Ra Ra Rasputin

It’s around 7 p.m. at Dickson Wine Bar, and the members of Ra Ra Rasputin are deciding where to sit for their interview. “We could sit in front of the bar. That’s pretty typical of us,” laughs lead singer and keyboardist, Brock Boss.

And so the bar it was.

When we first ran this story, the band was having a whirlwind year. Fresh off the release of their eponymous debut album, they were prepping for their summer performances at local venues like DC9 and the 9:30 Club. All the while, they have kept their day jobs. Yes, day jobs, all of which are real and professional.

Guitarist and bassist, Patrick Kigongo works for a liberal rights non-profit, Boss is an engineer and tester for the city’s metro and bus system, and drummer Ken Quam works for a technology company that certifies online stores.

Keyboardist and guitarist, Anna Rozzi is a middle school teacher. However, she is the only one who will be leaving her daytime gig to pursue music. “I’m actually not going to be a teacher after this year,” she said. “I’m very sad, but it’s exciting to really get myself in a creative space.”

It is an interesting dichotomy that Rozzi is balancing in her life. She admits to occasionally sleeping in her classroom after late-night shows in order to get a few hours of sleep. “It’s embarrassing, but I don’t compromise my work. I’ve brought grading to venues,” Rozzi laughs.

“I’ve brought grading to venues.”

Formed in 2007, and with a local following, Rasputin has remained unsigned and decided to self-release their album.

Naming themselves after a disco song of the same name by 1970’s group Boney M., Rasputin’s music is thoroughly electric, and maintains a vintage feel with sounds from ’80s inspired synth-pop. Boss’s deep, baritone vocals are reminiscent of perhaps (and in the best way) a bored Dave Gahan of the famed Depeche Mode.

“The main inspiration is dance music, not stereotypical dance music, but a full range of everything from Ibiza house from the late ’80s, to disco, to even just like very corny ABBA or Boney M.,” says Kigongo before he stops to correct himself and to emphatically say, “No, no, no, we enjoy that stuff, and not ironically either!”

Their first album compiles all the aspects of great dance music from which the band has drawn inspiration; and the technological aspect of their music is something that is very important to them. Their obsession with creating sound systems and using vintage technology bordered on a Jack White-like fixation, which made sense for a techno band.

Like many groups, Rasputin enjoys performing live, above all else. “There’s a really intense emotional release that comes from getting up on a stage… it’s an extension of your personality... [and] a place that’s very deep within,” Kigongo says. “Some people may look at what we’re doing as being a bit self indulgent and being self righteous, but being creative is not just something that is an internal dialogue between the four of us. It’s also about us... giv[ing] something back.”

From the MO print archive: this story first ran in The Premiere Issue of Meets Obsession Magazine. It catches Ra Ra Rasputin right after their debut album; the lineup and day jobs are as they were then.

• Words: Yohana Desta
• Photographer: Joshua Feldman