Rik Emmett - Part II

NEW - AIRTIME INTERVIEW WITH RIK  AIRTIME CD REVIEW

Darrin: Rik, thank you for taking some time out to have a second interview with me. I just noticed that Jeb Wright from Classic Rock Revisited beat me to you AGAIN. I love your interviews with Jeb. I look forward to the friendly sparring.

Rik: Sparring? Dude - it's just conversation. Email, at that.

Darrin: Let's talk about the current. What was your reaction/feeling, when you received your letter stating that you were to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of Triumph? Were you hesitant, or unsure of your decision to take part?

Rik: I was approached via email to see if I would be interested. I was asked what might make it possible. Fortunately, Neill Dixon of CMW was willing to try and function as the middleman to make it happen. I was skeptical, yes. After all, Triumph was, quite literally, none of my business. But I gave the initiative an honest effort. Seems like it's worked out, so far.

Darrin: I talked to Gil Moore today, and he had a lot of kind words, and a very sincere, joy in his voice, that you two have had the ability to communicate again. I read about your initial meeting last year, to discuss the award, but how have subsequent visits gone?

Rik: Fine. I think we both know that there are places that the conversation could go that are full of land mines, so we avoid those - by mutual consent. It's been polite and civilized. I walk away with a growing sense of relief.

Darrin: Do you feel this could be a positive ending, or conclusion to the Triumph story, as in, can Triumph become more of a happy memory for you, and something you may reflect on more over time now?

Rik: I've just spent close to two decades in denial - both that which was forced upon me, and the kind I had to adopt myself, in order to try and build my own life, separate and independent from my past. Much of that was based on pure survival - I was fighting for my professional life. So - I'm not really wired to sit around and reflect on memories, as much as I choose to work in the moment towards a better future.

I don't actually see any of this as an ending or a conclusion. It's just the beginning of another new thread in a chapter of my life, and who knows where it will lead? Placing too much expectation upon it, or giving it the weight of too much significance, probably hurts the process more than it could help.

Darrin: Some fans have wanted me to ask, is there a possibility of you pulling some more of the Triumph catalog into your acoustic shows, or trio shows?

Rik: Probably not. I have the Troubs material now, and hopefully a follow-up for that, in the near future. I have another new CD of my own I want to get started on, and that material will need some 'live' exposure. And when the 'Airtime' CD comes out, I have a feeling people might want to hear a tune or two from that, occasionally. Plus - there is a whole universe of cover tunes - the Clapton stuff usually goes over great, and Dave and I have put a version of Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower" on our new "Live at Hugh's Room" CD, which I think has the chance to become a concert staple for a while.

Darrin: Dean Guitars has re-issued the single pickup Rik Emmett Flying V. You went to Winter NAMM to support that. What was your reaction, when you found out that Dean selected you as one of the people to be honoured with a re-edition guitar?

Rik: It was a nice honour, and it's been enjoyable to hook up with Dean Zelinsky again. It was also nice that they were amenable to giving Dave Dunlop a guitar endorsement, and it's been a lot of fun to strap a big flying V on again.

Darrin: How was the guitar received at NAMM? Will you be getting one? Also, I heard that you were signing TONS of pictures at the show. Were you surprised at the outpouring of Triumph fans at NAMM?

Rik: I think the reception of the guitar at NAMM was overwhelmingly positive, and the sales guys seemed happy & bubbly. I will be getting two, actually - and I have one already. I'll also be getting a Hard Tail as part of the deal, and that's a very fine instrument. I wasn't surprised at the fan reaction - it was very nice, and I enjoyed the buzz of the NAMM environment, as it was a novel experience for me: but I try not to allow myself to get surprised about going about my business. I just try to go with the flow - and lord knows, at NAMM [at any show biz trade shows], one had better be prepared to go with the flow.

Darrin: Airtime. It has been talked about for years, and last I heard, it was in the final tweak, mastering stages. What is the progress of the Liberty Manifesto disc? Have you found any distribution or label outlets that have interested you?

Rik: Yes. But we are awaiting final mixes & mastering, then submitting, then waiting to find out where we stand. In the end, if I just end up putting it out independently, that's what I'll do. I'll admit I have been frustrated by the length of time the process has taken. It was not a great year [or two] for logistics for both Mike Shotton and I, in our separate lives, and in our co-venture. Airtime just kept getting bumped on everybody's priority list.

Darrin: You were also working on another singer/songwriter project named Marco’s Secret Songbook. Is that disc moving along, or are you trying to work at one project at a time?

Rik: That project is stalled right out for now. The material is all written - I just need a window of opportunity to get into a studio and capture the songs. But there are just too many initiatives on the fly - the Triumph stuff, my gigs, Clapton shows, Airtime, my teaching schedule - creativity becomes something that gets bumped to the back of the bus, because 'family' deserves its own time & energy too.

Darrin: Have you talked to Dave Dunlop about another Strung Out Troubadours album? It has been highly acclaimed, and in my opinion, one of the best songwriting albums put out in a decade.

Rik: Thank you. Yes - we want to follow up asap. We're waiting to see what happens in the smooth jazz awards in April, and I'm sure that experience will only reinforce our desire to take the follow-up into that ball park even a little bit more ... where world music meets r & b [and they call it 'smooth jazz'] ...

Darrin: Rik, when you find free time in your life, what do you do to relax these days? Are you looking forward to the MLB season starting up again? Is your son still playing ball?

Rik: I love sports, yeah. Hockey, baseball - I am looking forward to the season, and I have friends on the Jays team now - manager John Gibbons and catcher Greg Zaun - so I would love to see them do well.

Yes - my son is a freshman middle infielder on the roster of the Central Michigan Chippewas, an NCAA Division 1 team that has started the season already on trips down south into Florida, Alabama and southern Illinois. I really look forward to seeing him take on a role for that team, over the next few years. Meanwhile, he made the Dean's list, [and so did one of my daughters in Marketing at Guelph!] so I can't be sure what I should boast about first.

I do like to read novels, as well, [latest one I'm reading is The Time Traveller's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger] and my wife and I enjoy renting videos and watching those on the big high def screen ...

Darrin: You have renewed and strengthened your relationship with Yamaha. They were also very gracious to let you do the Dean deal. Are there any special “projects” or new machines that Yamaha will be building for you this year?

Rik: I'm quite delighted with their entire line of acoustics, and have been using the SLG steel string almost exclusively lately live [except when I pull out the trusty old L-55 12 string ... ohh, and when I need an archtop, I go for the AEX-1500]. I feel like I'm pretty well set right now - I have a Yamaha guitar from almost every single product line [and era!], so I'm covered. You mentioned the Dean V earlier, but the Pacifica is still my # 1 go-to electric.

Darrin: Did you think 10..15…30 years ago, that you would be embarking on all these new musical journeys, and that interest would still be as high and growing like it is today?

Rik: I always hoped for it, but I didn't expect it. I'd like to think that music-making, and creativity, is a lifelong pursuit. I can't predict the marketplace: I can only offer my best efforts and hope that some people will gravitate towards them and support them.

Darrin: I remember you were going to do some shows in Toronto, that were Clapton tributes. How did those go? Did you enjoy playing his music?

Rik: I enjoy them a great deal. It's a terrific catalogue of repertoire to choose from, and his music is inspiring. He's also an influential role model, because he has successfully reinvented himself often, and at the same time has remained very true to his roots - a very pure and very accessible recording artist. There's a lot to learn from becoming intimate with his body of work.

Darrin: Rik, you have had a long and illustrious career, that is not seeming to be near ending. What do you attribute to being able to maintain the schedule you keep? The writing, the gigging, the recording, the family time…What has been the secret that helps you keep all that in line, and together? A lot of people would burn out attempting what you do. Do you have a timetable/calendar you follow…do you set rules and guidelines on the time you spend on various activities? What can you suggest for the many new Do It Yourself artists out there?

Rik: [You didn't mention teaching at the college, which is a big time commitment for me, even though it's only one afternoon a week. The class prep, and the marking, and the email, is mind-boggling. And you didn't mention being artistic director for a week-long summer songwriting workshop, which requires an annual commitment of time & energy to coordinate over the other 11 and 3/4 months ... Plus you didn't mention what it's like to have to run your own label, and manage your own website. Being the president of Rockit Sounds Inc., is also a full-time job - the banking, accounting and bookkeeping for taxes alone is daunting, never mind ongoing daily management decisions and consultation. And what about promotion and marketing? Interviews, for example?]

It's often a question of time management, but I can't say that I have mastered that one. I try to maintain a balance, but I often fail. I think part of the dynamics of the experience is that you have to forgive yourself, and you have to hope that the people that surround you, that you work with, that live with you and love you, will also be forgiving, flexible, tolerant and patient.

I live off my Palm Desktop. I spend hours every day in front of my computer. I answer email as quickly as I humanly can, so it won't pile up. I try NOT to use the phone for business, as I prefer email, as it provides a record. I try NOT to talk on the cell phone, and never conduct business on it if I can help it. I try to play at least a little guitar every day, and will steal hours from my sleep, if I have to, in order to practice or rehearse. I try to write down ANY decent creative musical ideas I get [or capture them on a pocket recorder], but I tend to do that in spurts, because I'm far from good at always being organized.

Darrin: What can we expect in 2007 Rik?

Rik: I'd like to keep trying to do what I've been trying to do. The joy lies in the creative process.

Darrin: Thanks so much for your time Rik. Congrats on the Hall of Fame, The Smooth Jazz nominations, the new albums, and for the continued work you put out for all of us to enjoy.

Rik: You're welcome, and thank you.