Oxford-based Rocket 88 performs Saturday, Dec. 21, at Hal & Mal’s.
Oxford-based band Rocket 88 prides itself on combining genres such as juke joint gospel, old-time country and Americana.
Rocket 88 consists of vocalist, rhythm guitarist and Vicksburg native Rosamond Posey; vocalist, lead guitarist, harmonica player and Meridian native Jamie Posey; keyboardist, organist and New Orleans native Robert Chaffe; bassist and Pontotoc, Miss., native Nathan Robbins; and drummer and Forest, Miss., native Ryan Rogers. The members have played with Eric Deaton, Kudzu Kings, Shannon McNally and Geronimo Rex.
In 2008, Rocket 88 released its debut album, "Full Circle," at Tweed Studios in Oxford. The title track references coming back to music after the Poseys' three-year hiatus before forming Rocket 88 in 2005.
The band plans to have two or three releases in 2014. It currently has about 40 songs finished of different genres.
I spoke with Jamie Posey about Rocket 88's music.
What are some main genres you cover?
We definitely have some white gospel and black gospel types of songs, and also some that are folk in a way. When you're asked to describe a certain type of song, it may be an amalgamation of several genres of music, so it's hard to put a label on it.
Why is it important to not stay in one genre?
There's a difference between having an album that has different sounds where the listener is not bored with a particular sound. You have to pick songs that mesh together well. They can have a common sound even though they may be different. And that's where the art comes into play, I believe.
One thing we can definitely say about the next work is that we're going to invest in the great resources that we have all around us. These people are friends, and they've done a lot of great work. We're going to try to tap into that and create a real Mississippi sound that the state will be proud of and that we'll be proud of.
Tell me more about the art behind your work.
With the art of the song ... typically we have a sound in our head, with the phrasing and everything a lot of times. And then we'll write the words on top of that soundscape. Plus we have friends that come over and write with us.
We're open to all ideas when we write a song and explore, which I think is a strength. A lot of times you get locked into one idea and you close your mind off to other ideas. But those other ideas—even the ones that aren't good at first—can lead ideas that may be good. ...
Plus we all trust each other enough to where we can brainstorm a goofy idea just to get across some piece of what you're trying to say. (Say) you don't have it completely worked out in your head, you can still blurt it out, and then it's there for everyone to work with. It's very free.
What is your main goal with the music you create?
A release. ... There is a spiritual realm on stage and in music, (like) telecommunication with other beings and other people. The communication is so much more accurate than verbal, nonverbal and other forms of communication. We can play music, and you hear and create this soundscape. ... Those words almost don't do it justice. It's a spiritual thing that you might not be able to practice, but you hear it in that instance. ... It's spontaneously instant, when the magic happens. That's a big reward and a huge release.
How would you briefly describe your music?
I would say it's a gumbo of Mississippi music. We're influenced by the town and regions that we play in. ... So many great bands have come through and we've been listening to them as well as what we grew up listening to.
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