Pleased To Meet Me: Appaloosa
Introduce yourself... (Where are you from, what band do you play
in etc..)
ER: I’m Erica Rose from Seattle. I play guitar and sing for Appaloosa
Why do you play music?
ER: I can’t imagine NOT playing music at this point..it’s such an integral part of who I am. The other day, I counted and I’ve played in 11 very active bands since I started as a teenager, haha. It’s been consistent. I had a four or five month break when I was pregnant with twins and also in between bands and I felt like a huge part of me was missing. I guess the short answer is, I love the energy of playing in a band and I love writing songs and lyrics that feel like an extension of myself.
What was a major influence on you as an Artist/Band?
ER: I’ve had a lot of influencesover the years, but a several crucial ones that have inspired and (hopefully!)
shaped how I approach songwriting. Those big ones are, Mother Love Bone, Dead
Moon, Johnny Thunders, Hanoi Rocks, The Pretenders and the Jacobites.
What’s a favourite book or film?
ER: Favourite film is Bad Lieutenant, I love Zoe Lund.
Favorite book is Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr... if I remember correctly, there aren’t any quotation marks and you have to get to know the characters well enough to knows who’s talking!
Do you prefer the recording process or performing live?
ER: Both! Performing live is wildly fun and such an adrenaline rush! I love how it’s about and for both the band
and audience. But recording is so special. I love picking apart and fine tuning the songs we’ve all worked so hard on and documenting them to the best of our
ability.
What would be a dream collaboration?
ER: Dave Kusworth, if he were still alive.
Describe a favourite album.
ER: Robespierre's Velvet Basement by the Jacobites is an ultimate favorite. I love how beautiful and real and raw the songs are. The way Nikki and Dave play together is magical.
What's your favourite local haunt?
ER: Screwdriver Bar in Belltown, Seattle. It’s thecoolest rock n’ roll bar in town!
What's your strangest experience while performing live?
ER: I was playing a show at a venue in Brooklyn called the Acheron. The drummer for the band I was playing inat the time was away, so our singer opted to play drums and sing for this oneparticular show. He, perhaps, had 5 too many alcoholic beverages beforehand andwas in rough shape. Midway thru one of our songs, he completely fell off the the drum stool (while drumming and singing), but somehow, without hardly missing a beat, was able to get back up and continue playing as if nothing had happened!? Pretty wild!
If I were pursuing anything other than music it would be...
ER: Possibly writing! Or working more in harm reduction.
What are some of your favourite aspects of being a musician in
Seattle?
ER: My favorite part of Seattle is that it’s a small “big city.” There are definitely different “scenes” in music here, but there’s also so much overlap that I find really cool.
If you weren’t playing music in Seattle where would you be ?
ER: Probably living and playing music in NYC again! I lived there for about six years and loved it..tho having young kids, that might be difficult, haha.
Any sage advice for young musicians?
ER: Find ways to keep writing and playing no matter the challenges, obstacles..writer’s block, it’s always worth it.