FOR FANS OF: Yes, David Bowie, The Doors
Get to know The Suede Hello, a rock duo from New York City who are bringing you fresh, vibrant, and mystical rock music. The Suede Hello consist of members Nicolette Wilkey and Jonathan Rosado, and their most recent release is a brilliant track called "Soul Offering," the first single off of their upcoming debut LP.
The Suede Hello are a rock duo that I love, they make music that's fresh and exciting. Their music has everything cool about rock 'n roll: the liveliness, the raw, fuzzy and strong guitar-driven sound, and the mystical, & honest lyrics. Read their interview down below to get to know them in their own words, and be sure to give their guest playlist a spin!
1) How did you meet? What made you decide to create music together, and "The Suede Hello," - where did you get that name from?
Essentially, we met over our music taste. We both liked the same records so we could share our collections with each other. As far as deciding to create together, we really wanted to pursue something with conceptual art, and music has always been around in our lives so it made sense to double down on it. The band name originated from a river boat captain we met a few years ago.
2) Your sound, which I adore, is obviously very reminiscent of 60s and 70s rock 'n roll – why that particular sound?
It’s a visceral force- I look at it as being the zeitgeist of American culture. Coca-Cola, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis. However, I don’t view our music or other records from the 60’s/70s as a relic or vignette at all. Historians will retrospectively group it all together anyway so it’s quite contemporary. It’s really a blink of an eye in the cosmos.
3) Who are your influences, musical or otherwise?
We love Todd Rundgren, Black Sabbath, Bowie, Iggy Pop, Carole King, Brian Eno, lots of 70’s prog, Peter Gabriel era Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, King Crimson… I could go on and on. Big time non-musical influences are Dalí, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Hunter S. Thompson to name a few.
4) Where do you draw inspiration from?
Generally speaking, we draw just as must inspiration from film and visual art as we do from music- possibly more so. We have been obsessed with this movie “El Topo” which helped to inspire the concept for this album tremendously. It’s definitely the best movie of all time, and I’d die on that hill any day.
5) Your latest release, "Soul Offering," can you tell us a little about that?
“Soul Offering” is the lead single off our upcoming debut LP. We recorded in Woodstock, and used all vintage hi-fi equipment. I got my hands on this phase shifter pedal from the 70’s that was previously owned only by Yes’ Steve Howe. We recorded everything straight to tape on a Sony TC-850 reel to reel, and utilized my lovely new double neck guitar.
6) You're from New York City – my favorite place out of the entire state (I'm from NY too!). What do you love about the city?
It’s like a medieval city stuck in time. There’s no place more honest and confrontational. It has a certain edge to it that I’ve never felt anywhere else quite the same. In the twentieth century, New York City became the indisputable epicenter of art and culture- taking the place of Paris previously. Ordinary people here inspire me.
7) Top 3 favorite records?
Ah, that is tough! How about top 3 at the moment? Fragile by Yes, Taking Tiger Mountain by Brian Eno, and Larks’ Tongues in Aspic by King Crimson.
8) If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Alejandro Jodorowsky because he’s the greatest filmmaker of all time. Hendrix is probably an obvious answer, but for good reason. Others that come to mind are Chris Squire, Syd Barrett, Roky Erickson, Charles Bradley, and Jesus Christ.
9) What's the rest of 2021 looking like for The Suede Hello?
Hopefully, we’ll make a bunch of f*cking money because Spotify f*cks over all of their artists. Either that or we win the lottery. We will also be pressing vinyl, which is definitely a serious landmark for us.
10) What do you love about music?
It’s better than commercials.
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