A Ripple Conversation With Ron Terrell From Hi/Jack

When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkel, the first time I ever heard Kiss's "Detroit Rock City," it was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphany's since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and revolutionary to your ears. What have been your musical epiphany moments?

I think my most recent musical epiphany moment has been a refocus on control, power, and accuracy as a drummer. Early drumming days I kinda focused on the notes and speed. Sometimes focused with timing with other musicians, but for the most part in Hi/Jack, I only focused on one musician. I didn't really focus on how a bass drum synchs with a bass player. Or how snare runs synch up with a guitarist picking. I didn't focus in hey, toms and bass drum tones, low end, to tone dodge other things in that frequency so things didn't sound muddy. You don't always have to hit a drum hard! You can hit it in such a way to make it sing along with the song.

These came from working with other music producers in the studio. They helped refine my craft.

Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?

For me, it is the riff, first and foremost. Then comes the intention of the riff. Is it suppose to be sad? Bluesy? Up beat? Anger? Angst? What is the subject matter? Then I craft my drums around that to emphasize the song. Do we want shock and suprises? Then, maybe bombastic cymbal crashes and bass drum hits. Need to just cruise? Walk it back with a ride cymbal riff. Not to fast.

The lyrics of course fall into place with this as well. Also, more recently bpm steady comes into play. Play the song, but don't kill yourself over it. Say what you need to say loud and clear, without going horse. Be direct, and intentional. Sure, craft and leave room for interpretation, but give that listener some boundaries of 'Hey, this song is about this, but take it in the direction that applies to you.'

Who has influenced you the most?

Starting out, I could say, Keith Moon, John Bonham, Ginger Baker, you know your standard greats. But the weird thing is as I grew, I still nod to them, but I don't let my adoration of them more or less control me.

What I mean by that is that I completely understand that those Legends lived their life, and I have to live mine. I'm not them. I can't compare myself to them as a means of measure of progress. That would be doing a disservice to everyone involved. I van say that, hey, I can do that shuffle, that groove, that fill that they did way before my time. And that is okay. I can use the tools that they have displayed in the music that I help create today. Drummers are different. We learn by watching other drummers. Sure, you can write notes. Play notes. But how are those pieces set up to play those notes? Which hands do you use? Sticking patterns? How many strokes? Those questions are answered by watching, not just reading the notes from the book.

Luckily, Kofi Baker is here, and a dear friend and instructor. He helped a lot in focusing the mind in what matters. How to play properly and how to expand my abilities. I suppose, Kofi is my biggest influence. As well as other music producers who have helped and guided me to be a better drummer.

Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?

Really, being in multiple music projects, I haven't really sought out new ideas or motivation. Each project has its own ideas and challenges. And I use those ideas and challenges in a cross platform kind of way. There is this multi-instrumentalist that I work with who has odd timing ideas. There this bluegrass/country guitarist who is also a lead in another project that I work with with his ideas. There are a couple bass players with other ideas that I haven't heard of before. With so many musicians and projects, I haven't had the need to actively search. There is a multitude of things out there to learn, take hold of and grasp.

We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?

I am a punker. I am a rocker. I am a blues guy. I am a jazz guy. I am a metal guy. I am a lo-fi guy. I am just a guy... who happens to play drums. Sure, I'll dive into country from time to time. But man, there are so many cool bands out there. From Muder Generation, to H1Z1, to Abbandon's End, to Masked Intruder, to Something To Do, to Robot Witch, to Whiskey and the Devil, to The Brash Menagerie, to BUD, to Lefty Luci, to Billy Dreamer, to Dusty Pockets, to Sugo, to Orange Cat, to Fangerlis, to Bellhead, to Buff Taint, and that's just a few of the locals. All these people are hard workers, on the grind, creatives. They all have influences that I admire, and adore, and give a nod to. Specifically? Man, just in all music itself, patterns, for the most generic answer. But all of these guys are awesome!

Where'd the band name come from?

Ha, from Hi/Jacking the music industry back. At least that was the original intent. As I grew, it was more or less the industry evolving and me not understanding it. I still don't understand it fully, but I feel less angst. Maybe I'm just getting old.

You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?

This is going to be a difficult question for me. I don't often get a chance to watch movies. Action movies infuriate me because of how unrealistic they are. (I'm a need, and an engineer. I know how things work!) I don't watch dramas. Already got enough of that in my own life. Comedy? Meh. See explanation for action movie. Sci-fi? Perhaps. The 'fi' part bothers me sometime. Horror? Maybe. But I would like it to be true to form and need to do more research on things.

Perhaps a tribal fictional tale. Apocalypto was kinda cool to me. But I shouldn't use modern drums. That may take away from the feel of the movie.

I wouldn't mind maybe writing for more Matrix movies. Yeah, let's go that route, or SLC Punk 3.

You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?).You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and why?

Ha, this is unfair. I already write for Voices In My Head. Only 1,000 words? Alright. And any song out there? I should let you pick. Let's go with a band that I interviewed:

Alibis

The song: Mother

Extremely powerful song that really speaks for itself. Shout out to Rainy Terrell. The song is just powerful and annihilates ones heart. No, I'm not going to write the full essay here. That costs extra.

Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?

Alright, not sure if this one is Spinal Tap cannon. But, on one gig that Hi/Jack did, I got myself set up to play. Max is almost set up to play, but can't figure out why his system isn't working. Pedals are all on. Amp is on. No signal to the board. Dude is freaking out. I look down, and see a lone 1/4" cable. "Hey Max, did you plug your guitar in?"

Yep, that was the issue. Us drummers don't have to plug anything in.

Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?

I'm going to kinda steal an answer from the band Artifas who I interviewed.

Recording a song is like painstakingly making a pizza. The ingredients, the preparation, and sweating your tail off while baking it. It's messy.

Playing live is enjoying that pizza with everyone and smiling about all the hard work of it. Perhaps another sprinkle of parmesan cheese to make it special. For that moment specifically. For me, playing love is one big party. Maybe some are ready to party and just want to amplify the experience. Then I amp up with them, and we keep heightening like builders going back and forth on a tower of awesomeness! Some people just want this one awesome moment in their chaotic life. Maybe to even forget their chaotic life. I'm honored to help them do that. Some are just down and need to be cheered up and entertained. I'm here for that! The live experience is a communal exercise in euphoric unity. And I absolutely love it.

What makes a great song?

Admittedly, a great song is a song that inspires or resonates with someone, even the creator of that song. Technically by that definition, all songs are great. The song can even inspire someone not to make a song like that. So, the song is still inspirational in what not to do.

Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?

Oh boy. That has to be back in the Four Letter Word days. (Yeah, don't look that project up.) Young, naive, inexperienced Ron. Three songs come to mind. "Medicine" "Save Me" and "Lost". Of the three "Save Me" was a cool three part song that I have had in my back pocket for years. Distant vocals like someone fell down a deep dark well. A downward spiral that no one dared to reach. 'Come save me if you dare.' Being one of the lyrics. People can hear this guy, but some just ignore him. Some want to save him, but are to scared to jump down the hole to do so. Finally, one hero, decides to make the leap and descend down the path. (This ends act one)

Down in the hole, it is could and dark. Hopeless looking. The hero has to do their best to not be consumed by the very environment they are here to rescue someone from. It is a mental struggle to stay focus on saving this person, who they don't even know. Never met. Does this person even want to be saved? The hero has to battle these thoughts and doubts, searching for the source of this fallen distant voice. The hero finds the person. (This ends act two)

Act three. This is where I'll leave you with the cliff hanger. Is the 'victim' willing to climb out? Does the hero have to battle the victim for their own good? Has the hero fallen into the doubts of their own mind and is now trapped with the victim? Act three is the resolve. Stay tuned to when I eventually write this song.

What piece of your music are particularly proud of?

There is a new one off of the new Hi/Jack album called Pride. I love that one particularly. Good groove song. I think the message there is great. "I won't die for your pride." Don't sacrifice your life, your well-being just for someone else's delusional vision.

Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?

There are a lot of hard working musicians out there. I think Whiskey and the Devil write great songs for example. They are very rock standard to me. I learn from everyone, so do they kick my ass? Not exactly as a whole. One of the most accurate drummers I know localy is Eric Morrisse. He actually is helping on auxiliary Percussion on Hi/Jack's track "Milwaukee". He is the drummer for Robot Witch. Does that group kick our ass? Not really. We are in different realms so we really can't compare. But Eric is a sensational drummer.

Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?

As hypocritical as it sounds, I am a streamer, so digital. I'll still buy vinyls. I like having the collection of vinyls, although Max has more than me.

The vinyls are for those cherished down time moments that I can actually enjoy something, like a bubble bath. (Yes, I take those. Don't judge me, ya weirdo.) Other times, I'm on the road, busy, so I kinda can't take my record player with me. That's where digital comes into play. So for me, it's either vinyls or digital. I'll still buy a CD if that is all a band has to offer, just to help them out. We all need help, man. But if I can stream their stuff, I'll buy the CD, and then stream their stuff.

Whiskey or beer?And defend your choice

Yes. I'm from Wisconsin. I drink both. I drink bourbon, beer, and scotch. There are so many out there. Go out and experience a craft beer from a local Brewery.

We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your home town, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?

I weep for the passing of The Exclusive Company. However, Rushmore Records in Bayview (still in Milwaukee) has been a staple in supporting locals. Some record stores are almost like punk venues. You gotta seek them out. But, Rushmore Records gets my endorsement.

What's next for the band?

Gigs, and writing. Keeping the ball rolling. I belive we as musicians owe you guys that.

Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?

This music industry is going to keep changing and evolving. We are going to keep changing and evolving. The paths we take are going to ebb and flow with agreements and disagreements. Things that we were so certain of 5 years ago may not even be applicable 5 years in the future. Ride the wave. Explore, learn, adapt, and enjoy.