Temperatures is perhaps dropping –– even in SoCal –– however listening to Tangerine Skies, Sublime with Rome’s newest EP, it appears like summer season.
It’s been 12 years since Chic with Rome’s debut, Yours Actually, which served because the world’s formal introduction to Rome Ramirez, who, by the best way, is just not making an attempt to be or exchange the late Bradley Nowell, frontman of the OG Chic. Head to any of the band’s dwell reveals and also you’re certain to listen to the Chic hits you’ve sung alongside to a minimum of 420 occasions. BUT, with catchy beats, infectious grooves, and straight-talk lyrics, Chic with Rome originals can certain as hell maintain their very own.
“I really feel like over time, we’ve been capable of develop as musicians and artists and take heed to totally different stuff and discover totally different inspiration, however on the identical time, nonetheless make it sound like house –– nonetheless paying homage to the system that Brad, Bud, and Eric began,” Ramirez tells me.
Fast historical past lesson if anybody’s new right here: Bradley Nowell, Bud Gaugh, and Eric Wilson are the unique members of Chic. Wilson is at the moment the one authentic Chic member in Chic with Rome. He’s additionally the one who hand-selected a then-teenaged, Chic mega-fan Ramirez to affix him and Gaugh on their new enterprise. Nevertheless, Gaugh has since left the band, and the present SWR lineup is comprised of Ramirez on guitar and vocals, Wilson on bass, and Joe Tomino on drums. And now you’re all caught up.
This “system” that Ramirez mentions is what offers the 4 songs on Tangerine Skies that acquainted summery California reggae/ska/different rock/beachy-stoner-music vibe everyone knows and love. The EP begins off sturdy with “Cool & Collected,” the band’s collab with Barely Stoopid –– that includes horns and feel-good lyrics, together with, after all, some traces about weed. The 2 lately toured collectively, and Barely Stoopid is a band who’s additionally bought sturdy ties to Chic. In truth, they had been initially signed to Nowell’s document label, Skunk Information, again within the ‘90s.
Subsequent up on the EP is “All I Want,” a light-weight and vibey tune addressing the plain ache on the earth, however realizing love and good issues will nonetheless come your means. “My favourite takeaway from Chic was like, irrespective of how tough it bought, there was all the time a means out,” Ramirez says. “And if there wasn’t, you simply have a superb time when you’re going via it.” And yeah, in opposition to your mom’s needs, getting drunk and/or excessive possible helps in that division.
The third tune, “Battle Scar,” full with enjoyable, bouncy, syncopated guitar (a ska/reggae staple, after all) is about rising up in a crappy place, and looking for your means out of it. “It’s sort of like parting your individual kind of paradise out of hell, after which when you’re fortunate sufficient to crawl out of that and get to a greater place, you’re normally left with a battle scar or two,” he says.
Whereas he was rising up in “the hood,” as Rome says, he knew that it doesn’t matter what, he was going to have a profession in music, however he simply wasn’t certain precisely how that’d play out. “I knew I’d be enjoying music for a dwelling, however you realize, clearly, I didn’t assume I’d ever be a part of my favourite band,” he says. “I by no means thought that I’d be as quote-unquote profitable as I’m right now or no matter. I simply needed to dedicate myself to enjoying music, and no matter got here from that might be ok for me.”
Don’t you simply love when issues prove means higher than anticipated?
Lastly, title observe “Tangerine Skies,” a mellow near the EP, is Ramirez artfully reflecting on rising up and beginning over –– wanting again on how his priorities shifted when he grew to become a husband and father, evolving but additionally not eager to utterly ditch the person who he was. Balancing work, household, weed, and wine. Life is actually totally different now for Ramirez than it was again when he first began this venture.
Should you’re questioning in regards to the title of the observe/EP, twinning with hashish pressure Tangerine Sky was only a pleased coincidence, Rome says. We’re speaking in regards to the coloration of unbeatable California skies right here, in spite of everything. “But in addition… Tangerine is without doubt one of the greatest,” he confirms.
And whereas we’re on the subject of weed, it ought to go with out saying that hashish performs an integral position in Ramirez’s artistic course of when he’s writing new materials for the band. However after all, I needed to ask.
“It helps me sort of cool down the voices and deal with issues which might be a bit of bit much less tangible,” he says. “I’m capable of sort of discover a bit of extra –– that’s one thing that I don’t assume I’ll ever transfer away from. Within the studio, it permits me to only recover from a few of my self-conscious considering and be a bit of bit extra artistic.” As a result of sure, even this far into his profession, Ramirez nonetheless will get self-conscious when he writes.
As for what he’s smoking lately, now that he’s “getting older” (his phrases, not mine –– he’s solely in his mid-30s, however I digress) it’s largely about vapor and concentrates reasonably than “blazing a bunch of blunts” –– however don’t fear, there’s a time and a spot for that too.
Ramirez says previously, his favourite music was how he was capable of make it via powerful conditions, and with Chic with Rome’s music, he hopes to reciprocate that vitality.
“Sounds actually hippie-ish, however I swear it’s from a very real place, you realize? It’s been a tremendous, superb life, and I’ve been actually gifted by getting this chance to sing and play for my favourite band,” he says. “I simply need to have the ability to assist encourage a brand new Chic listener.”