RADAR: New Rock City
Meet Olga Rossano and Kick, two talented musicians and the core of the electrifying New Rock City band based in New York City. As versatile artists, Rossano and Kick contribute to the band's signature sound, seamlessly blending rock elements to create a sonic experience that resonates with audiences. With roots deeply embedded in the vibrant music scene of New York City, both of them bring a fresh and dynamic energy to the stage. Their latest single, “Rollin,” showcases New Rock City's musical prowess, offering listeners a glimpse into the band's evolving musical journey. As a singer/songwriter, Rossano plays a pivotal role in shaping the band's distinctive style, fusing raw passion with refined artistry. Her contributions enrich the collective musical narrative of New Rock City, establishing them as a force to be reckoned with in the New York City music scene and beyond. Keep an eye on New Rock City as they continue to carve out a unique space in the world of rock music, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
Tell us about the inspiration behind your band, New Rock City, and how it came to be.
The formation of the band came under the most random circumstances. Back in 2010, I arrived in New York City to start an exciting collaboration with Rolling Stone Magazine. I spent the whole summer writing a blog about the city and got immersed in its vibrant everyday life. I went to events, clubs, art galleries and many concerts. One day I went to the Jones Beach amphitheater to see a show and there I was, trying to get a taxi to get me back to Manhattan. When I finally got one, a guy approached my cab a few minutes later asking for a ride, and he got in. That’s how I met Kick, the other half of what became this musical collaboration that we called New Rock City. We immediately connected and shared the whole trip back to uptown Manhattan talking about music. We were two strangers in the big city. He was already living here. I came only to spend three months. From that moment until the end of my stay in New York, we wrote a bunch of cool stuff. And that’s how it all began. Soon after this happened, we realized and convinced ourselves that it was meant to be. Nothing that’s worth it occurs by randomness.
What motivated the creation of New Rock City’s latest single, “Rollin,” and what message or emotions were you all hoping to convey through it?
We wrote this song before the pandemic, around 2017. Rollin’ is a feel-good song, it invites you to keep going, explore, leave your comfort zone no matter what, it suggests fighting your fears and do whatever makes you feel good wherever you want without looking back. Raise your voice, go for it and own it. And this is exactly what we have been doing since we moved to New York years ago. It was extremely exciting to come here and live the dream, living in the moment.., but on the other hand, extremely challenging to leave behind an old version of yourself to become someone new with a new vision. It can be scary, but damn, so rewarding.
For the video that we just put out for Rollin’, we went out and took the streets to shoot in Harlem where we’ve lived for 13 years. We shot in Chinatown, 8th Ave and 42nd street as well. We had this idea of showing the excitement when someone arrives for the first time to a place like New York, feeling like levitating while entering the doors of the city (we picked the Manhattan Bridge for these scenes), and how that person transforms into a different version of herself and becomes part of the city, blended with its buildings and streets. Walking towards a dream, non-stop, without looking back and never going back.
How would you describe the sound and style of New Rock City, and how has it evolved since the band's inception?
We come from different places, we both had our solo projects, projects that sounded and were guided in a completely different direction, but we had the same thoughts and musical taste in common. Rock n Roll is what we wanted to explore and do. We developed a quick metamorphosis as soon as we landed in NY. Same attraction to the same things, sounds, visuals, stories, movies and fashion.. The sound of the band has changed since the beginning, and it’s still shifting into something new every time we create something. At the end, it’s only rock n roll.
Discuss the collaborative process within the band when creating new music.
When we were doing our solo projects we always felt that something was missing, like a void, something that was not quite clear and complete. Working together puts every single thing in its place. It just feels right. The process always flows and navigates from beginning to end. Never thought I’d be writing songs with a partner who totally gets you. That’s key. Kick plays all instruments and we make demos at home, then, we get together with Tim Kuhl, the drummer, and Steve Conroy, bassist, and the song starts walking by itself. It gains power and personality with their solid rhythm section.
How does New Rock City balance staying true to its artistic vision while also appealing to a broader audience?
Well, it’s a blessing and also a curse to have the freedom to do whatever you want. It’s not easy to find a balance between doing it for the love of art and also staying present among the industry peers nowadays. You know, art and business are hard to get along with each other. We were signed before creating the band, we were part of each of our countries’ music industry, and we had to fight against the fact that you were subjected to a mold and a preconceived idea about what you were supposed to do, sound and look. Being independent liberates you from some chains but attaches you to new ones. We try to focus and concentrate on the songs and what’s what each of them are asking us. We are loyal to the song and not to a fixed idea of how we should always sound. We love to explore and make art. It takes longer to reach the next levels, we know that---the thing is, we don’t like shortcuts.
What role do you believe New York City plays in influencing the band's music and lyrics?
There wouldn’t be New Rock City if it wasn’t for New York City. Its energy dragged us and drugged us into a psychedelia we weren’t able to escape from. New York City is a living piece of art, and is defined by the highest of all the energies. Inspiring. We always wanted more. We became extremely prolific, I don’t know.., everything about this place touched us deep inside. I guess it’s our own way to pay tribute to this city and say thank you. We created a bubble inside a bubble and so on, where everything could be possible. It happened to us, and that’s the reason why we’ve remained loyal to that ‘something’ that put us together and told us to follow it.
Share any memorable experiences or challenges the band faced while working on “Rollin” or other projects?
Wow, countless! Our band has grown from the city's underground so you can imagine all the things we've seen and the people we've met, crazy! One time we played in a room so dark and so small that without noticing we pushed the drums towards our drummer and he couldn't even move or play. Recording our second album right after the quarantine in 2020, an album that we are finishing now and will be out next year. Kick, for example, hurt his finger really badly after the intensive recording sessions for the first album back in 2012. It took him 6 months to recover after costly and painful shots in his hand. Rollin’ was fun to shoot. We work with Paul Grant who has been directing the last three videos, and our sessions really are very intense, we work and supervise every single detail of everything we do, from editing to mixing, wardrobe, location scouting, etc.
How does New Rock City approach live performances, and what do you want the audience to take away from a New Rock City show?
The music that we make lifts us up and takes us to mysterious and vibrant places, when we play live we try to express all that with our performance and hope the audience can share that feeling. We hope the rhythm and dance gets them and we try to stimulate imagery with the lyrics.
Are there specific artists or musical genres that have had a significant impact on New Rock City’s musical journey?
We grew up in the 80s and 90s so you can imagine what we used to hear at home, plus our parents were very eclectic musically. MTV was our religion. We spent hours in front of the TV jaw-dropping every time an exciting song and video was airing. Those were the times. from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin, Elvis, The Cars, Ramones, Pretenders, Bowie, Cramps, Blondie, the list is long..
Discuss the role of storytelling in New Rock City’s lyrics and how the band crafts narratives within its songs.
There’s a place where I usually write most of the lyrics, on the train, commuting from uptown Manhattan to Brooklyn for example. For some reason, it helps me concentrate and inspires me somehow. Right after the quarantine, we stayed in the city the whole time and took the subway train every day and the experience was very meditative because the trains were empty and people more contemplative. Part of the second album has been written underground in the subway cars. Our lyrics are full of imagery and they come in bits and pieces, without a linear narrative most of the time. It's when we merge them with the music when all of it makes sense.
How has technology influenced the way New Rock City creates and shares music with its audience?
In creating, sounds are what intrigue and interest us, we don't care where they come from. They can come from a guitar, a synth, a percussive instrument, a computer, wherever the inspiration arrives. We then use those tools to create music and develop our creativity. That's the whole point, stimulate our creativity. In terms of the technical side or platforms for sharing our music, we use what's at hand and whatever gets our music to our audience.
In what ways do you see the band's music evolving in the future?
Well, let's see what surprises us next. We're in constant creative movement, in contact with art all the time, we go to exhibitions, concerts, galleries, our favorite neighborhoods, reading intriguing books, poetry, photography, comics and magazines, cinematography, hanging out with people that we connect with. You never know when or where inspiration will come or what cool and new ingredient you can add to rock n roll.
Are there themes or topics that consistently appear in the band's songwriting?
Yes, self-exploration, existence, relationships, hopes and fears, injustice, mysteries, love, empowerment. There are a lot of questions about human experience that we really don't have an answer to. We try to answer those questions for ourselves through our songwriting, although I don't think we ever get any. We just try to make sense out of it I suppose.
How does New Rock City navigate the challenges of the music industry, especially in a vibrant but competitive scene like in New York City?
All industries will always be a challenge, no matter what era, the world is chaotic and making things happen takes time and effort. The good thing about art is that its nature is to not be competitive, art is subjective and there are no parameters for competition, it's just that some of it inspires certain people So, we believe everyone has a chance of creating their own little worlds and hope people get attracted to them. We just work hard to be the best we can be.
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians, particularly those looking to break into the rock music scene?
Just do it! If it's in you, just express it. That's the only way. There's no point in holding back just because of what would happen if this or that. The whole point of art is to express it and grow in doing so. It's a trip surprising yourself with what you're able to do, a great feeling. Everything else is a circumstance. Just try to make it happen for yourself, whatever way comes to mind, explore opportunities, and everything will fall in its place. There's no formula. Try to be the best you can be and maybe you'll inspire someone.
Website:
www.newrockcitymusic.com
Instagram:
@newrockcityofficial @rossano_i_am @kicknrc
CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Paul Grant
Talent: New Rock City
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Kaelyn Mazyck, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
RADAR Created by Ayoka Lucas
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