Today we’d like to introduce you to John Rosser.
Hi John, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In the spring of 2016, my friends and I, who had been playing music in different Atlanta bands for years, got together for a jam session in a basement. After some time, we made the decision to form a band, but we needed to find a lead singer. Leroi, our other guitarist, introduced us to Leif Westermark, a former colleague who initially turned us down. However, after a couple of weeks of coaxing and a few practice sessions hearing us play, he gave in and joined up. We were blown away by his songwriting skills and vocal range, and he quickly became an essential part of the group.
That’s how it all began for us. Nothing wild or shockingly out of the ordinary. Just five of us who came together in a lousy basement and happened upon some incredible chemistry, realized it was something to hang on to and got to work making the best music we could.
Over the next three years, we settled on a name, wrote and recorded an album, and began playing gigs. The name Rosser was the result of a year of haggling and arguing over way too many rules and hang-ups. We eventually agreed my surname was likely the only choice everyone could live with (and it worked for Van Halen, right??).
Gigging began in mid-2019, with a string of sold-out crowds at the Earl, 529, and a brief tour in a minivan through Raleigh to Rockville, Maryland, where we played at a True Respite Brewery party to help launch a Rosser edition beer named “Kisses From the Sun” after a lyric in our song Tiny Hot Spot.
We worked for over a year with local indie producer Dan Dixon (PLS PLS, NRCSSST) to craft a ten-song album, which debuted in October 2021 under the House Cat Records label.
In 2020 and 2023, Robbie Nelson and Chris Senador joined the band, replacing our original drummer and bass player.
Now, crawling out of a dreary winter, albeit one illuminated temporarily by a near sell out show supporting Interstellar Echoes at Terminal West in January, we have decided to kick open the doors to spring with our new single, Crazy Glue.
Adhering to the same upbeat vibe as our breakout track Tiny Hot Spot, Crazy Glue offers a short, sharp shock that reminds listeners that the Rosser sound is a mashup of the 80s and early 90s, with a distinctive modern twist. Typically the case with our music, comparisons are often made with The Cars, and in the case of Crazy Glue, a little bit of the Strokes comes to mind during the machine-gun notes of the chorus and restrained intensity of the song surrounding it. As always, Leif’s vocals set a new standard for local Atlanta talent.
Crazy Glue by Rosser was released on Spotify and other music platforms on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nope, not smooth at all because… well, the band’s original drummer broke his back within a year of us forming. Later, his Prius was broken into during a recording session. Drums and cymbals were stolen. One summer’s eve, I accidentally drove my 97 T-bird into Leroi’s front yard telephone pole. Robbie officially joined the band two weeks before total Covid lockdown, rendering us inactive for months until we found a way to practice outside, which is a whole story in and of itself. And Leif’s Great Pyrenees, Bucket O’Dingus, continues to escape his backyard and runs through the neighborhood for hours seemingly every time we’re over there trying to scheme up our next mission.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Rosser creates Atlanta’s finest alt-wave music. Leif plays a keytar, and that makes us pretty unique. We also have a band plant that travels with us. He is a small potted cactus named Jactus and although he’s a prickly little fella, he’s known for bringing good vibes to the studio and to our live shows.
What does success mean to you?
I’d say we define success as time spent together as friends, creating music, and enjoying each other’s company while simultaneously attempting to make a positive impact on society’s eardrums. Gigging in a filled-up club and watching people mouth the lyrics to our songs is also pretty darn fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.housecatrecords.com/rosser
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebandrosser/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebandrosser/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebandrosser6594
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Suf5PQXYfC6VXd1IQ1fnM
