BC ROADZ “D.D.”
Grinding through hardship and transforming it into art is BC Roadz in a nutshell. By the age of 38, BC has gone through more than most people could ever imagine: homelessness, drug addiction, PTSD, Bi-Polar syndrome, and Ketamine Infusions. Yet he is still standing today, stronger than ever.
In May 2021, BC Roadz made a life-changing decision: he left a $150,000 job and sold his home to pursue his passion.
“D. D.”, short for “drunk driver, or “designated driver” is metaphoric to what Roadz has gone through before he met his cosmic robotic guru, Doso. The song features glitchy, drowning loops clocking on the beat. Swirling synth by the side of the vocals. The droning instrumentals and the cosmic robotic tone that repeats, “I have lost my mind,” make up the entire hook.
It’s not a coincidence that blues and rap music resonated with Roadz the most, however, the artist never limited himself to one genre. Roadz explores the mixing of sounds. In this interview, we chatted about the release of “D. D.”, Doso, life challenges, and making music.
Punk Head: You quote influences from a really wide spectrum of artists: Nirvana, Eminem, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, etc. What is your listening routine like?
BC: I try to listen as eclectically as possible. Songs are by in large the same so I just go with whatever my energy feels that day. Sunday is for the blues for example. I don't think there are many people like me because I remember everything I hear and it comes out in a strange way.
PH: The encounter with Doso marked a pivotal point in your creative journey, can you give us more information on that?
BC: Doso is my guru that came to me after I started meditating. I think we all need to make sense of imagination in our own way. I've always felt alone and in a box. When I discovered Doso I just played what spoke to my emotions. Doso is a he because I cannot pretend to understand any other gender. I consider myself androgynous though.
PH: What inspired you to do music in the first place and how has it changed over time?
BC: I took a lot of hits to the head starting football at 8 years old. When I discovered acoustic guitar, I couldn't learn it the way others did. I was so enamored with tune and melody that I just obsessed more and more about music. Eventually, I progressed albeit slowly. I lived an adult life in capitalism watching myself wither away. Eventually, things were so painful that my form of surrender was to pursue joy. Joseph Campbell really inspired this with his literature. So I followed my bliss and the rest is a work in progress.
PH: Describe your journey pursuing music. What are some challenges you faced?
BC: I used to attempt this delta blues solo acoustic style. I always loved old blues recordings and felt like I could come up with my own solo acoustic style. The response was purely superficial and it was a massive failure. That failure told me that I had to work on myself as a person and the music would eventually manifest along with my personal journey.
PH: Tell me a bit more about D. D.
BC: D.D. can stand for “designated driver” or “drunk driver.” It's purely metaphorical. I even had to explain to my mom that the line "jokes on them I stole it from my mother" was based on how we carry our problems through life. The disturbing actions of the song symbolize desperation until Doso saves me.
PH: What do you love the most about making music?
BC: Honestly making music has been traumatic for me. I was in and out of mental institutions from the ages of 19-21. Music was the only thing that kept my hope alive. Because songwriting comes so easy to me the only thing I like about it is moving on from the obsessive thought of the project. I'm facetious slightly but I like the fact that I have even a small chance at improving my life through music.
PH: What is your vision/goal?
BC: Wow the toughest question I've ever been asked. In my heart my goal is joy. In my vision, I see a lifetime of suffering because that's all I've ever known. Despite this, I can still be kind to others and not let my struggle spill over into theirs.
