The Rogers Sisters

Soma Soma Scene Interview - 02/11/06

FILIAL LOVE WITH THE ROGERS SISTERS

Meeting Laura (drums), Jennifer (vocals/guitar) and Miyuki (vocals/bass) in London and the conversations are flowing from the word go. Over here for just one day of non-stop promos for upcoming album release, ‘The Invisible Deck’ the band are in great spirits despite it being near the end of a manic day. “I love sitting around, drinking and eating all day and talking about myself,” frontwoman Jennifer says with a large grin. “It’s because back at home, life is such a nightmare!” She and the band start laughing. Why so? “Because, we just work so hard when we are at home…just so hard.”

The band are also infamous for partying hard as well and are slightly worse for wear as they feel the repercussions of their heavy session in Madrid the night before. Sipping on green, swamp-looking herbal energy drinks in a trendy Thai restaraunt in Liverpool Street is their remedy for quick success. What are their plans for this fine February evening? “I want to go to a poetry reading,” Miyuki announces. “I want to take a large speedball!” is Laura’s answer back. More laughing, more sipping on spinach-type drinks and you get some idea of the contagious humorous and friendly nature of this band. Great, bring on the hypotheticals!

I tell the band that the stereotypes most people have for independent music mags are that they are usually rubbish, may have the odd few readable articles and are run by a futile music crusader. I ask the band what mistaken stereotypes they most encounter as a band. “People usually think we’re a Christian or religious band,” Miyuki says. “And people think we write just fun pop songs all the time but we write about so much more!” Jennifer says. The band enjoy talking about politics and are also interested in history. “When we visit a new city or country, we always take to the streets with our guide books. We love looking around and learning more. We don’t just sleep all day and party all night, we love travelling and make the most of it,” Laura says. Jenifer agrees, “everything I do and say is political or driven. Music is the one side of my life where it’s not all
politics but sometimes they cross over.”

This is hammered home through songs like ‘’The Conversation’ on the new album. “That song came about after I watched the Gene Hackman film of the same name. It’s about the lack of privacy we have today and I was just making a point,” Miyuki tells me. “But now it all fits in with Bush and the ways things are going so it can be interpreted in a political context or even if you’re just at home and feeling lonely you can relate to the song.” The band certainly delve deep on this album; not only through subject matter but also throughout the recording process. “This album is more conceptual in style. We didn’t have a ‘set’ theme running through it but we approached the writing and recording in a more holistic way than we have before,” Jennifer says. “But it was pretty hard; creatively and professionally – really long hours and a challenging process but we’re so happy that we’ve done it this way.”

The challenges the band face are hinted at through song titles like ‘Emotional Control’ and ‘Never Learn To Cry’. “Miyuki and I have very different song processes and we brought our ideas together on ‘Emotional Control’ and that’s why it’s a juxtaposition – we were coming at it from two completely different ends,” Jennifer says. ‘Never Learn To Cry’ is a Breeders-esque swim through hooky guitar riffs and breezy girl vocals.

Aside from music and politics, the band are heavily into films and TV. “We love British TV – shows like Alan Partridge and The Office,” Jennifer says. “We also love films – documentaries just everything.” The band also indulge in plenty of reading and enjoy biographies of musicians as well as exploring the history of music. “We would love to do our own film. It would probably be something like ‘Head!’ Or maybe some kinda cartoon would be fun…” Jennifer says wistfully. “Yes! A cartoon, then I could do my own voice! Jennifer and I are not very good actresses but Miyuki would be great!” Laura says.

Miyuki sticks with the cartoon idea. “We’ve thought about doing a murder-mystery animation where we go out solving crimes. We could get loads of people involved – like it would be good to have a drink with George Best in it – his ghost – or maybe with his liver – it could speak and tell us stories…Now THAT would be fun…”

Sticking with the slightly absurd, I ask the band what embarassing tracks they would play on an invisible record deck? “I’m not embarassed by anything I play! But I would have Sir Mixalot’s ‘Baby Come Back’ on repeat!” Miyuki says. Let’s hope The Rogers Sisters make it back to see us in the UK really soon. A terrifically creative band who are terrifically fun people. Let’s raise our herbal drinks to them with pride.

Photographs and interview by Dee Sekar

Soma Soma Scene