Roots rock/blues artist Eric Roebuck has just released a blistering blues-rock single, “Need a Change.” @skopemag sat down with Eric to talk about this stellar single.
@skopemag: What is the story behind the song?
Eric: I wrote it in September 2020. There was a general feeling in the air that I wanted to shift things from the trajectory they were on. Last year was a weird time, and I feel like people really got to know each other and themselves, too. There was a lot of stress and different ways of coping. Not all were the right or necessarily the most healthy ways. I think this song came right out of that.
@skopemag: This song is wonderfully intense, especially with those blistering guitars. What made you take “Need a Change” in this direction, musically speaking?
Eric: With this group of dudes, I thought we could really dig our heals into this territory, musically. It came out pretty much exactly how I hoped it might. The guys who played on it are such stud players.
@skopemag: Did the song come easily?
Eric: I’d been messing with the chords for a week, then I sat down and sang the whole thing the first time. I wish they all were like that.
@skopemag: You’re based in Southern California. How does that place play a part in your music and your sound?
Eric: Costa Mesa houses a very cool scene. I think coming up with that pond of really talented musicians pushes me to go as far as I can with songwriting. There’s a lot of camaraderie. We all call The Wayfarer home. It’s a club in Costa Mesa that’s very inclusive and conducive for these types of things.
@skopemag: How would you describe your music?
Eric: It’s blues/country-based, but I’ve never known how to answer that question correctly. Those are pretty specific-sounding genres, and I’m not sure if we fit into either. I love bands like The Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR, Sturgill Simpson, Marcus King, and Tame Impala. They aren’t very genre-specific either; maybe that’s why I like them so much.
