Rox: interview

What Lauryn Hill was to the 90s, much talked-about star and ‘BBC Sound of 2010’ longlist member Rox is to the new decade of the millennium. The 22 year- old Jamaican-Persian South Londoner landed in Japan in June 2010, and performed an acoustic live performance exclusively for the Time Out Café & Diner. She began performing for audiences at the age of five, and already started out in good company – she attended the musical program of the National Youth Theatre, who count Hollywood heavyweights Jude Law and Orlando Bloom among their alumni. Rox talked to us about her debut album, her inspiration and fashion.

Well, here in Japan a lot of people are referring to you as the ‘Lauryn Hill of our time’. How do you feel about that?
R: It’s a huge compliment. She’s always been one of my icons, someone I’ve listened to as a youngster, and I still listen to her now. I haven’t come anything near her level yet, but I hope to be; that’s my goal. It’s a huge compliment. I don’t think anyone can really take her space. It would be very hard shoes to fill. [Laughs]

On the album you worked with some big names and great musicians. How is it working with them?
R: It was interesting. So many times I thought about the whole recording process, and nothing can really prepare you for when you’re actually in it. I went to New York for six weeks, and I worked with a producer there called Commissioner Gordon, who worked on the Lauryn Hill record. I was recording with a lot of old Jamaican guys, who worked on Bob Marley’s album, and the Skatalites. It was so amazing to be in that environment because I felt like I was home, though I was so far away from home. I felt like I was there, sitting with my granddad’s friends, and it made it such a pleasurable experience because not only was the working environment great, you know when we weren’t working we were talking about Jamaica or talking about music, and I just felt that I could really relate to them. That we were coming from the same place. What was also good about that was like I could completely immerse myself in the recording environment; like I didn’t have any distractions. My hotel was just five minutes away from the studio, so I was constantly there, constantly focusing. It was a cool process; then I came back to England and I had a sort of freakout because the material that I recorded in New Jersey didn’t really seem to go in the direction I wanted, and I had to re-record some of it. That’s when Al Shux stepped in, and he’s a good friend of mine. I knew he was capable of recording this album, and he brought a lot of magic to the record.

What didn’t feel right?
R: It wasn’t wrong. I just didn’t think it had gone in the direction I had envisioned it to have gone in. Once I was back in London and could step back from the situation, I had a better perspective of things... Like the beats that were put under it, I didn’t think that it took the songs in the right direction. Or certain basslines that we thought of, in reflection didn’t really work out. Initially, it made the process much lengthier; a process that was meant to take five weeks took nearly seven months; it was very frustrating – at times I didn’t even think I was going to have an album. I just thought, ‘OK, this is messed up and may never get another chance to get it right.’ But fortunately enough it worked out, and here we are today.

It’s a great album. I especially like the title track, ‘Precious Moments’. It’s powerful, but it’s relaxing at the same time.
R: Actually, that’s one of them that we didn’t change! [Laughs] That was completely recorded in New Jersey. One day I hope it to become someone’s wedding song; that’s my ultimate goal – the first dance. When I perform it – you know like when you have a song with your boyfriend or your husband? That one day it will become a couple’s song.

Do you choose what you wear out on stage yourself?
R: Yes, and I also work with this amazing girl that gets loads of clothes for me, a girl called Avi. What I do is give her examples of what I’m into and references, and she goes to different PR companies or we go together and pull clothes. Mulberry’s been really great to me; they’ve given me loads of stuff like moccasin boots and leather jackets and stuff. Also, a Parisian brand called American Retro, and their stuff I really cool because they use a lot of leather and suede but in really cool ways – like perforated suede. Onstage, I like to wear statement pieces, but I like them to be quite light as well because when you’re under lights and dancing around you sweat a lot. And, I’ve been wearing a lot of Dr Marten [sic] boots onstage, because I’m really into those again.

This is your first time in Japan, right?
R: Yeah.

What did you know about Japan before coming here?
R: I knew that you have great food, amazing fashion, especially Tokyo was renowned for being really hectic and a fast pace, lots of lights. It’s all those things, and so much more. It’s a fascinating culture. I love the healthy balance between keeping your roots as Japanese people, but adapting with the times; Tokyo is very modern, but you haven’t lost who you are as a culture, which I find really inspiring. I still don’t actually feel like I’m here, though – I think because the jet-lag is just wearing off. [Laughs] So by the time I go tomorrow I will go, ‘Oh my God, I actually went to Japan!’ [Laughs]

Do you have any places you want to go?
R: I really enjoy fashion, so a friend in London suggested I go to 109, so I think I’ll go there. They said there were a couple of Jamaican restaurants here. I don’t know if they’re fusion or straight Jamaican, but I was thinking that Jamaican-Japanese fusion would be really amazing. There’s this great Chinese-Jamaican fusion, because there’s a huge Chinese population, and Japanese-Jamaican would be amazing. My schedule is a bit tight this time, but I would love to check out JamRock Cafe next time I come. It’s brilliant!

Maybe Primark in London might be cheaper?
R: Yeah, I’m not a fan of Primark. [Laughs] I think, I’m not against – I don’t want to say against – I think it’s just that everything is so mass produced… And I remember the first time – and only time – I’ve been to Primark, I bought something and the very next day I went to a club with my friend and two other girls were wearing the exact same dress! [Laughs] I like shopping to be pleasurable, and a leisurely pace, not fighting people and clothes on the floor…

So where do you go shopping then?
R: I go to this one shop off Carnaby Street called Beyond Retro, and it’s a vintage store. They sell really cool retro clothes, from the 60s, 70s – and I love great textures like suede and leather, so they sell leather waistcoats…really cool individual pieces you can’t really get in a big shop. Also, a lot of brands I like aren’t English, so I go to the big department stores like Liberty. I like a lot of Scandinavian brands, like Acne and Bruuns Bazaar. It’s a bit more expensive, but the quality is good.

Rox’s debut single, ‘My Baby Left Me’ is now on the iTunes top ten pop chart. The single is off of her debut album, ‘Memoirs’ which sold out in an avalanche. ‘Memoirs’ is available in stores throughout Japan now.

‘Memoirs’ (Japan edition, with bonus track and liner notes)
Release: Wed July 21
Label: Rough Trade/ Hostess
Price: ¥1,980 (tax included)
Official website: thisisrox.com/
Label website: hostess.co.jp/rox