Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I’m from Scranton, PA and have been living in Boston for the past 5 years. I’ve always loved writing songs since I started playing guitar around 14 years old. I do really enjoy recording and playing shows but it’s songwriting that has made me want to do it for the rest of my life whether I’m being paid to or not I’ll always be working on something.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I’ve been listening to The smile’s new album, Greg Mendez’s new self-titled record is my probably favorite thing right now and Friendship’s new album Love the Stranger amongst other artists is what I’ve been listening to the most lately.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Rootiger’?
A: I’d probably have to go with Pearl Jam’s first 3 albums, Paul Simons Graceland and Nevermind were big for me growing up. Whatever my parents and brothers and sisters were listening to pretty much became the foundation of my music taste. One of my brothers was a big hip hop fan. My sisters loved the Dixie chicks. So, I just absorbed what my 4 siblings listened to. The name came from watching the movie “Rudy” a lot growing up which is based on this guy Rudy Ruetigger who walks onto Notre dame’s football team. The movie’s soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith always stuck with me and I liked how genre less it sounded so I just used his last name and changed the spelling.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘Mary’. Is there a story behind it?
A: “Mary” are songs written about a roughly 2 year period of time when I was still in the military but wanting pretty desperately to get out. The name is a tribute to my late Grandma Mary Dunford.
Q: What is the message of your music?
A: Hmmmm. I don’t think there’s one singular theme or message. I think my songs are pretty vulnerable to an extent. I’d like to think a song can re-frame being vulnerable as a strength and instead of a weakness so well say that’s the message.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: this EP leans more into my love for folk and Americana music so you can definitely hear that for sure. I think people might grab onto the various rhythmic feels on this record. There’re some time signature changes and just some odd percussion elements that help to create that fun driving rhythm like in “cabin” for instance. I guess I’d describe it as like left of center or kinda weird singer-songwriter music. I usually just say indie rock which fits some of my other music better.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: I feel like the process of making the music, writing it then recording and re-writing and re-recording and collaborating and everything that goes into it usually is very engaging and fulfilling to me. When you spend so much time working on the songs it can be disappointing how difficult it is to get people to listen because there’s endless great music you’re competing for people’s time and attention. but once I start working on something new I’m always reminded that I’d still do it if no one heard the songs anyway.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Usually I start out with a chord progression or riff that sounds cool to me. I write most days so I can sometimes finish a song by looking at notes and putting words to whatever music I have written. Sometimes that doesn’t work and I write the words after the music. The melody usually develops throughout the time I’m writing and recording the song. Once I have chords, words and a decent melody I usually start demoing and putting bass, drums and other tracks to create the production.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I haven’t had to endure many tough things and I’m really lucky to have had a privileged life. My last few years in the air force were definitely trying times as well as the pandemic but nothing beyond that.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Graduating from Berklee college of music was a big moment for me. I never thought I’d get in or be able to go to that school. Also, when NPR Music fire emojied one of my videos on Instagram. It’s so silly but that felt validating as a songwriter and fueled me for some time.
LISTEN TO THE ARTIST:
Follow Rootiger:
Spotify – YouTube – SoundCloud – Facebook – Instagram