'5 Questions With': Richie Quake
"When I was looking at my collection of songs, I started to realize that they all dealt with similar themes: travelling through the unknown, searching for knowledge, self discovery, experiencing the journey, and ultimately, making a connection - just like the voyager space mission!"
Photo Credit: Mark Shami
Brooklyn-based Richie Quake is a force to be reckoned with - the artist is not only singing but also the main producer and instrumentalist on his tracks. His journey so far has already been an exciting one. Previously, he’s been featured on Comedy Central shows Broad City and Detroiters, and his releases so far have racked up over 3M streams to this date. After having a successful 2020 and start to the new year, the New Yorker has now finally released a brand new EP. Titled ‘Voyager‘, the project includes six songs in total, and takes us on a nostalgic journey all the way through the unknown, searching for knowledge, revelling in the journey, and ultimately making a connection. His sound captures a stunning blend of lo-fi indie, alt-pop and psych-rock, turning this body of work into a must-listen!
Read the full interview below…
EQ: I really enjoy your nostalgia, lo-fi sound in your songs. Where do you take your inspiration from for your music?
R: Thanks! I’m kind of a nostalgic guy! I take a lot of inspiration from the past, as you noticed. I love rock and pop from the 60s, 70s, and 80s as well as Jazz and Classical music.
EQ: Your Voyager EP is out NOW, can you talk us through the theme?
R: Voyager is about exploration and connection. I love learning about outer space because it’s spiritual without being religious. When I was looking at my collection of songs, I started to realize that they all dealt with similar themes: travelling through the unknown, searching for knowledge, self discovery, experiencing the journey, and ultimately, making a connection - just like the voyager space mission! Each song on Voyager reflects on things in life that are universal to the human experience: love, fear, passion, isolation, etc. Musically, Voyager is a mix of my favorite styles. It’s indie, it’s rock, it’s folk, it’s a little bit of R&B. I really just had a lot of fun making it and playing the instruments and I hope that shows through!
“The people I chose to collaborate with are all specifically good at telling me when to leave things alone - which is super valuable to me or else I will spend a hundred hours on a guitar line.”
- Richie Quake
EQ: The lead single of your EP, ’Never See You’ is about ghosting someone - was that inspired by a real life event ? 😉
R: Ha, of course! To be honest, who hasn’t been on both sides of that coin? I’ve been ghosted and done some ghosting myself so i feel like i have a good take on it haha.
EQ: You’re the writer, producer and even instrumentalist of your EP - Do you find it hard to wrap up a song and always find something new to amend?
R: I used to go insane about that stuff and sometimes I still do, but I switched up my approach this time around because it was the first time I tried writing with other writers/producers. If you notice, none of these songs are solely written and produced by me because I found that one of the great beauties of collaborating is not only finding new ways to go, but also having a reasonable idea of when to stop! The people I chose to collaborate with are all specifically good at telling me when to leave things alone - which is super valuable to me or else I will spend a hundred hours on a guitar line.
EQ: Finally, what else have you got coming up this year. Anything else that you are working on?
R: Look forward to releasing more music, videos, photos and getting back to live shows! I have a few music videos in the works right now and i’m excited to put them out. Gearing up for a few live shows as well.
Listen to ‘Voyager’ below…
Youtube/Richie Quake
Stream ‘Voyager’ HERE
Follow Richie Quake on socials:
Instagram: @richiequake
Twitter: @richiequake
Facebook: @RichieQQQuake
