Feature: Rusty Reid Decodes “American Villain”
Can you share any interesting or unique musical elements or production techniques used in "American Villain?"
Hello Punk Head, and thanks for the conversation. "American Villain" involves a very weighty topic, so I knew the chord structure, melody and instrumentation would have to verge on the dramatic. Yet I wanted it to remain raw and fairly stripped down. So it was a challenge to come up with that balance. Thankfully, Daniel Ribeiro of Sao Paolo, Brazil devised a brilliant backing track to base everything on, with swirling slide guitars, then I was able to add electric guitars where appropriate, and Brandon Davis on drums and Jack Williams on bass brought it all together. The instrumental break features me on electric lead guitar at first, then Daniel swoops off with his slides. I love that section. Several people have commented that it sounds "like a movie song," which I take as a high compliment.
What impact do you hope "American Villain" will have on your audience or the music industry?
I hope I'm not just singing to the choir with listeners who already know what dire straits we are in with all of these selfish, conservative autocrats mucking about around the globe, and that maybe the song will awaken some who haven't quite snapped to what is really going on. With the help of their own cults, plus the unawareness, uncaring and/or apathy which pervades in many nations, these would-be tyrants are using our liberal democratic systems to usurp power, and they don't want to let go of it. I doubt I will ever have any real impact on the music industry, but I do hope more artists will start getting serious about using their talent, art and voice to address these existential problems.
Was there any challenge that you encountered while making "American Villain?"
That challenge to craft lyrics, melody and instrumentation that was equal to the task of describing this great calamity was the primary concern. I had actually written a different song about the same subject, more or less, but it took a more traditional musical approach. So I ditched that one, and started anew. This song needed to be unique, not a cookie-cutter approach.
How do you approach the process of creating a new song or melody?
I've written songs in all kinds of ways. Usually, something gets it started. That can be a beat, a groove, a riff, a snippet of lyrics, a title, a theme. Early in my songwriting efforts, I would have no idea whatsoever what I was going to work on, but just bang around on guitar or piano until something emerged. For some years now I've come into the writing process with at least a vague idea of theme, still no concrete vision of how it should develop, but at least a firm starting point. This one started with a theme, the "American Vilain," and everything flowed out of that. Sometimes songs will start coming together in kind of a rote, or clonish, manner. That can be true of chord structure and melody and lyrics. As the song begins to emerge, I'll begin the process of figuring out how to break away from the clone and make it more original. So you start thinking of what alternate chords you could use, and that usually points the way to a more interesting melody. I prefer that all my melodies be all-original. Same with lyrics. I detest singing words that have been sung before.
Do you have a favorite song that you've performed or recorded? What makes it special to you?
I don't really have one song that I favor over all the others. Certain songs have components that I really like. For instance, "Rio Frio" may be my best melody. "To Find Me," is a mystical lyric, but the melody is kind of standard. "Head to Heart," is a very spiritual lyric, plus it has a strong melody. I think "The Meaning of Life" is one of my better efforts, lyrically and musically. If I've released it, I think it's a strong song. I'm creatively and emotionally attached to all of these that are out there. That's nowhere near close to all of my songs. Most of those I regard as "noble failures." They won't be released. I don't want any "fillers" in my catalog. Some of my original songs (and cover tunes, as well) are easier to play in my solo show than others. That's pretty much what determines what's in the set: what I can play and sing the easiest.