Better Days gets great reviews. Rick Hromadka has managed to write and record 10 fantastic songs.

Sweet Sweet Music spoke to Rick about a writing spurt, writing autobiographically, and being honest about it, and practicing karate on a stage.

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How did this record come together?

I was going through a writing spurt, as one does from time to time, and some of the songs went to my main band Maple Mars and others were just not right for that sound so I decided to release a solo album.

What was the moment when you knew you were on something?

After the very first song, Better Days, was completed. I felt like that song was the blueprint for the rest of the album. I also felt like I had something after the first recording session with drummer Eric Skodis. I realized bringing in other talented musicians would be a really fun and interesting process.

As an artist, you choose to show your emotions to the world. Is it always comfortable to do so?

Of course not! The hardest thing is writing autobiographically and being honest about it. You have to measure just how much you want to share. It’s like letting somebody take a peek at your diary.

When was the last time you thought “I just wrote a hit!”?

Searchlight and The Ever After from my new album Better Days gave me that feeling. Both have a very nostalgic feel to me.

Recording music. What’s all the fun about?

For me, recording music is almost an extension of writing it. It’s taking the song you’ve written on your guitar or piano to the next level. It’s taking that little piece of art you created in your head and committing it to a viable statement that can last for years.

What’s the gig you’ll always remember? And why?

It was probably playing the annual Elvis Birthday Show at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. That show would sell out every year with a variety of artists playing it. My band at that time was Double Naught Spies and we were in the middle of playing Viva Las Vegas. We went into a rhythmic break and my rhythm guitarist grabbed a piece of balsa wood, which to the audience looked like a thick board. I slung my guitar around behind my back and proceeded to copy Elvis‘s karate moves at which point I then karate punched the wood into pieces that shattered all over the people standing right at the front of the stage. The crowds went absolutely wild and we felt like big stars!