[Originalmente publicado no Pórtico]
“The Wheel”, just released last December, is the second album by Black Rose Burning and a collection of dark, meaningful tunes ready to be discovered. Black Rose Burning is the New York-based project of George Grant, the man behind the music and lyrics. George was kind enough to chat with Pórtico.
"The Wheel", album cover
Thank you so much for the interview!
Let’s take the boring stuff out of the way. *sigh* I reckon everyone asks this, but it’s important to situate our readers. So, Bandcamp lists Black Rose Burning under Alternative, Gothic, Indie Rock and Post-punk, amongst others. As a musician, what are your influences? I don’t mean favourite bands only. I also mean other influences: movies, books, people, the weather, a distant nebula in a faraway galaxy, whatever has influenced your music and lyrics. Spill all them beans!
My musical influences are pretty vast. Everything from KISS to Slayer to GBH to Bauhaus to Motown. Even old school country music. The one thing I don’t listen to very much of is Jazz. As far as other influences, most of my time is spent following science fiction both old and modern. Next to music, it’s my most favorite subject in the world. I’ve always been obsessed with Dune and Frank Herbert. Issac Asimov is a favorite author as is AE Van Vogt. Star Trek over Star Wars (but I like them both). And my all time favorite Sci-Fi movie would probably be John Carpenter’s The Thing or the original Alien. What’s not to love about those films?
“Alien” is one of my favourite movies ever as well.
Once you said “I like outer space”, and in fact your lyrics are full of imagery regarding the subject, going back to “Under Twin Suns” (first album “The Year Of The Scorpion”, 2020). My favourite song in “The Wheel” is actually “Lightspeed”, a very catching tune with beautiful lyrics, which I personally interpret as a metaphor about freedom and escape. (Other listeners may have different interpretations.) Where did this fascination with space come from? School, movies, books? But do you know that “in space no one can hear you scream”? ;)
You could very well say that the song Lightspeed is about escape and freedom. Taken both literally and figuratively. Staying in the same place in your life inside a bubble or on a starship in basically a time bubble traveling. Either would probably make anyone weary after a while don’t you think? There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a rut. And when you are and come out on the other side it’s like you’re free again.
Song “Antonia” is way up there in the romantic scale. (Heads up, loverboys, this is the song you want to woo your beloved! You can thank me later.) Forgive us for being nosy. Is Antonia a real person or your “ideal woman”? Tell us more, tell us more!
Antonia is indeed a real person. She’s my partner of over 20 years and my wife 9 of those. She’s helped me through some hard times − in all forms − and is the most supportive force in my immediate life. All the years I have been making music I haven’t paid tribute to her with a song. It was long overdue.
That is very romantic!
What was it like to release your debut albums during the pandemic? (A question I never had to ask anyone before.) Surely it was not as good as it should concerning promotion (gigs and events cancelled, etc), but, on the other hand, did you feel that people had more time to discover new music? Were there any upsides? What are your thoughts?
The pandemic gave me a lot of free time to create a lot of music. I worked during part of it and when things got pretty bad I was off and had all day (and many late nights) to concentrate. As bad as the circumstances were for a lot of people, it really gave me the perfect boost − time wise − at the perfect time. I hibernated and solidified my ideas. It was a period of immense growth and introspection for me. As far as the rest, I think that the advent of Twitch streams during the pandemic brought the goth/postpunk scene together in a way like never before. Worldwide. I made so many new friends and heard so much wonderful new music because of the pandemic AND Twitch. That’s how WE met! I did miss performing a bit − but my main emphasis had been on writing and recording anyway. I’m glad I have some shows coming up and I’ll be able to get back out there soon.
Black Rose Burning has made some nice covers: “Red Skies” (The Fixx), “Shout” (Tears For Fears), “Ever Fallen In Love” (Buzzcocks). Any other covers you’re currently contemplating?
My covers are always songs that I have always loved. They come at random though. I’ll hear the song and think to myself “I should cover that”. There’s no rhyme or reason other than the above. I just have to hear the song, have it hit me at the right time and if I have the drive to actually put it into process it was meant to be. I’ve never tried a cover and scrapped it.
I understand what you mean by that.
In normal times, I’d finish by asking if you have already considered touring Europe and, especially, playing in Portugal. Since such things, sadly, are nowadays so out of our control, I’ll simply ask what are your plans for Black Rose Burning in the near future.
We have a few shows coming up and I’m constantly on the hunt for more. I’d like to do some touring over the summer and when things hopefully get better, visit Europe as well. I’d love to pass through Portugal (I’ve never been) as I have heard it is very beautiful there. Playing shows would be a bonus! I’m slowing working on an EP which I’ll probably release in 6 months or so − and hopefully I’ll be able to get all the guests I’d like to be part of it lined up. It will also be the first time we record the music as a band, which will be an exciting new twist as well. I should have some remixes from a few people from songs on “The Wheel” coming as well. And last, but not least, I’ll be putting together videos for some of the new songs. I have an ongoing storyline in my videos and I’m working on the 3rd installment now. Parts 1 and 2 are on my YouTube page. If someone likes science fiction they’ll probably really enjoy them. It also takes me a long time to produce them because I do everything myself (storyline, filming, editing, special FX and sets) but I’m kind of a perfectionist in way that I have to come as close to what I see in my mind’s eye − on a limited budget. I consider that super challenging. I’m a very busy boy as you can see!
I admire artists that can do everything themselves. That storyline idea for videos as installments is very intriguing. I’ll definitely have a look now.
Again, thank you for talking to us.
Black Rose Burning’s new album “The Wheel”, as well as the previous releases, is available on several streaming platforms and on Bandcamp:
blackroseburning.bandcamp.com
Other links:
Website: www.blackroseburning.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackroseburning
Instagram: black_rose_burning
Twitter: @blkroseburning
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/blackroseburning/
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/user-640046899
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0v5iflv29Z5iYpK6a0Rkee?si=-UGbopzUTCOdrBdKux9STw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/black-rose-burning/1518408681
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