We don’t always give ourselves the grace we give other people, but the psychedelic space lounge band roussett are here to remind us that we all have some really great things about us.
Paul Rouse recently spoke with WYEP's Joey Spehar.
What’s your musical history up to this point?
I played in some Boston bands in the early 00's. Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2005, I've played mostly solo around town under the moniker the anonymous chronicles (with a new fuzzed out album coming out this fall). Bryan had a couple projects out in LA, most recently Bambi Lambo (they had a song on Shameless). We've been friends since college, and roussett is the culmination of us always sharing our music projects and finally joining forces together.
How do you describe your sound?
We call it psychedelic space lounge. It's really just a dreamy, melodic vibe so far...an intergalactic honeypot, designed to lure and trap your earbuds into sonic bliss.
Tell us more about the song "You Are Everything" What inspired you to write it and what does it mean to you?
It's a pretty joyous song. There's a very human element of looking at another person's life, or their job, or their skill set, and seeing lots of positive things, and holding them in high regard, often times higher than they even hold themselves...and yet we don't always offer ourselves the same grace.
So in one sense it's about telling a person how great they are, whether they are a good friend or a complete stranger, as a way to celebrate their existence. And in another sense, it's about looking at yourself through that same lens and highlighting the good things you bring to the world around you each day.
Bryan and I also both became fathers early on during this project, and as is usually the case, you can't help but sing these songs about your children. There's another aspect of this song that is about passing on, hopefully, all the good things and valuable lessons you've gathered in your life, to this little life form that is not only your responsibility, but a lifelong companion. Now I get to share all the things I wish someone would have told me so long ago.
What was the first album that really changed your life?
Always a tough question. We shared our top 4 lists with each other, and Weezer's blue album was one that really hit both of us when it came out. The fuzz, the melodies, the guitar work...what an album. I still chase the fuzzy sound of the early Weezer/Superdrag/Toadies records to this day. It was so instantly catchy and remains such a beautifully melodic album. “Only in Dreams” still gets me today just as it did back then. Our honorable mention was Sunny Day Real Estate's Diary.
Who are some other Pittsburgh artists you think more people should listen to?
I always listen to anything David Bernabo puts out. Hoping for more Old Game music soon. I love me some Caleb Pogyor, and he just started a new band The Soft Wake, so can't wait to hear more of them. I'll shout from the rooftops how amazing the Pittsburgh symphony is, and if you're not seeing them at least a few times each year you're really missing out. As a huge Mahler and Strauss fan, I've been incredibly lucky to be in Pittsburgh the same time as Manfred Honeck. Ditto for Roger Humphries. And when I wanna feel like a total babe I gotta crank some Century III. I don't know if Gary Musisko plays out much anymore, but damn if he wasn't always my favorite to listen to. Just a stunning voice.
Any other super interesting things about you we should know?
Bryan and I met in a small, religious college in San Diego, where I was once on the Price is Right and just may have made it to the Showcase Showdown. We lived in Boston together for a year before he move back west. We kept sharing music with each other until he eventually found his way to North Carolina. We started doing weekend music retreats in West Virginia and roussett was born. Bryan works in higher education in Durham, and I teach in Pittsburgh. We also recently did a blissed-out cover of the Pixies' Something Against You
roussett are:
Paul Rouse (rhymes with house) - guitars, vocals, keys
Bryan Bassett - keys, vocals, guitars, production
