Introducing….Rocket Pengwin
Can you tell me about the origins of Rocket Pengwin and how you all came together?
Rocket Pengwin is the story of a penguin that moved from Antarctica to New York City - and more generally a story of someone who moved from place A to place B in search for more meaning in their life. It's a storytelling project, narrated through music and visuals, where every song and video is a small chapter of the story. There are many reasons why I decided to have the totem of the project be a penguin, but the most immediate idea that came to me was the fact that a penguin is a bird that doesn't fly. Imagine Mother Nature being like, "here's wings, you're a bird!" and forgetting the one element you need to fly – which are the specific feathers. Well, the penguin had to learn how to swim, and it turns out they’re pretty good at it. Simply put – this bird is making the most of its life with many things working against it – it’s a great foundation to share my own story, and a story that’s relatable to most anyone who encounters it.
What came first the band name or the penguin mascot?
Definitely the band name, and its overall concept, came first. The mascot actually took quite a long time to develop. There was a full-scale research and development process that took years, and here we are today with the iconic mascot in the streets of New York years later.
Do you worry this causes too much of a comedy element and detracts from the seriousness in your angst driven lyrics?
I don't. The way I see it is that the project can be as lighthearted or as deep as you want it to be. It can be as funny as seeing a clumsy penguin making its ways around NYC, or as layered as asking yourself why is the penguin so similar to me and my own life? Or other questions like, what does the penguin represent?, Why did it move? Is this a commentary on climate change?
I’m also prioritizing fun throughout the entire process. Sure, the music has its angst and introspection, but that doesn't have to take away from the genuine joy of performing and writing the music, developing the story and script of the project, and collaborating with other amazing musicians and visual artists along the way.
Dare I say, polar opposites are woven throughout the entirety of the Rocket Pengwin universe.
What musical influences have shaped your sound?
I grew up being completely obsessed with The Beatles and the whole British invasion scene, and I also played the piano avidly (I even riffed on Fur Elise in some of my earlier work – what an iconic tune, right?). I then discovered punk, grunge, and the SoCal scene. I also derive influence from the sounds around me, the technology I’m using on a daily basis to make this art, and nature. Blink-182, The Cure, My Chemical Romance are also some of my biggest influences on the musical front and have informed my own tastes as I’ve developed this project.
Describe your creative process. How do you go about writing and composing your songs?
No two songs are the same (even when they might be referencing the stories in lyrics of other songs without listeners even recognizing), but I do like to start from a concept which can be represented by a singular sentence or a sound. From there, I like to take notes and vocal memos throughout the day, every day. You never know when inspiration hits, but it surely isn't when you're sat in front of a computer and saying "I'm going to write a song today!" That's why the studio is the moment to reopen all of those notes and memos and try to make sense of them. A lot of the sounds you hear on the album are actually recorded on the streets of New York straight from my phone – it felt imperative to include the project’s hometown into the sonic universe we’ve created.
You’ve just released your debut album “Polar Opposites”. Any particular themes or concepts?
It's the very personal story of certain relationships I’ve had in the past few years, narrated through the eyes of the penguin. Antarctica vs New York, Man vs Nature, Imagination vs Reality were cornerstones of the project as I started to build it a few years ago.
The core theme, if we really distill it down, is chronicling a love/hate relationship with New York City. But the relationship I have with the city and its highs and lows are similar to that of any other type of relationship – whether it be romantic, platonic, or professional.
The project brings people into specific places and realms (Central Park, or Mars for example), yet finds moments to zoom out and explore the most complex and feelings I’ve ever had in my life (Heaven and Don't Hate go there). The depth and sometimes the intensity of the throws you can be in across a myriad of different relationships really anchor Polar Opposites. Perhaps it’s all much easier to understand after having a listen to the album cover to cover (or more complex).
You cover Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero on the new record, how did that come about?
Well, when I first heard the song I was blown away. It's one of those songs that makes you go – "Damn, I wish I wrote this!" But before the original came out, I was structuring the narrative arc of this album by using each song to represent a specific moment in time to build on. It was all feeling very cohesive, and I felt great about where the final project would end up.
Then, when Anti-Hero came out, I asked myself: why can't one (or more) of the songs be a cover? Wouldn’t it be interesting to close the project out with some songs that I really, really love, and that serve as a bit of a red herring or epilogue to the whole thing? Sometimes we're in the driver's seat, and sometimes we're passengers – and that's just how life is. It was refreshing to get in the studio and let Taylor’s lyrics be the driver. I couldn’t be prouder that the cover was good enough in my view, and in the view of my close collaborators, to make the album.
You’ve collaborated with a lot of different artists during your career, how have they come about?
Some are friends, some are friends of friends, some are just people I look up to and I reached out. Ilan Rubin is someone that I’ve looked up too and respected for as long as I can remember. He is the architect of some of the most important songs to me, and he’s the drummer of one of the most prolific bands in the world. The fact that he’s even on two of the records on the album is really a dream come true. I love absorbing input on my work, from all sources, but it’s especially impactful when it comes from people who I’ve admired for longer than Rocket Pengwin has even been around.
Are there any particular artists or bands you'd love to collaborate with in the future?
Hayley Williams and Paramore – full stop. And CHVRCHES. I might simply ascend to heaven if those ever came to fruition. However, I truly love collaborating with artists across all genres, so I’m looking forward to even more collabs in future Rocket Pengwin chapters to come.
How has your music evolved over the years?
Significantly. Originally the project was very experimental on the production side. Lots of electronic elements – it felt more like a cinematic score than a tried and true pop project. With time, and lots more experimentation, it got back to a more organic and "band-centric" feeling that is almost exactly like the way I started to play music in garage bands growing up. To bring Rocket Pengwin to this full circle moment, for me, felt like the most natural way to progress. Sometimes looking in the rear view helps us move forward.
Share some insights into your live performances. Do you ever suffer with stage fright or have any pre show rituals?
Thankfully I don’t suffer from stage fright. Fact of the matter is – real life is scarier than going on stage. I look forward to every show and go into it with the singular goal of having a blast and being grateful for the opportunity. I haven’t developed any Van Halen-like pre-show rituals or rider requests yet, but one thing that’s critical for me is to have my bandmates and crew hang with me beforehand. Hanging alone in the green room can feel a bit drab, and having the team around you and feeling their excitement and energy is the exact kind of buzz I like to get before walking on stage.
The shows themselves are loud, they’re high-octane, and I’m going to make you sing. I’m playing Elsewhere on October 8th, and I am truly buzzing with anticipation. It’s going to be a heater and I’m so excited to play a few of these songs live for the first time ever.
Any plans to tour the UK now the new record is out?
That’s the goal! We have big plans for 2024 and coming back to the UK is our top priority. London is truly a second home to me (I spent a ton of time there growing up), so getting back to the city and the UK more broadly is mission critical.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians looking to start their own bands or pursue a career in music?
Just do it. Nowadays there's quite literally zero friction from making music to getting it out there. You can basically upload voice memos on socials and start seeing if people like them. You can produce a full record on a laptop. Have fun and don't let the barriers of ‘the industry’ scare you away.
Lastly, what does the future of Rocket Pengwin look like?
Lots more music, more videos, more stories, more shows, and more mediums to tell the story. Looking way into the future, I’d love to have Rocket Pengwin be the main character of its own animated show – even something like a graphic novel to start. My mission is to expand the Pengwin’s universe both literally and figuratively, and since I’m the one behind the project, the only thing stopping me is, well, me.
