After an incredible 2022 which saw him deliver a wealth of rich and captivating releases, Brooklyn-based artist and producer Rochee is now looking to kick off his new year with the equally-compelling new single 'T.F.'
Bringing back more of that warm and illustrious R&B-inspired direction he is known for, 'T.F.' makes for a brilliantly shimmering listen. With his bold and alluring voice layered across a smooth and humbled production from start to finish, he is certainly looking to start 2023 with one of his most heartfelt offerings to date.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Definitely the guitar. My dad played a six-string nylon acoustic and sang/whistled almost every night before bed growing up. The sound of the guitar just makes me happy.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
R&B, classical and indie rock.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first CD I ever owned was Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and The Nutcracker Suite. It came with the CD player we bought, and I was obsessed and listened to it on repeat.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
David Bowie’s “Sound & Vision”. That or Prince’s “Raspberry Beret”.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Usually I’ll just drink some coffee, smoke a little weed and start playing. Whenever I’m trying to write a topline to a song, I turn on a mic and play NBA2k mobile on my phone and record what I hum. I feel like the more distracted I am the more I hum what I “want” to hear or what comes naturally.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Harry Styles, Lucky Daye, Joesef, Roisin Murphy, Chiiild, Q, Kid Bloom, Raye, King Princess, Khruangbin, FKJ, Jacuzzi Jefferson.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Lucky Daye or Harry Styles.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Making sounds. I just love music in any way it comes.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Getting that “foot in the door”.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Put it out and keep working. No one is “looking for you” especially at this time in the music industry. Treating your music like it’s precious just banishes it to the wasteland of the external hard drive. Too long between releases and you are irrelevant. Also you learn from hearing it as a finished product. It might not be your best release but being able to see the response from listeners will definitely help you fine-tune for the next release. Put it out and keep working.
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Rochee's new single 'T.F.' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.