Interview: Brian Rill

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Brian Rill was recently voted as “Salida’s Best Musician” in the recent “Best of Salida” survey. I’ve known Brian for more than six years and being the host of the open mic at the Salida Café, I have been able to watch his growth as a musician and as a performer.

This past year Brian began working with William Boddy and David Long in the band Island Earth, founded the Salida School of Stringed Instruments with partner Boddy and continued to make advancements in his solo career. I got a chance to sit down with Brian Rill this week and talk to him about his career and his approach to his craft. Here are some excerpts from our conversation.

You’ve experienced quite a bit of growth in your music as well as your career in the past 2 years. What do you attribute it to?

RILL: I met my manager Jan Marie Smith. I was giving her voice lessons. It led her to hearing my songs and getting more excited about selling my songs and spreading my music across the state. So we traveled the state, played Devil Thumb’s Ranch in Winter Park. They loved it. So by getting out of town I was able to come back and create something valuable out of the experience that I got.

So you were able to partner up with Jan Marie and she is able to do the promotional end, leaving you to work on the music. Was “Island Earth” part of the business plan with Jan Marie?

RILL: No, she’s managing my solo career. But the solo career allows me to do more for the band and write more for the band. The band helps me be a better musician and learn more songs. So it all works together.

You’ve been in the studio this week and have started on three new songs.

RILL: One of these new songs that I recorded yesterday is about cancer. And it’s really affected my life knowing people with it. You know we all know people that have had it. From my perspective there is nothing I can do about it. But with music I see it as a way to fight death. With the recording, even if it’s just symbolic. So the new song. It’s a cover tune by “Our Lady Peace” — it’s called Thief. It’s powerful. And when I sing I feel like I’m doing something to fight it. Maybe spiritual or emotional, just giving somebody hope.

And when you perform a song like that, one that you have a lot of “heart” or emotion in, sometimes it’s hard to get through it.

RILL: I’ve noticed this before that there are certain songs that the writer has attached an emotion to that I may not be able to handle. I have some songs that are like that and I don’t play them anymore.

So you’ve added some new instruments to your quiver.

RILL: Jeff Bamburg’s handmade guitar, The BR 01 maple back, sides and neck with a spruce top. And Jan Marie had a Kay maple mandolin that her brother gave her that I now play.

And a Tele (Fender Telecaster)?

RILL: Yes, that’s maple and ash. So it’s this big family of three beautiful woods. I sometimes feel like this little gnome when I’m in the middle of them all. It’s just great.

You’re very fortunate that they have come your way. It seems that if you have the need and you can use them, things come to you.

RILL: Yes, it’s the universal helpers and you’ve got to give them credit. As a musician you are a translator of an ancient language, that’s very primal. It’s always coming back to you.

Brian brought by a new CD of his solo work as well as Island Earth’s produced by Don Richmond at Howlin’ Dog Studio in Alamosa, CO. He is recording the latest work with Bones in his studio here in Salida. Learn more about Brian Rill.