Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Richard Orofino tells us all about the music from his new EP, Forging A Hardened Outer Shell.
Richard Orofino, a singer, songwriter, and producer based out of Brooklyn, NY, has released his latest EP, Forging A Hardened Outer Shell. With over 34,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, it is clear that his work is a great sensation. We got a chance to interview him about his music production process, his inspirations, and, as it were, his love of visual media. Here’s what he had to say to us!
Our Interview With Richard Begins With A Face/Off
“I Hope So” is meant to feel to the listener like they’re been constricted and squeezed, almost like the listener is wearing another face. You’ve gone on record to say that this was inspired by the 1997 film Face/Off. What else inspired this idea?
Inspiration was mostly just the movie Face/Off (1997). It stars John Travolta and also Nicolas Cage.
For “I Hope So”, how did the idea to track the vocals a half speed and then put them to the original BPM come about? How did you get from Face/Off to that point?
Well it actually was Christian Taylor’s idea originally! We created the track together in Los Angeles. Also fun fact: Do you know where Face/Off (1997) takes place? You guessed it, Los Angeles. It does feel like a sort of chicken-and-egg scenario on which came first, but at the end of the day 1997 was way before 2022.
Richard Orofino On The Production Process
Instrumentally, “Bending” is super offbeat in the best ways. What instruments were used in this track and how were their sounds altered to fit the vibes of the track?
I used a slap bass keyboard sound. I love Seinfeld and its intro music so I wanted to try and incorporate that into one of my songs. Plus, I also used a guitar with a wobbly vibrato to make it sound all bending. Like my autoimmune disease.
“Heart Splat” is at its heart a pop song, but seems to take its tonal qualities from the 90’s grunge movement. What artists of the 1990s did you derive inspiration from to get your vocals and instrumentation just right for this song?
I think for this song I didn’t think too much about the 90s or really any decade of music in particular. I wanted to just use sounds I don’t hear too much to begin with. Most of the guitars we used were synth electric guitars played on a keyboard. Vocally I wanted it to feel like “Barbie Girl” by Aqua, but with heavily compressed slow core drum machines.
“Superstar”, much like “Bending”, is a track that shows a ton of expertise regarding your process. How long does it typically take you to workshop your songs?
I made “Superstar” fairly quickly. Probably did the whole thing in five hours or so. It felt very simple to me. I felt when writing it I knew exactly how it was supposed to be performed, recorded, and mixed. Instrumentation, etc. seemed already there in my head.
Richard Orofino On Visual Media And Future Projects
The music video for your single “Dragonslayer” appears to come with an interesting shift in visual tone. What was the process like to shoot a video like that?
The process for the video was really fun. It was a lot of work on a really hot day wearing heavy garments and chainmail fighting ghosts with a real sword. It was shot by Nicolas Bruno, a good friend of mine, and Pearl Amanda Dickson co-directed, edited, and starred in it as well. She really had the whole vision clearly set out. She’s a total badass.
“Johnnycakes” sounds as if it belongs smack-dab in the soundtrack of a poignant movie or TV scene. What TV series would you most want to have use your music?
I really love the show How It’s Made. It would be cool to have “Johnnycakes” or any songs of mine played on it. It would also be amazing to be in Face/Off. They should make a Face/Off TV show.
What is next for you? What other projects do you have going on down the line?
I’ve been playing more shows which is great. Hopefully more of that plus recording friends’ musical projects and endeavors! I love being able to be a part of any of my brilliant friends’ work.
Richard’s Music Defies Reason, And We Love It
Having “faced” our interview questions head-on, Richard’s music career seems poised to go even further. A huge thanks to Richard for allowing us to conduct this interview with him! We are looking forward to hearing any of the work that he’ll be putting into the world in the future!
You can listen to Richard Orofino’s newest EP, Forging A Hardened Outer Shell, on Spotify now!
