Hazel Jade Rogers

By Arne Eichler

Interview

ubliner Hazel Jade Rogers is a 15-year-old singer/songwriter who has already attracted plenty of positive comments from some major music insiders. Despite her tender years, big things are expected from this multitalented lady who is equally at home when singing, playing music, dancing or acting. In this interview, Jade will be speaking to Arne Eichler about everything from her very first gig, to her theatre career, to her year abroad studying in England.

But for definite, on Sunday 18 December Ill be performing an acoustic set at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust for Homeless people. There'll be a few other artists there as It was awesome! I can tell performing is well, as well as carol singing. one of the highlights for me. Youre definitely one of our younger Of course, my nerves where a little uppity, but I calmed down after the first interviewees. Is it difficult going to school while working so hard on song and really had a good time. The your music? place was packed loads of people where standing. Im currently in 5th year, but I'm All I could think was: "Wow there's a lot more people in here then there was in finding it quite hard to balance school and music life. There's a lot going on the sound-check, thats for sure. at the moment. The sound didn't work on my guitar I decided not to do transition year, for one song, but I kept going, and I got because for me didn't seem like the a few laughs from the crowd, because I right choice - I'm looking at going to accidently referred to old people as College, and want to get there sooner. being over-25s. Im hoping to study an art/musicBut it was fun and Ill definitely be based course - haven't made my mind returning to the Ruby Sessions. Im up yet - but there's a lot of courses that looking to practice whenever and look really interesting. wherever I can now to up my experience in performance. Could you give us a few examples of Thats great, Jade. So are you already your musical influences? planning some future gigs? Hmmm . . . my biggest influence would have to be Pink especially her I'm hoping to get a couple of gigs older music. through my manager at the moment. I feel her lyrics and melodies come The Mercantile seem interested and The Grand Social are seeing if I can perform across as a window for people to drift away from all the pain, hate..Cont. and there.

Hello, Jade welcome and thank you for talking to us. First off, many congratulations on playing your first official gig at the Ruby Sessions on 15 November. How did you get on?

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Right, and do you have any musicians that perform with you?

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And what would a typical week there have looked like?

worry in the world and be their own person . . . at least thats what I felt when I first heard her nine years ago. Her reason for writing is to make the world a better place and to help others something I see as a number one reason to become an artist. Secondly, Christina Aguilera, because her song-writing and melodies are complicated but effective, connecting the listener to the lyrics. And then Nickelback: their strong, edgy grunge-like songs have an energetic lift, and the lead singer Chad Kroeger has a very low, ruff vocal which is very powerful to me. A lot of their songs being about drugs, sex and rock n roll its a vision of life lessons for everyone. How do you normally go about writing your songs? Do ideas just come to you? As I said earlier, I am not organised, so having a basic structure or formula is not something I work off. Basically, if I come up with some lyrics somewhere randomly for example, the shower, school or a friends house I end up saving the lyrics in my phone notes, and creating a melody later when I'm at a piano. And vice versa, when I come up with a melody on piano, guitar or just with my voice, I record it on my phone and use it later to write lyrics, too. Youve mentioned that you co-write some of your songs. Whom do you generally collaborate with? Well, a young producer called LaGuil worked with me on Kiss My Lips, and we have another one we're working on at the moment with him. He lives over in Canada, but we just bounce stuff over the internet to each other. I've also worked with a group over in the UK called Rural Roots. I did a rap song with them which Ive not put out yet. I co-wrote a while ago with some guys over in the US a group of musicians called Bullring Entertainment and I often co-write with my mum, as she's a songwriter too.

I hope eventually to have a band to A typical week in Redroofs was relaxed! perform with, but at the moment, I'm just From 9am til 12pm we would do getting my performing feet, so I academic studies, for example, Maths generally ask musicians to help now and and English. then when it's needed. Then we would get changed from our school uniforms into our dance gear; I see that you play piano, drums and from 1pm til 4pm wed have classes in guitar. Do you have a favourite? dance, acting, singing and musical theatre. I can't pick a favourite because for me When I attended Redroofs, I learnt the all have their parts. four types of dance: modern, ballet, jazz Drums is something I get better at if I and tap, [its the] reason I enjoy dance so get angrier it seems I push myself much. more to get the beats right and its great Regularly, school productions would for letting off steam. Ive been messing happen. I featured in a personal on the drums since I was three . . . I can perspective from the school on the truly say I'm not that bad! Christmas tale A Christmas Carol, Guitar Ive been playing four years which was very fun. I also did a number now. Im not amazing at guitar by all of auditions and I feel I learnt and remeans. discovered who I was when I was there. I would call myself more or a rhythm guitarist than anything else. I love Well, it definitely sounds like it must playing it because it can fill a song out have been an exciting time for you. I great, giving warmth. noticed that youve performed Then Piano: been playing since I was professionally at the National Concert five and its by far my best [instrument]. Hall and the Olympia and Gaiety There is not really any pop song I cannot Theatres. Is that something youre play on piano, but I'm not particularly still involved in? fond of the Classical grade tunes as I call them though I like classical music Yes, my dramatic acting days. and do play some now and then. I managed to be in three professional I guess I don't like exams and forced productions (all around Christmas) in the structure but then who does. National Concert Hall being Annie as an orphan, Oliver as one of the gang, Interestingly, you spent a gap year at and Carmen as a couple of parts. Redroofs Theatre School in the UK. Each consisted of about 25 shows a Did you go there to develop your play and I've been in simply loads of music or for other reasons? smaller productions put on at various locations too numerous to mention. Ah, Redroofs! I do miss that school In school every year a play is put on and the people, of course. and recently I played the plants voice in I went to Redroofs to explore who I The Little Shop of Horrors, and in the am as a person, and basically mature and Olympia I played a Sugar Plum Fairy in meet new people. The Little Nutcracker. My parents thought it would be good I think my acting allows me to be more for me and help me develop, as I'd been myself when it comes to performing bullied quite a lot when I was younger these days . . . also I don't suffer from and they felt I needed to rediscover my having stage fright. confidence. Its also something that inspired me to Your song Still Love You is being write my first song ever, because before considered for a film in the U.S. the age of 13 neither me nor my parents sounds great. Are you allowed to give knew I had writing abilities. us a hint as to what this film is?

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Well, all I know is that the movie is set in Iraq, and its about a relationship developed between a U.S. soldier and a prisoner. So: fingers crossed! Kiss My Lips was featured on WDAR 96FM, have you had any airplay on any commercial Irish stations yet? identifiable image (back when I was 13), and that I had to focus on a particular genre of music I find that hard, because I like lots of different styles of music. And finally, I had to start performing live as a music artist, which was also hard because not many venues will let you perform aged 13/14. But now I'm coming up to 16, it's got a lot easier.

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everyone updated. I use my personal page constantly but I always check in and update my fan page at least once a day. Even if I have nothing to say I will ask a random question. What are you currently working on? I saw that youve just recorded your new track Forgive, Forget but is there anything else? Yes, as I said, I went into the studio with

RTE Pulse are going to be playing that Where do you normally record? song soon. We have approached SPIN 103.8, too, and were waiting for a response hopefully soon. And also REDfm (Radio station in Cork) are considering playing it, too. It's difficult to get airplay on the major stations, though. I don't understand why sometimes. I am doing an interview with a Californian radio station on 1 December, and I've to play a song or two live over Skype, I think. I don't think they're major, but it's nice to be asked. Youve had lots of positive comments from people in the music industry. Have there been any serious discussions about the possibility of a contract? I did get asked to join with a management/label company over in the UK, but decided it wasn't for me at the time. I was also approached by a London publishing company, but my mum says we'll hang on to our own publishing. I've had some approaches from a few companies in the U.S., but nothing concrete yet. I'm very happy, though, that Dublin music manager Noel Taylor is now looking after me, and he'll be directing my career forward into the future. Have any producers or industry insiders ever offered any stand-out advice on how to develop further? For example, something that really stood out from you other than the standard keeping working hard? Yes, I've had some really strong feedback from major industry heads, too. I was told that I have to develop an

Most of the time we record at home using professional recording software, and we've loads of guitars, pianos and even an electronic drum kit. We used to have a full recording studio with mixing desks and all, but that's been replaced by a MacBook with software-based recording packages. Recently I recorded with the band Big Digger and we hired out Salt Recording Studios on the Howth Road in Sutton. We recorded my new single which will soon be released! It is a smallish recording studio but very cosy, and it has everything you'd need. If we need to record, we always go there, and I've also done guitar and drum lessons there too. Thumbs up for Frank Kearns, the owner, who runs a holiday rock school there too. Whats the best online channel for your fans to keep in touch and check what youre up to? Definitely Facebook - its www.facebook.com/hazeljaderogers; with over 12,000 fans, I try to keep

Big Digger a group of guys who are hilarious but are also a gifted bunch of musicians. We spent hours in the studio laying all the tracks down and getting the timing right, so I was busy with that. And yes, Im currently writing another two or three songs when they will be ready I can't say, but were in the middle of writing a new song with LaGuil, who also created the backing track for Kiss My Lips. We hope to have that song up and ready to record in the next month. Next year we think is going to be a big year for me, and Im hoping to do one full major release of a very special song I wrote a while ago. And finally, what are your plans for the next six months? Wow - long time. Well, Im hoping to become more aware of my performance and how to handle it. I also want to write another album and keep up with all my school work. A lot to do! I also want to collaborate with other artists and hold some gigs for my Facebook fans.