A Dirty Dozen with LENI DiMANCARI from A RISING FORCE – June 2022

According to a recent press release: “A Rising Force is set to release their second full-length studio album Eclipse On June 3rd 2022, fresh off the tail of their previous album Undertow. The new album contains 10 new tracks, featuring the first single “Believe”, which is also their brand-new video. The band recorded basic tracks in March of this year at Winterland Studios, then returned to Logic Studios for production and engineering by Brian Bart, who co-produced the first album with DiMancari.” We get guitarist Leni to discuss new music, influences, and more…

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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

We’re very proud of our new album. The songs came naturally on this one. We started writing for the next release a few weeks after we finished the first one. Eclipse is definitely heavier than the first one. The hidden nuggets are the lyrics. A second listen through can make a listener feel like they’ve been there in the song or be able to relate to the song from a personal experience in life.

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

My first album was Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced. The concert was the Eagles. Then KISS. When I saw Eddie Van Halen on the VHII tour and sat in the second row, that was the game changer. I saw VH every tour after that, pulled out after the start of a 3rd finishing college and going on to law school, to where it is now. Looking back, all my good friends became lawyers, but I wanted this.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

That’s a hard one. Eddie Van Halen was my first guitar hero. The first time you hear “Eruption,” it changes you. He set the bar for so many. But, I never did the VH licks on songs, I tried to be more soulful So listening to guys like Gary Moore, John Sykes, John Norum, Steve Lukather, Larry Carlton helped a lot.

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

Desmond Child. He is a hit writing machine. He collaborated with Paul Stanley on so many great Kiss tracks.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

We have horses so my down time and solitude is being out with them early in the morning. I love fishing but my summers are pretty tied up musically so that has taken a backseat.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

If you took Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Metallica, Dokken, Disturbed, and Shinedown in a blender and added Dave (Our singer) to it, you get us.

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

Lane and Brian are the chefs. Lane is the bartender. I cook Italian. Brian adds hot sauce to everything. Billy will eat anything. I don’t drink so it’s water or tea here. Dave has the acoustic.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Moondance Jam in Walker. Watching Randy Bachman play his vintage Les Paul 59. The other was meeting Roger Waters on the Radio KAOS tour.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician is connecting with an audience. There is nothing better than having people sing along with your songs, wearing your merch or signing stuff backstage. Without your fans, you’re nothing so they always come first. If I was done, I’d buy a boat and charter as a guide.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

The question would be, “If you had to take a different path in life other than music, and the answer would be no. The question I get tired of hearing is “What do you think of (Insert band name). Everyone is an artist and has something to say musically.

11. 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?

We all have moments in our life path musically that we 2nd guess a decision, but at the time, it seamed like the right one. We can’t live in wistful regret.

12. 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 most memorable moment still is becoming good friends and working with Leonard Haze from Y&T. He took the time to teach me more about the business than you could ever imagine. I wish that record we did together would have come out. It had a lot of great songs on it. Because of him, I owe him a debt of gratitude for intruding me to so many people who I still know today.

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Category: Interviews