Meet ROKEN

Well, kids, Long Island has gifted us with another spectacular songwriter. Swirling influences of decades past, Roken blends introspective lyrics and soothing, hypnotic synths to deliver an authentic and contemporary sound. This is music suited for tuning out and tuning in to your thoughts.

Below, we talk to the poignant musician about his poetic origins, the highs, and lows of being in NYC, and get the story behind that toy horse.

A self-portrait of ROKEN

Would You Rather

your sense of smell or sense of hearing be a hundred times stronger? Why?

I would pick a heightened sense of smell because I work with sound everyday. I think things would get pretty smelly but overall, I wanna be able to blast music with other people.

Some questions with ROKEN

What is the worst mixer to put in drinks of all time?

Probably apple juice

If you could be on any reality TV show, what would it be and why?

Nathan for you! It’s one of my favorite shows of all time and I would love to play a part in one of Nathan's business excursions.

What inspired you to start writing music?

I started writing music as long as I could play the piano, but lyrics came after I started getting into poetry in high school. I had a bunch of words in a book of mine and I felt they needed a new home/life. The artists that first inspired me to write music were definitely the artists I was discovering on my own when i was around 13 (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, etc). I have learned to love all different styles of music as I progress as a creator, but these groups were definitely a catapult for my passion in production and song crafting.

Where do you get your news? Do you read the news?

I would say it’s nearly impossible to find unbiased journalism today. I usually look through many different sources from different perspectives so I can form my own opinion on certain matters! Even if I would generally agree with one side's bias, I do wish there was just a source with only facts. That would be pretty nice for everyone!

Your music feels very introspective. Do you find the process of songwriting to be cathartic?

I would definitely agree that the process can feel cathartic. A lot of the topics I choose to write about come from a deep place for sure. The feeling of release I get when putting certain phrases in a song that I would never normally be able to say in a regular conversation is magical and freeing.

What are the worst things about being a musician in NYC? What are the best things?

I would say one of the worst things is getting your gear to a venue haha! There are also a lot of writers/producers that moved away and are now based on the west coast and other music hotspots but I get to see them when I travel. Some of the best things are the fact that you can literally perform were some of the most inspirational creators have also performed. The sidewalks you walk on are stained with history and the feelings can get super heavy, in a great way. There is also a really tight musical community in NYC which feels like how the people of this city all seem to have each other's backs. You definitely don’t get that feeling in many places.

Is there a story behind the toy horse on your album, Treasure?

Totally! About a year and a half ago, I was staying at an Airbnb in LA during a writing trip. Outside the front door on the porch steps was this strange little horse figure. I didn’t think much of it initially and thought I was kinda funny so I took a photo of it on my phone. It ended up being this photo I kept looking at in my camera roll for weeks after the trip. A horse is a creature most happy when wild and free and I was sitting on these home demos for a long time. They were really close to my heart but felt very different from my music that was currently out so I never released them. I think it was just time to set them free.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

Being a creative in March of 2020 has been one of the strangest, most confusing periods in my life. For someone who performs for audiences and is constantly working in the same space as other creative’s, this period is definitely going to be a serious time to get wild with your art. I’ve been writing things I never thought I'd write and I know it’s the time to try, fail, and push yourself beyond your limits.

ROKEN