INDIE-AMERICANA ICON JESSE ROPER TALKS HIS LATEST SINGLE, BLUESY BEATS, AND FAVOURITE SUPERHEROES
INTERVIEW| JESSE ROPER by Martha Munro
If your spring is missing some groove and grit, you’ve clicked on the perfect link. Meet Jesse Roper, the adventurous, indie-americana Canadian bringing his distinct and daring authenticity to streaming platforms and stages alike. We got the chance to ask him about his music: his raunchy latest single ‘Green Eyed Lady‘, upcoming EP Daisy Wake Up, and highlight-hewn North American tour…
Talk to us about ‘Green Eyed Lady‘: What’s the inspiration behind the song? What was the creative process like? How did this come to the studio? We want to know everything!
‘Green Eyed Lady‘ was inspired by a sex dream I had when I was a teenager. In my dream I was a crime fighting superhero. I met a crime fighting super heroine babe. We would fight crime and then meet on rooftops to shag. Best sleep I ever had. I wrote the song at a truck stop in Germany. I was freshly single at the time and sore in my heart. The memory of that dream popped into my head and made me smile. I figured I’d preserve it in a song. In the studio, my producer added the B minor to the verse and the song was complete. It felt a little shaky before that move.
Aside from dreams, where do you get inspiration from?
Life experience, I suppose. I like to go out for jogs in the wilderness. I find that music sort of finds its way into my ears while I’m breathing out heavy and not necessarily thinking about anything in particular. Also, listening to music; sometimes I’ll listen to a tune that gets me all fired up and really wanting to do something in that style. I emulate all kinds of artists in my own way. It’s fun.
Green Eyed Lady epitomises your rootsy, indie-americana style. When did you know this was the kind of music you wanted to make?
I’ve always found that the old-timey, rootsy, bluesy, soulful music speaks to me. I love all kinds of music but I seem to speak that stuff the best. I think it’s the only genre that lends itself to my voice as well – I love heavy metal but I can’t sing it.
Since in the Green-Eyed-Lady-universe you’re a superhero, I’ve got to ask – who’s your favourite superhero?
I think I was a big Wolverine fan as a kid. I used to read comic books all the time, and I still have boxes of them! But ya, as a kid I thought Wolverine was pretty badass. And he’s Canadian. Also Storm from the X-Men. She was pretty badass too.
And of course, your new EP Daisy Wake Up is coming 6th May. Can you describe it in 3 words?
Jesse Roper Radio.
Which artists / what music do you find yourself listening to the most when you’re crafting something like an EP? Who inspires your sound?
Black Joe Lewis. The guy knows how to boogie and his lyrics are crazy. He really gets my blood up.
What’s it been like touring North America? Any highlight moments?
So many highlights! I love tour and we’ve been seeing a lot of new territory. The scenery in the U.S. is amazing, and I’ve always wanted to road trip down there. We played in a cave in Nashville last year. That was super cool! The Joe Bonamassa cruise we did 2 years in a row has to be a highlight too: from the stage to the buffet in 100 steps. Then it was beaches in Belize and Mexico! What a trip. I’m gonna give a special mention to the crowd that shows up in Thunder Bay as well. They’re amazing. I just want to throw show after show there. Oh ya, the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Fest last year was incredible as well. Folks gave us so much back I felt like I could have run through a brick wall after that show. I could go on. Two sold out nights at the Royal Theatre with Beaver Fever… wow.
When you step out on stage for a live set, what’s your main goal? What do you want the crowd to go away remembering?
My goal is to sink in and have the best time ever. Every night. I want to feel like I’m ascending. The crowd? I want to take them up with me. I want them to fall asleep after with smiles on their faces.
