- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
- +
- +
- +
- Above Images: Susy Miller
- +
- PopImpressKA Journal: When you were growing up what influenced you to become the artist that you are today?
Ricky Rebel: I was heavily influenced by trailblazers like David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Prince. They were strong men not afraid to be male peacocks. I have a connection to all of them in certain ways and you can hear that in my music. Michael Jackson was the first person to sign me to his label MJJ Records under the SONY umbrella. Madonna later signed me to her label Maverick Records. When I was a kid, My parents used to blast the Beatles and Queen so I became very aware of what good music was at a young age.
- PJ: What and who inspires your fashion choices?
RR: I like to crisscross liberalism with conservatism, masculine with feminine, and strength with vulnerability. I view my Androgyny as a strength that I can use it to attract people. On my record “The New Alpha” I talk about how I use “makeup as my warpaint.” because I do not see makeup as a “girly’ thing I see it as a way to seduce and ultimately help me get to the top. The message of my record is that “The New Alpha” is someone who has mastered the art of expressing their masculinity and femininity in a balanced way.
- PJ: What is your typical day like as a creative professional?
RR: I usually wake up, check, and answer all of my emails, workout doing either Pilates or the gym, work on my music projects in my recording studio and/or video projects, work on my posts and social media which is a full time job, and manage to spend time with my man watching Family Guy or South Park at the end of the day.
- PJ: Who is your inspiration?
RR: At the moment, President Trump. For better or worse, President Trump is an Alpha with a capital A and so am I - I am just a little more fabulous. To help me create my version of “The New Alpha” I studied Trump and listened to all of his speeches. Is he perfect? No. But he gets the job done.
I wore the Trump 2020 “Keep America Great” suit (made by the genius designer Andre Soriano) at the GRAMMYS because I am a reflection of the 60 million Americans that voted for him and feel trapped in the “Trump closet.” I had to come out of the closet twice and I refuse to stay in there. Many are scared to confess that they voted for him or openly show support for him in public because they risk losing their careers, their family, friends, and maybe even get beat up or killed for it. I am not having that. We can all vote for whoever we choose to. That’s the beauty of Freedom! I will forever speak out for freedom of speech for all Americans.
+
Below Images: Graphics Metropolis
+
+
+
+
+
Above Images: Graphics Metropolis
+
- PJ: How do you think the world's technology and music will change in the future? What do you see happening?
RR: I think that we are going to see a trend in “political pop.” Taylor Swift just came out as a staunch Democrat which is great. I am happy when artists have the courage to stand up for what they believe in, as long as they are intelligent and informed. I disagree with Taylor politically speaking, but I support her. I bet her new music will reflect her politics. It has to. These are the times we are living in. Pop and politics are one. Trump has made politics very entertaining. Some people see him as the most evil, treacherous, villain straight out of a James Bond film and some people see him as Superman. It’s all very entertaining to me. Meanwhile, we have a booming economy.
- PJ: Who is your ultimate favorite superhero and why?
RR: Catwoman. She’s hot, acrobatic, cracks the whip. I wonder who that reminds me of??
- PJ: What do you consider being a successful recording artist?
RR: Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elvis Presley to name a few. Elvis probably the most. He’s had the most hits. Dynamic performer. He was a beautiful man with a beautiful voice. Loved by the world.
- PJ: What are your future projects that you are working on now?
RR: I am working on my new remix album to my song “Magic Carpet.” We signed on Grammy award-winning producers to remix my track which is available off of “The New Alpha” everywhere digital music is sold. I also made a hot video for it that I am currently editing. This is my first official release since I made worldwide news at the GRAMMYS. I want it to be special and well received.
- PJ: Where in the world would you like to perform? Which World Stage?
RR: I want to perform on the biggest stages that exist around the globe. Japan comes to mind. I have a school in Japan called the Ricky Rebel Renaissance Universal Star Academy. The program teaches students how to sing, dance, perform, speak English, etc, through studying my music and my videos. We are planning for me to go to Japan to perform and meet my new students. At the end of the day, I want to perform on all of the major cities all over the world. I love traveling and performing.
+
Below Images:
+
+
+
+
+
Above Images: Colin Angus - Life Is a Runway (Acoustic) Photoshoot
+
- PJ: If you would choose to perform with any artist out there who would it be?
RR: Kanye West. I love his tracks. I feel like we could come up with something great. He and I both had the courage to be pro-Trump in a time when it is very unpopular for artists to do so. We are both Rebels.
- PJ: What is your is your favorite time of the year, holiday, book, cuisine?
RR: I love fall. It’s not too hot, not too cold. My favorite holiday is Halloween. I love to dress up and see other people reveal who they are through their costume choices. My favorite book is the dictionary, it defines reality. My favorite cuisine is a rice dish, with a turkey patty, broccolini, and black bean cakes.
- PJ: What are your three wishes?
RR: I wish for success beyond my wildest imagination. I wish to touch, move, and inspire people and heal broken hearts and minds with my music, and I wish for long-lasting health and vitality for everyone in my life that I cherish so that we can share this life together for as long as possible.
+
