Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: My musical story began at 12 years old in Portugal, playing on an improvised drum set made of cans, then I became a drummer, and ever since then, I have made composition the center of my life. At 13, I picked up the guitar and started writing my first songs, then I learned to play keyboards and bass. By 15, I moved to Honduras, and start my own band and performed on stages of various sizes, at 17 a record my first vinyl single.
Since then, music has never left my side. Living in Europe at that time my influences were all the music coming from the UK.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “ROD SHAKE”?
A: I’m presenting my new album “FREE” (album number 12 of my career), with new videos, media, performing and sharing around the world.
I am a songwriter who plays all real instruments live, sings and does backing vocals, and mixes and masters all my songs (basically I do everything that you hear). This is something hard to find these days.
My goals are to keep being a real musician, with songs and lyrics that tell you stories, to encourage people to slow down and take your time to listen and connect with music.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: At this moment, I can name a few like: Jamiroquai, Men I Trust, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa…
I find inspiration in every minute all my life, songs can come at any moment, so I am always recording ideas (made more then 300 songs)
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “HOW TO BE ME.”?
A: It’s a story of empowerment, a wake-up call to a society that judges and doesn’t respect the fact that we are all individuals and that we have the right to be respected and valued as people, and for what we want to be or do in this world.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Is a easy pop music using real old instruments with no autotune.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “HOW TO BE ME”?
A: Recording and producing is always a challenge, but It’s the most fun and creative stage, not knowing exactly where a song is going to end up while I’m making the arrangements for each instrument. I feel really happy about the final mix of HOW TO BE ME.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: My message is always possitive, you will find songs that talks about: believing in yourself, to realice that time is now, to dance, to laught, to find reasos, to make it real, to be a fighter, that all the times are always good.
My goals are to share my songs and even if just one person benefits from it, gets good energy, it was worth it.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I will say contemporary artists: Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Harry Styles and Billie Eilish.
From other musicians: Phil Collins, Chic, Roger Hodgson and Madonna.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Never stop trying !! I will keep writting songs until my last day, cause it makes my life happier, more energetic, it de-stresses me, and at the end of the day it puts a smile on my face.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: I will say: always believe in your music, as you go along the path, you will keep learning, but the path is more important than the destination
