Jay Roecker started recording, working in collaboration with other artists under the band name "Members Only" in January 2012. It began as an 80’s cover band but quickly morphed into a band of original music. He earned his chops performing in Deep Ellum in the Dallas music scene as well as at SXSW in Austin. On his first album, "Labor of Love" all songs were written by Jay Roecker and Corey McCurry with the exception of Afterlife the one cover song written by Ingrid Michaelson and her team. The second installation will be a collaboration between Jay and various artists including Jedidiah Breeze. All the music is co-produced by Jay Roecker.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Jay Roecker, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
So great to chat with you also! I have music in my blood. Our family is super creative. My mother would play the piano and we would all sing with her during the holidays. I grew up singing in church choir plus won several competitions over the years. Music creation is a natural extension of and expression of my heart and soul.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
There are so many I would be honored to collaborate with including Depeche Mode, Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Madonna and more. I’m always consuming new and old school music.
Your latest song is 'Pour On Me'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
I wrote Pour On Me during a time when my relationship was totally strained. For me it was a longing to rekindle the magic that we once had.
What are you focussing on right now?
Currently we have a AAA radio campaign, Tik Tok campaigns in NY/LA and will be having a UK dance campaign for Pour on Me in the coming weeks. After that my second single from my album, ‘A New Day For You’ will release on February 24th. The album, Electronic Symphonic releases in Q2. We are putting the final touches on the art for it. There will be many releases of this album this year so that is totally my focus. In a few weeks I shoot the video to one of my songs “Mi Amor – I Had a Dream”.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my son. He is the best part of my life. He even asked me to write one of the songs which will also be on the album, “Sus”.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
The biggest challenge of being an artist is really all the leg work behind it. I often say I’m one-man pushing boulders up hill.
How do you structure your day?
My day is super active. I typically wake up challenging my brain with some Duolingo lessons, then I tend to any music business needs prior to hitting the gym, grabbing my meal prep then I am on the phone all day prospecting. I’ll write a little music in between and by 3:30pm I grab my son from the bus. We then do some physical activity as I think movement and nutrition is so important. We will do a science project or two then I get back to finalizing more business after dinner. We typically end the night watching movies with popcorn.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
I enjoy travel, fitness, spending time with loved ones, concerts, comedy, movies, vineyards and weekends on the lake. I volunteer as a victims’ services advocate for my local police department helping victims of domestic violence with safety planning.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
I sing in the shower of course. It’s usually classics from Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Johnny Cash etc.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans are to not cease creating and helping others! I will shortly have chickens and honey-bees plus a vegetable garden. Life is such a gift! 2.
Thank you so much for sitting down with me and your interest in my music.