Following the release of two well-received singles, Roxercat debuts their six-song EP "Pearls." Roxercat is a progressive rock band based in Nashville, Tennessee, led by singer and songwriter Price Jones, guitarist Stan Lassiter, and bassist Bill Francis. Various guest musicians also appear on the recordings. Roxercat's sound features the imaginative storytelling and stellar musicianship expected from such a seasoned group of Nashville creatives. Recorded at Nashville's Sound Emporium Studios with overdubs at Cat Tracks Studio, the EP was co-produced by Price Jones and Grammy® award-winning engineer and producer Clarke Schleicher.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Roxercat. What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Hello LITM! This is Price (guitarist/singer for Roxercat) answering the questions.
First off we have Stan Lassiter. He is a guitar legend around these parts. Stan’s known for his mind blowing guitar technique and is considered a guitar players guitar player and in Nashville, that’s saying something. Stan is simply phenomenal. Every time he plays there’s genius flowing out of his fingertips. Then there’s Bill Francis. Bill’s a well studied jazz player who has also been playing his entire life. As he says “his job is to make you sound better” and he does. The groove this guy puts out is solid and unrelenting. Myself, I studied classical guitar in college and have been recording & playing music as long as I can remember. My biggest strengths lie in the uniqueness of my songwriting & singing style. I’ve also been producing music for quite awhile now and love the recording process.
Who inspired you to make music?
Personally I’ve been writing songs since I was a little girl. I still have recordings of songs I wrote when I was in the single digits lol. Stan and Bill are the same. We’ve all been musicians from a young age. We were all lucky enough to know what we wanted to do early on. It just came naturally and just seemed to be a part of who we were from the get go. I’d have to say though, my biggest earliest musical inspiration was The Beatles.
Your latest release is 'Pearls'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
All 3 of us had been working together for years on a rock opera project, The Fortunate Few : the rock opera. It was just about to be ready for the live show with a CD recording to back it up. Then the pandemic hit and the whole project fell apart. By the time live music started again, half our cast had moved away so although the project was released, without a live show it fizzled out. Stan, Bill and I had developed this incredible music chemistry during those 3 years playing together and wanted to continue our sonic journey. So we decided to start a new band. Out of the ashes arose Roxercat! Recording the EP went well. The biggest hitch happened when I got COVID a week or so after the tracking sessions. It took me a good 2 plus months before I could sing well enough again to record. So that was a big delay.
Can you shortly describe each of the tracks that are on the EP?
The song Pearls is a ballad with a smooth slide guitar that sets a "floating on the lake" mood and speaks of a desire for happiness, belief in each other and making dreams come true. The song embodies Price Jones' worldview as a simple message: no matter the current status of relationships with the people who come and go throughout your life, you can still wish them happiness. "Life is about surrounding yourself with people that believe in you – and you in them – and always holding on to your dreams," says Price.
Crime is a rocking plea for people to stop giving away their power to systems designed to distract, pacify, and influence – "you drink their wine 'til you’re drunk with rage," sings Price Jones. It's a warning to take back control of our minds, beliefs, and thoughts. It's too easy in a fast-paced, digital world to blindly believe what you may read or hear without question and allow others to dictate who you should love or hate. "You just let them in. You give it all away."
Baby I Tried carries us through the emotional rollercoaster at the end of a relationship that doesn't serve us. Much like the stages of grief, we experience a wistful melancholy, followed by bargaining and sadness, ending in a wave of fiery anger. "Don't look for me 'cause now I'm free."
I Will Not Lie will resonate with anyone who has ever been in a relationship with someone whose family and friends disapproved of them. The interference of outside forces can derail even the most profound love and best intentions. Ultimately, we can't control how people treat us; sometimes, the only answer is to walk away. As Jones sings, "I chose to move ahead."
I Changed Today is a song inspired by life's unexpected twists and turns. It's about waking up one day with an inexplicable feeling that life as you've known it will never be the same again. "I've always felt like life happens in chapters. But, sometimes, I sense that a major paradigm shift is about to occur. I have no idea what will happen or whether it will be good or bad. I feel an unexpected and profound sense of a change out of the blue," says songwriter Price Jones. 2020 is Price Jones's diary of the year 2020 and takes us on an emotional, primarily instrumental, journey of uncertainty. For Jones and her bandmates, the year started positively, with the completion of recording for her rock opera and preparations beginning for the live show. Then, the pandemic hit; plans were put on hold, and loved ones were lost. Nevertheless, the song finishes with a hopeful vibe, reminding us that "that's just life." Our hearts can and will heal.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest musical trends?
We don’t. Plain and simple. At this point in our lives we’re making music that makes us happy. We’re doing what we do best. If we were staying up to date with the latest trends, we’d have triggered drum tracks instead of those big live thick drum sounds and synth instead of that beautiful live Hammond organ.
What makes you different from others?
I think the last answer is the answer to this question as well. We aren’t trying to sound like the latest musical trends. We’re just doing what we do best which is live instruments playing rock n roll!
What’s an average day like for you?
Life is never boring! Depends on the day, the week, etc… Right now we’ve been super busy promoting our EP since we’re still in week 2 of our release. That can take all day during the first couple of weeks. It’s crazy how much time promoting a record requires. Personally I’m looking forward to getting back to playing and making music for the next EP!
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans.
We love fans and try to respond to everyone! What’s music without fans?!
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Practice practice practice! Be you and follow your heart! Don’t put value in what other people think or say about your music. Believe in yourself and play music because it makes you feel whole and fills that wondrous imaginative space in your soul that yearns to create!
What are your plans for the future?
Our plans are to rock on! We’ve got sessions booked for late spring to start recording next EP. Big picture includes getting enough traction with our music to be able to tour. Until then we continue to create & love life!