Girl at the Rock Shows

I’m feeling particularly tired this morning. I don’t know why. My show last night didn’t go super late or anything like that. I feel like a got a good night’s sleep. Maybe I got too much of it. I don’t know. All I know is that I’m dragging but Rockkut’s new single, “Russian Roulette” is breathing the life back into me.

This is an explosive song. The kind that catches your attention right away and keeps you engaged throughout the track. It’s a mix of a little bit of everything from grunge to punk, metal to alt-rock. This Canadian band had me hooked, line and sinker so I jumped at the opportunity to get to know the members of this band a bit more through a little interview.

If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you escape?
Regan Schneider: Riot by Three Days Grace, just makes you wanna go FAST
Brett Jones: Through the Fire and the Flames by Dragonforce or Two Minutes to Midnight by Iron Maiden
Chris Thorimbert: Demon Dance or Rage Absolute by Annihilator
Mike Dubois: Paranoid black sabbath

Everyone says that every crowd is their favorite but what city has the best audience and why is it Minneapolis?
Regan Schneider – “I’ve only had the chance to visit Minneapolis as a kid; I would love to go back though! Best scene I’ve played so far is Winnipeg. The energy and love for original music are felt by all the musicians who take the stage at The Osborne Taphouse! We will be back there, July 18th for The Pegcity Soundoff Summerfest!!
Brett Jones: Winnipeg Crowd was energetic, never been to Minneapolis cough cough
Chris Thorimbert: Never been to Minneapolis but I’ve heard Cleveland rocks
Mike Dubois: I have never been before

How would you describe your music to your parents?
Regan Schneider: LOUD and in your face with powerful vocals to drive it all home!
Brett Jones: Hard Rock with hints of Pop punk and Iron Maiden mixed in.
Chris Thorimbert: classic rock, hair rock and metal, in the blender on puree
Mike Dubois: hard and fast Northern rock

What’s the most awkward date you’ve ever been on?
Regan Schneider: I was out for dinner at Mongo’s grill, when a small child started spanking the butt of the guy I was with in line….. no reason just started wailing on the poor guy!
Brett Jones: Had my girlfriend in high school come to my Curling provincials and we treated it as a date, but it was in front of the curling teams and teachers.
Chris Thorimbert: Was at a restaurant and she broke down because I refused to stop co-parenting
Mike Dubois: took a first date out and she ordered steak and lobster we ate and as soon as I was done eating I told her I had to use the bathroom and left

If you could compare yourself to a sea creature, what one would it be and why?
Regan Schneider: A puffer fish! What can I say? A girl is DRAMATIC
Brett Jones: As a kid I always wanted to be a tiger shark, I would still be a tiger shark just for the fact they are indiscriminate in what they hunt and eat. Basically, a giant F you animal.
Chris Thorimbert: Humpback Whale. They actively interfere with killer whale hunts and I’m protective of those around me
Mike Dubois: Killer whale so I could chase sharks and seals

Favorite lyrics of all time?
Regan Schneider: “What might be good for your heart,
Might not be good for my head – Gethsemane by Sleep Token. This whole song really resonates with me but that line I think a lot of people can relate to what it feels like choosing yourself and how hard that can be to do that in the moment.
Brett Jones: Basically, all the lyrics from Crossroads by Avenged Sevenfold is one of my top.
Chris Thorimbert: “You gotta kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight” Bruce Cockburn
Mike Dubois: lyrics to war pigs

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Regan Schneider: Megadeth!
Brett Jones: Iron Maiden (2019’s Legacy of the Beast Tour}
Chris Thorimbert: Would have to be I Mother Earth at Rockin the Fields of Minnedosa last year.
Mike Dubois: Black sabbath reunion tour 1999

What’s your favorite sport to watch (live or on TV) and why?
Regan Schneider: I’m not huge sports fan to be honest but I do enjoy watching my boyfriend play hockey from the stands, cheering him on while he gets peppered by pucks!
Brett Jones: Hockey, I have been playing and watching my whole life. It is basically ingrained in my blood.
Chris Thorimbert: Wrestling. lost some allure once I did it for a few years
Mike Dubois: Montreal Canadians hockey

If you could have dinner with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Regan Schneider: Stevie Nicks for sure, she just has a beautiful mind and has done so much and experienced the ups and downs. To be able to pick her brain would be an unforgettable experience.
Brett Jones: Alive it would have to be Alice Cooper; dead would have to be Dio. Alice because he was my childhood artist growing up and Dio because I never got the chance to see him before he passed and would love to pick the brain of that legend.
Chris Thorimbert: Dave Grohl. To pick his brain would be a learning tree moment
Mike Dubois: Taylor Hawkins, or Bill Ward

What’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to and why?
Regan Schneider: Luke Combs in Saskatoon. Now before everyone hates me the music was great! But it was impossible to get a beer, and I had stitches in my leg from an accident at work, so it was a very sober and sore few hours.
Brett Jones: Five Finger Death Punch, the openers were okay but there was hardly anyone in the hockey arena and the drums were mixed terribly to the point you couldn’t hear the cymbals over the music, and it just sounded like bass guitar with no mids or highs. Also, it was right around the time they started going way to mainstream and Ivan Moody basically spent an hour and a half shooting down all those who said they weren’t good anymore. It was just awkward.
Chris Thorimbert: I’ve only been to a handful of large-scale concerts, and they were all pretty good, except when Down opened with Megadeth for the Heaven and Hell tour…it was underwhelming
Mike Dubois: Our lady Peace

Regardless of where you live, things are pretty insane on this planet right now. What do you do/ where do you go to take a breather?
Regan Schneider: There is honestly nothing better for the soul than to just blast some tunes and go for a drive alone. I do my best reflecting alone in the truck.
Brett Jones: Out to the lake either to fish, hunt, or work on music.
Chris Thorimbert: To my studio or chill with my kids
Mike Dubois: Time with my Kids/ Fish/sled/Music

What’s your favorite method of listening to music?
Regan Schneider: I am a sucker for a good vinyl! I started collecting back in 2020, the collection is small but ever growing!
Brett Jones: Bluetooth through the car but have been getting big into vinyl.
Chris Thorimbert: Mp3 Bluetooth everything and lose myself
Mike Dubois: MP3/Cd

What’s one thing I should know before listening to “Russian Roulette”?
Regan Schneider: Russian Roulette is an anthem for every girl out there going through a breakup who’s finally had enough of being treated badly. It’s powerful for a reason. Those sustained, drawn-out notes at the end of the chorus’s symbolize releasing all that built-up anger and frustration, letting it pour out unapologetically to the world.
Brett Jones: Think that you are in a bad breakup, but you aren’t taking it lying down. Now imagine you kidnapping that person and basically telling them it’s payback time. It’s a Girl Power Anthem and it rocks.
Chris Thorimbert: “Don’t you wish you never met me”? says it all
Mike Dubois: The Ultimate fuck you and goodbye to toxic relationships

Who did the cover art for this single and how did you come up with the design?
Regan Schneider: I created the artwork myself! In this design I really wanted to incorporate our mascot ‘Rocky’ who was originally created by local artist Tim Dubreuil of Dirtbag Kustoms. I love the idea of him growing with us as we release music so no version of ‘Rocky’ will ever be the same!
Brett Jones: Our lead singer to inspiration from our original design done by a local airbrush artist
Chris Thorimbert: Regs got loose and made a thing…
Mike Dubois: I left it up to Regan

I ask specifically because the artwork feels so dark and intense, but the single has a bit more melody than one would think given that cover art. Was this an active choice or did it just kind of happen?
Regan Schneider: The style is definitely intense, but that intensity carries over into the music leaning into the darker side.
Brett Jones: We are taking inspiration from the Eddies from Iron Maiden and having our character do all the different inspirations or scenes. Depending on what the single is about or what the album may be about.
Chris Thorimbert: It makes me feel like there is always some darkness in beauty. When someone takes back their life you may see a smile, but there is always a demon that needed to be released to bring back that smile.
Mike Dubois: Our art reflects all of our music and Russian Roulette is only one of our many tunes

I’m getting a little grunge, a little hard rock, and a little alt-rock in here. Really, it’s all over the place. Was there one major influence you had musically when it came to writing this single?
Regan Schneider: I wanted a song that carried its message with real impact. Something that hits hard for those who have shared the same experience. I planned on building it slowly, until the chorus finally explodes, capturing that raw vulnerability.
Brett Jones: This song was more about showcasing our singer. We all have our parts here and there, but it was built for her to shine. I honestly don’t know where the inspiration comes from for it cause if it needed a kazoo in it, we would have put one in. If I were to nail it close to something I’d say we were after Halestorm.
Chris Thorimbert: We were sitting around one day and had the song come together in about 20 minutes, almost the way it is now.
Mike Dubois: I think it’s a combination of all of our influences
What came first, the lyrics of the music?
Regan Schneider: The lyrics came first! While sitting at my desk at work a line popped into my head “You’re love was a loaded gun, with lies in the chamber”. 20 minutes later, Russian Roulette was born. After work, I rushed to my lead guitarist with the idea, and he brought to life what had been nothing more than a few scribbled words on a piece of paper.
Brett Jones: The line your love is a loaded gun with lies in the chamber. It was guitar after that and 20 minutes later an entire song.
Chris Thorimbert: Lyrics came first. Or was it music that drove her lyrics?
Mike Dubois: after listing to the music of Russian Roulette, I knew it needed soft and heavy parts like telling a story with whispering and shouting

Is there one particular line of lyrics in this song that you like more than the rest?
Regan Schneider: The first lyrics that came into my mind will always be my favourite! “You’re love was a loaded gun, with lies in the chamber”.
Brett Jones: I personally love the spoken, don’t you wish you never met me.
Chris Thorimbert: I’m with Brett on this one
Mike Dubois: Pull the trigger and smile

If a nu-metal band were to cover this song, what band would you hope it is?
Regan Schneider: My soul would honestly leave my body if Spiritbox or Evanescence covered my song
Brett Jones: Well, I would choose either Linkin Park, or Disturbed because that is basically all the Nu-metal I know.
Chris Thorimbert: Don’t know about Nu-metal but I think Halestorm could pull off a decent cover of it
Mike Dubois: Slayer

I see you covered “Once Upon a December” in the past. How much would it take you to cover the entire soundtrack of Anastasia?
Regan Schneider: When can we start?! 😉
Brett Jones: I would be down for anything; you don’t have to pull my leg to hard if we can make it sound right!
Chris Thorimbert: I had a blast producing it. Sure!
Mike Dubois: Don’t threaten me with a good time

This is your first single since your self-titled album came out in 2024. Is it safe to assume that this is the beginning of many new releases and maybe even a new album?
Regan Schneider: Much more to come! We are just getting the ball rolling again after the loss of our studio to the 2025 wildfires. It was a hard hit but working with Studio 23 and Dale McIntyre has been an absolute dream!
Brett Jones: Absolutely, we want to get another album out and get some of these songs we have sitting in limbo out. We are writing faster than we can learn them, so we need to push and get these songs out!
Chris Thorimbert: Oh boy do we have some good stuff coming. If you keep listening, we’ll keep writing
Mike Dubois: Stay Tuned we are working Hard to get our next batch of music out for listening pleasure

Is there anything else you want everyone to know about you, Rockkut, “Russian Roulette” or anything else?
Regan Schneider: We’re five musicians from a small town with one goal; to make ourselves heard! Our motto? Unapologetically Loud! Every song we release carries pieces of our hearts and souls. In a world that feels crazier by the day, seeking solace in creativity has never been more important. Music is our escape, our therapy, and our way of making sense of it all. If I can leave you with anything it’s this: never be ashamed of what makes you who you are. One day, you’ll find the people who love the weird side of you just as much as you do and will embrace you for it. Until then, crank up the weird dial! Let em talk!
Brett Jones: We are a band from Northern Manitoba and we hit hard. We have all styles of original music, and we don’t want to be completely tied down to one sound. If it sounds good, it’ll be a song whether it is kind of country or death metal. Go check out our new single Russian Roulette and while you are checking that out, listen to the rest of our repertoire. It is good music with a good story or a good meaning behind it and it needs to be heard!
Chris Thorimbert: We’re fans of music and lucky enough to be musicians for fans.
Mike Dubois: we are available for a north American tour anytime and we are excited to get your ears listing to northern rock

You heard it here first, folks, Rockkutis ready and available for a North American tour. Who can make that happen? This “unapologetically loud” rock band seems to just be getting started and I can’t wait to see what comes next for them. Maybe it’ll be a cover of the full Anastasia soundtrack or maybe it will be a huge tour, either way, join me on this ride and keep your eyes (and ears) on this band!

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