Arrica Rose & the …’s is a Los Angeles-based collective playing a unique brand of California folk-pop.
Interview on November 02, 2020
By Dan Locke
Arrica Rose & the …’s most recent single Once in a Lullaby (available Oct 30th on pOprOck records) is a stunning mash-up of Over the Rainbow and classic protests songs For What it’s Worth and Ohio, with a lyrical nod to Woody Guthrie as well. Produced by Dan Garcia with Arrica Rose, the track’s dreamy soundscape features Marc Thomas (lead guitar) and Mark W. Lynn (bass) and seamlessly blends these iconic songs together into a heartfelt reimagined statement about current political times.
What is your upbringing?
I was born and raised in Southern California in the San Fernando Valley but my parents were New York transplants so the rest of my family was on the east coast.
How did you start to listen to big band music?
My parents were my introduction to big band, they had all of those records in their collection when I was growing up. The first song I was obsessed with as a kid was Sinatra’s New York New York, which my parents had a 45 of.
How did you discover music?
My dad was a singer so there wasn’t really a time music wasn’t part of my life. He was my first music teacher and I was always surrounded by music growing up.
How did you start to write music?
When I was about 10, I started writing songs. I had recently started taking piano and learning to read music, which inspired me to want to write music as well.
Describe your music
I describe it as part dream pop, part Americana, part vintage rock ‘n’ roll.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
I got my first guitar when I was 15 at a local pawn-shop. A Gibson Sonex 180 that was a birthday present my folks let me pick out. Sadly, it was stolen from a gig some years ago. I wish I had it though.
What is your guitar of choice? Make, model, and year and does it have a name?
My 2 go-to guitars are a 1973 Gibson Dove and 1995 Gibson ES135. No names for them other than Dove and 135. I also have a Fender Jazzmaster I love dearly but the Gibson’s have been with me longer.
Any words about the passing of Eddie Van Halen?
A very sad loss for music and music fans.
Tell me about your first band?
It was an all-girl punk rock trio that I started with some close friends in high school.
What was your first performance at like?
It was equal parts great time and nerve-wracking. I had performed in theater as a kid but not in a band so I remember being incredibly nervous playing for my peers but loving it nonetheless.
What makes a good songwriter?
I think dedication to always growing as a writer.
What was the title of your first original song?
Had to Go on Livin’, definitely had dramatic country song leanings, ha.
Did you record it?
I have a demo somewhere but it never wound up on a record.
Tell me about I HEART Inc.?
It’s an incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our ultimate aim is to empower independent artists and their communities by encouraging artists to use the resources at their disposal to help raise money for charitable programs and organizations through creative projects and events. The motto is a simple one: do what you can with where you are and what you’ve got.
How did you get involved with Jolie Holland Compilation Album to Benefit Post Harvey Recovery?
Howard, our publicist was circulating something about Jolie looking for artists and I got in touch and mentioned I’d love to participate as an artist and offer I HEART to help out as well. She said yes on both fronts. It was a real pleasure to be a part of her project.
You have been recording since 2008. How has music changed for you?
Actually, been recording since before, our first dots record was 2006. It’s a hard one to answer because I feel like music has always been a part of my life. Recording music though has opened up a whole new world to me and I’ve realized how much I love production as well as writing and performing.
On your Bee Gee Tragedy, I was thinking it was a very nice video. How did you get the idea of using a music box in the beginning?
Thank you. Dan Garcia (my producer) and I made that record using a lot of loops and samples and there was a music box in the song itself that inspired the music box concept.
Why did you mash-up “Video Killed the Radio Star/What a Wonderful World”?
I was driving one day and Video Killed… came on the radio and I listened to the words, really listened for the first time. Such tragic lyrics that I wanted to do it as a ballad but pair it up with something that said ‘we’re gonna be ok in the end’, hence the addition of What a Wonderful World.
Your newest video a mash-up of Over the Rainbow, For What it’s Worth, and Ohio is set on a highway. Why?
It felt like a simple appropriate backdrop for a lyric video since it seems like these days are quite a journey and we don’t know where exactly they’re taking us. But I am hopeful we’ll arrive somewhere better than here.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
I try to run when I can and not eat too much crappy food or drink too much. It can be challenging though.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I love it and I hate it. As a consumer, I love the ease and accessibility of it and as an artist, I hate that it’s so much harder to monetize my work. As an artist, I also do love that sometimes people who normally wouldn’t find me can but I do wish royalties for an indie artist were a better living wage.
How can people forget about the origin hashtag # Sharp in a musical score?
I don’t think musicians will ever forget. J
Digital vs. vinyl?
I listen to both. But desert island choice – vinyl.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
I hope that it means real change for the better is around the bend, we need change desperately.
What is the mental health situation of the United State? How can the public help the doctors and nurses on the front line?
I don’t think it’s particularly good, especially in times like these, and I think we need more accessibility to affordable mental healthcare and healthcare in general.
I think we as the public have to do our part to be safe and not overload those on the frontlines during these times.
Do you think kids should go back to school?
I think we need to figure out consistent protocols that make it safe first.
In Canada, they just released a new Covid-19 vaccine for school child which get rid of the invasive nasal swab and instead ask kids to gargle and spit. Now, this is for children only. Should, this also be given to adults?
I think the future probably will lie in simple tests like these, not just for children.
Studies are showing that because of COVID-19 many students who were ready for college have decide to hold off because many schools are doing virtual school and changing the same amount for school as they would for on campus classes. Do you think the colleges should give some type of discount to these students?
I do think virtual school should be discounted.
What song from the past is in your mind right now?
Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson. We heard it in the car on our road trip down to L.A.
Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
It reminds me of being a kid growing up in the Valley, because my parents listened to that song often.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I’m scared as to what comes next for music due to Covid-19. Live shows and touring are definitely on pause and I think will be affected for some time to come and I think it will become even harder to monetize music than already is but I’m sure new avenue will arise as well.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’ve been working on a writing project (screenwriting) and getting ready to produce an EP for another artist. I’ve also been working on an upcoming I HEART event that will be at Golden Bull (a local Oakland music venue), a live stream fundraiser to help small music venues survive these times.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I discovered I like to Macrame!
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
I don’t have one. It depends on the show for me. I have no allegiance to a platform really. I just have to make sure I don’t watch too much TV these days – there’s so much out there.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
I think we are ready for something new, something other than Facebook, so I’m hopeful this can be a catalyst for new platforms to really take hold
.
In addition. From October 24 onwards, you can no longer simply paste your links in WordPress to make your Facebook and Instagram content appear on your site. Will this affect how bands use Facebook?
I think Facebook hasn’t been that artist-friendly in a while, so again I hope another platform swoops in and picks up the slack.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?
Interacting online seems to be the only option these days. Online shows may very well be the future.
Is pay to play still a thing?
I think it is. In many ways’ artists are still having to pay to reach fans. It’s evolved and has many different faces, but I think it’s very much still in existence.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Sounds crazy and very probable. J
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Screenwriting. I went to film school for college so probably anything in the world of film would be fair game.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Love to give mention my new cover song mash-up Once in a Lullaby (Over the Rainbow / For What it’s Worth / Ohio), streaming on any one of your favorite music platforms.
And thank you for your thoughtful questions!
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