Rakit

RAKIT's music shocks its listeners with an electrical chill over inventive programming mixes. The band has challenged the Los Angeles music scene with the entrancing grooves and continues to push the music industry's limits in an attempt to show that industrial music deserves more radio attention then it is getting.

Lead singer/guitarist Vinny Rakit said he still is awaiting the right moment for the music industry to gives him recognition, so his band can take its shot at the mainstream.

"The mainstream is controlled by the suits," Rakit said. "When they decide to open the door, RAKIT and others will rule the mainstream like grunge in the '90s. Modern industrial is one of very few styles left that has yet to be in the mainstream."

The band has already proved to LA music fans that the musical style belongs in that area. Since industrial music was uncommon in L.A. when RAKIT first began, it was up to Rakit and his band to carve a niche for other bands, he said.

"When RAKIT hit the scene six years ago, there were no industrial acts playing the main clubs," Rakit said. "They stuck to the underground Goth clubs. We were on our own and were stuck playing with thrash and punk bands. Since we have paved the way here in L.A., several industrial metal-type bands have come and gone."

Though the band has not achieved steady airplay, it has seen success within the industry. The band's tune, "Rage Power," was already included on the opening dance club scene of the Artisan horror film "Soul Survivors," whose stars include Eliza Dushku, Luke Wilson and Casey Affleck. Aside from RAKIT, the film's soundtrack includes Harvey Danger and the Presidents of the United States of America.

Rakit is now working on his own production company focusing on music for film and television. So, if you hear some familiar industrial background music playing in a film or show, it might just be his.

RAKIT takes advantage of the experimental opportunities industrial music allows. Industrial music, according to Rakit, goes beyond the usual musical expression, allowing him to write his songs whose lyrical themes include anger, racism, despair and love.

Singing industrial music differs from rock because of its more "affected and percussive" vocalization techniques, Rakit said. To keep his vocal chops up, Vinny Rakit sings scales and two sets of a rehearsal.

"Also, I always warm up for half an hour right before I go on stage," Rakit said.

Vinny Rakit began playing classical music, but later moved into the industrial genre.

"I began playing classical music as a kid," Rakit said. "After mastering the guitar, I moved into singing and programming. I was a bit of a loner, so I gravitated towards doing everything myself. I perform all the instruments on the RAKIT album and use great live musicians to bring it to the stage."

Rakit said industrial music was a natural progression due to his love for programming.

"By bringing the elements of heavy guitar and vocals into it only made my beats heavier," he said.

[ Website: www.rakit.net ]