Tom, Jay and I
continued to write sporadically for a while before we decided to
reform as Ruby Faith & the Waiting World in spring of 1990.
A short time after we regrouped, Wish Management in New York
signed us up. Our demo tape sparked some interest and a few
record labels, including Columbia and Epic, came to see us play a
few times but a deal was never signed. We all got pretty
frustrated and in the fall of 1993 we broke up for the final
time.
Since our break up, we released a 16-song compilation cassette in
1995 called "the world as we know it". Copies of the
tape are now long gone. Our recent discovery of MP3.COM has
allowed us to issue our eight best songs on "The Best of
Ruby Faith & the Waiting World." Available at http://www.mp3.com/rubyfaith
Can you tell us all
about your recordings?
The songs on "The
Best of Ruby Faith & the Waiting World" were recorded at
Wish Studios in New York City (24-track), Imagination Studios in
Brooklyn, NY (8-track) and in our home studio (4-track.) The
songs were recorded at various times between 1990 And 1994. All
the songs were self-produced with a some help from our good
friend and sound wizard Tony Ungaro.
Where can people get
something from your band?
Our new CD, "The Best
of Ruby Faith & the Waiting World", is available at
http://www.mp3.com/rubyfaith. It has eight songs on it - more of
a mini-CD really, so we've kept the price real low - $5.99.
Your music is 80s typed AOR,
which bands influenced you?
As far as vocals, Pat
Benatar is definitely my biggest influence with Ann and Nancy
Wilson of Heart a close second. I would sing daily to Benatar's
"In the Heat of the Night" and "Crimes of
Passion" records. That was my
version of "vocal practice". I also loved Journey and
Styx. They had great musical arrangements with killer vocals by
Steve Perry and Dennis DeYoung.
I think your music is
fantastic, have you been aware this kind of music now is becoming
pretty popular here in Europe and Japan, have you got any
contacts with the European AOR labels?
Actually, I had no idea
that AOR was so popular overseas. It's kind of reassuring
actually. This is the type of music we play but unfortunately
most record companies in America wouldn't touch it with a ten
foot pole.
It's great to know there is an audience for AOR.
We don't currently have any contacts with record companies in
Europe or Asia but welcome the opportunity to speak to them. If
you know of any labels that might be interested in our music,
please pass on our website address.
Are you popular in
your area?
Well, we were. As I mentioned we broke up in 1993. It's funny but
we run into people who inquire about the band all the time. Maybe
its time for a reunion?
What are the plans for
the next coming months? Any new songs written and if so, please
tell us all about them?
Recently, Tom, Jay and I
have begun writing again. We have quite a few songs written but
nothing recorded yet. Most of our new songs are in the same vein
as what's on our CD. We just finished a song called "Walking
with Spirit". It's about coming to terms with your changing
ideals. The "Spirit" in the song is actually the ghost
of who we used to be.
In the coming months we're just going to try and get our CD out
there and see what happens. We've been real happy with the
reaction to it so far. On MP3.COM "Cry Alone" has been
the #1 Classic Rock song for the last 2 weeks. The CD has been
selling too. Not to mention the great review we received from
Strutter'zine! Thanks guys.
Finally, do you have
anything to add to our readers?
Yes. Thanks for your
interest in AOR/Melodic Rock music and don't forget to check out
our website. You can email us directly from there so please
contact us if you like our sound. And again, we'd like to say a
special thanks to Strutter'zine and Gabor for including us on
their great website.