Berlin born, Roxanne de Bastion has been performing since she was 15. Equipped with only a guitar, suitcase and a one-way ticket, she ventured to the UK in 2007. We caught up with her ahead of her new EP release and chatted about Berlin, London and swearing on stage.
Roxanne was aware of the destiny that lay in front of her after she watched ‘Yellow Submarine’ as an impressionable four year old. “Although this may seem like an arbitrary fact to you” she says “I think it’s the reason why I do what I do. I love the Beatles’ music and have known since then that I am a musician”
She had her first gig at the age of ten, where she sung ‘Johnny B. Goode’ and Alanis Morissette’s ‘You Ought To Know’, she says about that moment: “I remembered being very concerned about singing the swear word on stage!”
Ten years on from her cussing dilemma she is now firmly rooted in London. “Although I miss Berlin and visit as often as I can, I love being in England and playing my songs to an English speaking audience. Words have always been the most tangible part of a song for me; I love lyrics and enjoy sharing them with people”
Since her move she has been very active on the live scene, playing throughout Europe and the USA. Her set is a mixture of original material with a smattering of covered favourites. “When I play the occasional cover in a set, it’s either the White Stripes or Regina Spektor” she says “Regina is a major influence on me of late. Her freedom with words and sounds really impress me. High up on my wish list would be to go on tour as her support act – that would be cool!”
Roxanne has just returned from her home town where she shot her new video to accompany the single ‘Indie Electro Pop’. She says “the lyrics are very unlike most of my compositions. The song features my imaginary band and is all about jumping on a bandwagon, (no pun intended) and musing about what it might be like to be in a hip electro pop band with lots of synthesizers”…
You can download the song for free HERE and also catch her in May below.
20th – Kasbah – Coventry
22nd – Picture House – Stratford Upon Avon
25th – Esquires Club – Bedford
26th – Y Pentan – Wrexham
27th – Northern Monkey – Leeds
28th – Zanzibar – Liverpool
29th – Odder Bar – Manchester
30th – Love Music, Hate Racism Festival – Chatham
