Jasmine Rodgers’ debut solo album Blood Red Sun channels her gift of narrative storytelling into eleven concise songs that explore the emotional hinterland behind all of our thoughts and deeds. It’s a folk album where, like Joanna Newsom, Rodgers’ assumes a variety of different masks. Whether it’s the bawdy lover amusing herself with lascivious fantasies as she watches her lover sleep, or the mystic bard piping songs about the transformative power of music itself, Rodgers’ natural gift for poesy and her depth of feeling stand front and centre in a beautifully rendered debut LP.
In this interview spotlight, Jasmine was kind enough to give us a few minutes of her time to discuss music, influences, her new project and more.
Q&A, links and streams are available below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Hi Middle Tennessee!
I was drawn to the type of music I play naturally even though I listen to lots of different genres of music. Initially I started learning folk guitar picking styles and even though I went on to play in a rock band, gravitated towards this discipline for my own solo music- with a rock edge.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
I always sang, always played guitar and piano and so songwriting was a natural progression, but I do have a musical family so that contributed heavily. Even so, I worked at non- music places too but just couldn’t keep songs from coming. Kind of like stories really, and I would write them down. Sometimes I like to keep them to myself, like little secrets, until I’m ready to share them. When I do share them I feel like I’m connecting with the listener.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Loads and loads of influences!! And yes my taste always changes, which I think is a good thing. Actually it’s literature that influences a lot – I’ve been reading a lot of Neil Gaiman at the moment and also the landscape that I’m in at the time. I guess that could be emotional but also physical, so for Blood Red Sun, the landscape was the desert.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
I wanted to make the songs coherent to each other and I wanted to explore the identity of each piece. I guess that’s the luxury of recording isn’t it? Pulling the songs apart and expanding on the good bits as much as you can.
What was the last song you listened to?
Down in Mexico – The Coasters (with my infant niece and nephew- get them singing early 😉 )
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyl, my friend was telling me that you only get a very low percentage of info on mp3s but you get up to 80% on vinyl, I would love to get the album pressed and to hear it that way.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Well, it baffles me that e-books are getting more expensive and yet mp3s are getting less. I would love for us to support musicians like we do other skilled trades- guess I’m biased….Spotify is the easiest to use and I like that you can share playlists though- that’s brilliant.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
I love traveling and I love performing. All I want to do is do that more. I think it’s the best way to connect with new fans, and meet new friends. So the limitations are really logistical, but I’m getting to it .
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
I read all the messages people send to my Facebook page and twitter.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
How do you like the album?
