Sauce

70s nostalgia is alive and well in the Josh Rouse (it rhymes with mouse) camp, but for an era when quality was abundant, nostalgia’s treasures make up for any dreamy-eyed wistfulness. With the release of his new album, Country Mouse City House, Josh continues to buck the 21st century paradigm of “if it looks good, it must be good,” as I found out…

Where am I talking to you today?
I’m in Brooklyn, New York.

How is it there [in the] the City of Dreams?
Yeah, it’s nice, actually! Weather’s pretty nice today, you know. All the tourists have left… well, a lot of people left during August so I have the city to myself. It’s nice, yeah.

A bit like Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky!
Well… yeah!

How was it contributing a song to the soundtrack of Vanilla Sky?
Well it was great, it was a lot of fun, I got to go to the premiere, you know, and see a bunch of movie stars. And… good! It exposed my music to more people. It’s been good. Yeah, that was really nice.

And how did it feel hearing your music in that film while you watched it?
It was pretty cool, because the first time I saw it I was actually in a movie theatre with Tom Cruise and yeah, everyone that was, like, in the movie was at the premiere, so… It felt pretty good! Yeah, I mean, you know, at that time I think I was like twenty… how old was I then? I was like twenty-eight years old, so, you know, and just kind of starting out in the music business. So you know, I thought it was a big deal. At the time. [Laughs]

So you’ve got kind of used to that sort of thing now?
Well, I don’t know, I mean I’m not going to premieres, you know, I mean, all the time. Every once in a while I get a song in a movie. But, yeah, I guess it’s kinda like anything, you get used to it you know?

Yep. Just becomes part of the job.
Well, Yeah.

Josh, let’s go back into the past a couple of years, in 2006 you said in an interview, “I get tired of the kind of thing that I do, there’s so many people doing it. Now, you go to an Indie records shop and there’s all this folk-pop that’s kind of light.” How do you feel in relation to that quote now?
Ah well I think it still holds true, right?

In what way?
I mean it’s still pretty popular, you know? There’s a lot of people doing it, you know? I mean, in ’98 there was a few people doing it. I mean, I haven’t invented it or anything. And I remember when I started I got a lot of criticism for it, being kind of mellooow, you know… And now… a lot of people [are] doing that kind of stuff, it’s just a bit more accepted. Which is great! I’m not trying to… that just happens sometimes within music, within cultures of music, and everyone kinda gets into that sort of thing and suddenly everyone’s releasing these kinda mellow folk-pop records… that are kind of, they have a dreamy atmosphere. I’m sure I won’t be the last.

I guess it’s all a matter of context. Wouldn’t you agree?
Well, yeah, exactly. Everyone’s kinda got their own… their own little thing. I think it’s great.

Well, your little thing is your style, and your inspiration you draw from the 70s. But it’s 21st Century technology that has enabled you to sorta strike out on your own, via your independent label. How do you think you would have gone if you were actually in the 70s?
I’d probably be buddies with David Geffen.

So you’d be working the old school network?
Well, that’s what it was, really. Well, you’re on a major label, doing, you know… If you were a good songwriter that’s the most important thing, I guess. I don’t think it was so much emphasis based on a kind of a style, or you know, marketing, the looks of the band… It was more about attitude. If it sounded good, it was good. You know what I’m saying? You can’t… I mean, the video age - that kinda went out the door. [Laughs] Definitely it was a different time, if you had the melodies, and songs, I think… you were gonna have a pretty good little fan base!

Yep, well that’s an interesting insight, and it really keys into the “video killed the radio star” sort of comment made in the early 80s. To what extent do you agree with that?
Well, it’s true! You know, I mean, there’s a funny story about Kris Kristofferson - the video age, it killed him, basically. It ruined well, you know at that point it ruined his career cause he was kinda overweight; kinda balding dude, you know. He wasn’t like, a real outgoing performer, but people just loved… his recordings! I think he made a video or appeared on some kind of awards show and it just really… hurt him! Well, that’s what they say.

Perhaps if they’d handed out blindfolds at his gigs he would’ve lasted a little longer!
[Laughs] Yeah, yeah.

http://www.joshrouse.com/

Listen to the full interview Below