Rocco Stroker

Rocco Stroker is a musical experiment created by Andrew McGuire of Kent, Connecticut which focuses primarily on blues rock and progressive rock musical stylings and experiments with other sounds such as folk and acoustic rock. His goal is to create a cinematic atmosphere with his music, meaning that each song has its own individual purpose relative to some central idea or plot that eventually comes together and tells a larger story. Andrew writes all the lyrics and compositions and is supported by percussionist Colby Nelson. Most of the subject matter that is created tends to be serious in nature and can range from struggling with self-identity to coping with the death of a loved one.

Rocco Stroker has just released his debut EP entitled “White Plains (a Taste of War)” which is strongly rooted in blues rock and progressive rock while lightly touching upon other genres such as a capella and soft rock. The tracks on "White Plains" are the first drafts of songs that will later be expanded upon once he has the means to have them professionally produced. 

His first single, “L’Histoire D’Être”, is what one could call his 'trademark sound'. The song blends blues scale influenced melodies with jazzy bass lines and arena rock vocals while sounding commercial enough to obtain air time.  It is has been compared to songs by The Black Keys, Cream, The Doors and The Grateful Dead due to the blending of all of their sounds (new wave blues, classic garage band rock, jam band tendencies, etc.). The lyrics reveal a story about a man who is trying to convince a woman to 'spend the night' with him through a series of lude comments and catcalls while also trying to show off to her by talking himself up as a 'sensitive guy'. This song is part one to a series of three songs that revolve around the same characters and the progression of their relationship together. 

“White Plains” was home recorded and mixed and is intended as a starting point to help market Rocco Stroker’s sound and purpose. It shows off the conceptual side of his music by using the theme of war to tie all the songs together and also gives people the ability to see many of the different sounds that he can make ranging from the grandiose layering of "Open Letter" to the sheer simplicity of "Royalty".  “White Plains” includes some material that will be part of a larger collection of music entitled “Katonah”, which will use the songs in a more plot driven manner. There are many existing songs yet to be recorded; however, over time, a few of those compositions will be released either as individual tracks or part of an album.