Rosetta West On the Making Of ‘Night's Cross’
Can you talk about any specific themes or motifs that run throughout 'Night's Cross?’
I didn’t set out to make a concept album, but I realized when we were done that almost all of the songs contemplate death and loss. It’s not a morbid album, though - I think it’s full of strength and colors.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this album?
We recorded at Jay’s home studio and there were a lot of heavy things going on there at the time. But one of the funnier aspects was that one of his dogs had an uncanny knack for coming into the studio room when I was recording difficult parts that required concentration, and he would sit about two inches from my face and stare in my eyes. It was like he was daring me not to mess up.
Can you talk about any standout tracks on the album and what makes them special to you?
I love them all. “Diana” is very special to me, both because I’m proud of it musically and also because I wrote it at one of those special times in life when I felt spiritually elevated.
Can you tell us more about you as a band?
We’ve always had a certain telepathy when working together, but it’s getting to the point where it’s getting weird. I mean that in a good way. And we all love a very wide variety of music. After sessions, we’ll listen to everything from Black Metal to disco.
Can you walk us through your creative process when writing and composing music?
I generally wait for something cool and original to come through when playing guitar. Then I’ll build that into a song, and finally come up with very personal lyrics that will mean a lot to me when I sing them. Using alternate tunings can really kickstart the process if it’s bogged down.
