The Baker's Dozen #35 Lee Rogers

Northern Irish singer-songwriter Lee Rogers might have seemingly taken a break from producing new music in recent years but today (October 29th 2021) marks the digital release of his ‘Dark Notions’ EP (those who prefer their music in a physical format will be able to snag a 10” vinyl in the near future) and Lee has a new album and touring plans in place for 2022. Needless to say this seemed like an ideal time to catch up with Lee and RGM found a man passionate about life, family and his music. From The Police via Cosmic Village to ‘Dark Notions’ RGM gets to know a little more about Lee Rogers.

1. What is your earliest musical memory?

In the car with my dad, very very young, sitting in the front seat, no seatbelt, dad smoking, and feeling really strange and a bit startled at hearing 'Don’t stand so close to me' by The Police on the radio. Still to this day love that song. Ford Cortina. 

2. Do you remember the name of your first band?

My first band rehearsed in an old mansion in Northern Ireland called Red Hall. The owners at the time lived in the kitchen, and they rented a little room that seemed to be down a tunnel to bands for rehearsals, £2 a session for an hour. I was about 15, and the band was called Cosmic Village. I had hair down to my arse and thought I was it!

3. Which current artist do you hear and just go Wow?

My wife has me listening to some great stuff that I daren’t mention. Because.....if I knew the name of the artist before hearing the songs I would dismiss them completely. I’m guilty of that sometimes....One had just done this thing with Bon Iver, and it was beyond stunning. You know the one....hahahahaha. 

4. Do you sit down to write songs or do you wait until your mojo comes to get you?

Bit of both, though I need inspired to truly get something down. I can hit a thread and stay there for days putting a few things together at a time. I’m really digging colabs at the minute too. I’ve had a few special ones lately with a couple of amazing songwriters. 

5. Big venue or small venue - what's your favourite to play?

Either/or for very different reasons. Larger venues or festivals I always reckon are more forgiving, and a little less stress.....once your balls grow enough to take that step into the stage. The smaller places where the audience can see the nuts and bolts of what you are doing are more intimate and quiet and probably....a bit less forgiving.

6. Who is the one artist you wish you could share a stage with (past or present)?

I reckon I would have a lot of fun with a lot of different people, I’ve never really had that desire to play with any one person but for sure there are a pile of artists that I could get on well on stage with.

7. Bowie, Prince, Sinatra, Elvis which departed great means the most to you?

My mother was a John Lennon fan, I grew up with that and as I grew to love music I also got carried away in lots of the myth and legends behind the dead superstars. Don’t know that anyone actually meant lots to me, but yeah he would be an interesting person to me. Good or bad. Not something I get swept away with, but I owe a lot to him and The Beatles for getting my early days over me.

 8. The musical landscape could change markedly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. How has the situation affected you and what do you feel will be its impact on the music business/live performance going forward?

I started recording again a few months before the start of the first lockdown. We managed to get things moving. It’s still moving now, so we done something right. My point is, if there is one, is that I was out of the loop so long, messing around making messes and doing other things til we started this and got something good going. I’m not sure I’ll know any different really. We are all waiting around for the same things at the end of the day.  Gigs, travel, etc. etc.... that all might be bullshit but I hate hard questions. 

9. Should music be free?

It's art; it’s my life....our lives on our canvas.

Some of the most painful and insightful moments I’ve ever had (and believe me I've had some heartbreaking real time experiences that have seared me mentally and physically) have been putting a lyric or a piece of music to those experiences.

It’s art, it’s beautiful, it’s magic, it’s therapeutic...it hurts, it heals and it’s honest. That shit can’t be free. It just can’t. It’s that simple. We need to live to continue doing it. The days of the superstar are almost gone. They can make music as and when, but all us on the ground here are depending on that dime to continue doing it.

10. Can you remember the first record you bought and what have you bought recently?

First record was A Tribe called Quest (can’t remember the album name but it had the walk on the wild side sampled track on it), first tape was an Elvis one, first cd was Woodface by Crowded House 

11. What was the last song that made you cry actual tears?

 I’ve never cried.

12. Do you binge watch Netflix / Amazon / DVD box sets (any recommendations)? Do you have a guilty pleasure in Film or TV you’ll admit to watching and loving?

I’ve smashed Netflix, I’ve got the highest score hands down. I’m watching Stranger Things at the minute because I was at the stage that there was fuck all else to watch. And it’s a brilliant show. Was. Not. Expecting. That. 

13. What is the most important thing to you that you can see from where you are right now?

My beautiful lunatic of a wife, Nikita Rogers. She has saved me from myself too many times to count. But hopefully she won’t ever have to again.

For more about Lee: https://www.leerogers.co.uk/

Digital Music links: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/leerogers/dark-notions-2