The Life+Times Of Ra Ra Riot

Life+Times: What’s the most significant thing you have learned from your bandmates creatively or even personally?
RZ: When we first started this band, being a classical musician, it would have only been about interpreting other people’s music. There’s never this drive to create something new. So the idea of creating something was foreign to me. I think socially, just trying to be more self-aware. We do get along so well, but being in such close quarters you sort of have to learn to be even more considerate and self-aware and more sensitive to how you make others feel and how they make you feel.
WM: I guess I’d say creatively I’ve gotten a lot better at knowing when to let go of something and knowing when to keep control of something. If you know what you want, then there’s no sense in giving it away. There’s definitely times when you need input or other people’s ideas. I think we’ve all gotten a lot better about that – when to support and when to direct.