Music, Why Not: Hello, welcome back to our SXSW takeover here in Austin, TX. We had the pleasure of speaking with singer song writer David Rosales. In the past he has been involved in several significant projects, most notably hard-rock band Silent Treatment, the Americana duo David & Olivia, and now, his solo project. Having previously released two solo EPs: Smile, and Along the Way. His new project Brave Ones will be his debut full-length album. read on as we discuss his upbringing, LA , his start in music, and his influences.
MWN: Hello David, thank you so much for taking the time to do this. So how do you feel about being at SXSW and playing a couple of shows down here?
David Rosales: Hi, thanks for having me. I am excited to be here. SXSW is such a cool place filled with all these different types of bands. It’s really cool!
MWN: We are so excited for your new album Brave Ones which is set to be released April 27. How do you feel about the release of your new full length album?
David Rosales: Ah yes, It was a process. I am happy to release it. It was so fun to make it and I can only hope people enjoy it as much as I do.
MWN: I feel like people are really going to like because it seems like you put your heart and soul into this project. Now lets back track a little – can you tell me a little about yourself? Like where you are from? What got you into music?
David Rosales: My dad’s family is from Texas. They started in Texas. My dad’s side came from the Canary Islands. They were a part of the fifteen families that came up and settled in San Antonio.
I grew up in Southern California. I was born and raised in LA, went to school in San Diego, and live in Huntington Beach. I am very much “California.”
There are places I like to visit like Austin, Portland, and Seattle in little bits, even Chicago! You tend to like where you grew up. Like people who live in Huntington Beach, they never leave!
MWN: That is very true! I am from New Port Beach and the people there are so kind. It’s old land so yes people don’t tent to leave. The diversity is what makes it so great – people are from everywhere!
David Rosales: LA is a different beast in general. When I go out and play shows, I meet people. They’ll ask “Where did you go to high school?” and they are like “Wisconsin!” LA really is a transplant city. People have such a negative connotation with LA. Like the traffic, and that the people are assholes.
MWN: Haha, that is so true! The traffic is pretty bad but LA has so much to offer! So, what where your musical influences growing up?
David Rosales: I would say, music is rooted in my family. I am the youngest of 8. Whatever they were listening to filtered down to me, since I was way younger than everyone else. It shaped everything, the way I look at everything.
MWN: Wow, eight! You must like a little bit of everything! Did any of them have a more direct influence?
David Rosales: My brother in junior high was in a rock band. I sneaked into his room and pulled out his bass, and pretend I’m Duff from Guns & Roses. He had a lot of cassettes and CD’s so he shaped the way I listen to music.
MWN: The old fashion way. Was rock music your main influence?
David Rosales: No, my brother-in-law is into Blues. He took me to guitar center in Hollywood. I would spend all day there trying to play. I was also a sport’s kid. Baseball, football, surfing and then really got into music.
MWN: Would you say the mix of musical influences shows in your music?
David Rosales: Oh yes, people will see me and not to know what to think of me. A cowboy hat, Metallica shirt. Like, “What music do you play?”
I have all these different influences. Country, rock, blues. It’s this combo of like, LA. Everyone is different. It’s got this melting pot of different cultures and things. I do think you can be influenced by everything around.
MWN: That is so true! Well thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Don’t miss his new album Brave Ones out now!
| Interview By: Maria Limon | Exclusively for @Music, Why Not! |