Hello to all my loyal readers all over the world. I must start off by saying that I have been in a funk ever since I heard of the shootings in Aurora, CO. I will not get into as my superiors will not be too pleased but I will say that my thoughts and prayers are with all victims of senseless violence from the USA to Syria and beyond. We need to preach love & peace and not hate & violence. Now back to the music and I could not have a more lively, talented, and exciting musician named Roxy King out of San Diego, CA. Please know that Roxy King is not even 17 but she has done more in music than most will ever do. She has the got the “total package” I always talk about plus ambition and discipline. Her album ‘Arrival’ is out with a new video for “Muddled” and Roxy King sat with Stoli to talk about growing up in San Diego, the new album, her admiration for Carly Rae Jespen, and much more!
Stoli: Where are we chatting from today and how is summer in San Diego going?
ROXY: I’m currently just sitting at home and enjoying a nice relaxed afternoon. Summer in San Diego is amazing! I moved from Colorado last fall, so this is my first summer living here, and the weather, the beach, and the people have all been so much fun.
Stoli: I am so impressed at your ambition in music. How did your parents & upbringing help shape you into the musician you are today?
ROXY: Thank you so much! My parents are a huge part of my life. I’m so lucky to have parents that really support me in whatever I choose to do. They sacrifice so much to help me be whatever I want to be and I’m so grateful. They’ve always taught me that it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. That has been so helpful through this whole process. Doing what I love doing — creating music, recording and performing – keeps me really passionate and determined as a musician.
Stoli: At what point did you realize you want music to be a career?
ROXY: There was never a specific point in my life when I decided that I would pursue music. It has always been a part of me. To be honest, I don’t even remember ever wanting to do anything else! Ever since I was 2 or 3 years old, I was performing on the coffee table and asking to sing for anyone who would come to our house.
[youtube NnUl7Ni5BR8]Stoli: How do you avoid the many temptations that most 16 year olds face and focus on your passion?
ROXY: It’s all about the big picture for me. I look at a situation and say “Is it really worth it?” I’ve worked so hard in my career and I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of things, like time with my friends and just being a normal high-schooler. I wouldn’t trade it for the world though. I just feel that if a person is truly determined and dedicated to something, then they should never do anything that might jeopardize it.
Stoli: I am really enjoying your album, ‘Arrival.’ How long were you working on that and where did you record the album?
ROXY: I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it! It was recorded at Elytron Studios in Santa Monica and produced by Drew Sherrod. The songs are an accumulation of about two years of writing. Between pre-production, production, and post-production, it was around a three-year process. We would work 12 hour days in the studio and I would have school on top of that. It was a lot of work, but it was worth every minute. I really became interested in the whole engineering side of music after spending all that time watching the engineers work. Since releasing Arrival, I’ve written lots of new songs that goes into pre-production next month. I’m excited to get the new songs out because it shows how I am growing as a person and as a songwriter.
Buy: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/arrival/id449912124
Stoli: What song on the album is the main single and will there be a music video?
ROXY: Muddled is a song that is getting a lot of buzz right now. It’s got more of a rock sound and I actually just filmed a video for it that will be included in this feature! I hope you like it!
Stoli: I find your songwriting to be beyond your years. I really like “Magical Life.” What is that song about and when did you write that?
ROXY: That song is really special to me. I wrote in when I was 14. I was sitting in Los Angeles waiting for my plane and I saw this little girl. She was wearing a tutu and holding a doll and I just thought about how she was completely 100% being herself. She wasn’t worrying about being judged or about what other people thought of her. The song “Magical Life” is about how many people lose that quality as they get older. It’s one of my favorites to perform live.
Stoli: Being that you are still young, how does that help you when using social media and the Internet for marketing & promotion?
ROXY: I think social media is so important now! It’s unavoidable. I’m very lucky to be the age that I am because I understand social media pretty well and I’ve grown up with it. I can use it to my advantage because I have so many Facebook friends, Twitter followers and You Tube subscribers – I can notify friends and fans about what’s happening with my music.
Stoli: Carly Rae Jespen has taken off with her song, “Call Me Maybe.” Would you say that you are inspired by that and what did you learn about her fast success?
ROXY: I LOVE THAT SONG! My friends and I blast it all the time. I think it goes to show that it’s not just about dressing crazy, or having the deepest lyrics. If you have a song that people can listen to and feel something, like happiness, then you can have a hit song. That song is one I can listen to and automatically feel good because it’s so catchy. I wish the best of luck to Carly Rae Jespen!
Stoli: Reading your press kit you have accomplished alot in little time. What are you most proud of and how does school/college fit into your future plans?
ROXY: It’s quite an accomplishment for me to be able to hold my album in my hands and know that it’s my own! I’d say I’m most proud of just going for it and doing what I love. Pursuing this dream can be pretty scary but I’m going at it head first. I don’t want to look back and say “What if?” so I’m doing everything I can to make it happen. As far as school, both of my parents are educators and education is really important in our home. This fall, I’m going into my junior year of high school, which is a really important academic year! I will go to college – hopefully, UCLA or UCSB. I would love that!
Stoli: What advice can you offer all the kids/teens out there that have no hope and feel like life is against them?
ROXY: I actually just wrote a new song about that so it’s funny that you ask! My advice would be to keep going. It’s important to realize that nothing lasts forever. Even if it’s hard now, you have to have faith that the hard times will pass and everything will get better. Sometimes, I feel low too and I just try to focus on being a good person, and putting out good energy even if not everything is going my way. We are all stronger than we think we are. It’s important to wake up every morning and believe that everything will fall into place beautifully, exactly the way it should.
Stoli: Where can folks grab the album and where you @ online so we can follow Roxy King?
ROXY: People can check out ‘Arrival’ on itunes now. Thanks, Stoli. It was great talking to you!
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/arrival/id449912124
Website: www.roxyking.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/roxykingfanpage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/officialroxy
YouTube: www.youtube.com/officialroxyking
ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/roxykingmusic
