INTERVIEW: Rian from Sassaprilla Magazine

 

Written by Ryan Germ

In the historic Detroit, MI hardcore/screamo scene, one of the most prevalent zines is Sassaprilla. Only beginning in January of this year, there have been 11 issues (and counting) and a multitude of shows coming up under the “Sassaprilla Presents” banner. Today I had the honor of being able to interview the person running this one woman show (and coincidentally one of my closest friends in the online hardcore community), none other than Rian from Sassaprilla herself!

Shadowtalkers: What was your first exposure to heavy music as a whole? And when did it truly click that this is your style?

Rian: Ever since I could remember I was heavily surrounded by music. My beautiful mother, whom I owe everything to for the way I am today, was a teenager in the 2000s when warped tour and all of the post-hardcore bands we know today were popping. But she wasn't just your average my chemical romance/pop punk fan, she listened to the real stuff. From local basment bands her friends played in to bigger names like The used or from autumn to ashes. She tells me stories from when I was a baby that my dad would want to put headphones on her stomach and play Mozart to help with my brain development, so she would agree, but instead of some boring classical instrumental she would play emo music. Growing up l would stay up late with my mom watching band documentaries and two-pixel music videos that desperately needed to be re-mastered. I remember when she showed me the pray for plagues (bring me the horizon) music video back when I was a wee child and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. But, l don't think the meaningful factor of it clicked until I was about ten. I won't get too much

into detail but I had a lot on my plate for a ten year old and I wasn't exactly sure how to express myself. Isolation, hurting myself, and withdrawing from reality was my medicine until one day my mom insisted I listened to the music. Actually LISTENED and FELT the words they were screaming at me, because it was so much more than that. Ever since then I have had a heavy connection to alternative music as a whole, it's been my entire life since day one.

S: What’s your favorite show you’ve ever been to?

R: This is a difficult one, as I am truly in love with every show I have been to. The energy just seeps into my bones and I get inspired by every aspect of it. But if I were to pick one, I'd have to say the midrift show with I promised the world and Insearchofbastila. I crowd surfed for the first time that night, and seeing a local band (bastila) I have gotten to know over this past year play with bigger names made my heart incredibly happy. They are some of the best people I have interacted with in the scene and deserve absolutely everything good that comes to them. ALSO I'm just a huge nerd over I promised the world... so...

S: What are your top 3 Michigan venues?

R: Obviously my first option is going to be Bellas Beatdown Bunker, that place and the people that run it/attend the shows make me feel the most at home I've ever felt. Close second would have to be edgemen, I went to my second show ever there and have been in love with its atmosphere since. My third and final one is Luisa's (if ykyk).

S: Where did the concept of Sassaprilla come from?

R: The concept of Sassaprilla is just a brainchild of my favorite things. Music, and the beauty of the 1920's. (NOT the social culture at the time, just the fashion, and how absolutely gorgeous the women are.) | started Sassaprilla at a time in my life where l was extremely unhappy and lost within myself, I had been for a while. My uselessness weighed heavy on me, and I had desperately been searching for a purpose. It didn't help the ONE thing I felt like I was meant to do, (play in a band) had failed countless times. I don't remember exactly how I thought of it, I just did, and it felt incredibly right. And if I'm being totally honest, Sassaprilla saved my life. If you know me you know I ALWAYS go on rants about how the hardcore community changed my life, but I only talk about it so much because I am so glad to have been influenced by such an amazing movement. Fun fact, the actual name "Sassaprilla" was a suggestion from one of my favorite people to walk this earth, (Azaelia of spitsaw), Because I was originally going to name it "Sarsaparilla" after the me and him call it us song, and she was like... “hey, why not just add sass so it's like sasscore!" Whitebelt sass=life!!!

S: How did you come up with your writing and interviewing style?

R: I interview the way I do because I am absolutely SO sick and fucking tried of the same five questions every single interviewer asks. Like I said previously, I grew up on old warped tour docs and band videos which meant the occasional interview would be watched. Even to this day I still do this, but I would sit and watch these interviews and be like.. "Oh my god, you are fucking BORING!" Where's the depth? Where's the HOW or WHY? Behind any questions? I'm sorry, but i don't wanna hear about how you got your band name.. I wanna know about WHY you are so connected to music. I always try my absolute best to make questions interesting or in a way, personal. Because I know bands are tired of the same old as well.

S: What’s your favorite memory from your short time booking?

R: Probably when I got frailbody on a bill back when I worked with my old booking company before I set off on my own. I never thought in a million years a band like them would even give me the time of day, but they did.. thankfully. There was also a brief moment I was in contact with free throws agent about a show.

S: Mount Rushmore of modern screamo?

R: This is so difficult to answer because there is genuinely so many amazing bands on the rise as of now, so l don't think I have the heart to pick four out of the many.

S: What’s your advice for people who want to make a zine?

R: Please please for the love of god do NOT over work yourself. It is so easy to experience burnout or lack of wanting to accomplish with doing a zine/magazine. As much as I love Sassaprilla dearly, there's constantly so much on my plate I am trying to push myself to over accomplish, and if I'm being totally honest.. I hardly give myself a break.

Prioritize your well being above anything, and don't forget why you are doing it.

S: To rip you off I’m gonna ask YOU the question, if MySpace were still around what would your profile song be?

R: Hmmm... My MySpace song would mostly likely be Cecilia and the silhouette saloon by the blood brothers.

S: How can the average Joe with a baseline interest in HC, punk, or screamo make a difference in their scene?

R: Literally just by showing up to shows. Supporting local bands, buying their merch, even taking a few minutes between sets to make friends. It doesn't take much to just simply appreciate the music, which I believe is the most important.

S: Any up and coming Michigan bands you wanna shout out for the NJ/PHL crowd reading this?

R: Michigan bands you should definitely be paying attention to are insearchofbastila, whenwordsfail, the blank, sapona, I hate my friends, lucky catch, gunfighter, and the fetal position. OH!! ALSO SILVEN!!

S: What are your plans for 2026?

R: I don't have anything specifically planned for 2026. I just hope I'm still living to my fullest, booking shows, sharing as many bands stories as I possibly can.