OSM: Who is Gemma Rogers and where are you from?
I’m still trying to figure that out myself. West london born and bred, cats not dogs, roasts over BBQs community over isolation and plenty of things in between.
OSM: Your new single, ‘STOP’’, is out now. What was the general songwriting process and are there any interesting stories around the recording?
It tends to be a lot of back and forth lyrical bantering with my musical wing man Alfie Jackson and Sean guitar-don Genockey, playing riffs. The idea for STOP had come after one of us had missed their stop the day before because of a hardcore scrolling session, and ended up in Uxbridge. I’m not telling you who it was but it wasn’t Sean and it wasn’t me. We wrote Stop in a day over at Sean’s studio. It’s where the majority of the album was written.
OSM: From your point of view, what is the song about, what is its message?
That if you’re not careful you’ll miss the little things. I know I have, i know I do. That technology can be the leading force in a life totally capable of surviving without. That eye to eye connection is what makes us human. That humans need each other.
OSM: What challenges have you faced since launching your career?
Reaching an audience outside my own beautifully supportive crew, unless you have a lot of contacts within the industry.
OSM: What are the plans for the year ahead for Gemma Rogers?
The release of the debut album - No place like home, out on July 22nd, the album launch on July 21st at Paper Dress Vintage over in Hackney. We’re going to write the second album too hopefully towards the end of the year.
OSM: If you could change anything about the industry what would it be?
I wish it was talent and not cash that’s needed to create the currency which leads to the next stage in an artists trajectory. It’d be good if being online and active wasn’t compulsory. It’d be good if Industry didn’t monopolies the scene and if there was no such thing as unethically paid promotions. It all just makes it pretty hard for independent musicians to sustain their career.
OSM: If you could share the stage with another band or performer who would it be?
Patti Smith every day of the week.
OSM: Who are some of the main influences of your music?
Tom Waits, a lot of the UK hip hops acts, Ian Dury, John Martyn, Karen Dalton.
OSM: What songs are on your playlist right now, which songs are you into at the moment?
Helen Love’s latest album ‘This Is My World’ is getting played loads. She did such a magical job on a remix for Stop which is out now alongside the original.
I’m listening to a lot of instrumental stuff at the moment, I’m on a writing roll and the lack of lyrics helps still my brain. Philip Glass, Ravi Shankar, Four Tet, Gustavo Santaolalla.
The 'No Place Like Home' album launch gig takes place at Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney, London on July the 21st.
