REGAL ROCK: THE SCARLET OPERA IS READY FOR AN ARIA
Republic’s The Scarlet Opera blends classic arena pomp rock, neon-bright ’80s pop and more than a dash of Broadway-style virtuosity into an infectious, gender-blending cocktail that its burgeoning fan base finds utterly intoxicating. Lead singer Luka Bazulka is a commanding, charismatic figure, and he’s ably assisted by a crew of superb players: guitarist Chance Taylor, keyboardist Colin Kendrick, bassist Daniel Zuker and drummer Justin Siegal. The L.A. band recently dropped its debut EP, Comedy, and recently returned to the road supporting Ava Max after a whirlwind club trek that significantly grew its following. We asked Luke and company some pointed questions, which they answered in multi-part harmony.
The band’s vision seems to be at least in part about reviving the flamboyance and fluidity of glam rock’s glory days. Is that accurate? What fueled this vision?
Yes and no. We never really set out to revive any sort of genre. The flamboyance came naturally, and today it’s not necessarily groundbreaking or shocking to see a man wear sequins—the coolest people are already hip to that, so what’s next? That’s what we’re interested in. Phenomenal music, an unforgettable live show, a true moment—raw, honest humanity on a platform stage, great realism is what we’re aiming for with our work. Giving people the opportunity to feel at home or question everything—preferably both—all in one night. Regal Rock is what we’re coining it: the glamour of everyday life paired with the mirror of reality, the good and the ugly all on display.
Having completed your first tour—and with another jaunt in the offing—what are your thoughts about the way this music connects? What kind of feedback did you get from the audience?
It’s been insane to hear the words shouted back to us on this first tour; we never really felt that before, not at that volume anyway. I think our fans really relate to the romanticism of the modern rat race of life. We had the chance to talk with so many people on the road, and the overall consensus seemed to be [that it felt like] a homecoming. It feels a bit like a family reunion out there with them, a homecoming in every new city.
When did you first feel that this band had truly found its creative chemistry? Was there an “aha” moment?
After wrapping our first writing period with David Stewart. He was our missing puzzle piece. He made sure the best of everyone was amplified. Luka was able to thrive lyrically and melodically alongside David. Chance arranged the horn charts and wrote jaw-dropping guitar solos. Danny and Justin were the foundation of every record, providing nuance and masterful grounding to the otherwise manic top line. Colin pulled off wildly complex and at times heartbreaking piano accompaniment.
Say a bit about the making of your EP, Comedy. What were some of the sonic influences, and what revelations, if any, came from its creation?
We have such a wide variety of tastes in this band, so the references were all over the place. I distinctly remember Elton John, Tina Turner, The Killers, Meat Loaf, The 1975, Led Zeppelin—or at least those are the ones we feel shone through the final record as absolute guiding lights. Anything high-energy and both lyrically whimsical and heart-wrenching.
What music first rocked your world when you were kids? When did you first know that you were going to make music of your own?
It ranges from the Eagles to Celine Dion for us. We all had the musical itch from a young age, and it took different forms. Luka started singing very early on and started writing songs for the Christian rock band he started at age 11. Daniel, also around 11, began his love affair with the bass and hasn’t looked back. Chance actually went to Berklee College of Music and composes a lot of the interludes for our live shows—a lot of people don’t know that. He really is a bit of a prodigy beyond being an insanely hot guitarist. We use his talents as often as possible.
Despite the aforementioned glam tradition and the chart dominance of acts like Queen and Elton John, rock “culture” has often been afflicted by homophobia. Is this something you’ve encountered? How have you responded to it?
Of course. Fortunately, we’re very grounded in who we are and lift each other up when the bullshit of the Internet inevitably weighs one of us down. Again, the cool people know what’s up, and those who have questioning hearts and open minds are always welcome to our shows. We are a home for anyone who is respectful. The beauty of being in a band, like a family, is that we have each other’s backs. And when you join our TSO family, we’ve got your back too.
Speaking of the cultural climate, what’s your sense of where the culture is amid these tectonic shifts in discussions of gender and sexuality?
That’s a difficult and very subjective question—of course, our experience will differ from others in our community. We think our best contribution to the current climate is to be a shelter for those who are seeking it, LGBTQ+ folk and allies alike. As for gender and sexuality, if it wasn’t already clear to our listeners, come as you are. When the world can be unforgiving, dangerous and tediously predictable, we will be a home for you to thrive as your true self—and we’ll make sure you look damn good doing it!
