Category: Interviews
Lou Rolli, a singer and guitarist, is a newcomer to the Project Opus community, but an experienced musician. With a guitar placed in his hands at the tender age of eleven, Lou Rolli has taken music and made it his life's journey. Today, he takes that path as lead of Canadian band KeeLime.
If passion and devotion alone made rock stars, KeeLime would lead the charts. It was my pleasure to sit down with Lou for this edition of 12 Questions.
Tell us a bit about your music: How did it start? Where are you from? Who's in it, and what brought you together? What other bands have you played in?
It was just an odd thing, I asked my dad to buy me a guitar when I was about 11 years old, the next day I found myself in a warehouse staring at wall to wall guitars...that's when this crazy ride began.
I had 3 best friends; we all decided to learn how to play an instrument and started the coolest junior high school band ever called "Rejoice"...at least we thought we were the greatest. So, Rejoice has been the only other family I've been with besides KeeLime. You can say that I've been lucky that way…
Melodies have been invading my mind since I was a little monkey...I think what lured me to music the most were the "hooks" in songs of the late 80's...I believe the most insane feeling is when you're able to combine a slick melody with wonderful lyrics.
If you haven't already noticed, I'm of Italian decent and just recently, has my Italian influence come across in my music and lyrics...I'm still experminting with it though.
How did you come up with the name KeeLime? What does it mean?
Yes, the million dollar question...I've been asked that x amount of times but I never get tired of answering it...It's obvious the word is derived from Key Lime.
When I was a young teen I started to travel to South Florida and quickly fell blissfully in love with the people, the lifestyle, the beauty...it reminded me of the "dolce vita" found in Italy. I can honestly say that South Florida and the Keys changed my life. So, there you have it...oh, and also the fact that I love the taste of limes or anything sour for that matter. Basically KeeLime is a reflection of me.
Where did you get your start in the music business? Is music your career? If it is, what would you be doing if you weren't playing music? If it isn't, what do you do now?
I think my music career only started when Rejoice split up. I was alone and it allowed me for some much needed reflection...sooo, I went wild, travelled, partied, and decided to take a music holiday.
It was probably the best choice I've ever made musically...It made me hungry to come back with a vengeance and that's when I started the serious songwriting and never looked back since.
This is not only my career; it literally takes over your life. It takes priority over most things and that's not always cool for obvious reasons…family is always wondering what I'm up to…
The beauty about what I do know is it gives me the luxury to be flexible. After many years I can finally say that I'm a songwriter/composer - I write for myself and for other artists. Something that I will do till the last day I walk this earth.
In the daytime, I work for the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in downtown Montreal...Corporate Sales Manager. When I'm not there, you'll probably find me barricaded in my studio...
Where do you find the inspiration for the songs you write? Do you have a message in the songs? Is song writing more of a collaborative or solo effort?
You know someone once told me that not every song has to have a "message"...I was told that because, early on, my songs all had these deep meanings and messages. Now, I simply get the inspiration from people, the human element by being out or travelling. I'm fascinated be people, they intrigue me; they inspire me to be and write...
At the moment, all my songs are written by me but I do have 2 incredible musicians that are part of the KeeLime experience, Ken Cabral and Fred Di Santo, who always seem to strip things down and add those missing ingredients that make a song a song. I owe them my left testicle, to be honest.
How would you describe your sound? Has it evolved over time? Do you explore different avenues for your creativity?
I really have no clue about my sound. Does it fall under any genre, probably, but I'll let the listeners decide...no worries. My sound keeps evolving with every project. The funny thing is that I used to be considered the second coming of John Cougar Mellancamp. That's quite interesting because I'm so far from that with my latest project.
Actually Ken Cabral and I always try to stretch ourselves and try new grooves or experiment with different noises and effects...Our studio can be quite the mad house at times BUT we always remember to try to keep things simple...when someone listens to a song, they can only vibe to or relate to tunes that are not too complicated...sometimes it's easy to just get caught up with all the latest technology. However, in the end, it's all about if a tune has that element, that element that'll make a person groove or sing along or head bop…whatevs!
Do you have a favourite artist whose work and style you admire? Is there anyone you would like to work with if you had the chance?
As far as working with other artists, that's the whole point for me...it's what I do and what I want to do till I break. Right now, I'm in a phase where I would love to work with more female musicians. I just think that there are so many female artists who are incredible musicians and they tend to pay more attention to lyrics...So Fefe Dobson and Jewel are two that come to mind but it's really all limitless.
Well, I'm a huge Bono fan...he's inspired me to no end and continues to. Bowie is another artist that stood the test of time and always found a way to re -invent himself.
At the moment, I'm listening to alternative bands...30 Seconds to Mars, Mars Volta, My Chemical Romance, and how can I leave out the Foo Fighters.
The music business is nothing if not a learning experience. Is there any wisdom you wish you knew when you were just starting out that you can pass along to those just breaking into the business?
I'm a believer that you put enough work into something, you will succeed...since I've devoted myself to writing, I've made some killer strides...Sure, being a good songwriter doesn't guarantee you nada but mixed with my enthusiasm and people will listen...
There are two important elements to every musician's life: Playing live and recording in the studio. As an artist, which do you prefer? How do you approach each scenario differently?
Like I mentioned, I've devoted myself to composing, so most of my time is spent in those 4 walls of the studio...it's insanely cool being able to create without limits BUT like anyone who spends so much time in the studio, I hunger to play live.
That time will come shortly, when the CD is complete...the whole CD launch thing, the weekly gigs…so, the only way is up ya?
Lately, I've been getting a lot of, or rather too much slack for not playing live...the stage is where I thrive so I don't blame people for hassling me about it...I shall be playing in a city near you ya'll!
Which do I prefer, well, when I'm in studio, I dream about playing live and when I'm performing, I hunger to go back and create...It's all about highs...What's a bigger high, playing live where the crowd vibes with every note or when you're in studio and you know you've just created something with juice?
A recording is permanent, but a show is a moment in time. What kind of show do you put on? What can fans expect from seeing you live? How much do you play live throughout the year? Have you toured extensively or kept it local?
Well, after the CD is complete, the shows will be performed acoustically...we want to be able to play in as many places as possible, subways not excluded...haha BUT seriously, we decided to go acoustic this time because we realized that when we would perform our songs stripped down, people would just lose it...plus Fred has the ability to sing fabulous harmonies...
Well, it's always been local but that will change in the fall.
For you, what makes a great fan? What do you do to make fans feel special or connected to you as an artist?
Whether, it's through the internet or if it's someone who just walks up to me and asks me, they always seem to ask how I got the inspiration to write this tune or the other. They seem to have a real appreciation for the way my tunes make them feel. I write about stuff that people think about and never had the courage to say themselves...It gets them all juiced and in return, it hypes me up.
The Internet has certainly changed the music business. Would you say you have embraced the opportunities that the Internet offers? In your opinion, has it helped the industry or has it just changed the rules of the game?
It definately changed the rules of the game...for the better. The world keeps evolving, industries are constantly evolving. Why wouldn't the music industry evolve? I'm a true believer that television and the internet are without doubt the two forms of media that monopolize the way we get our information. I'd rather it be books and newspapers but it just isn't.
There are so many different ways of promoting and exposing your music now...I can actually have someone from Japan or New Zealand listen to my entire CD without much effort on my part....that's totally insane.
Artists should see this period as something exciting rather than just a chaotic mess. We just have to learn to be resourceful and creative in the ways we market our material.
What's next for you and your music?
I'm just juiced to get this CD out and to have as many people listen to it...it'll be fresh and quite different...time to suck the marrow out of life! KeeLime is ready for yet another crazy ride. There's space if any of you want to join me…
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