By: Staff
Roger Ricks has just released a stunning new single, "I Would Do It," showcasing his incredible guitar skills and powerful vocal performance.
The track opens with Ricks effortlessly shredding on the guitar, creating a relaxed yet somber atmosphere that perfectly sets the tone for the emotional storytelling that follows. Ricks' voice is a perfect fit for rock 'n' roll, seamlessly blending sweetness and grittiness to deliver a truly captivating and heartfelt performance. His impressive vocal control allows him to unleash bursts of raw power, like a flare gun lighting up the sky, while maintaining a soothing, almost lullaby-like quality. The lyrics are simply mesmerizing, with lines like "And if I had to crawl around the world on my knees for you, I would do it" resonating deeply and showcasing Ricks' talent for crafting relatable, emotionally charged narratives. His delivery elevates the track to an iconic status, making it a must-listen for any fan of classic rock. It's hard to single out a standout quality, as the entire package is nothing short of exceptional. The vocals are flawless, brimming with raw emotion, while the guitars are full, bright, and hypnotizing, weaving a tranquil melody that draws the listener in. The lyrics are a testament to Ricks' artistry, reflecting his beautiful and selfless spirit. The engineering on this track is exceptional, delivering high-quality sound while highlighting all the best parts, allowing the listener to fully absorb this performance.
Ricks' solo project is heavily influenced by the likes of Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, The Black Crowes, and Prince, and he's already garnered recognition on several radio shows worldwide, including iHeart Radio. Get ready to be captivated by the sheer brilliance of "I Would Do It" and Roger Ricks' incredible talent.
This song is an absolute must-add to any playlist, and you'll definitely want to share it with your friends. Get on your favorite platform and blast Roger Ricks and “I Would Do It”.
Rick says, “The song was finished in just 20 minutes. Interestingly, however, it took me 15 years to record the song properly and finally decide to release it. It’s a very personal song where I reveal a lot of vulnerability, and for a long time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to make it public. Ultimately, the joy I felt from the song won out, and who knows, maybe it will help someone else in a similar situation.”
Wait, there's more!
We caught up with this exciting and established artist, for:
“The Cage” Music Blog, to talk about music and learn more about them.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Your guitar playing is absolutely beautiful. When did you first start playing and what are your favorite styles to play?
I played the organ as a child, but I didn't always enjoy it. In music lessons, we were constantly required to play old Schlager music and classical pieces, which didn’t excite me. When I was 12 years old, my father passed away far too early from cancer, and my life changed drastically. I was searching for something to hold on to, and I found it in rock music. The guitar heroes of the time, like Eric Clapton, Slash, Joe Perry, and others, fascinated me immensely. I was determined to play like them, so I bought a guitar from a friend for very little money and started practicing. I taught myself to play the guitar, piece by piece. I developed my own technique, as I lost part of the little finger on my left hand as a small child, making it difficult to grip with it. As a result, I focused more on feeling than on speed in my playing, and I’ve stayed true to that approach to this day. I’m still drawn to rock songs with strong guitar licks.
We are curious to learn about your guitar-building process - what goes into creating those custom electric guitars, and how does that hands-on work feed into your overall artistic expression?
I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and have made small furniture and other items. Then, one day I stumbled upon videos on YouTube about building guitars, and I was fascinated from the start. I watched these videos over and over until I wanted to try it myself. That’s when the passion was ignited. I love playing my own instruments. It gives me inspiration and adds a bit more excitement to my sound. Each guitar tells a story and has its own unique character. I’m sure this also influences my music and creativity.
As a musician who's also passionate about a meaningful cause, how do you balance the creative and the activist sides of your work? What's your approach to using your platform to drive positive change? Can you tell us the method and how you lend your support to these organizations?
As I mentioned, music has changed my life and given me strength during the darkest chapters. I firmly believe that music can change a lot and build bridges. I've been very fortunate in my life, and I decided to use my music to help children who have a less fortunate start in life than I did. For me, this is my way of saying thank you and giving back. Personally, it's not difficult for me to combine music with charity, but there are certainly people who question this and suspect that my project is just PR to gain more reach. I can live with that. My goal is not to be liked by everyone, but to make a difference with my music. The purpose of my project is that people don't need to donate actual money; they can simply help by listening to music, generating donations in the process. The more people listen to the music, the more I can financially support charitable organizations. In other words, just 30 seconds of listening can make a small contribution to improving a child's future prospects.
What emotion do you feel inspires your writing process the most, i.e., sadness, worry, happiness, etc.?
For me, it's much easier to transfer negative emotions into music. A certain sadness has always been a part of my life and, as such, a constant companion in composing my songs. My music isn't light; it's not pure feel-good music, but rather has a somewhat darker character, though combined with a positive message. It is meant to help people in difficult situations look forward to the future with a more positive outlook.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process and where the inspiration comes from for this latest project?
When I wrote this song, I was in a very sad mood, feeling helpless, and these emotions were so strong that the song just poured out of me. I sat down, and it flowed. There are times when you keep changing things and work on a song for a long time. But with this song, everything came together very naturally, and after about 20 minutes, it was composed. That was about 15 years ago. It took me all this time to finally gather the courage to release this deeply personal song.
Where do you create your music, i.e., in a home recording studio or with a producer? How do you finalize your finished work, i.e., self-mixed/mastered or another source?
I produce everything myself in my home studio, except for the drums. Real rock 'n' roll needs real drums, and unfortunately, I can't record them in my apartment because the neighbors would go crazy. So, I first write the songs and program the drums, then send the tracks to a wonderful studio drummer in Nashville, who records the drum parts and sends them back to me to integrate into my production. Once everything is complete, the songs are finalized by professional mixing and mastering engineers, giving them the finishing touches. For example, my most recent songs were mixed by Joe Carrell, a mix engineer nominated for 11 Grammys, which makes me very proud.
Is any part of your music's message or your personal purpose you feel fans should know more about? If so, what is that element, and why is it so important to you?
For me, the top priority is: stay true to yourself and don't try to be someone else just to please others. This is reflected in my music. I think I could produce music that appeals to a broader audience and thus has a greater chance of becoming well-known, but that wouldn’t be me. I play what I feel. I am who I am, with all my flaws, and that's okay. I hope listeners can sense this and embrace the experiment of staying true to themselves and caring less about what others think of them. For me, this is the essence of life, relationships, and ultimately, music.
If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
It’s not in my nature to try to forcefully change given circumstances; instead, I try to make the best of them and possibly set a natural process of change in motion. At the moment, it's trendy to complain about streaming platforms because they pay very little for music while generating a lot of money for themselves. This is certainly true, but we have to be realistic. Without these platforms, I would have no way to get my music out there and would be dependent on a label, which would significantly reduce my chances. Of course, the current trends towards AI and other developments are not very encouraging, but I’m confident that genuine emotions will always find a place in the hearts of listeners.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be brave and fearless. Don’t listen to your doubters, but to your supporters. Go out, play as much as possible in front of people, and overcome the fear that others might not like you.
What instruments do you play? Which is your favorite?
I play guitar, keys, bass, and a bit of drums. For me, the guitar is definitely the instrument with which I can express myself best. It just comes most naturally to me.
Was there ever a time when you emotionally felt, “I can’t do this anymore”? Can you tell us why this happened and how you found the strength to continue?
I think every artist knows these moments. For example, when you release a song and realize it creates not the kind of reactions as you hoped. Or when you’ve sent a song to radio stations for what feels like the hundredth time and keep getting rejections. As a musician, you constantly face rejection and setbacks. Ultimately, though, I create music for my own well-being, so quitting is simply not an option. I prefer to focus on the small successes, take things step by step, and enjoy my acoustic diary rather than dwelling too much on the setbacks. However, I would be lying if I said I always handle this perfectly. There are definitely days when all the negative things seem to gather like a fierce storm and feel very threatening. But since I’m no longer 20 and have experienced such moments many times, I know that they will pass.
We have experienced that many people perform acts of selflessness each day. Once your artistry has reached far and wide, how will you use that more powerful voice to have a bigger positive impact on our world?
There are many famous people who pursue charity projects and thats great. but at the same time they lead an enormously luxurious and lavish life. my goal would be to set an example here. i have a nice, but not luxurious lifestyle. i don't need expensive cars, watches, boats, villas, etc. so even if i would be very successful, i would like to maintain this standard and rather support more projects with the funds that have an effective impact
What is the most inspirational thing a fan, or anyone, has told or shown you about your music?
for me, it is always the greatest motivation when a fan tells me how my music has helped to give them energy in difficult situations. for me, giving strength with my music is the greatest reward for my work that i can imagine.
thank you very much!
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Roger Ricks on Spotify & YouTube.
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