Meet Roho: The Soulful Alté Artist Delivers Debut Project With A lot to Say
Like many artists, Roho’s love story with music began in the church. He relays being introduced to the merging of music and spirituality by his aunt-something he has held particularly close as he was putting together his debut offering.
“By tapping into my ancestral heritage I was able to slow down, refocus my energy and create from a really grounded place.”
“I’ve been working on the concept of this project for over 3 years-but for a large bulk of that time I was out of touch, or not as spiritually aligned as I would like to be.. So I needed to take a step back-get right with my ancestors and come back clear on the direction I wanted to take with this project and with my life.” he shares.
Roho is open about his shortcomings and his affinity to romance on this tape-even if it means trying again after something has fallen through. I ask him about the love interests his written about and how they feel about their business being laid out like that for everyone to hear. He laughs and says “With Two Fish especially, I gave the person a heads up that they would be on this project but I didn’t get into detail about it.. So after it dropped I saw a tweet this person put out that was like..”Here we go again with this sh*t” type of thing.
For more on the making of Ephemeral, writing from a place of reflection, and how much spiritual guidance infers Roho’s creative process, find our full interview below.
This interview has been lightly edited for the purpose of clarity and context.
Jade Kelly: Ephemeral just gets better with each listen. What has the response been like since you dropped?
Roho: Right after I dropped I put my phone on flight mode because I was just so anxious. I needed time to process everything-but when I eventually resurfaced I was met with so much love. It’s been great.
How long have you been working on this project?
I’ve been working on the concept of this project for over 3 years-bUt for a large bulk of that time I was out of touch, or not as spiritually aligned as I would like to be.. So I needed to take a step back-get right with my ancestors and come back clear on the direction I wanted to take with this project and with my life.
What did that process look like to you-getting back to yourself?
I think that leaning into my spirit guides was a big part of what helped me during that time.. I reconnected with a distant uncle who gave me a lot of insight to uncovering the history of our tribe…and by tapping into my ancestral heritage I was able to slow down, refocus my energy and create from a really grounded place.
What were you hoping to achieve with the release of Ephemeral?
This tape was about introducing myself and my sound to the world.. And hoping that it reaches the people who need it. Ephemeral is an ode to a transformative period in my life-about a summer that changed everything.
What do you mean “changed everything”?
I’m referring to the summer of 2018-and it was just such a good time enjoying my youth. My friends and I approaching the battle of indulgence and responsibility…Even though at the time I wasn’t ready to put out a body of work, it was a time that inspired a lot of the music on this project.
I guess it’s hard to choose, but what’s your favorite song off this project?
It is hard! I look at it as my baby and you’re asking me to choose a limb..But if I had to say, it would definitely be Two Fish.
What does that mean?
Its kind of a nod to a very special person who is a Pisces-two fish is the symbol for their star sign. I did it with the hopes of reaching out or reconnecting.
You have some unfinished business there?
Something like that.
And how do you navigate that-talking about really personal experiences you’ve shared with someone..do you worry that they’ll be pissed when they hear about it on a song?
I gave the person a heads up that they would be on this project but I didn’t get into detail about it.. So after it dropped I saw a tweet this person put out that was like…”Here we go again with this sh*t” type of thing. But its all love.
What do you look forward to most right now?
Just connecting with other artists-reaching more people and getting better at this music thing. I’m in the best place I’ve been in a really, really long time.
