Interview w/ Roseway
If you are not a fan of hardcore because “it all sounds the same”, then you are primed for indefensible captivation at the hands of Portland based Roseway. Roseway is definitively heavy but the descriptor basically ends there as they skillfully blend screaming with singing, riffs with breakdowns, and beauty with brutality. Be prepared as you may not know whether to karate chop your mosh pit friend or just give him a hug – and why should you have to decide between the two? Roseway is working hard to produce a quality sound that by nature is undefined but will serve to gather all to their feet, I am enjoying their efforts and look forward to seeing them live soon. Our thanks to Nick of Roseway for taking the time to conduct a Myspace interview.
See Roseway @ Treehouse (Eugene, OR) on July 18th before they set out in late July and into August on the Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough Tour – launching in Vancouver on July 30th venturing South into California and back up through Vegas, Utah, Idaho and back into Oregon. See them also with Hurdcore favorites 66 Love Letters on July 22nd @ Satyricon (Portland, OR) and September 4th @ Life Church (Aloha, OR).
HC What inspired the name of your band? How did your band come together?
RW The name is inspired by where we live, Portland. Our current lineup has only been together a few months, but the band originally started on New Year’s Day of 2008, with Eric (vocals) and Andrew (guitar) as the remaining members from the original lineup. Nick (bass) and Jared (drums) joined the band in September/October 2008, and Johnie (guitar) shortly thereafter in March 2009.
HC How would you describe your musical style?
RW Since we started, Roseway’s style has always been about tastefully and effectively combining contrasting musical styles. We all come from various musical backgrounds, and we have all contributed to making our sound as versatile as it is. Our sound can be loosely described as a mix of catchy hooks/choruses, heavy breakdowns, atmospheric effects, and intense, inspiring vocals.
HC What is unique about your band? What makes your band/sound different from other offerings?
RW We have always taken a sense of esteem in our sound/style combining hard and soft guitars, slow and fast beats, singing, screaming, chanting and yelling vocals, and the hooks that are our flagship sounds. We feel that, with our versatility and unique ability to combine sounds, we can effectively bring together the hardcore kids, the indie kids, the metal kids, the straight-up rockers, and everyone in between.
HC You are currently based out of Portland, Oregon, are you all natives? What do you enjoy most about the local scene?
RW We are all natives of Portland, OR…except for Johnie — he’s originally from Monmouth (Salem area). The Portland scene is ripe with musicians striving to make the next step in bringing music to bigger markets and showing that Portland still has some hardcore in them! Also, the Portland area teems with kids thirsty for more music filled with God’s Word.
HC Being a Christian hardcore band, have you found local churches to be supportive of your efforts? Do you view yourselves as missionaries? What has been the overall response to the relationship between your talents and the sharing of your message?
RW Surprisingly, there are more and more churches who are supporting the small-time Christian bands who have a heavier sound. Since our end of the musical spectrum used to be contained in the underground, yet has been emerging to the surface and the mainstream over the past several years, we have found that the support from churches and Christian organizations has been very much on the rise.
HC Where can those interested best connect with you to find out about news, releases and tours?
RW Myspace, of course!!! myspace.com/rosewaymusic
HC Where are you currently grabbing inspiration and/or frustration from and how has this been affecting your music?
RW Struggles come and go, as with everyone, and we draw our inspiration from many different sources. Often times, the hardships we experience in our personal lives greatly affect the writing process. Everything from relationships gone sour to friendships ending in betrayal to the hope and joy God’s mercy and grace gives us after going through those things — are what makes our lyrics so inspiring and heartfelt.
HC What have been some of the most important lessons for you as aspiring-artists?
RW There have definitely been some ups and downs for us as an aspiring band moving forward in the music industry — and one of the biggest ups is how greatly the power of prayer and faithfulness in our daily lives can affect how God blesses us as a band.
HC Are there any favorite/funny/scary memories from recent tours that you’d like to share?
RW During our short tour through northern Washington in between Christmas ’08 and New Year’s Day ’09, we stopped in Bremerton, WA for a show on the day after Christmas. It was a half-bar, half-all-ages venue, and someone had pulled a prank on one of the members in one of the other bands we played with that night — Eric went into the bathroom after we played our set, just to stumble into a big, sticky pool of fake blood. He freaked out, ran out of the bathroom, and was like “oh my gosh, there’s a huge pool of blood in the men’s room!” He was so flustered, he nearly locked the keys to our van inside the van…but luckily, we found them in Nick’s pocket!
HC Any words of encouragement for aspiring bands?
RW If you make God the center of everything you do and say as a band, He will continue to bless you and look after you!