Haunted Heart was founded in July of 2017 by Raff Randazzo on drums and Steve Macleod on lead guitar. Soon after Roxane De Longo joined as lead vocalist, Jason ‘Bosko’ Shamblott as rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Ben Challot as bassist (former).
With over 100 years of combined experience amongst the band members, and extreme diversity in musical background, style and taste, and the vocals of Roxane, which are unorthodox for the genre, Haunted Heart is far from your average hard rock band. A strong influence of blues, punk, rock, hard rock and metal can be heard in their original content.
You can catch Haunted Heart touring around the GTA this summer, and their first EP is set for release Fall 2019!1.Introduce yourself and your band and tell us why we should listen to you.
Raff: Raff Randazzo. My band Haunted Heart, because it's awesome. lol
Steve: My name is Steve MacLeod. I am the guitarist and co-founder of Haunted Heart. People should listen to us so I don't slap them with a fish.
2.What do you classify your sound as, Who do you tell people you sound like?
Raff: With the extreme diversity, styles and taste, and the vocals of Roxy, which is an Orthodox to the genre. haunted heart is far from your ordinary hard rock band. strong influences of blues, punk ,rock ,and metal, can be heard in our original music.
Roxy: We are a hard rock band that is energetic and soulful.
We don’t really sound like any one. We are Unique.
Steve: Hard Rock mainly but we have many different styles of music that influence the band members that is reflected in our music. I can't think of another band we really sound like, just Haunted Heart.
3.With digital music in today's world would you vote to keep or eliminate physical media?
Raff: I believe there is still room for both.
Roxy: In some form I would like to keep it although the plastic is probably not great for the environment there is something about having your favourite album physically in your hands! I like to collect things and still have many CD’s from my youth. They are like collector’s pieces!
Steve: Keep it. I believe there is still a place for it. I buy cds at shows all the time myself and play them when driving. LPs have made a bit of a comeback as well, my daughter loves records and has an amazing collection of them.
4.What is the reason you decided to be a musician and has that reason paid off?
Raff: why else the love of music ,and of course.
Roxy: I feel I was given a gift that I want to share with the world. I want people to feel something when I sing! I love performing for crowds in bars and love feeling the crowd’s energy! I want them to forget about their troubles and just feel the music. I feel that energy every time we perform! When I see the people singing along to the songs!!! I feel the music with them! Thanks to social media and things like internet radio we already have fans from all around the world! It is so amazing watching my childhood dreams beginning to manifest at this point in my life!!! I never expected this!!
Steve: I didn't, the music chose me. A musician is not what I do (I don't make my living with it), it is what I am. Music has driven my heart and soul for as long as I can remember. It pays off every time something I've helped to create can bring enjoyment to another.
5.How do you feel about females in metal getting special attention? Do you feel it is fair?
Raff: I wasn't aware they got special attention? if it's all good attention that's fine.
Roxy: I think Females in metal should get more attention!! Lol! I am still new to this scene but from what I have seen so far I still think they deserve more attention!! There are a few Local Toronto Females in Rock like Jacqueline Lovely Perras and Deb Aruda The lead singer of Madam! I really look up to Them and they have been very supportive of me coming into this scene! They Have such powerful Voices and they are definitely Powerful Women in the Toronto Rock Scene! They defintlity Deserve a lot of credit for doing what they do!!
Steve: I grew up having an amazing musician father and step-mother who was an incredible singer. The first album I owned was Blondie - Eat to the Beat. I have always been a huge fan of a great female voice so I love hearing the ladies in music. As for 'special attention', I think everyone regardless of gender or anything else should be appreciated for the music they bring and not any other reason. Unless the female is Roxanne De Longo Campbell - then you should definitely pay extra extra attention and it's totally fair yeah.
6.In the world climate with hatred being at an all time high and metal being an “ angry” music
Do you think your music contributes to anger and hatred?
Raff: absolutely not. This question goes back many years they've been saying this. Was bullshit then, and bullshit now
Roxy: I don’t think Metal is Angry music. But I do feel Music is a way of expressing yourself and I would rather have somone express anger through music than acts of violence. To say Hatred is at an all time high is really almost feeding the hatred. I think this question is worded incorrectly and will only add to people expressing hate and anger. Why not speak of how we can change the world for the better and create music that feeds unity and awareness so instead of feeling anger we can feel Love for one another and Rock out together though Music!!
Steve: I punched the last fucker who tried to tell me metal is an angry and hateful medium. I punched him, then ripped off his head and shit down his throat. Then calmly explained to his bloody corpse that no it really isn't at all.
7.Are you opposed to religious beliefs or politics being used in music?
Raff: No
Roxy: No I believe Music is expression
Steve: I am not at all no.
8.We have dive into some pretty deep issues here do you think your music sends a message and if so what is it?
Raff: I hope it sends a message. I believe our messages it's OK to hurt, it's OK to be sad, it's OK to be mad, you don't need to be perfect. I feel everyone's reaching for some kind of perfection today, we're all under microscope's with social media and such. That we stopped seeing each other as individuals, and that we're all human that we all have cracks ,and that's what makes us great.
Roxy: I think our message is Just Be yourself and Have a Rockin Good Time!!! Come together and Rock it out y’ know!! All of us in the band are all so different but we all come together to create this really cool sound and Vibe!
Steve: Our music definitely does send a very important message. The message is 'buy our shit please so we can make more music'. Maybe more then that too idk, I don't write the lyrics.
Raff: I think in this digital age it's easier for bands today. In some ways I feel it's obviously easier to get your music out there and heard. I do believe the labels are becoming a thing of the past.
Roxy: I believe bands could make it on their own if they work hard at it and believe in themselves! And never take “No” for an answer!
Steve: It's a hard road. I don't know if there's a 'making it' anymore, you have to do it for the love and passion of music. Always do your best to entertain and give people your best.
10.Why with the thousands of options including netflix , sporting events everything on demand
Why do you think people should take the time to listen to what you have to say in your music?
Raff: I think people will listen to what we have to say, And I'll tell you why. Even with all the distractions of Netflix and such. I still believe music is our strongest force that brings us together. and heels us. Can't get that from Netflix. Lol
Roxy: Beacause We ROCK!!!
Steve: Why should people take the time to listen to us? Cause I'm liable to slap a motherfucker with a fish if they're not paying attention. Netflix and chill and slapped with a fish, is that really what you want? No, I really don't think so.
11.How do you feel about pay to play? Do you think it is fair for a band to have to pay money to play?
Raff: I think it sucks, no I don't think it's fair but looks like it's becoming the norm probably have to get used to it. if you want to play.
Roxy: No I don’t agree with this I think if they want to do it for exposure that’s fine but I don’t think Bands should Pay! I mean again I am new to this scene but I find that the weirdest thing! Just hand over money you don’t have? I don’t get it. Maybe I’m just old fashioned or something but I would rather work out a deal like percentage of door sales or something and even if you don’t make any money at least you get the experience.
Steve: Well I'm not really crazy about the idea. However, I know people who do this, a friend of mine is a promoter like this.
I love the shows this person brings in to the city. It is an opportunity to maybe share a stage with a hero of yours, and with the crowd and media attention that comes with it, if you make sure you're matched well and are playing to your target audience you can definitely pick up a lot of attention and new fans. Bands know the deal, up to them if they take it or not, nobody is forcing anyone. It's just paying for extra exposure, not really that different then paying for PR is it?
12.It is fact that you are the talent and the entertainment explain what you think is the most important key to success?
Raff: most important key to success. I would say family. The band is a family communication respect, and love each other.
Roxy: I believe it is important to be entertaining for an audience. To capture their attention- to connect with the audience. I believe in working hard and loving what you do because that is what will capture the audience. Believe in yourself and be true to yourself.
Steve: The most important key to success, for me, is to have great band mates, then the rest will take care of itself.
If you have consistency and longevity in your band and a great atmosphere with them then the creativity will flourish and people will sense that this is a band having a great time. That attitude is infectious and people will respond and enjoy that.
13.In country music and even in some cases rock music is written and performed by different people would your band perform a song written by someone else?
Raff: absolutely not!!
Roxy: We perform songs by other people all the time! I think it’s great!
Steve: Well we do covers as well so we're already playing the music of others. If someone were to write a song specifically for us to perform, as long as I like the tune yeah sure, but it’s not the same as performing your own.
14.If you are pro female in music are you pro using sex to sell your music?
Raff:
Roxy: Of course I am Pro female in music! I am pro female in all aspects of life! Lol!! Females Rock!!!
I believe that music can arouse many feelings in people I believe in being yourself and feeling sexual is a natural emotion. Music is Sexy! Especially Rock lol! It has a very primal animalistic energy and if that sells more records well then it is what it is!
Steve: Sure, use whatever works for you. I wouldn't say that we do that, we really are just focused on the music, but others can do whatever they want.
15.What is your view on the lawsuits against people saying lewd or unprofessional things to women or men and how does that affect an art described as sex drugs and rock n roll ?
Raff: I think we sue each other too much in society today. and I've always hated that description sex drugs rock 'n' roll. Really has nothing to do with the music.
Roxy: I think abuse is abuse no matter who you are. It is totally unacceptable!! And the I always thought the art of Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll was always consenting Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll! Freedom! Not Rape, Roofies and Rock and Roll wtf?!?!
Steve: I don’t like lawsuits, I don’t like people saying stupid shit, so they should all go away and the rest of us can enjoy CONSENTUAL sex drugs and rock n roll.
16. Ok lets lighten up a bit. What is your favorite band of all time and why?
Raff: I don't have a favourite band. There are many. I do have a favourite type of music. I guess it would be 80s hair metal. And I know you're going to say yeah overproduce crap LOL but there's just something about the sleaziness to it. I know that sounds bad, but I love me some Mötley Crüe.
Roxy: LOL ok good!
My Favourite Band ever is Nirvana. I just love all the lyrics and Kurts Voice. He Had the most beautiful voice. I love to Listen to The Unplugged in new York Album. Where your can feel every word he sings.
Steve: Way too many to pick one - Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and The SoapGirls are a few.
17.What would you be doing if you were not in a band?
Raff: I'd be looking for one
Roxy: Well I would Still be a busy Mom!! But I would probably be singing in the Church Choir and of course heading to The Copy Machine Jam at the Frog and Crown on Wednesday Nights!!
Steve: I am already first and foremost a family man with a wife, daughter and two step-kids. I am also an IT professional. I guess if I were not in a band I'd practice and go look for a band
18. Do you have a favorite sports team?
Raff: yes not telling you which one
Roxy: Raptors of course!! Lol We the North! We The Champs!! I love any Toronto team! The Toronto Maple Leafs! We watch a lot of Hockey at my house!! I just love getting together with friends and Cheering for your home Team!! And of Course Argentina when the World Cup is on!!
Steve: Yes - Winnipeg Blue Bombers. I grew up in Winnipeg and that the Canadian Football League team there.
Also - it's impossible to live in Toronto and not get caught up in the NBA Champions - The Toronto Raptors.
That was just an amazing time to be in this city
19.If you could get on stage with anyone dead or alive who would it be?
Raff: RJD
Roxy: Dolly Parton!! I love her so much!! Her light Just shines. She is Amazing! She is my Idol!!!
Steve: It would definitely be that new Canadian hard rock band Haunted Heart. Oh shit, and I do get on stage with them, I'm a lucky guy.
20.This is your shot to let loose, Throw down your biggest complaint about the music biz
Raff: yeah that can get me in trouble we still need a record deal so I'm gonna keep my mouth shut.
Roxy: I feel like all the music is the same!! Especially what is popular at this Time. Everyone sounds the same! Its like I’ve heard it all before you know? I think the Music Scene needs something Different!! The World needs us! The world is Ready to Rock with Haunted Heart!!!
Steve: My biggest issue with today's music business is that people rarely buy music anymore.
If everyone who listens and enjoys our latest single just went to hauntedheartband.bandcamp.com or iTunes anywhere else it's for sale and bought it then we could record a whole new CD for you
https://hauntedheartband.bandcamp.com
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/hauntedheart
https://hauntedheart.ca
https://www.facebook.com/HauntedHeartBand/
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