A couple of weeks ago I got a message from Ian at Chapter 11 Records if I wanted to check out some of his new releases, one of those releases that immediately stood out was the great debut EP "To Walk In Truth" from LA's Rile 9 Collective. After that I got in contact with singer / drummer Frankie Loyal and I popped him some questions. Below you can read the result!

 

Hi Frankie, first of all thanks a lot for doing this interview! How have you been? Since you guys started out in December 2012 you guys are still a rather new band, can you introduce the other band members to us, what you guys do in daily life and give a bit of history on Rile 9 Collective?

 

Mano, thanks for having us my friend. I am doing very well, I just got back from the Hooligan Holiday in Arizona with The Fatskins/ Old Firm Casuals and Patriot.That night was truly one for the books, amazing. Historical nonetheless…Yes, the band started in December of 2012. The band is new, but as far as the band members go -we’re all dinosaurs. Moises Cassillas is our lead guitarist, Sean Garcia is our rhythm guitarist. On bass guitar we also have Jeffrey Govan. As far as the daily grind goes, Sean was in the Navy and is now a tattooer by trade, Moises is a supervisor for some job he can’t elaborate on because it’s some hush hush stuff. Apart from work, they’re full time fathers and good family men. I worked as a chef for many years but started working as an assistant studio manager for a food corporation for about 5 years now. Our production studio is involved with TV commercials and print ads people see all over the world daily. The workdays are 12-16 hour days when production is booming and it’s just as grueling as cooking in a kitchen. The upside is that my boss is really supportive of the band so I can do both efficiently. I can still make ends meet and have time to play our shows. The inside joke for the band is that you can’t be a member if you work less than twelve hours a day. Somehow after work, we still make time to practice and take care of business. I appreciate that ethic that the guys have when it comes to work, family and the band. Rile 9 Collective was a band that like every other band, it started as an idea. We have been fortunate as a band because I feel like we had scene support from day one and it was both amazing and a little intimidating. People in the scene helped us by purchasing our first round of merch which was just a patch. It sold for about five dollars. People were paying double or even triple the price to help us get started, we were floored. No one had even heard us yet, but they had faith in us and that meant a lot. I tell you, don’t ever underestimate the power of your scene. As far as the band history goes, we’re still a new band. I think we’re still evolving into our second year as any band would. We’ve had a few members come in and out and we’ve experienced the typical growing pains most bands can relate to. For our first year a lot has happened, we’ve been nonstop with the songwriting, shows and the recording. It’s all still kind of a blur to be perfectly honest.

 

Prior to Rile 9 Collective you have drummed in the Toughskins since they reformed in 2010. Was this your only previous band?

 

I have been playing drums since I was four, I got into my first punk rock band when I was 14. I played in my share of bands growing up but they were mostly for fun.

 

Did you stop drumming for the Toughskins just to form Rile 9 Collective or were there other reasonsthat forced you to quit?

 

My decision to leave the band was a personal choice that I did for my own personal reasons. Musically speaking, it was crucial and necessary. I felt like I needed to go into a different direction and needed to follow through with it. As far as my dedication and hard work I put in for that band, I felt it might be a worthy investment to put the same dedication into my own project. In truth, I am very proud of my contribution for that band, I gave it all I had. I don’t think it was a matter of quitting, it was about moving on to form something new.

 

Recently you guys released your first EP “To Walk In Truth” which is amazing! How is the response on the 7” so far?

 

Thank you Mano. We’re glad you like it. Chapter 11 apparently has done very well with the pre sales and I guess things are looking okay for the band’s first release. The reviews and responses seem to be pretty good from what we’ve been told. To be perfectly honest though, we try not to think about it too much. On a personal level I think it’s a milestone for us and we’re proud of the ep, we had a lot of good people in our corner when it came to making the record. Ian Clark of Chapter 11 has been our tower of strength, he’s helped us progress. Our intention was to make good music for our scene here in LA and abroad. If people take to us on that account, then I guess the response would be a positive one all the way around. I am happy to announce that later this year we will be doing a split with Custom Fit from Santa Cruz. We’re Chapter 11 label mates and friends so it will be a cool venture to look forward to.

 

Can you tell me a bit about the recording process? I’m not 100% sure, but you are also a studio drummer right? How is it different than recording for your own band opposed to a band or musician that hired you?

 

I can only speak from my personal experiences. Everyone else would have their own take on something like recording. I can only sum it up as taking a simple idea from a couple insane minds in the hopes of creating a really good and finished product. Recording someone else’s music is a translation of their vision and you need to honor their trust by delivering the goods. I think recording your own music is as equally tasking, but you also need to honor yourself by delivering the goods. Either way I found that you have to be able to trust the people you’re involved with as well as yourself. That’s where Derek O’Brien who produced our record comes into the picture. He was a huge help in helping us with those recording “translations.” Derek was also my drum teacher so he really pushed me both as a drummer and vocalist in the studio, Rile 9 Collective is lucky to have him in our corner as well. We’re working with him on the upcoming recordings too.

 

Maybe a silly question, but since you also do the main vocals I was wondering if it’s tough to drum and sing at the same time?

 

I don’t know if it’s tough, it is something that has to be done properly. I think there’s a switch in my head that makes it possible to for me to do both. I also have a regiment that involves running 4 miles a day combined with resistance training to keep my endurance in check. I guess it’s like training for a fight, every song is like a round and you have to give it your all till the bell rings. For me personally I need my drums to accompany my singing. It’s my aggro outlet.

 

Can you tell me a bit about what kind of lyrics you write? What are the subjects you like to write and sing about? What influenced you guys when it comes down to the music? Are there any other bands from the LA area we need to keep an eye on?

 

I try to take a simple and honest approach when it comes to song writing. I just search for the honest truth on the subject at hand and format the arc of the song. Moises and I will lock ourselves down in the studio and try to nail down a sound that is the best fit. When he and I wrote “A Choice To Stand Alone” we knew it had to be an anthem for the underdog. Although the lyrics were about rolling with the punches, we knew it had to be empowering, not bitter. Same thing with “We Are The Rile.” It was our battle call, you want us, come get us, this is who we are, this is what we are. Skinflicks , Cock Sparrer and The Oppressed are those anthem bands that influence us. Evil Conduct and Stage Bottles have some of the best lyrics that I admire a lot and find great inspiration from their music. On The Job, Stomper 98, Booze & Glory really are influential and inspiring to the band as well, they have that consistent ferocity that is awe inspiring.

 

The past year a lot of new bands came out of the LA scene such as The Warlords, Down For Life and Rile 9 Collective. All with a different sound, but all great bands!

 

I completely agree with you 100 %. The Warlords have been super supportive to Rile 9 Collective since day one. Ricky has been there for us as a bassist on a few shows, and on occasion Mosquito joins us onstage and takes over the drums so I can just sing. We have a camaraderie and mutual respect for each others’ bands. Aggro Culture U.S. is another band from around here that is really going bust right now. In all truth though I think it’s fair to point out that more bands are breaking out and there are more shows happening and that’s good for everybody. I hope next year there are 20 more Oi! bands coming out of LA. I think it’s fair to say that the bands that pass through from abroad also help contribute to the LA Scene and they’re just as crucial to its’ existence. This year alone we’ve had Custom Fit, Old Firm Casuals , Stomper 98 and Control in LA. They’re all heavy hitters and we’re fortunate to have them here. Big respects to the people involved for making that happen.

 

Okay that’s it! Thanks a lot, if there is anything you’d like to add feel free to do so!

 

Before I sign off though, I always make it a point to thank and acknowledge all the people who have helped us with our band, we are both fortunate and grateful. We’re glad to be part of such an amazing and thriving scene. We will be doing a few dates in California in mid July with Fatskins, Old Glory and Custom Fit. I am sure some other great bands will be in the mix too. We’ll be seeing you soon.

 

Thanks again Mano!