10 Quick Ones with RICK LAMBERT of EMPTY TRAIL – October 2018

According to the bands bio: “Austin, Texas has spawned a variety of world-renowned bands over the years that covered a wide variety of styles – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, the Sword, Scratch Acid, Dangerous Toys – and a band that one day may very well be mentioned in the same breath is the fast-rising/hard rocking Empty Trail. Comprised of members Rick Lambert (vocals/guitar), Shane Wallin (bass), and Rom Gov (drums), the band was actually started elsewhere. “The band essentially formed here in Austin,” recalls Lambert. “However, It has been a personal project of mine since the spring of 2013 while I was living in Los Angeles. I thought it would be better to start a band in Austin because of the highly saturated market in Los Angeles. I went through a couple of members, but eventually found the full live band in the summer of 2016. I decided to keep it as a 3-piece. It seemed a bit less expected.” We get guitarist / vocalist Rick to discuss new music, influences, and much more in our 10 Quick Ones…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Well, we are starting with a couple single releases… first on the agenda, “My World”. The biggest thing on these singles I believe is production value! Lots of little effects being turned on and off that helps build the track! I actually think this release is pretty straightforward. Our past releases…not so much! Lots of nuggets there haha.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I was 12. My father found a thrown away guitar in a dumpster and I guess thought it would be fun for me to try. The rest is history. I’m very driven when I found that “click”.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Metallica, Megadeth, Soundgarden, Pantera, Alice In Chains. To be honest it’s so hard to say at this point. I’m generally all over the map musically. Most of the time not even Rock. Just things that tickle my funny.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Maybe Max Martin. I really appreciate catchiness and I’d love to experiment with someone who works in a different genre. I really want to throw paint at the wall and see what colors it makes.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Catchy Rock. But done in an authentic way. Everything is genuine. Deep emotions and thoughts.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

For me? Creating an emotional reaction in another human being. Hands down. That’s why I do what I do.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I wish someone cooked for all of us haha! We don’t really party hard honestly. So I can’t specify the drink bearer. I would say that Shane would crack out the guitar.. Yea, that would definitely be Shane Wallin.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

A scientist

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Hindsight is always 20-20! Too many to say. Why can’t we have the knowledge to begin with. It might save us all time…

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

The Black Album by Metallica. It just seemed like an extremely magical time for what we do. To bring all that to the mainstream must have been surreal. Sign me up!

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Category: Interviews