Having spent the last few years releasing a wave of smooth and enticing lo-fi offerings, LA-based producer and songwriter Richey Rose is back to unveil his latest album 'LAX'.
Featuring a batch of soft yet inspiring compositions, 'LAX' sees the artist deliver one of his most confident releases to date. Filled with sweeping tones, rich instrumentation, and a solid gift for captivating hooks, this new collection sees him in a wonderfully effortless demeanour, capturing imaginative intentions at every turn.
So with the new full-length out and about, we sat down with him to discuss his background and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
A Peavey Raptor my dad gave to me when I was 9 years old, though it wasn’t until I was 13 that I started to fall in love with it. It was my first guitar and I played it in a pop-punk band I had in high school.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
The joy of creating something from nothing, and being able to say something musically that I otherwise couldn’t and/or wouldn’t. But if we’re talking specifics, my time spent in NYC as a whole.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
When I was 13 I loved Korn, Limp Bizkit, Marilyn Manson, and Blink-182. Basically just the perceivably “alternative” stuff that would be on MTV at the time. I found the local punk scene in my hometown soon after that, and they got me into bands like Ramones, Pistols, NOFX and Rancid. A bit later I was really into Saddle Creek bands, like Cursive, the Faint, Rilo Kiley and Azure Ray. I also had a Pavement phase at one point. But the real a-ha moment was when I heard Joy Division and the Smiths for the first time when I was 17. They were the most serious diversions in my musical path at the time.
What inspires you to make music?
An inherent need to be creative.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’m obsessed with the duo Prospa, from Leeds. They’re definitely going to be my most listened to artist of 2020.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
Like 95% of them.
What has been the most unusual moment in your career so far?
Having Martin Gore watch my band’s set once in 2015.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Johnny Marr.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
Commercial pilot.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
“You wanna play the guitar? Play the fucking guitar!” - Stacy Stray, Toronto, Canada, 2008.
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Richey Rose's new album 'LAX' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in full via the player below.