Interview: Breaking In A Sequence vocalist Rich Nguyen

By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications

Huntington Beach, California alternative hard rock five-member band Breaking In A Sequence—forming under the helm of 1993-2006 Korn drummer David Silveria in 2018, whom retired from music in 2022—recently released new song and music video for “Meant To Be” (TLG|ZOID va Virgin Music Group) in anticipation of their new album Inanimate, due out later this year, which follows two previous EPs—Acronym (2021) and Defy The Algorithm (2022).

Powerhouse lead vocalist Rich Nguyen, who was discovered by the band after a worldwide singer search, took time for this OOTB Interview to detail the new song, his music origins, David Silvera’s departure and finding BC, next moves and his support for local live music.

“Meant To Be” is a hard hitting song with many standout layers and transitions. The live video makes it interment. How did the song come to be, from music to lyrics and overall approach, compared to past releases?

We wrote this song the same way we write everything else.

It starts as just a jam session that we record. Then, we find the main riff on the playback and buid off it to get a feel for the flow of the song.

BC did this really cool Stewart Copeland thing for the verse and it made it just that much cooler.

Lyrically, what’s the song’s meaning and the message you hope listeners take from it?

I wrote this song about that feeling of self doubt that creeps into your head when you are having that "low" moment and second guessing yourself.

It's written as if your mind is talking to you.

When (and what was it) did you personally become interested in music and realize you wanted to pursue music?

I love writing and performing music. It's my passion.

I started playing music when I was 11-years-old and haven't stopped.

The creative process is like a puzzle to me and when a new song is done, it's that satisfaction of finishing something.

I believe in small victories and the cumulation of them makes an overall big one.

When David Silvera retired, was there any contemplation of ending the band, and how did everything come together for BC Vaught to step in?

I was ready to hang it up after David left.

We had a bunch of drummers reach out to the other guys wanting to jam, but I told the guys that the ONLY way I would continue is if they got BC Vaught to join.

David and BC (also John Otto) were the best groove drummers back in the day.

I didn't even know BC, so I thought it would be a long shot. BC hadn't played drums in 15 years, but he was a local in Orange County, California.

Joe went out on a mission and found him and bugged him for weeks to come jam with us.

He finally accepted and David gave him his blessing and some cymbals when he first joined. It was awesome.

What’s cooking right now for the band and what are the next plans through the year?

We are just releasing singles to lead up to the album release. This record has been done for a year, we are anxious to get it out for people to hear it in its entirety.

We have a few shows lined up, we also might do a short west coast run at the end of the year.

Where do you hope to see BIAS is another decade?

I hope to still be creating and performing music with these guys. But if not, I'll enjoy every second while it lasts!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Keep LIVE music alive.

Support all of your local bands, go to their shows, buy their merch, stream their music. There aren't nearly enough instrument playing live bands out there anymore.

Let's keep this artform alive as long as we can and revitalize the scene!

Watch “Meant To Be”