Interview: The Rosellys

Bristol Americana act the Rosellys are about to embark on an extensive UK spring tour, but prior to hitting the road they’re taking part in a unique online concert. Simon Roselly took time out from rehearsals to tell us all about the virtual gig and also share some thoughts on the band’s relationship with social media and digital technology.

How did you get involved with the online concert?

Our record label Clubhouse Records shared a link on Facebook saying that The Convent were looking for acts to perform on a new internet TV project called Gramophone Armageddon. We had a read through the details and the organisers were looking for acts that have performed, or booked to perform at The Convent. We have a show booked on May 15th at The Convent with USA label-mate Don Gallardo so we applied.

Have you done anything like this before?

Never. We’ve done lots of live radio sessions, and a few internet radio sessions but nothing visual so far. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of this sort of thing as the technology evolves and makes it so easy. I think it’s great that the Gramophone Armageddon will be available for seven days: we have fans all around the world and there will always be a part of the planet that is asleep! 

How big an impact does digital technology & social media have on running the band?

The Rosellys are 99% organised through Facebook. All shows are booked through email, or Facebook then the details are shared on our private Facebook group, which only the band can see, and we ask for their availabilities. We also communicate with our record label and label-mates through the Facebook messenger service. We create Facebook events and promote with Facebook, Twitter and occasionally Youtube and Instagram. With all posts linking to our own website which is updated daily. There are so many social networks, and musical platforms, such as Reverbnation, Twitmusic, Soundcloud, Fanbridge, Linkedin etc, and it would take too much time to be active on all of them, so we decided to focus on Facebook and Twitter as they are the largest. We try to use social media whilst on the road: as a passenger it’s a great time to post, share, and promote online with a 4G signal. Social media at home is just time we could be playing guitar, so we try and keep it to a minimum without neglecting it.

Facebook is fantastic at expanding your network with promoters, and other musicians but it sadly fails at connecting with new fans, and worst of all, existing fans. We have almost 1000 followers on our Facebook page, but when we post there it only shows the post to approximately 7% of our followers unless we boost the post with a payment. We are yet to be convinced that the boosting system is value for money, so we’re holding on to our cash right now. Promoting on other people’s groups, e.g. Americana UK Association, and Americana Music Groups etc. is also a way of reaching more new people as well as sharing on other musicians profiles that might be performing at a show with us. People often spell The Rosellys incorrectly so when we started the Facebook page we used the name “BritishAmericana” which we think is memorable and easier to spell!

We promote our website and social media pages at every gig, with printed flyers and a mention on the mic, which seems a sure, steady way of gaining genuine followers. We have tried using an emailing list, but we find people are reluctant to give their email addresses, and it’s much easier for them to search Facebook and like you. We reply to every message received, whether it be through social media or our website or email, and we try to interact with our fans through replies to their comments as much as possible. It really does mean a lot to us that people make the effort to reach out.

I think the most important part of using social media is having a professional looking, up to date website. We get a lot of compliments on our site, which we design and maintain ourselves at very little financial cost. We have a Promo page which has useful downloads for promoters (bios, posters, hi and low res photos, etc.) and an easy to read gig list. And we have a Rosellys email address [email protected] which looks much better than a free one like [email protected]!!!

Do you record with digital or analogue technology?

Digital, definitely digital; we haven’t even considered analogue. Technology has come on so much in the last decade or so making it very accessible and not too costly, besides our producer Alex Elton-Wall (Redlands Palomino Company) has digital equipment

How important is print media to you in these digital days? 

Print media still has its place. We send high quality A3 Posters to venues and we have a double sided A6 flyer with social media links, website, photos (duo and full band), press quotes and Clubhouse Records website/logo, as well as a link for our custom guitar builder Aubade Guitars! We have a stack on the merch table and we put them out in the audience on tables, the bar, seats etc. They are always taken by the end of the night!

When we push a new album we use appropriate magazines and pay for adverts to help promote the album and associated tour: it’s not cheap, but the right magazines have the right readerships.

How about physical product vs digital only?

The is still a market for both at the moment, perhaps in the future the physical side of things will start to fade, I think that when the young teenagers of today are in their 30’s they won’t be buying CDs like the 30+ year old people of today are; which is a real shame because the MP3 quality is nowhere near as good as a CD, although hopefully that will improve over time. Selling CDs at the end of a show is a really nice way to connect with new friends, and it’s a great help financially too – you can’t sign a MP3!!

Do ya see a time when you will only release files? 

Not really. I think people will always want an album to take home at the end of a show.

Link to the concert here.

All pix John Morgan