Rafter Interview: SXSW 2010

Rafter Roberts is no stranger to unconventional sound when it comes to making music. From funky beats, electronic rhythm-packed synths, catchy guitar licks and lyrics that promote sensuality, his tracks are certified dance hall gold. Rafter, a 1-man band based out of San Diego, is scheduled to perform at SXSW. Spinner spoke with Rafter about his biggest vices, his must-haves while touring and more.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Eclectic, rowdy, juicy and self destructive.

How did your band form?

I just remember sitting on the floor at a friend's house while they were having band practice and feeling so intensely jealous that they could make songs. I felt like I wanted to learn to do that and speak the language. I felt like it was much more relevant to me than any other art. When I was a teenager, I learned how to play harmonica, piano and guitar. I lived in a really small town so there weren't really people who I wanted to play music with, so I was just a 1-man band with a four track.

What are your musical influences?

Soul music, hip hop, pop and dance music. And songs from the '80s and '90s. And the Talking Heads, of course.

What's in your festival survival kit?

This is gonna be silly but a stinky T-shirt, running shorts and running shoes. I bring exercise stuff, like resistance bands and a jump rope, so I can move my body and feel good because if I don't feel good, I can't rock out.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I love R. Kelly -- he's so rad. He's F----- up and so whacked that he peed on that girl in the video. I totally love listening to crappy radio, Debbie Deb, Fleetwood Mac, Rick Ross, Tina Marie and Lisa Lisa.

Beatles or The Stones?

The Beatles. Except I totally love The Rolling Stones, too.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

I was in Muncie, Indiana, at a show, walking through a crowd, and there was this girl, and our eyes met, and there was just like a crackle of electricity, and I stopped, and she stopped, and it was like the world stopped around us. She opened her mouth, and I put my finger in her mouth, and she bit it as hard as she could! We stared at each other in the eyes while she just had her mouth clamped down on my finger for, like, two minutes. Then I started to not be able to feel my finger, and I said, "OK," and she opened her mouth, and I took my finger out of her mouth, and I kept on walking and didn't ever see her again.

Describe your writing process.

I like where accidental form meets directed form. I like to start with improvisation and total freedom. I'd be the last person ever to sit down with a guitar and write a verse and a chorus.

What do you enjoy more -- touring or recording?

I think it's got to be a tie. I love recording so much. When I'm on tour and it's going really well, that's really, really fun. I want both. If I had to choose and I could only do one, it's totally recording.

What's your biggest vice?

I'm totally a sex addict. My wife is too. I'm addicted to sensual pleasure -- I wanna taste rad food, have a lot of really good sex, take a really hot bath and scrub my feet with one of those rocks.

Any pre-show rituals?

I like to do some stretches, exercises and have a shot of tequila.

First instrument you owned and how old were you?

When I was 15 years old, I stole my uncle's harmonica and learned how to play it.


Andrea Mitchell is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.

Photo: Lizeth Santos