INDEX
Encountering Blues Valuing My Own Instincts Over Others’ Opinions
Are there any struggles you’ve been facing with composing lately?
Roka： One of the struggles is that I’m not very skilled with playing instruments. Even when I’m creating sounds, I prefer to play the keyboard myself rather than just cutting and pasting MIDI notes. I really dislike that process. This limits the sounds I can create based on the instruments I can play, which in turn narrows the range of arrangements I can make. Ideally, I’d love to create music in the studio with other musicians who play instruments.
It seems like you’re not caught up in the live sound vs. DAW debate but rather embrace live sound in a DAW-dominant era. Why do you place such emphasis on instruments even when using DAW?
Roka： It’s because I was deeply moved by blues music, which made me really appreciate the skill and passion of the performers. I want to value the act of actually playing music. When it comes to the sound itself, it can be hard to tell whether something is a sample or live sound, but for me, knowing “this was recorded live” is something that makes me feel more convinced. While I do love technology and generally support it, I still believe the best sound comes from live recordings.
Your music journey has been full of twists and turns, and all of those experiences have shaped your music. What do you think is your strength as an artist?
Roka： I’ve realized that as long as I know what kind of music I want to make and what I love, I can create endless songs. Even if others don’t like them, I can keep making music as long as I’m satisfied with it. In the past, I was very concerned with what others thought. But after discovering blues, I learned to prioritize my own feelings and instincts.
