One of the most active and enthusiastic members of DMusic, Rodrica Rudge has long been a champion of independent artists everywhere as well as a talented and prolific singer/songwriter herself. It’s fitting then that she is the in The Spotlight for the month of May.
Originally, from West London, Rodrica lived in a typical town right next to the River Thames and was only a bus ride away from London’s fashionable West End. She was surrounded by terraced houses, a few factories and local shops where residents would gather to gossip. It became a desirable location for artists, actors, writers and musicians. Rodrica was fascinated and inspired by them. She decided to take piano lessons when she was 7 years old. She chose a tutor from the Royal College of Music and, she says, she spent the next few years working hard to pass her exams. She also attended a very progressive infant school where she was offered cello lessons and voice coaching! She went on to perform with the school choir at the Royal Festival Halls in London. At age 11, her family moved to the suburbs, but she continued to write poetry/lyrics and songs. When she was 16, she decided to take classical guitar lessons.
Her first job was in advertising because, she says, she “had an ambition to write jingles for TV commercials.” But, as fate would have it, she was promoted to media director. Her responsibilities included planning client campaigns in TV, radio, press, magazines, and posters. She worked on some very large accounts including Mitsubishi Motor Corp., Max Factor, publishing houses, international businesses, clothing manufacturers and music promoters like Harvey Goldsmith and MAM Productions. She sees the irony in the fact that, at the time, she had the contacts but absolutely no time to produce any songs! She did, however, learn valuable lessons on how to promote herself. She continued to write poetry/lyrics and was eventually published in two separate poetry anthologies.
Rodrica moved north to a semi-rural area to escape the stress of London like. She then spent a short time as a manager in the health service and later ran her own company. Now she works freelance from home. Since 1997, she has spent more time on her music, building up her own equipment and studio where she produces and engineers her own material, some as an indie artist and some to pitch to publishers and others who commission her work.
Did anyone else in your family play any musical instruments or have
any other musical talent?
None! My inspiration was my grandmother’s upright piano - every pub and
most homes had one in her day whether they played or not! I was not
only fascinated by its sound, but also its history. In the Second World
War her house was bombed, luckily she wasn’t in it. The house took a
direct hit and all the furniture and contents were reduced to matchwood and
rubble. Against the only remaining internal wall stood the piano - it
survived. But to this day you can see all the deep grooves in its wood
where the windows blew in and huge shards of glass became embedded. When
I wasn’t practicing, I’d spend hours picking out the lumps of glass
with tweezers! My grandmother gave me the piano when I passed my first
exam. That piano is very symbolic for me in many ways.
Do you have any artists who influence or inspire you? If so, whom?
The list is endless! Classical music: Saint Saens who taught me how
sounds can be used metaphorically to create a visual image. Rock: Paul
Rodgers (Free/Bad Company) and Steve Winwood for their vocal
delivery/timing and multi-instrumental skills. Guitarists like Paul Kossoff, Hendrix
and Jeff Beck, bands like Deep Purple, Cream, The Kinks. Soul/R & B:
All the artists that came out of the Motown and Stax Records stables,
Gladys Knight, Gloria Gaynor, Patti La Belle, for their passion, emotion
and expression. Pianist Jools Holland. Many blues and jazz artists.
Steely Dan.
You're quite a prolific writer and singer. Why is making music
important to you?
I experience life in terms of music - that’s how the world is
translated to me. I do it not because I want to, but because I can’t stop doing
it!
5. When you are writing, it seems that you bring a lot of yourself to
your lyrics. Is it difficult to put so much of yourself in your words?
Or is it cathartic?
I put a lot of myself into the performance which is a little different.
There’s nothing worse than a vocalist/musician who lacks conviction.
Some of the songs are personal, or a means of conveying my emotions, but
equally I have written songs to a brief where I have to put myself in
someone else’s shoes. I suppose I secretly enjoy the fact that the
audience is never sure if it’s about me or someone else!
When you are composing, do you start with the lyrics first or do you
hear the composition first and go from there?
Oddly enough, songs have been just popping into my head since I was an
infant! I’d often sing something to someone and ask who wrote the song,
but nobody could tell me. It was many years before I discovered they
were my own original songs. They are often that clear to me when I hear
them. However I can also “write to order”. I feel the best ones are the
ones that pop into my head in their entirety. But I also start some
songs with lyrics, others with music. I have lyrics, riffs, licks
progressions noted down all over the place. I try not to “intervene” more than
I have to - I believe you can corrupt files in your head as easily as
on a computer. Humans are guilty of over-analyzing and pursuing things
they don’t understand to the point of extinction - I’m always mindful of
that when it comes to creating music.
Who are your main songwriting influences?
So many! Ray Davies (Kinks), Burt Bacharach, Paul Simon, Carole King,
Lieber Stoller, Holland Dozier Holland, Gallagher & Lyle, most of the
people I’ve already mentioned above and most of the great blues writers.
Two very important things I’ve learned is to satisfy audience
anticipation (there’s a lot of psychology to the way music affects us) and that
the sounds of words are as important as their meanings.
Tell us about your recording experience. What equipment do you use?
I am stubbornly still refusing to use computers to record or mix. I use
an analogue Mackie mixer, a 24 track Mackie digital hard drive recorder
and various hardware units for reverb, effects, compression, final
mixing etc. I create my own samples and I rarely cut and paste anything,
preferring to perform each track from start to finish - I feel it’s less
clinical and adds to the expression of the performance. I have a Line 6
Variax guitar (very versatile!), an Ibanez bass, two synths and two
recorders! It can be restrictive, but it’s a challenge and imposes much
needed limitations on the time I spend fiddling around with mixing!
As a singer, how do you take care of your voice?
I avoid people who have colds! I have a treadmill - I walk and sing at
the same time which helps to tone up the relevant muscles. I never
record “cold” and warm up with well-known songs that have a good range.
Do you play live shows? If so, tell us something about what we
could expect if we were able to see you live!
I haven’t played live since college. I see myself more as a songwriter.
I get offers all the time (I promote myself out of habit!), but I have
side-stepped them so far.
If you play live, is there anything you do to prepare yourself for
the performance?
I never used to want to talk to anyone before performing. I liked about
30 minutes peace and quiet - I needed to switch roles from introverted
songwriter to extroverted performer/publicist. The two roles have never
felt compatible.
How did you find DMusic? Tell us about your initial experience
here.
Literally, I was trying to get on IUMA which wasn’t functioning
properly, somehow ended up here, simply uploaded my tracks and forgot about
it. When I returned I discovered I’d had all these streams, even though
nobody knew anything about me or what I looked like! I had music
elsewhere, but had no idea that interactive music sites existed. I was so
surprised when I discovered my first shout from Chillinbuzz and then Ronnie
from Kwiver and Invocati left reviews on my songs! I never interacted
much at first, but now 5 years later, they can’t shut me up!
What is it that you like about DM? Are you ever disappointed or, on
the other hand, amused by anything you see on DM?
I love the community here - I’ve made some great friends. They’ve been
enormously supportive both through the good times and the bad. I’m
thrilled that some people have mentioned me in their songs or written songs
for me, particularly those who wrote special songs for me when my
mother and aunt died last year. Many have sent me CDs and DVDs of their
music; treasured possessions. In the past we have had incidents where
negative people have joined the site and been unpleasant, but the community
doesn’t tolerate it and we all enjoy each other’s company - it’s a
positive atmosphere and a place where people can be crazy if they want to.
Amused? Sure! Some of the things people say in my shoutbox or in the
forums and the comedy songs make me laugh out loud. Someone has just
manipulated one of my pics and stuck a rather large hat on me which I have
downloaded. I’ve heard some good jokes and the quips are brilliant. All
great fun!
I know that the redesign was causing some problems initially. What
are your thoughts on it now? Anything in particular you like or
dislike?
Initially it was like someone had broken into the house and re-arranged
all the furniture! It was a steep learning curve for all of us - but in
this game you have to keep moving forward or you end up going
backwards! For the future I think we have to strive to keep things simple,
functional and reliable. I believe the artists’ main pages are being
redesigned, as are the help sections, which I will look forward to. First
impressions are important so we need to concentrate on the artists main
page, ensuring that all their music is easily accessible and visible. I
think we have the best URL and it’s great that we can upload at 320. I
love the shoutboxes and the subscriber alerts system. Dislikes? I would
like to see DMusic blow its own trumpet more! We should make more of the
fact that we initiated the concept of the interactive music site that
so many are emulating at present! We had journals long before most
people had blogs! DMusic should maintain its own identity and promote
itself/claim the credit more. I would like to see it adjust its stance on
certain issues slightly, clarify its objectives and take a more moderate
role as lobbyists and mediators. This would put DM at the forefront of
positive action in the music business rather then allowing us to be seen
as merely a somewhat maverick irritation on the butt of the
establishment. But that’s something that would need fundamental consideration by
top management and is best expanded upon privately.
You are very supportive of other artists on DM. How do you find the
time to do it all?
I go without sleep! Making music is only a small part of being an
artist or songwriter and you can’t expect anyone to take an interest in your
music unless you take a genuine interest in them or their music.
Are you planning to record a CD soon?
I’m currently working on a new CD called Nemesis. I have uploaded some
of the tracks so far.
What advice can you give to someone just starting out who wants to
write, sing, record and perform?
The world doesn’t owe you a living. Never stop striving to be better at
your art, be polite and professional. “Celebrities” with little or no
talent are merely publicity stunts on the part of large companies. Many
“discoveries” are in fact related to those in the business or have
spent their formative years working their butts off at stage school at
great expense to their parents - facts rarely made public by their backers!
Success doesn’t come to you - you must find it. Writing/performing
songs takes up a small percentage of your time. Legal issues, publicity,
marketing, financial matters are all part of the job that you must learn
to live with! Find several mentors and note their criticism/praise.
Have a listen to Rodrica Rudge here:
http://rodrica.dmusic.com/music/
Mary
An awesome interview with the BEST. 
I want 
Thank you both, I enjoyed this 
ShadowMom
Tattoomom
Rodrica
perkie1973
I see we have to learn 
I'm 
ebarbarella
we love you Rodrica 
thanks for this lovely 
tsand20175
ChillinBuzz
