Roxy Jules, Between The City and The Sea.
It’s often thought that heavy, distorted guitars and the absorbing nature of thought-provoking poetry cannot co-exist. That distortion in music must mean angular lyrics, and musing words must be accompanied by birdsong. Roxy Jules has put that notion to rest with her new single, ‘Light Pink Petals’.
Image Credit: Rasmus Sigvaldi.
Danish artist Roxy Jules creates guitar-driven music that crosses the lake of electronica. Between 2011 and 2018, she released four self-titled albums, featuring the singles ‘Rubies & Blood’ (Roxy Jules III) and ‘May The Bridges I Burn Light The Way’ (Roxy Jules IV).
Moths and Giraffes first wrote about Roxy Jules for the release of TOM and His Computer’s album ‘Future Ruins’, where Jules featured as guest vocalist. We later focused entirely on Roxy’s music for the release of her four-track EP ‘Still Falling Through The White’ in April 2021. Her single, ‘Light Pink Petals’ is the first new music from Roxy Jules since that time, with more on the way in 2023.
The introduction of ‘Light Pink Petals’ glimpses a blippy electronic beat like an old printer whirring letters into life. Throughout the song and between this can also be heard a lightning crack of a snare, and crunchy guitar stylings not unlike Jules’ previous EP. Though it’s the restraint between this song’s louder guitar passages that allow more space for Roxy’s yearning lyric:
‘Back in the city the green in my eyes is struck by a sudden desire to set the sky on fire. Light Pink Petals show us how beautiful letting go can be, forever torn between the city and the sea.’
Valentin Kruse returns to produce ‘Light Pink Petals’ and its pulsing lyric video, who previously made Roxy’s videos for ‘As White As The White In White Noise’ and ‘Jocelyn’ as well as producing the former. The images serve both to creatively enhance Jules’ lyric, but to also show you the kind of performer Roxy is, the visual representation of which favours the music rather than the words.
Within the expanse of ‘Light Pink Petals’, Roxy Jules all at once captures the feeling of solitary contentment, imparting the picture of her inspiration painted around her signature sound. The delivery of which comes in screaming layers of guitar and atmospheric interludes, audibly displaying Roxy’s creative division between the life that must be lived, and the life we all wish we could live.
Continue reading for our Q&A with Roxy Jules. We ask about the making of ‘Light Pink Petals’ with producer Valentin Kruse, her upcoming Germany shows with Kellermensch and the music that has yet to come. All this and more below!
Image Credit: Nelle Renberg Andersen.
1. The lyric in your new single, 'Light Pink Petals' comes from a really beautiful place. What were the first words or the idea that sparked off the rest of the song?
The sentence that sparked off the rest of the song was this one:
"I guess it’s also the struggle that gives the blossoming almond trees on the torrid mountainsides their remarkable beauty"
The last couple of years I’ve spent quite some time in Spain in a small house on a mountainside overlooking the sea. The almond trees there always fascinates me. When they bloom they are so beautiful that they look almost unreal. And when the light pink petals soon after let themselves fall into eternity, they remind me of something I can’t really explain. They look so free which resonates with something deep inside me. I’ve tried to write about that feeling in this song.
Besides that “Light Pink Petals” is also about feeling torn and fearing rue. Mostly I feel so incredibly lucky that there are so many things I want to do with my life, but sometimes it also feels as if it’s gonna tear me apart at some point.
2. For this single and music video, you've worked with Valentin Kruse again. How long did the song take to produce? Did anyone play on it besides you two?
It took me forever to finish the lyrics. Coming up with lyrics almost always takes me forever. But once the lyrics are done it doesn't take us that long to record the song. And no, it's just me and Valentin playing on the song.
3. I love the programmed beat in this song, what did you use to make that?
Thank you. I'm also really happy with the beat. Valentin and I both really like being in the studio coming up with beats. On this song we used a Roland 909 drum machine and recorded some egg shakers, tambourines and stuff like dropping a bunch of keys on the floor and moving a chair. We actually also sampled something from an earlier ROXY JULES song called "Wires Cut Through The Sky". Then we took it all through a lot of different filters and it ended up sounding like this.
4. When you work with a producer, do you ever have difficulty getting your vision across to them? Or do you find the producer knows exactly where the song should go straight away?
I always look for producers that I think would understand the song I'm working on. So therefore no, I've never experienced that it was difficult for me to get my vision through to them. I love going to the studio working with a producer. They always come up with new ideas that I would never have thought of myself. All the producers I've worked with have had a huge influence on my songs.
5. You have two shows coming up supporting Kellermensch in Germany, what are you most looking forward to about playing Berlin and Hamburg?
I've never played in Germany with ROXY JULES so it is a big thing for me. I'm really looking forward to it and I definitely hope it's not the last time. I was so thrilled when the singer from Kellermensch wrote to me and asked if I wanted to come along. Kellermensch is such a good live band and I'm looking forward to open for them.
6. How does it feel supporting an artist vs. playing your own headline show? Are the support slots more nerve-racking?
A little yes. The audience is not there for you so you have to try to win them over. That being said, I'm actually always quite nervous before a show. I guess it's just because I want to do my best.
7. What's a city or country you'd love to play but haven't had the chance to yet?
I would love to play in as many places as possible. For me, playing shows is always an adventure no matter where it is.
8. 2023 is fast approaching, can fans expect more music next year?
Yes. I'm working on more new stuff in the studio right now and I can't wait to release it. I'm not sure when it will be done but sometime next year.
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The music of Roxy Jules is available to download and stream in all the usual places.
For more information about Roxy Jules, visit her official website.
Follow Roxy Jules on Facebook @ROXYJULESMUSIC and on Instagram @roxy.jules.
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