Gordon Roqué A few words with singer-singwriter-pianist Gordon Roqué. Leicester Bangs: Tell us a little about yourself. Gordon: I am a Filipino Asian American, and I am mostly self-taught on the piano outside of just over two years of formal training. I absolutely love writing songs and performing. More than any other time, I feel fully alive when I'm on stage. It is one of the most intimate and courageous things I do in my life. Outside of music, I am an avid reader of all kinds of books, and I love seeing other performers playing live. I am also a visual artist and poet. Currently, I am based in Nashville, TN. LB: How did you start out making music? Gordon: I spent a lot of years growing up making up melodies on my Dad's keyboard. Basically, it was a combination of setting my poetry to music and slowly discovering skills I didn't know I had. I had also sang in various choirs growing up, and so, singing came very naturally to me. My passion for music grew out of my desire to do more and learn more. I would describe my songwriting process as more experimental than anything else. I've always been interested in the fusion of different styles of music. When it comes to composing and performing, the only rules I follow are the ones I make; and there aren't very many of those, actually. These days, creating music and performing live just makes me so happy. I truly do love it. LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now? Gordon: As a child, my parents often played old vinyl records of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Abba. These artists made quite an impression on my young mind. Classically, I am enamoured of Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Chopin, and just about any Russian composer - Prokofiev, Kabalevsky, to name a few. With jazz, there's been Thelonious Monk (musically) and Chet Baker (vocally). As far as more modern and pop music is concerned, I'd say Radiohead, Counting Crows, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Otis Redding, Nina Simone, Antony and the Johnsons, Tracy Chapman, and Norah Jones have been very influential. LB: Tell us about your latest release. Gordon: I just released my first full-length album of music in December of 2008. There are twelve songs - including a hidden track - in this album that are all piano-based and all a labor of love for me. I would describe it all as a fusion of pop, classical, jazz, and a little bit of blues. Some songs lead into more specific musical directions than others, but mostly, I've taken elements from different styles and tried to subtly blend them together. "Seahorses" is a moody and dark album. With heavy themes of longing and desire, loneliness, isolation, abuse, loss, and abandonment, there are also themes of hope, self-empowerment, and forgiveness. This was never meant to be an album for the light-hearted. These songs are more emotionally-driven, heartfelt, and soul-searching. If you listen to the hidden track at the very end of the album, I think you'll understand what I mean. LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows? Gordon: Yes, as often as humanly possible. I LOVE LOVE LOVE performing live. Personally, I tend to prefer shows that offer a lot of variety. I apply this to my own performances by playing both upbeat / uptempo and slower songs. With my band, there might be very intense, almost hard-rocking, moments, and then there'll be understated, delicate, and intimate times when I just play on stage by myself. I certainly like to mix it up. I also like to try out different covers of songs from other artists. In the past, I've done covers ranging from Michael Jackson and Prince to Radiohead and Marvin Gaye. I try to create fun shows that still have a noticeable degree of depth in terms of emotional output and musical quality. I figure if people are going to pay money to see me perform, I'm going to give the best show that I can for their money's worth. LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy? Gordon: Honestly, everything. I am one of the people who like to soak everything up and learn new things all the time. I love the raw energy and the immediate impulses of being on stage in front of a live audience, but I also love the intimacy of a recording studio and the rapport I build with other musicians and my producer. These disparate entities require the use of different skill sets. As long as I get to sing and play a piano, I really am quite happy. Otherwise, perhaps what I enjoy the least would be the part about finding funding for all of the recording that I want to do. The financial constraints that come with being an independent, self-supporting artist have brought on many delays and setbacks. If anyone out there knows of viable sources of support for artists like me, I'm all ears. LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music? Gordon: Of course, my official website is always a great place to start. It is the central hub for all things Gordon Roque. You'll find the latest updates, links to all the major music sites and online retailers that sell my music, and my official online store that supports my music directly through the sale of physical copies of my album "Seahorses". Then, there's my official blog "Where Pianos Roam". I write about pianos, music, life, and all points in between. This blog also houses a funny and quirky little art project that I do on the side. Just click on "The Oreo Gallery" on the menu to find out what this is. If you'd like to hear music directly, feel free to visit my myspace music page and if you are linked into the world of twitter, you can follow me there (all links below). Otherwise, feel free to google "Gordon Roque", and you'll find all kinds of fun stuff. www.gordonroque.com www.wherepianosroam.com www.myspace.com/gordonroque www.twitter.com/gordonroque Preview Clips of Gordon Roque's CD Release Show