EMQ’s with ROZU
Hi Everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Denver, Colorado based Post-Hardcore band ROZU! Huge thanks to vocalist Tim Graham for taking part!
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Hey guys my name is Tim Graham and I do all the vocals for Rozu. A brief history of the band is me and guitarist DJ Sundine wanting to write some music and give the whole band thing one last shot. After we had some material we brought in Brian and Henry because they were so extremely like-minded, great at their craft, and just overall great dudes to be around. From there we brought in our producer Tyler Ruehl and just got to work for about a year writing music and getting the whole vision for the branding and overall aspects of the band before finally announcing the band in June of 2018.
How did you come up with your band name?
We wanted something very unique, easy to remember, and short. Rozu was on a list of like 50 names we had and started polling them around to our peers and was an overall favourite. It is a very fitting name being the Japanese word for rose and that fact that this band is like a blooming rose from the ashes of our past endeavours.
What country are you from and what is the metal scene like there?
We are from Denver Colorado, USA. The scene here is very unique and full of talent. In Denver it seems to die off then come back in waves but still a tight knit community.
What is your latest release (Album, EP, Single, Video)?
Our latest release was our single ‘Divide’, which we released back in May.
Who have been your greatest influences?
I want to say collectively our biggest influences have been Underoath, Like Moths To Flames, Wage War, and Every Time I Die.
What first got you into music?
Really just kind of grew up loving music, my dad was always a rock guy and introduced me to like Tool, Pearl jam, and Metallica. I always wanted to be in a band but wasn’t ever really successful with it. I started touring with some friends as a tour manager and eventually filled in for a couple tours as a vocalist, and from there I’ve just always been in a band.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Being my favourite vocalist of my favourite band, I would love to collaborate with Spencer Chamberlin of Underoath.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Reading would be incredible to play. For America having the scene lose the Warped Tour it kind of takes away the smaller milestone and Reading is just such a crazy big music festival that it would be a dream come true to play.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
From an older band this girl drew me and my guitarist at the time as skeleton people which was just random but also the coolest gift ever. We actually used it as a cover art for a little side project we did.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
First and foremost, we love you all so much and as we continue to grow it is great meeting new fans and making new friends. Besides that, within our music the message is hope and being comfortable in your own skin. It is ok to not be ok and we want people to always have that hope that things and life will get better.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Chester Bennington from Linkin Park!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy the creating of the music and getting to see as much of the world as we can playing our music and sharing the art. Besides from people just wanting to take advantage of you on the industry side I don’t really hate anything about playing music.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Weeding the people out that have that mindset I just discussed.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Easy, “Define The Great Line” by Underoath is just a great album front to back and I never get bored of it.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I love the convenience of downloads and streaming but there is just something about holding the Vinyl and enjoying the music from a player.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
We got to do this Pay Per View wrestling event where one of the wrestlers uses our song Anchor as her walkout. That was just such a cool and unique set I’ve ever played.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I would for sure still be working on the business side of the industry because I love developing and managing bands.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Spencer Chamberlin, Jared Leto, Dave Grohl, RZA, and Dr. Dre! That would be a wild little party.
What’s next for the band?
We are just finishing our album right now and we are starting to plan some tours for early 2020.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/rozu_official/
Other than Instagram head to:
www.rozuband.com
and be fully connected to everything Rozu.
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
I will for sure let you guys know when I have experienced a Jaffa Cake.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you guys so much for having us.
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