top of page
  • unnamed (2)
  • unnamed (4)
  • unnamed (3)
  • Bandcamp-button-bc-circle-black (
  • unnamed (1)
  • unnamed (5)
  • unnamed

INTERVIEW: ROJAZ



Up-and-coming vocalist, DJ and producer ROJAZ shares his new EP La Noche, which includes the recent single 'Cae La Noche', which will be released on July 4th on all platforms.


On their new six-track EP, La Noche, emerging Barcelona and London talent ROJAZ takes us on a seductive journey into the night through the romantic abandon of youth, lush vocals and UKG-inspired beats.


We have had the pleasure of interviewing ROJAZ and this was the result.


Congratulations on your new EP 'La Noche'! Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind this project? 

Thank you! Of course! I wrote most of these songs at a time where I was finding joy in London and nights out again. I’d gone through a period where it felt like I’d accumulated so many bad memories that I couldn’t walk around the city at night without at least one bad memory popping into my mind. So many of these songs started as a way to take back the night if you will. ‘Doler’ is about reminding myself that the past belongs in the past, ‘Come Over’ and ‘Cae La Noche’ are about living romances in a healthier way, acknowledging that some things have a natural ending and it doesn’t have to be a big loss but rather it can be fleeting moments of joy or chapters that you look back on nostalgically. So whilst there was no initial objective of inspiration, there were always big themes of rediscovery, euphoria, and intimacy presented as lessons learnt throughout the writing process. 


How does 'La Noche' differ from your previous works, both musically and thematically? 

The two big things are the production and the elements of Spanish I’m bringing into them. Practically all songs on this EP are self-produced, which is something incredible to be able to say. Previously,  I’d taken a slightly more secondary role to the production of my songs but this time round it was me creating and developing the song alone in my room until advanced stages. Taking on a much more involved role in production has definitely brought a slightly different tint to my music and allowed me to take a more playful approach when creating. You can definitely hear a lot more of where my dance-pop and left-field electronic influences meet in this EP than previous work.


Secondly, the Spanish. With ‘Cafe’ having come out almost a year ago it's difficult to think of it as something new but this EP really is the first time I’ve given myself the space to write in Spanish and to bring that side of my writing into my songs. I’ve also crossed a stage where I no longer overthink what language I’m writing in. If it feels right to switch mid way, I do, and if it doesn’t, I don’t.


Thematically, it’s definitely shifted to a more euphoric, upbeat and joyful sound. Which I think was also a big thing I had in mind during this EP as I wanted people to be able to dance to the songs. 


How has your journey as an artist evolved since you first started making music?

The shift has really been big. When I first started writing songs it was me and a guitar or me and a piano. Thinking of the journey; from someone who used to write ballads on a piano to the way I start ideas on a laptop from my room now, is slightly crazy. I definitely credit a lot of that evolution to inspirations like James Blake, Nao, Kaytranada, and Caribou - who were some of the first artists that pulled me towards a side of electronic music I hadn’t heard much of before. Another big thing was finding a collaborator that had a very different taste to producers or writers I’d worked with before. Exchanging references in the electronic world, actively looking for left-field artists I hadn’t heard yet, and getting involved in the production process all led me to the music I make today. And going even further to the change from EP1 to EP2,  the process of learning to produce has definitely evolved my sound to what I feel is a more recognizable sonic signature.



How would you describe the journey of "La Noche" in your own words? 

Its euphoria in the city at night, its rediscovery, its dancing in a club feeling nostalgic, flirty, and ecstatic all at once.


Thematically the EP is based around the night and nostalgia, and it almost feels like you’re giving the listener a window into your exploration with the tracklist order - can you tell us a little bit about that? 

I’m so happy to hear you say that because the tracklist order was something I definitely put a lot of thought into. I wanted the listener to feel like they were going through that journey of finding joy in the city again with me too. I’ve mentioned before that a lot of these songs were written alone at late hours in the night, and maybe that’s why they feel like a collection of lessons on my way to finding joy again. I think because of that a lot of the imagery and sonic feelings just naturally associated with nostalgia and nighttime to me and I wanted the listener to be able to make some of that inner journey captured in the EP with me.


Can you walk us through your creative process for the EP? How did the songs come together from concept to completion? 

Except for ‘Cafe’, which was written in a songwriting camp in Sweden with producer Evan Klar and writer Shadi G (also an excellent artist), most were late hours solo moments. I think during this EP I usually started ideas by either working on a short drum pattern first or by playing around with arp or chord progressions on the Arturia Juno plugin. When starting an idea, I tend to put down the bare instrumental bones on loop so I can start humming or improvising some melodies or lyrical hooks that then give the song direction. On an inspired day, the improvisation would lead to my subconscious taking over for me and the lyrics almost flowing out. For many of these songs it wasn’t until a striking sentence came out of me or a full verse was written that I went ‘ah so this is what this is about’, as opposed to starting the process with a topic in mind.


I’d say this was the process for the majority of songs, a slightly blind start until my subconscious illuminated the way. I always try to put down the initial structure from start to finish in that first session. Everything else can then be worked on, refined, taken out or extended. For this EP, as it was the first time putting myself in the driving seat of production, I’d work on the songs until I thought they were at the final push stage and would then bring in my regular collaborator (Victor Ayuso), who produced my first EP with me, to give them a final polish in sound. 


'La Noche' seems to have a distinct vibe. You blend UK influences with your Spanish roots - how would you describe the overall sound and mood of this EP, and how have your roots influenced your sound? 

I think you hit the nail on the mark when you said “night and nostalgia” in one of your previous questions. If we boil down the essence of the EP, those are the two key words. If I were to expand, I’d say it’s Spanglish emotive dancefloor music. 

My roots show mainly in my melodies and the influences I mix. A lot of this EP was influenced by the music I heard in the early 2010s. At that point I was still in Spain and when it came to UK or US music, we would get a lot of Dance Hits through the radio. I think little fractions of that sound come across in some of the stylistic choices I’ve made in this EP.


I also think my Spanish influences come out often in my melodic choices, and I like to think I’ve been influenced by the spirit of freedom in creation that I’ve noticed in many current Spanish artists. I’ve been going through a period of rediscovering Spanish talent and I genuinely think some of the most exciting, unique, and fearless creatives are coming from Spain right now. Talent like Rosalia, Rusowsky, Ralphie Choo, (and others that I could name but won’t now) feel like they throw away the rules of structure and writing, constantly trying things that don’t tie them down to a genre. Whilst my music does have a clear electronic direction, creatives like them have inspired me to mix elements, to not be afraid of switching drum styles or languages midway through a song. 


Is there a particular song on 'La Noche' that you feel represents you the best as an artist? Why? 

I don’t think there is one particular song that does that. I think part of my artist signature is the different influences that come in. For that reason I’d say the EP as a whole is a better representation of me as an artist than any one particular song.


What do you hope listeners take away from 'La Noche'? 

A lot of these songs are very healing to me because of the lessons hidden in them. I’d hope that if the EP finds another nostalgic, romantic hearted person with a tendency to hold on to things longer than they should, that it can lift their spirits and hopefully help them let go of whatever they’re holding onto.


What’s next for you after the EP? Are you already working on new music or other projects?

I am indeed, even though the EP and the short movie that came with it has been a lot of work, I’ve kept writing through the process of finishing and releasing the EP. I’m hoping to be able to work on my first ROJAZ album this year. I’m also part of an electrónica duo called yuraa, and a lot of pieces are falling into place there as well. So hopefully, you’ll be hearing some more music from me soon.



For more information on ROJAZ  please visit


Comentarios


PayPal ButtonPayPal Button

© 2023 by CHROMATIC CLUB

bottom of page