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Pure sonic goodness is on the way, Oakland based band Rogue Wave are gearing up for the release of their new album ‘Delusions of Grand Fur,’ it is officially set to drop April 29th. The project is the band’s first new album in 3+ years & marks their sixth studio album. Rogue Wave recorded and produced the LP themselves. GroundSounds recently caught up with the band via email (we need to pay our phone bills) to find out about their latest project, musical inspirations and more, check out the exclusive interview below.
For those just discovering Rogue Wave can you tell us a little bit about the bands journey?
Our relationship to Journey? Funny you should ask. Pat and I have a little debate/quarrel about Kiss vs. Journey. Clearly, I am on the right side of history and prefer Journey. What is not to like? Beautiful, soaring melodies that inspire, coupled with the brilliant cascading vocals of Steve Perry and the whirling, swirling guitar theatrics of Neal Schon? I can’t believe there is really any debate on this, to be honest. Journey endures. What, sorry, did you say the band’s journey? Oh…..um. We just finished a new LP and it sounds really great on headphones. We really love making records and are currently trying to figure out how to play these songs live. It’s, uh, a journey.
Can you tell us about working on and bringing your forthcoming album ‘Delusions of Grand Fur’ to fruition?
Speaking of work, email interviews are a little silly. You see, I can’t ask you to clarify anything. What part of the process do you mean? Writing the songs? Recording everything in our studio? Deciding to self-produce? What we were listening to when we would take breaks from tracking? How long it took? What our favorite songs are? A funny little anecdote about something that sounded really shitty when we started but happened to then transform into one of our favorite songs on the LP? That this was meant to be a double LP?
What made you guys decide on the album name Delusions of Grand Fur?
Well, Bed, Bath, and Beyonce seemed too on the nose.
Can you tell us about the writing and creative process involved with the track “What Is Left To Solve?”
I wrote it on acoustic guitar and thought it was gonna sound something akin to “Africa” by Toto. But it sounded really boring and lifeless. So Pat started playing a drum machine and I picked up a synth. The living spirit ghost of Gary Numan must have stopped by because everything got dark and minimal and the song finally started to make sense. It’s still a little boring though. And I love it.
You guys will be on tour in May, what do you all enjoy most about being on the road?
The lack of sleep and overabundance of post-show hugs.
What cities are guys looking forward to checking out most?
You can’t really check out cities much when you are on tour. There’s not much time. That said, we always love being in Chicago and DC. Love playing locally in the Bay Area. Haven’t played our own show in Austin for a long time. Can’t wait to do that. I just hope it is seasonally cold. Overall, it isn’t really the city. It is whatever is in the air/water the day of the show that makes people really sweet and cool and open and ready to let go and have a great time for 1 hour and 35 minutes. Or 45.
What musicians/bands are you guys currently listening to?
UMO, Quilt, DIIV, Bill Fox, Destroyer, Vince Staples, Blank Realm, Kendrick, Stones, Eurythmics, Tame Impala, Pavement, Two Sheds, Cotton Jones, Iggy Pop, Kurt Vile, Mild High Club, Rihanna, Damien Jurado, the Nazz, XTC, Future, Sonny & the Sunsets, Pink Floyd, Black Angels, Range of Light Wilderness, Caveman, Paul Simon,Bibio, Ducktails, Twin Peaks, Warpaint, Golden Daze…..
What is it about dark indie-pop with electro elements that attract you all to this sound?
I guess…hm. Life is really dark with fleeting moments of softness and beauty. I was a child during the 80’s and some of my favorite pop music seemed to play in these zones of dark and light. I love being in a hotel in the early morning and just slowly letting a little light in from the black-out shades. It’s a good feeling.
Can you tell us about the inspiration for “Take It Slow?”
When my friend Barin used to leave me and my friend’s house in college, he would always say “Take it slow,” on his way out. I loved that. Given that everything is moving so fast these days, I try to remind myself to try to be more present. I should probably give Barin a call, too.
After the album drops, what’s net for Rogue Wave? What can fans look forward to?
I’m not supposed to say yet. But I will later in the year. It’s gonna be fun.
