Interview with R-O-A Rise of Abundance

Rise of Abundance a.k.a. R-O-A – Our fans "want to be involved with us, as much as we want to be involved with them" – by Mel in Toronto

With overwhelming fan support, Canadian high-energy rock band Rise of Abundance a.k.a. R-O-A was voted to be our very first band showcased on indieSolo. The indieMortal7 contest allowed you, the fans, to vote for the first seven bands to appear on indieSolo. R-O-A sets high standards. The band is convincing on many levels: Not only one, but two powerful vocalists, heavy riffs mixed with intoxicating melodies, heart felt song writing, and such an energetic performance that the audience can't help but be as enthusiastic about R-O-A's music as the band itself.

From Ajax, Ontario, and playing together for the last two years, R-O-A are Ryan Woods, a.k.a. w0oDzY, (guitar, vocals), Mike Watters (bass), Matt Royal (screamer) and Drew Bath (percussion). Sitting on a bench on Queen Street East in Toronto, outside the Opera House, where R-O-A just finished a very engaging show, w0oDzY says that their sound is best to be compared to fellow Canadian band Alexisonfire.

Combining a melodic singer with a screamer is very effective and creates a lot of energy. Even without having formal vocal training, w0oDzY's voice is outstanding in its range and tone. He sings the melodic parts of the songs, but also sometimes screams along with his screamer Matt. The band definitely has their own sound: "My dad taught me when I was young and I've always said that my dad taught me how to make a guitar sing, and I learned how to make it scream," w0oDzY says. The PRS Special Edition Guitar, one of the prizes for our top indieMortal7, was a big incentive for w0oDzY to win this competition: "I've had my old guitar since I was eleven years old." In the meantime, w0oDzY already picked up the guitar and he says that "the fans like it, my band likes it, and I like it: it's a great guitar. We had to be the top indieMortal," w0oDzY continues. "But more important to me was the opportunity for the whole world to hear our tunes not only for now, but forever. And thanks to indieSolo, with this competition, they gave us this awesome opportunity."

The lyrics are based on personal and possible experiences and are coming from the heart of this young man with the bright red hair: "I've got all kinds of different songs. I've got a song called LESSON LEARNED and it's about watching your friend die over a cocaine overdose and what that would be like in going through stuff like that. REFLECTIONS is written about yourself, review yourself in the mirror and your reflection and having enough of it and just being sick and tired of every day and going through the same shit, you know you shouldn't be doing and then you realize, it's time for a change. LETTER TO GOD, I wrote about my aunt when she passed away, she died of cancer. I wrote it for her, her kids and my family, it's a pretty emotional song," w0oDzY says. He continues with the fan's favourite YOUR FAULT "I wrote that about fighting with your family all the time, them trying to change you, but really, in the end of the song, it turns out that you should be the one to make some changes, in order to make your life better. The family is there to help you and it's about time that you change, change for the better," w0oDzY continues.

Currently R-O-A has four songs on the internet, and these four songs alone have sufficed to establish a huge following. On our way back to the Opera House, standing at a red light with a streetcar going by, w0oDzY talks about R-O-A's fans: "They are doing big things for us, we are winning competitions and we are forever in their debt and totally grateful for them. We are humbled that they are even doing this for us," the expression on his face truly shows his deep appreciation towards their supporters. R-O-A cares about their fans. At the Opera House, the band arrived with a bus filled with fans, which is not uncommon for them at all. w0oDzY explains that "I post all of our shows on our MySpace and on my msn and I tell the fans, if they want to come to our show and want us to get a bus, to contact me and we will arrange for it. The fans pay for the cost of the bus and nearly all our shows end up being bussed shows and the fans love it, as we do, because it's good for us: We meet our fans, they meet us and they also get a safe ride home."

The band is a tight unit, on and off stage. "We've known each other for years; I've known Matt and Drew since I was four years old, in kindergarten and all the way up. We grew up together and I met Mike through high school and we all are a really close group of friends," w0oDzY says. His mother, Susan Woods, manages the band. It is a pleasure to see them all together, because they look like a big family, a feeling that definitely translates into their performance as well.

R-O-A are on their way to the studio to record their debut 12-song album. Grateful to their fans, w0oDzY says: "We are really hyped to get a new demo out and get a full CD done, all twelve songs. We can't wait to get a full CD out for them to have." If their current four-song demo CD is any indication of what we can hope for on their new album, there is only one thing to be said: Expect to be blown away!

"In your own words" – ONE on ONE with Mel and w0oDzY

Mel: Which opportunities do you see with indieSolo?

w0oDzY: Good networking, that's what I see with it. You guys have a reputation, you deal with a lot of bands, and you are into marketing. People will see that we've won the competition and who was in it. It's a really good networking tool for us.

Mel: Why was it important for you to be an indieMortal?

w0oDzY: It exposes our music to listeners all around the world and hopefully some labels and music executives will hear us as well and like our music. And being an indieMortal, we have a permanent home on the indieSolo site, so that hopefully now and in the future, we will gain new friends and fans.

Mel: How did you get your fans to vote for you?

w0oDzY: Just by asking them. They message us every day to talk to us and basically want to be involved with us, as much as we want to be involved with them. When we had the competition, they were ready; they wanted to help, and they did it, they got us to win.

Mel: Who are your influences?

w0oDzY: My dad is one of them; he taught me how to play. My grade six music teacher was a big influence for me, as well as Kurt Cobain from Nirvana. I grew up in that era with Kurt Cobain, he is one of my idols. My brother Gabriel MacLean, I've been playing guitar with him since I was little. For different music styles: Chevelle basically for my softer side and the energy of Slipknot for my other.

Mel: What would you like to achieve with your music?

w0oDzY: We all have the same goal: We really want to feel we reach people and get our message to people through our music and get our music heard.

Mel: With which artist would you like to record a song and why?

w0oDzY: From a singing level it would have to Pete Loeffler from Chevelle, for music it would be Slipknot.

Mel: What do you like best, when you perform live?

w0oDzY: I love the expression on people's faces. When I'm playing and I look at them and they are feeling it, and they are starting to nod their heads and they start to rock out. My whole band says the same thing; we all just love to see when everyone gets into it more and more and the looks on their faces, the surprise. Watching them enjoy it really makes us happy.

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