Troyka interview

Troyka are a Canadian band from Edmonton, Alberta, born from the ashes of Royal Family. They split short after the release of their first self-titled album. Rob Edwards continued to write music and is now a music teacher, the other two members seem to have quit the music business.

---

“Black boots, fur hats, vodka, loud music and dancing”

Who were your major influences?

Robert Edwards: Born – Edmonton Alberta and stayed there until 1966. We left as the band ‘The Royal Family’ to play Expo 67 in Montreal. While in Edmonton, my music influences were: Wes Dakus and the Rebels, Barry Allen, (the Ventures, Fireballs who we eventually opened years later) and of course the Rolling Stones, Beatles and most rock groups of that time. My best supporters were my mother and all my music teachers such as Clarence Ploof, Garth Worthington. Later it would be Dr. Richards who managed Troyka.

Can you elaborate the formation of Troyka?

We went to play Expo 67 – The Garden of Stars as a four piece ‘The Royal Family’. The drummer, Larry Hall left just we were to play, so we hired someone else. We then went to New York as a trio… spent time recording with Teddy Randazzo then…left N.Y and became Troyka. Michael Richard switched from guitar to play drums, so jamming was necessary to tighten up as band and develop songs. I do remember long sessions and because of the band owning a studio… First 2-inch 8 track in Edmonton. We were able to record our jams. This way we could listen to find if any keepable ideas had happened.

You were influenced by your Slavic background. 

We are all from some sort of Slavic background. Some of our names were changed early for personal reasons. I’m have a gypsy ancestral past. The reason for our passion of this type of music is because it is in our blood. Black boots, fur hats, vodka, loud music and dancing, ha! Perfect.

Were you in any other bands?

Before Troyka we were The Royal Family who recorded two 45s on Apex. 1965-66 “Don’t You Even Want to Know” and “I Told a Lie” did quite well on the Edmonton radio charts.

What was the scene in Montreal?

Amazing compared to Edmonton. The American bands were coming to either play Expo or just to be there. We saw Jefferson Airplane – free on the streets, Frank Zappa’s Mother of Invention, and blues artists that were “the real deal”. Even the local bands were ahead in style, gear and musical form. We listened and adapted what we could. It was great!

In 1970 signed with Cotillion and released your debut album.

We recorded the Troyka tracks at our studio Round Sound in Edmonton. When Michael Richards got the band a contract from Cotillion they flew out Gene Paul (Les Paul’s son) to engineer and Shal Kagan (Lou Reed, Velvet Underground, Andy Warhol) to produce and take the LP photos.

My memories are blurred because so much was happening and it didn’t matter who these people were, we just wanted to play, ha! We treated the recording like a job…keep playing, everyday until we were satisfied.

How many copies were pressed and what can you tell me about the cover artwork?

Don’t know how many copies were made then, but if one surfs the net there are lots of US and overseas sites selling our record or CD. As mentioned earlier, Shel Kagan took the photos so as simple as the cover looks, it is recognizable.

Would you share your insight on the albums’ tracks?

“Introduction”
A Slavic classical guitar piece that I wrote. It has four parts of a reoccurring theme that builds each time. End of first side, intro to second side…then end of side two.

“Natural”
Michael Richards brought this idea to the table, however, the band always worked out their parts. This song is a “tongue in cheek” with the lyrics but the music is quite aggressive and I still like the guitar parts.

“Early Morning”
A light composition focusing on the mood of a “Early Morning”. This song was used by a radio station for awhile as their “wake up” call.

“Life’s OK”
A jam that was re-mixed and effects added by New York production crew. I still have the dry mono tapes and prefer the way it was meant to be…Wow!

“Burning of the Witch”
Again Michael Richards had the idea and words, then the band jammed around to finalize the arrangement of the instruments for the song.

“Ruba-Dub-Dub Troyka in A-Tub”
A song that wasn’t to be taken serious with the lyrics but still…the instruments’ arrangement was great at the time.

“Troyka Lament”
We talked about these song sections in A1.

“Troyka Solo”
See above.

“Rolling Down the Back Road”
Maybe influenced by Canned Heat, ha! But much heavier…this song was recorded in one take when the Cotillion people…Gene Paul and Shel Kagan were in our studio. They asked us to play, maybe thinking that we couldn’t so…we jammed and it was put on the LP, ha!

“Berry Picking”
Every year picking berries (Saskatoon’s, blueberries, chokecherries you name it) is a big thing and necessary for food on the prairies for farmers so that’s what our families did, but you can decide what meaning the lyrics come across to you, ha!

“Dear Margaret (Malagosia)”
I wrote this song for my future wife Margaret. It sounds like I was influenced by Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas”.

“Go East Young Man/Beautiful Eyes”
Another two jams that were “married”. Maybe under the influences of mind changing products (Cheap wine and ??, ha).

“Troyka Finale”
Please see A1.

“The idea of loud-harsh-cold and northern Slavic music really appealed to us.”

Was there a concept behind the album?

The songs were arranged so that it reflects the ups and downs of relationships, and recorded so that we could perform it live in concert as a trio. The idea of loud-harsh-cold and northern Slavic music really appealed to us. Troyka, a sled pulled by three horses was/is a great image for a rock trio. And because Troyka’s music is hard to define…it lives on.

“Troyka was also one of the first bands to play Fillmore East.”

How about gigs?

As The Royal Family we performed at the Banff Sch. of Fine Arts, the Calgary Stampede – 40 000 people, prestigious Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton. Expo 67 at the Garden of Stars and worked with Teddy Randazzo in New York.

As Troyka we opened for Canned Heat, The Byrds, Rare Earth, Blue Cheer and Mountain. We also toured with Savoy Brown and Family at major Eastern colleges. Troyka was also one of the first bands to play Fillmore East.

How did you decide to use the name “Troyka”?

As mentioned earlier Troyka refers to a sled pulled by three horses, so the name fits a power rock trio…

Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.

We were on and off the road from 1966 to 1970. I needed a break and was having relationship problems with my future wife at the time. No one suggested a “time out” so I quit. We finished opening for Blue Cheer in Detroit and as soon as I got into Canada to open for Mountain at the Electric Circus I found a replacement, Bob Styrna. I left saying no to playing the “Festival Express”. Ha! With the new guitarist, the band recorded another album that wasn’t released and soon dissolved. We went our ways and were involved in various music endeavors. But around 1998 I hooked up with Ron Lukawitski, Troyka’s bass player because of all the internet interest in the band. We then started on the project of promoting our music. We contacted Michael Richards and re-grouped, thus Troyka lives ha!

We have re-issues of our LPs and CDs and then in 2011 Troyka signed a deal with Rhino Records. There has been great reviews and stories in major publications such as Ugly Things, Record Collector and Endless Trip. We also have recorded new material and played a few major events.

Life is good.

Thank you for taking an interest in Troyka. Robert Edwards

– Klemen Breznikar