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Rohan is the product of musical parents, he grew up travelling around Europe with his folks. His first band was formed when his family took a bit of a breather in New South Wales, Australia, where he started to come into his own as a musician. Still a young lad, he's on his own and ready to show off what he's learned over the years. Rohan did an email interview with me in June/06.
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How did Ask a Stupid Question come together?
Rohan: Ask A Stupid Question is a collection of songs I had written over the last few years. When I go into recording a new album I like to take a few songs that I have written recently, a few songs that I have been meaning to record for a long time and a few songs that I write during the recording process. I usually end up with a good mix of moods and genres. For example the song 'Prologue' was written in Australia when I was about 15, and the song 'Life Ends At 18' was written towards the later stages of recording the album, it was the last song I recorded. I guess the theme of the album is the whole 'coming of age' thing, corny as it may be, the songs on Ask A Stupid Question capture that time in my life.
Where was it recorded? How long was the process?
Rohan: I began recording Ask A Stupid Question in October 2005 and finished it about a month ago now. The reason it took so long is because I took time off from recording Ask A Stupid Question to record an album called Dublin 7 with my father David Virgin (myspace.com/davidvirgin). I recorded Ask A Stupid Question on a studio that I have built up over the year and a half that I have been back here in Dublin.
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How did your recording experiences for this disc differ from the other studio albums you've done?
Rohan: My first studio album Portrait Of The Artist With A Young Man was different in a few respects. The first being the fact that I recorded that album in Australia, I spent many a session half naked and sweating, cursing the heat over there. Whereas here in Dublin I was able to control my temperature thus allowing for a more pleasurable recording experience (I guess this kind of wit doesn't transpose well into a written interview does it, I just sound very serious). A more meaningful difference was my level of skill as a musician. On Portrait.. I sang and played guitar, on ...Stupid Question I did everything, and I can sing now.
Why did you decide to offer this album for free download?
Rohan: I offer my music for free for a very simple reason. A musician writes/records/performs their music in the hope of as many people as possible hearing and enjoying their music, and the best way I could think of is to offer my music for free. I have a little offer whereby someone hosts my banner on their myspace profile (or blog/web page etc..) and I then send them the link to downoad my album for free. The response has been incredible, people just love putting up the banner, they love getting their free album and I love giving to them, it truly is a win/win situation. The fact is the world does not need another embarasing "blue-jeans" billionaire, don't get me wrong, money is great but it isn't as inherently linked to music as we are led to believe. Money has its place, so does music but they are not always in the same place at the same time. Music was around long before record companies existed and music will continue to be around when record companies no longer exist. Plus I personally hate having to buy music, Kazaa was great, the sheer amount of new bands/artists that are now making a living from their music thanks to Kazaa and Napster is mind blowing. Free music rules!!
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Rohan on why the new release is free
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'I offer my music for free for a very simple reason. A musician writes/records/performs their music in the hope of as many people as possible hearing and enjoying their music, and the best way I could think of is to offer my music for free.'
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How important is it to you to be hands on about all the non musical stuff that goes with this? (fliers, cd artwork, web design)
Rohan: If someone told me that all I have to do is write, record and perform my music and they would take care of everything else, that would be great. But a deal like that does not exist without some kind of compromise and often the compromise is far too great to warrant taking a deal like that. As it is I am happy to take care of my own web design and certain aspects of promotion when I have the time, I enjoy the control. I am a young man with a stupid amount of energy for work and I intend to capitalise on that fact. I don't do everything though, I am suported by a small label called Extemporaneous Music who help out with various aspect of the business of music. But yes, I'm not the lazy poet archetype, I do work hard on the many aspects of my career.
What is the independent music community like in Dublin?
Rohan: I came to Dublin primarily to write and record my music, and to use it as akind of launch pad for gigging in Europe. I have performed live a few times here, but my target really is Europe. At the moment I am in the process of organising a small "solo" tour of Germany for the end of this year, later to be followed by a full 'band' tour. Dates will be released on my myspace when they are confirmed.
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I did hundreds of gigs in Australia as a 16 and 17 year old in varous bands, I was exposed to the enigmatic aura and buzz of the classic Rock 'n' Roll lifestyle. Mentally I am about 32 years old on account of what I saw and experienced in those years, I needed to step away from the clamour of the live aspect so I could get my songs recorded and recharge my spirit. But like winter turns to spring I now am ready to put on my live hat again and I'm quite looking forward to it.
What are you reading right now?
Rohan: I'm reading The Four Levels Of Healing by Shakti Gawain.
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The Playlist
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Rohan's Playlist
1. The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
2. Pink Floyd/Syd Barret - See Emily Play
3. The Stanley Brothers - Wild Side Of Life
4. T-Rex - 20th Century Boy Buddy
5. Holly - Slippin' and Slidin'
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