Polish progressive rockers Riverside hardly need an introduction. Since forming in 2001, the band has put out seven albums, and each one shows Riverside as something special. Sure, they have their own recognizable style, but every record still comes with surprises.
2016 was a tragic year for the band, when guitarist Piotr Grudziński passed away, which seemed to mean the end of the band. But after much soul-searching, Riverside decided to carry on after all. They pay tribute to Grudziński at every show. What his loss meant to them, Riverside expressed on their latest album Wasteland (review HERE).
The band is now in the final stretch of the Wasteland tour cycle. Mariusz Duda, the band’s bassist and vocalist, managed to find some time in his packed schedule to answer a few questions. The band is out on tour and returning to Ljubljana too, on Tuesday, March 3.
Rockline: Hello, you’ve got a new tour ahead of you. You’ll be hitting a few cities in Central and Eastern Europe where you’ve already played in support of this album. Can we expect any surprises in the setlist?
Mariusz Duda: We always want to try something new on tour. The backdrop will be the same, but you can definitely expect to hear a surprise here and there.
Rockline: During the Wasteland tour cycle you’ve visited lots of places, including some where you’d never played before. Did any place leave a special impression on you?
MD: Our first tour of the US was pretty cool. And full of interesting trips. We got the chance to see the Grand Canyon and the Golden Gate. So, lots of great memories and photos.
Rockline: Comparing the Wasteland tour cycle with your previous tours, does it feel like your fan base is growing?
MD: Definitely. We’re drawing more and more people. And most of them are young. I don’t know, maybe our original fans are already too old for us. (laughs)
Rockline: Once you’re done with the Wasteland tour, what are the band’s plans? You recently mentioned you’d be starting a new solo project, separate from Lunatic Soul. Since many Riverside fans follow Lunatic Soul too, what horizons will you be exploring with the new project?
MD: After the tour we’ll definitely focus on making a new Riverside album. Before that, I’ll release a new Lunatic Soul album, which I’ve been working on for about a year now. And in the meantime I’ve already announced that I’ll be releasing solo songs. The first will be revealed in mid-March. It’ll kick off a special series that I call “under-the-skin songs” – the singer/songwriter style.
Rockline: Let’s talk a bit more about the current album Wasteland, which saw you return to a heavier style. How do you explain that natural progression?
MD: I think “Wasteland” is a bridge between old and new Riverside. A kind of transitional album. It helps us understand what we really are and what the most important element of our music is – emotion. And our emotional side is emphasized here like never before. Of course, that’s also tied to the lyrics, which relate to our departed friend.
Rockline: The lyrical theme is post-apocalypse. There are plenty of books and films set in a post-apocalyptic world. Can you name a few titles that inspired the lyrics on the album?
MD: “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy, for example, but first and foremost “Wasteland” is about my experience after loss. It also reflects the fears we all have, given the situation in the world. “Mad Max” and post-apocalyptic books are like the graphic design on the box. Inside, it’s about our lives today. About our private wasteland.
Rockline: Are you already thinking about a new album? Where do you think the next record will take you?
MD: We’ll definitely start writing new songs once the Wasteland tour we’re on right now is over. The plan is to release the album in 2021. Our biggest inspiration is our setlist on the Wasteland tour and the interactions with the fans.
Rockline: The progressive rock scene is pretty big these days. Riverside are one of its important representatives. Opinions on the scene differ: some say it’s still evolving, others that it’s stagnating. What’s your take?
MD: To me it’s the same as always. Pretty average (laughs). Of course, Roger Waters gigs, where he plays stadiums, aren’t exactly “the prog scene” to me. It’s unfair to put him in the same category as other prog musicians. So, without those dinosaurs the prog scene is pretty much the same. Let’s be honest – the genre is a niche. Unless you count the attendance at shows by a band that releases an album every 13 years – then that’s a different story.
Rockline: Can any band today wow you with their innovation and uniqueness enough that you start listening to them?
MD: We live in an age of retromania. If we’re talking rock here – the last innovative rock band for me was The White Stripes. The past decade was a flood of hip hop, which isn’t my cup of tea. I have to admit I get the Billie Eilish phenomenon – it’s fresh, and also incredibly well promoted. It’s sad that these days only money and connections count. If you’ve got money and connections, you can do anything and promote anyone as the most innovative musician in the world. Luckily, there are exceptions. That shows in fan loyalty. And as a band, that’s what we strive for.
Rockline: Bands today want to reach a bigger audience in different ways. One of them is playing big festivals. Since you play festivals too, which do you prefer, festival shows or club gigs?
MD: Unfortunately, because we’re more or less on our own and not under the wing of some popular booking agency, it’s hard for us to get on bigger festivals. Smaller clubs are great, the connection with the fans is irreplaceable. But festivals are a challenge. Playing for a different crowd is a real challenge and really exciting.
