Rafter
Interview conducted by Bree Davies
Rafter Roberts does what he wants musically, but not in that annoying and alienating kind of way. It seems easy for us as musicians to get so wrapped up in our own selfish thinking of what sounds good to our own ears that sometimes we forget others are listening. But it’s as if Roberts (who goes by Rafter when he’s making his own soundscapes) is thinking of his listener, any listener, when putting together gooey, erratic tracks like those found on his latest release, Sweaty Magic (Asthmatic Kitty Records).
Beginning as a collaboration/daily artistic competition with now-fiancé, photographer Lizeth Santos, Sweaty Magic is like a glittery wad of sticky horns, thumping drum machines, whispery vocals and spacey dribbles and drips, all pleasantly packaged in an under 20-minute EP.
A producer and former creator of commercial jingles , Rafter’s work on his own music sounds like an orgasmic sensory overload, and song titles like "Sweat," "Salt," and "Juice" can't help but expose it. As he discusses below, sound isn’t the only inspiration for his music-making life.
How do you know Lizeth Santos? How did the project that led to Sweaty Magic come about?
We've known each other for seven years or so? We used to play in bands that did a lot of shows together, and then a couple years ago, we fell in awesome love and are now getting married!
We are partners in every awesome way, and challenge and encourage each other in our art. The Sweaty Magic project came from an "art-a-day" project we did for some great months. We’d been living in that blissful love land and neglecting our respective arts of music and photography, so Lizeth came up with the idea of doing an “art” every day.
Every day we would make up a word, and each of us would make something for that word. It was awesome. I can't wait to do it again!
You have worked, production-wise, with a wondrous and diverse array of artists (gogogo airheart, The Rapture, The Album Leaf, Fiery Furnaces, and dozens more.) Do you prefer creating and performing your own work to producing others?
I really love both. It is a privilege to help people make their albums, and I treasure that. But also I LOVE having me time in the studio. It's great to have the balance. Working with great bands and artists is refreshing and invigorating for my own creativity and writing, so having both makes each get better.
Is there a difference, in your mind, between the music you create or have created for commercial work vs. the music you make as Rafter?
Ha! Hells yes! Commercial work is just that. My heart's not in it- it is only to serve a purpose. Often it (the commercial work) IS full of art, craft, soul…but it is not OF ME. It's just there to sell burgers and Internet service and shoes. Whatever. My music (as Rafter) is my soul music, direct from my heart and loins and brain. Though I am making both, they could not be more different.
What outside of music inspires you?
Food, geography, people, dancing, sex and love, sex and love, films, etc. All sorts of stuff really! I am an omnivorous life experiencer! I want it all!
Your Asthmatic Kitty bio says you've been playing in bands since the age of two. Other than your band in high school, whom did you play with when you were younger? With your family? In your bedroom? In your church? In your mind? Do tell...
That is pure fiction! I didn't play music till I was at least 15! Ha! My family was not musical at all, though my brother was and is just as much a music fan as I am an turned me on to the radness of new wave and punk at a real nice early age!
.jpg "Ryan Riss | November 4 - October 28, 2011")
