interview: Rosie Tucker
Fresh off their SXSW debut, we chatted with Rosie Tucker, the musical mastermind behind the recently released (and incredible) Never Not Never Not Never Not, out now on New Professor Music.
photos: Ansley Lee
The Grey Estates: I want to start by asking you about “Habit.” The first time I heard that song, I was so blown away by all that it contained and did. What inspired you in writing that song and how did it come together?
Rosie Tucker: Habit is about a relationship that has fallen apart and is resting in a state of disrepair, the place where feelings hurt and it’s difficult to imagine anything ever changing. I wrote it all in one go, having been sitting on my porch listening to “camberwell” by #1 dads. I was inspired by the introspective spoken style of that tune but when I picked up the guitar what came out was angry and angular. Wolfy helped transform the song into a genuine rock n roll slammer.
I remember when you had sent me “Spinster Cycle.” How do you think that you’ve grown as an artist in releasing this material and even since you wrote that song? In creating this album, what did you want it to represent? How does it differ from your previous release?
I think the biggest change between then and now is that I’ve learned to accept help from other people. Creating this album really felt like Wolfy, Anna, Jessy, and I learning how to record an album together, our very first effort. I can’t wait to see where we go as we learn more about our group process. I can’t beLIEVE these frickers keep lending me their talents!!!!!!!
As an artist and as a person, what do you hope people listening to the record take from it?
I hope they don’t yell TURN THAT GARBAGE OFF. Beyond that I really, really don’t care and am still astonished anyone is listening. Of course I want people to think I’m clever and funny and caring and talented but none of that actually matters.
Is there a track or song on this album that really resonates with you or that has an interesting backstory?
I wrote Pablo Neruda sitting on an air mattress under a kitchen table in a teeny railroad apartment in NYC and then promptly decided it wasn’t a good song.
What inspired this album: can be food, music, clothes, weather, anything?
People! People! People! And, maybe more importantly, the time I’ve spent doing what I like when I was supposed to be doing something else. Also growing up in LA, a surreal urban cornucopia much maligned in popular culture when portrayed through the eyes of transplants from wealthy suburbs. That said, California gets too much credit in rock n roll already so let’s not further inflate her ego.
What’s your advice to musicians trying to make it through touring?
Try being born to a huge catholic family. If that doesn’t work, try being born wealthy. Find good natured people who can take care of themselves and don’t mind putting in the work: they’ll make the stressful parts manageable and the manageable parts fun and the fun parts fulfilling. There are grocery stores all over north america and you don’t need to eat fast food unless you really want to.
You’re in charge of creating a sandwich. What’s on it?
That’s a lot of responsibility. I’m currently confined to the van so it’s gonna be hummus and guacamole on some good seedy brown bread. I’ll probably eat three in a row before I offer to make them for everyone else.
Describe Rosie Tucker using emojis:
