According to a recent press release: "Los Angeles, California Independent Heavy Active Rock Band VYCES premiered the video for their latest single “Nocturnal” featuring Carla Harvey of Butch Babies on Bravewords.com today! “Nocturnal” was released to all digital media outlets on June 6th and will be on their next EP titled ‘Angels’ due out Fall of 2017. The debut single is currently impacting radio with early adds already in at WIIL, KHTQ, KFRQ, and Music Choice. In support of the release the band has added additional dates with bands Shallow Side and Dead Horse Trauma." We get drummer Russell Ray to answer our 10 Quick Ones about the new release, their influences, and more...

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

This song has more of a hopeful message. Which our material before did not. "Nocturnal" is more about being in the dark and coming out of it on your own. Any one can try to help you, but you are the one who finds a way out through a change in the way you think about things. There is always hope.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Motley Crue! This was the first band that I discovered on my own. I somehow talked my mom into taking me to see them when I was 10. It was my first concert and when they opened with "Kickstart My Heart" the energy in the arena exploded, and instantly I knew what I wanted to do. I was baptized into Rock and Roll that night. On the way out I told my mom that this is wanted do with my life. And here we are hahahaha.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

We all come from different musical backgrounds, and different influences however I would say Pantera, Killswitch Engage, Breaking Benjamin, Slipknot, and Nine Inch Nails. Those are my top 5 for sure.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

I would say Joe Cotel from DED. This band is one of my newest favorites, and I love his voice. Very powerful.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Dark, Heavy, Rocking, Healing, and Honest.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Playing on stage with my brothers in VYCES and feeling the live experience with the fans. It’s great to see people getting into what we have created. It feels really good to be getting the response that we have gotten, and we look forward to keep trucking along.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Cooks? Hahaha currently we eat as best as we can. We are on the run constantly. So not cooking these days. As far as the drinks go we all manage to find those Hahahaha. But we are focused on the show first, and then go kick it with everyone. I would say Shawn is the first to grab the acoustic. He is such a brilliant guitarist and we are currently working out acoustic versions for a few of our songs for radio performances, and I am really looking forward to playing them in that format.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

A script writer. I am actually working on a few projects that I look forward to exploring in the future. But VYCES is always my first love.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

Everything that I have experienced has been a learning lesson and I keep them all in mind as I make decisions going forward. But I take them all because it’s all part of my life experience and growth. I would do everything the same because it has all lead me right here right now.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

It would be Pantera’s Vulgar Display of Power. That record changed my life, my playing style, and to this day it still echoes within me. It was the first time I ever heard something that powerful and lyrically that album really spoke to me and gave me a purpose to stand up and feel good about myself. I recommend that album to the world for sure.

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