A Dirty Dozen with BECKY BRIDEAU from DYSTOPICA – October 2022

According to a recent press release: “Connecticut-based heavy metal band Dystopica releases their newest EP, Deception, via Pavement Entertainment. Recorded at Dexters Lab Recording Studio by producer Nick Bellmore (Dee Snider, Corpsegrinder, Ripper, Hatebreed, Toxic Holocaust), Deception has a fresh sound combining hard rock, heavy metal, thrash metal, and progressive metal. The 5-track EP is truly an ode to uniting classic metal with modern influences. Formed in 2019, Dystopica is made up of Becky Brideau on vocals, Rob Muller on guitars, and Erich Bender on drums. Also, featured on Deception is Nick Bellmore on bass. The band’s unique sound is a perfect blend of melodic, harmonizing guitar riffs and powerful female vocals while still pulling influences from classic heavy metal.” We get Becky 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?

I think that a fan or listener who just hears the EP once or twice might not hear all the different elements and layers within each song.  All our songs have two harmonizing guitar parts but in certain parts of the songs, we occasionally add a third small guitar part to create a fuller sound for the recording.  In most of the songs there is a section where I either sing vocal harmonies or whisper over the main vocal melody.  Also, there are some songs on the EP that have mid key changes and meter changes which might not be obvious at first.  Yes, there is a hidden nugget on this EP.  All the song titles rearranged say something which is in the linear notes on the CD.

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

I have always been passionate about music, especially rock and metal.  I don’t have musicians in my family but growing up I was exposed to a lot of music.  From a very young age I was listening to various types of metal including heavy metal like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest as well as nu metal like Slipknot and Linkin Park.  At the same time, my mom showed me female fronted rock like Pat Benatar, Blondie, and Heart.  When I was ten, I started taking voice lessons and from there went down the path of music.  I realized I wanted to be a musician when I was in high school because that was when music started becoming my life.  In high school I was singing classical art songs and competing in competitions while also singing in a rock cover band and frequently performing local gigs.  I ended up going to college for music and singing classical music including opera.  I always wanted to write my own metal music so when I finally did at the age of nineteen I formed this band.

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

Yes, Iron Maiden.  I have been listening to Iron Maiden basically my whole life.  When I was little my grandma would play some of their songs for me which is how I first discovered them.  When I got older and listened to their albums they became my favorite band.  My music is heavily influenced by Iron Maiden.  I love how most of their guitar riffs are two different melodic lines played in harmony rather than just chords.  They inspired me to write almost all my songs with harmonized guitar riffs.  Also, I love Bruce Dickinson’s voice and as a vocalist I idolize him.

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

I would love to collaborate with Geddy Lee.  It would be so awesome if he played bass on a song with us since he is such an amazing bassist and songwriter.  Also, I am trying to take Dystopica in more of a progressive direction and Rush is my favorite prog rock band so it would be a great honor to work with him.  He seems like a really nice person too.

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

My favorite activity when the band and I aren’t in the studio or playing is writing new music.  To me writing music is very calming and helps me unwind.  There is something special about songwriting and transforming my ideas or feelings into songs.  I used to draw to unwind, something I should do again but haven’t found time to do at the moment.  However, to me songwriting is similar to drawing in the sense that I am taking my thoughts and ideas and creating something.

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?

I describe our music as blending hard rock, heavy metal, thrash metal, and progressive metal together with melodic, harmonizing guitar riffs and female vocals.  We also bring back qualities of heavy metal from the 70’s and 80’s mixed with modern and progressive elements.  There isn’t a particular band that we sound like.  When writing music for this band I created our own unique sound.  There are many bands we draw inspiration from, but our music is different from every one of them.  Since we don’t sound like one band people compare us to a variety of bands.  It doesn’t happen very often but there has been a couple of times where someone has made a comparison that I didn’t agree with.   I’m not complaining about it though because it is their way of  giving us a compliment by saying we sound like a band that they like.

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?

We don’t get a chance to hang out much outside of band recording sessions and rehearsals but I’m pretty sure Erich would bring the drinks and Rob would crack out the guitar for a singalong, he is a music teacher.  I don’t know who would cook we’d probably just do take out.

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

When I met Disturbed.  I met them at a meet and greet before their concert, this was in 2019 when I saw them on the Evolution tour.  I remember meeting them and rambling on about everything I wanted to say like how I look up to them, I sing and do music, etc.  They didn’t say much to me then but towards the end of the concert David Draiman looked down at me and said he heard everything I said, called me on stage and asked me to sing something.  I sang a verse from Rush’s “Working Man,” I used to sing that song a lot in a rock cover band so that seemed like the best thing to sing on the spot acapella.  Singing on stage with Disturbed was such a surreal moment that I will always cherish.

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 about being a musician is sharing my creations with everyone.  Music is my life, there is no other job that I would rather have.  Whether I’m recording, performing, or teaching, my career path is and always will be in music.  If I could no longer do music then I would do something art related.

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?

I think the one question an interviewer never asked that would be cool is how the music and lyrics of a particular Dystopica song go together meaning wise.  I always write the music and lyrics to complement each other.  I am not tired of answering any questions having to do with my music.  I am just thankful to have opportunities to discuss my music.

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?

In the early stages of this band there were a few missteps, but I have to remind myself that if things didn’t happen the way they did I might not be where I am now and I’m happy where I am now.

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?

I would choose to be part of the recording process for From Mars to Sirius by Gojira.  This was such an innovative album and I wish I could have been in their studio while it came together.  I love this album, it’s a masterpiece.  Not only is it amazing musically but it tells a good story.  This album inspires me to write a concept album someday.

DYSTOPICA LINKS:

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: News