artist - Rex Rambler interview w/Rex Rambler

Listen to "Pieces of Time" by Rex Rambler

(You may have to click stop then play to hear the track)

BP: Hi Rex! Thanks for the interview. Well, after checking out your

website (www.RexRambler.com), which is a very sharp site by the way,

I was a bit surprised that I haven't heard of you until now. Tell us a

little about yourself.

RR: Well many haven't heard of me. At least not as Rex Rambler. My real

name is Rex Mounce. The Rambler part comes from my trucking days.

Rambler was my CB handle. Yes, I own a 1963 Rambler American, and

have always felt a certain connection to that name. Rambler fits me

very well. I have been a rambler in traveling, and most of my friends will

tell you, that I'm a rambler in conversation too. I love people. You can

always find me in a crowd. I'm

the one either entertaining, or leading the conversation. I have never met a stranger, at least a person who was a stranger

for very long.These days, I am currently pursuing two of my life long dreams - my music and college. I am majoring in Secondary Education, with an emphasis in mathematics and perhaps, social science. I joined the ranks of independent artists about a year ago. I made a recording studio out of our spare bedroom. Sat down one day, and started recording as many songs as I could. And that was the start of things.

 

BP: You grew up around alot of music, and have lots of talent in your family, is that right?

RR: Yes. I was raised in a home where the radio was quite often preferred over the TV. I guess you could say I am a fifth generation musician. My Great-grandfather made fiddles, and was a master fiddler. My grandmother and grandfather both played music. They met each other while playing in dance halls and barn dances. My mother plays piano and also guitar. My favorite story about my grandmother, is the way she plays piano. My grandmother can play by ear, and play any gospel song from hearing the melody, however she only plays the tune on the black keys.

 

BP: Was your family the sole motivation to get you started in music?

RR: Yes my family did contribute to my start in music. Although, I give a lot of the credit to my Uncle Ron, he is my mother's brother. I have always looked up to my Uncle Ron. I would sit for hours and listen to him play, trying all the time to mimic his hands. He was patient and active in helping me learn to play guitar. Every now and then I like to tune my guitar to what they call an open E. That means, all you have to use is one finger across the fret to make a chord. That is how he taught me. It brings back fond memories for me. Our family gatherings were centered around a piano and singing. Other families sat and talked, or played cards, my family gathered around the piano and sang with each other.

 

BP: Do you think it's easier for a person growing up around music to be successful?

RR: I would say first off, that unfortunately in our society we kind of have a jaded point of view of what successful really means. What I mean is, we tend to equate money and financial gain with success. I find that to be sad. There are plenty of folks out there who are very successful at what they do. My point of view is if you perform a piece of music or perhaps create one, which connects to a listener, then I call that success. Music is about experience and telling a story. In answer to the question, I would say that by appearance, it would seem that growing up in a home around music would help, however I don’t see that as the only ingredient.

 

BP: Can you give us a short history of your music? Bands you've played with, etc.

RR: Well I would suppose my musical history isn’t much different than many other musicians. I started with a high school band. We called ourselves Renegade. It was a play on the single by the 1980’s band Styx. Later, when I was stationed in Germany, I was lead singer for a German Rock band. I was the only English speaking member of the the band. It was a very interesting experience. Later in the 90’s I started my own band called Firewater. We were your straight forward top 40 country band. It's from playing in the professional top 40 cover band circuit, is where I began to understand the politics of the music business. I played Nashville once and that was when I was mortified to learn that just because there are insanely talented musicians in Nashville, does not mean they are going to be signed. I find that to be a injustice to all the people who would benefit from hearing them. However, that being said, there is a new venue for the talented musician and songwriter. It's the Internet. In spite of the controversy surrounding the whole digital music industry, there are many benefits and advantages for the artist today. For instance, there are many reputable websites devoted to the independent artist (unsigned artists). Because of this, there are many artists who are being heard and are basically selling themselves with having to use the traditional record deal. Personally, I find it exciting. I have a few friends who are very successful independent artists, they tour from 100 to 250 days of the year all their own. They have no traditional record contract, and do very well for themselves. Like I say, the biggest benefit is being exposed to more would be fans. I personally, have received letters and messages from fans from Australia, and Europe even in Russia. None of this would have ever been possible without the Internet.

BP: Let's talk about your current music. Explain the sound of Rex Rambler.

RR: My sound. Now that’s tough one. I have heard people mention that I have at least four different voices, depending on the song. My sound can be rock, or it can be country, and even blues. I like to think Rex Rambler's sound isn't restricted to one genre. It all depends on the listener's perspective of things. I also like to think my music show is a mixture of all my influences - from my Uncle Ron to Muddy Waters, to my hero Marty Robbins, even Angus Young of AC/DC. The theme to my songs are usually about life and love. The two things which in my opinion cause this big blue marble we call Earth to spin.

BP: Is Rex Rambler a solo act? (I didn't see anything about other members on your web page). If so, why?

RR: As of right now, Rex Rambler is indeed a solo act. I do have my best friend Rick Sidell play drums for me. Rick is mentioned on my web page, but you have to be really looking for it. Rick is a very private person, and I have been almost hounding him to let me set up a profile on him. He bucks that every time. That's why you don't see him on the website. However in reality, Rick is very much part of the Rex Rambler scene. There are several reasons for being a solo act for right now. Although I am biting at the bit to start a traditional band, I am focusing on perfecting my songs, and their performance. I hope to have a band in the near future, but for now, when I perform I focus on my songs, and a few select cover songs. I play a resonator on many, and acoustic guitar on the rest. I find it makes things easier for me to focus on the song. As well it gives a feel for a more personal touch. The audience is played to as opposed to played at. If that makes sense.

 

BP: What do you try to portray, when you decide to write a song? Do songs just come out of the blue, or do you take real-life scenarios and make them into lyrics?

RR: We are a sum of our experiences. Yes definitely, my songs are a product of my personal experience. My point of view of a song, is it's a story. So when I write a song, usually what happens first is there is a melody which has infected my thoughts. Generally there is a certain feelings or thoughts that accompanies that tune. Then later, the lyrics come from that thought or emotion. I have a few songs which were written with a specific thought in mind, such as the title track 'Pieces of Time'. That song is an adaptation of my life. How I have changed, my aging, and watching those I love age faster than me. I have songs which have taken as long as two years to get to a point I can say they are done. Then again I have songs which happened in the span of about 30 minutes. In each case, no matter the amount of time, they were written by me. This means that the theme whether it's love or heart break, or party time, it comes from my perspective and what I feel. So they are created from my personal experiences. 'Drunk or Sober' is one song that came out of the blue. I noticed one day I did not have a traditional crying in your beer song, and the phrase came to mind, Drunk or Sober... so I sat down and in the span of about 30 minutes, I had the song finished. It's one of my personal favorites.

 

BP: I read on your website that you were/are involved in some sort of radio show. Can you tell us more about that?

RR: Unfortunately since the time of this interview, there have been some changes. The radio show was fun. I enjoyed sharing the music which inspired me. However due to some software conflicts, and technical problems, along with schedule conflicts, the Rambler radio show is on hold. However, a very good friend of mine, has approached me and asked what I thought about moving the Rambler radio show to another venue. The details are being worked out. The station broadcasts on the web, and several terrestrial radio stations, and satellite. So if this works out it will be big step for me. As I say, this is all in the discussion stage right now. Until then people can look for news of this on my website. I do have a Podcast I do. It is from my website on Garageband.Com. Go to www.garageband.com/rexrambler. It is a collection of independent artists who I have done review of their music. You can stream it to your Yahoo 360 page, or Myspace. You can even download it to your Ipod.

 

BP: Your title track "Pieces of Time" is a very catchy one, and has enjoyed some success on the internet. Tell us about the song, and what encouraged you to write it.

RR: I am very proud of the success 'Pieces Of Time' has had. Currently it ranks number 16 in the Alternative Country Charts on Soundclick.Com. The title comes from a poem my mother Gail Pingleton wrote. I had a thought about life being divided onto pieces of time. We have our future not set, and our past which tends to be tainted with the emotion that accompanies that memory. The theme is based on my life. I turned 40 recently and have had issues with seeing how those I have been so tied to, like my mother and uncle age literally before my eyes. My aging means they are as well. And becomes a reminder to us that the ones we love will one day be gone. One day we will look back on our lives and see the mistakes and triumphs, and perhaps see that what lays ahead, like what lays behind, are scatter in memories, like pieces of time...

 

BP: Where can someone buy your new cd?

RR: You can go to my website, http://rexrambler.com and then go to the links page. There you will see a link to my music site, www.soundclick.com/rexmounce. There will be link that says music store. The name of the CD is "Pieces Of Time", and there are 15 songs on it. You can buy it for 12 dollars.

 

BP: Any live appearances coming up in the near future?

RR: As of now, one of my resolutions for 2007, is to play as much as I can. I have a date coming up in Forsyth Mo, at Bull Shoals. Check http://rexrambler.com for specific dates.

 

BP: Anything else you want to plug, or any announcements or plans you wish to tell?

RR: I am currently in the process of doing another release. This collection is tentatively named "Nowhere" so far I have three new songs that are on my website, http://rexrambler.com. If you are interested in bookings you can contact me through my home page. I also encourage everyone to sign my guest book. I love to keep in touch. If you write to me I will respond. I would be honored to have you listen, and allow me to share my music with you. I invite everyone to connect to me on www.myspace.com/rexrambler. I have a few songs posted on there as well. Thank you so much for what you do, and I look forward to meeting everyone someday soon. Peace and God Bless.

-Randy Mallett, BANNEDPROMOTIONS.com

( www.BANNEDPROMOTIONS.com/REXRAMBLERinterview )