RITES TO RUIN played Power Metal Quest Fest over a week ago and gave a great set. After their set, Rock Out Stand Out’s Lotty Whittingham spoke to band’s lead vocalist Krissie Kirby about their set, who she has enjoyed watching, mental health and who her dream collaboration team would be. Here’s what happened.
You’ve just performed at Power Metal Quest Fest with Rites To Ruin, it looked like the crowd were really getting into it.
Yes, we were very fortunate that we had the amazing Fellowship do a set before us and Ironside. Both bands rallied the crowds so well.
Hope you don’t mind me saying, Rites To Ruin provided a bit more a mellow side to things to allow people to take a break but also enjoy your sound as well.
Alongside Tiberius, I think we’re the least Power Metal bands on the bill but it was very cool and they indulged me with Freddie Mercury vocals.
There was a song in your set about Dungeons and Dragons, could you explain a bit more about that our readers?
I’m a massive D&D player to the point I have an addiction to polyhedral dice sets, I’m hitting up to one hundred now. I love my dice; I am a dice goblin. I’ve done live action role play for years and I used to play D&D when I was 18. A number of my LARP friends suggested whilst we’re in lockdown, why don’t we get a session going and so we started playing D&D again. I was talking to the boys about it and one of our guitarists Matt [Chambers] built a pub for a friend of his, he’s also a DIY god and he built this pub that’s shaped like part of a D20. It’s for them to play games in and D&D, then I thought “you know what would be cool, if we started a video here” so I went off to one of my LARP sites and got a lot of LARPers involved. It made sense to write a cheesy D&D song and the working title For The Love Of Gold is cheesy D&D.
Is there going to be a music video for that song?
Yes there is and it’s going to be very Monty Python because we’re all giant nerds.
Speaking of Power Quest Metal Fest, we’ve had Ironside and Fellowship on. Which bands are you looking forward to seeing? I could see you rocking out to The Silent Rage just now.
I love The Silent Rage; they are so good. Sellsword I am looking forward to as I haven’t got to see them live yet but I know James really well, he produced two of my old bands’ albums. So, I am really looking forward to seeing them and of course Symphonity because they are so good. I am looking forward to Tiberius as well because they are very proggy so I am looking forward to them.
One of the messages of Rock Out Stand Out is we like to spread awareness about mental health and get people talking about it. What are mental health services like in Wales at the moment?
Like everywhere, vastly underfunded. I suffer with menopause related depression, I had to go onto setraline, one of the seretonin tablets, to help with seriously crippling moods within three days there was such a change. I was very fortunate I could go private as I think it would have been a six month wait if I had gone via NHS. I’m one of those believers that if I am in the fortunate position that I can afford to go private, I am not taking up that resource from someone who can’t afford to go private, and I would prefer the money be spent on someone who genuinely needs that support and can’t afford it.
What do you think we can do more of so people feel more comfortable talking about mental health?
I think it’s important that we listen to other people, we allow others to have a voice and we let them get whatever they need to off their chest without judgement. So many people are quick to judge when somebody is struggling with a mental health condition, we have got to stop being judgemental pricks if you pardon the French. Listening is a really underrated skill that people aren’t taught anymore.
Is there anything you like to do personally that helps you destress or calm down?
Singing is my huge thing so I have got a vocal booth in the house which I built after thirty years of being a singer. If I have had a particularly stressful day at work, I throw on the computer, I pick a cover and blast a cover out. I immediately I feel so much better.
What’s your personal favourite cover?
I think Pat Benetar’s Shadows Of The Night.
What’s been the most challenging song to cover?
Dusty Springfield’s If You Go Away because it’s got French in it. Trying to get the cadence right in the French to make sure it doesn’t sound like somebody who doesn’t speak that much French.
Who are you influenced by vocally?
Freddie Mercury, Dusty Springfield, Ella Fitzgerald, David Coverdale, Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson, the list is huge.
Which vocalist would you most like to do a collaboration with?
This one is always difficult as there are two who are joint top and I can’t choose between them because I love them both. So, Freddie Mercury and Devin Townsend. I would love to sing with them both.
Do you have a message for anyone who came to Power Metal Quest Fest and fans of Rites To Ruin?
A huge thank you for the continued support. Without people supporting the band, the band won’t exist.
Thank you so much Krissie for speaking with Rock Out Stand Out and enjoy the rest of the day.
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