Roi and the Secret People

I highly recommend going out to look for this CD to add to your collection. I really believe this band needs to be reckoned with in the near future. My hats off to the band and everyone involved. I hope to meet them one day, if possible. Please keep in touch and please everyone, go check out the band and get the CD....worth the price. - by Jim Allford

A Q&A with Roi and the Secret People’s Mike Roi
The other day I caught my friend Denise Barbarita do a solo, acoustic set at the Parkside Lounge. She had invited a few people to celebrate her birthday that night, and one of those friends was our mutual friend, who I’ll call S (for posterity). The strange thing was that S and I had been Facebook friends for several years now, and despite having several musician friends in common, we hadn’t met until that night. For us, that adage about the six degrees of separation was much more like two degrees of separation in four or five different directions. Obviously as a music journalist and as a blogger, having some crazy story about how you met a band you wrote about or became friends with shouldn’t seem all too uncommon. It’s simply a part of the business after all…

But here’s where things become interesting. Several years ago, my very dear friend G was my coworker. And naturally, as you become friends you get introduced to their friends, and she happened to have friend who played in a then-locally based band Roi and the Secret People. At the time, the lineup included Mike Roi on vocals, David Leatherwood on bass, Noel Rockwood (G’s dear friend) on guitar and slide guitar, Rich Kulsar (Denise Barbarita’s husband and S’s bandmate in another band) on drums, and a rotating cast of guitar heroes that included the extremely talented Mishal Zeera (who later added his production tough to Roi and the Secret People’s recently released effort, Phoenix.) Exceedingly small world, indeed.

I followed the band through the years — and that included several lineup changes and then a relocation to the Easton, PA-area a few years ago. And although several songs of their recently released album, Phoenix (it officially dropped on April 23rd) have floated around in various incarnations through the years, the new effort represents several things for the band and for Roi. Unlike Dog St.. the band’s previous release, Phoenix is essentially a much needed reset button for primary songwriter Mike Roi. The classic, Southern rock sound has been replaced for a more straightforward, adult contemporary/pop sound that feels like a natural artistic progression. And thanks to Mishal Zeera’s production work, the material is densely layered and lush piiano intertwines with chiming guitars played through reverb and delay pedal. It’s gorgeous and yet feels absolutely effortless. But it actually does reflect Roi’s diverse influences and his artistic growth.

Lyrically, the songs feel more direct, more personal and yet direct and in many ways fairly universal. Certainly, in an age when soulless, pre-packaged, processed product is cynically foisted onto an unwitting, unknowing public, some well crafted, thoughtful songs. Granted, the material on the album covers some familiar rock ‘n’ roll territory — “Drive” is about getting in your car and escaping with your gal or your boy; “Always Forever” is a sweet and very pretty love song, which is dedicated to Roi’s lovely life, Tara. But by far, “just a little closer” is one of Roi’s finest songs to date, and a really well-crafted rock song. But where the material will win a lot of listeners over is the fact that it’s done with a unflinching earnestness.

In this emailed Q&A, i spoke to the charismatic Roi about the new album Phoenix; his rather diverse influences — which include someone I’ve long admired, going back to his days with the Verve, Richard Ashcroft; how he got into music and realized when he knew he needed to do it for good; the band’s change of sonic direction on the album; and of course, much more. Check it out below.
WRH: How did you get into music? And when did you know that it was the only thing for you?

Mike Roi: I got into music through a new music program offered to my elementary school in the 6th grade. I wanted to play the saxophone but I didn’t know what it was called so I ended up with the clarinet — I guess my description of the instrument wasn’t clear enough to my dad. I played that until high school along with drums in the marching band. I was going to a lot of rock concerts at the time and had some friends in school who were putting together a rock band for the annual Battle of the Bands. They needed a bassist so I got a cheap Peavy T-45, which weighed like 500 lbs., and since none of us knew how to play, we just worked through the most basic tunes we could handle. We wanted to play some of the songs from different bands we were into at the time like Metallica, Motorhead, the Clash, [Iron] Maiden, Dio - that sort of stuff - but the tunes that sounded the best in our bad scenario were “Smoke on the Water" and "Living After Midnight.” It was utterly horrible. We didn’t understand how to tune anything and our singer was SO bad, but he looked good which is why he had the job. Then I started to hang out and learn how to play from another neighborhood friend, Brian Shinn. He was the best guitar player a - THE JOY OF VIOLENT MOVEMENT

"Their set at the World Cafe Live was short but sweet,so I was left wanting to hear more.After previewing "Phoenix" online, I had the sense that this was going to sound very good live with a full band and I was right. The music is Energetic and upbeat; the kind of music you'd want to crank up to top volume while driving."
by Mitch - the Valley Beat

Roi and the Secret People are a wonderful unsigned pop rock/alternative quintet that deserves to be heard. This quintet’s second CD “Phoenix” mixes cool, “rustic” pop rock melodies that will “tug” at the heartstrings of listeners everywhere. - elephanttalkindie

"Roi and the Secret People hit #22 this week in the top 300 indie NYC bands -Deli Magazine"
- - Deli Magazine

Roi and The Secret People: Phoenix

July 6, 2013

Roi and the Secret People’s new album Phoenix is a musical and lyrical journey that fills your imagination like a flock of birds filling the sky. There are so many layers and details that emerge, grow and change that each song is deep and complex, but you never lose the overall feeling of energy and fun. This is a get-up-and-rock band with super tight performances and really, really great songwriting.

Combining rebellious indie alt tones built on a solid fm rock foundation, Phoenix is both fresh and familiar. The album plays like a season. You have a feeling of what to expect, but you are surprised anew by the beauty of each new moment. Mike Roi grew up in Jupiter, Florida, has been singing in bands since the age of 16 and now calls Easton, Pennsylvania home. Along with Randy Melick on Guitar, Craig Martyn on Drums and Vocals, Dave Baun on Bass and Dan DeChellis on Keys and Piano, he has put together a band of like-minded people, each adding their own wavelength to the energy broadcast.

Having toured up and down the east coast as well as Europe, and with the added miles under the hood from several other projects, Roi delivers the vibes of a mature musician on this album but has not lost the energy of youth. There’s a synthesis of idea and execution here that is truly admirable. It’s one of those magic moments in music when a band is just so “right” for the songwriting and it all comes together like it was meant to be, and that is clearly the case here.

With BritPop influences mixed with Florida/Tom Petty styles, Phoenix really is a special album. This is a band that has something to say and they say it well. From beginning to end each element is in place and balanced. Combined, it’s an easy, intricate, enlightening journey.

Complex, intelligent and heartfelt, Roi and the Secret People’s 2nd album Phoenix is a must-have fresh rock album that is sure to remain on your favorites list for a very long time. Very Highly Recommended. - Rust Magazine

Roi and The Secret People: Phoenix

July 6, 2013

Roi and the Secret People’s new album Phoenix is a musical and lyrical journey that fills your imagination like a flock of birds filling the sky. There are so many layers and details that emerge, grow and change that each song is deep and complex, but you never lose the overall feeling of energy and fun. This is a get-up-and-rock band with super tight performances and really, really great songwriting.

Combining rebellious indie alt tones built on a solid fm rock foundation, Phoenix is both fresh and familiar. The album plays like a season. You have a feeling of what to expect, but you are surprised anew by the beauty of each new moment. Mike Roi grew up in Jupiter, Florida, has been singing in bands since the age of 16 and now calls Easton, Pennsylvania home. Along with Randy Melick on Guitar, Craig Martyn on Drums and Vocals, Dave Baun on Bass and Dan DeChellis on Keys and Piano, he has put together a band of like-minded people, each adding their own wavelength to the energy broadcast.

Having toured up and down the east coast as well as Europe, and with the added miles under the hood from several other projects, Roi delivers the vibes of a mature musician on this album but has not lost the energy of youth. There’s a synthesis of idea and execution here that is truly admirable. It’s one of those magic moments in music when a band is just so “right” for the songwriting and it all comes together like it was meant to be, and that is clearly the case here.

With BritPop influences mixed with Florida/Tom Petty styles, Phoenix really is a special album. This is a band that has something to say and they say it well. From beginning to end each element is in place and balanced. Combined, it’s an easy, intricate, enlightening journey.

Complex, intelligent and heartfelt, Roi and the Secret People’s 2nd album Phoenix is a must-have fresh rock album that is sure to remain on your favorites list for a very long time. Very Highly Recommended. - Rust Magazine

Phoenix:Where the hell have I been? I regret not knowing this guy sooner- he is a treasure,Easton,and you better drink him up because with a sound like this he may not be yours for long. This Phoenix is my new favorite Phoenix-jumping ahead of the band Phoenix, The Dark Phoenix Saga and the University of Phoenix Online (Let's Get to Work!). This polished album sounds like a Nick Lowe produced Elvis Costello LP but with more joy and less anger. He has teamed up with four amazing local musicians including Dan DeChellis on piano, Randy Melick on guitar, Dave Baun on bass, and Craig Martyn on drums to reform his NYC band Roi and the Secret People. His voice is magnetic, like the only best parts of Tom Petty's DNA mixed with an angel's. He deftly glides through soulful lyrics; I would rank him amongst the best lyricists in the Indie scene today. Highlights include "Sweet Maria, "Drive", and "Burnout". Mark my words: Mike Roi is destined for great things. - the ELUCIDATOR

Phoenix:Where the hell have I been? I regret not knowing this guy sooner- he is a treasure,Easton,and you better drink him up because with a sound like this he may not be yours for long. This Phoenix is my new favorite Phoenix-jumping ahead of the band Phoenix, The Dark Phoenix Saga and the University of Phoenix Online (Let's Get to Work!). This polished album sounds like a Nick Lowe produced Elvis Costello LP but with more joy and less anger. He has teamed up with four amazing local musicians including Dan DeChellis on piano, Randy Melick on guitar, Dave Baun on bass, and Craig Martyn on drums to reform his NYC band Roi and the Secret People. His voice is magnetic, like the only best parts of Tom Petty's DNA mixed with an angel's. He deftly glides through soulful lyrics; I would rank him amongst the best lyricists in the Indie scene today. Highlights include "Sweet Maria, "Drive", and "Burnout". Mark my words: Mike Roi is destined for great things. - the ELUCIDATOR

"I'm loving "Dog St.",the new CD from Roi And The Secret People;it's truly classic sounding, drawing on all the best elements of lates 60s ,70s,and 80s rock,while sounding totally current in a Gavin DeGraw sort way.Musicianship and production are flawless, the songs are instantly catchy (I'm loving "Starshine") and they deserve a home on radio and in your CD player; great stuff." - Good Times Magazine

"I'm loving "Dog St.",the new CD from Roi And The Secret People;it's truly classic sounding, drawing on all the best elements of lates 60s ,70s,and 80s rock,while sounding totally current in a Gavin DeGraw sort way.Musicianship and production are flawless, the songs are instantly catchy (I'm loving "Starshine") and they deserve a home on radio and in your CD player; great stuff." - Good Times Magazine

"I'm loving "Dog St.",the new CD from Roi And The Secret People;it's truly classic sounding, drawing on all the best elements of lates 60s ,70s,and 80s rock,while sounding totally current in a Gavin DeGraw sort way.Musicianship and production are flawless, the songs are instantly catchy (I'm loving "Starshine") and they deserve a home on radio and in your CD player; great stuff." - Good Times Magazine

"Roi & The Secret People is an interesting rock band that's got a very jam oriented vibe/feel to what they do...they remind me of The Black Crowes alot, on a musical level, I can hear a little bit o' The Allman Brothers, Mountain, & what they do is very reminiscent of the 70's era of rock n roll where guitar solo's, groove & "vibe" are all that matters...there's no slick production here, no extreme pro-tool cut & paste, it's all about the sound, the vibe & the essence....this is good music that you could totally crank up in headphones while passing the proverbial "peace pipe" if you know what I mean....it's good, old school rock n roll, & some of the bands members are famous in their own right." - Rock N Roll Experience Magazine

"Mike Roi and his group of talented 'Secret People' perform his original material with a classic rock sensibility and a southern soul that reminds us all what is great about rock and roll in America." - Make Music NY

"Mike Roi and his group of talented 'Secret People' perform his original material with a classic rock sensibility and a southern soul that reminds us all what is great about rock and roll in America." - Make Music NY

"Originally from Florida, Roi and the Secret People count the Allman Bros., Neil Young , MTB, etc. as their influences. I hear that and maybe some Guns and Roses, too. Power rock with some of that twanginess of the South. This is apparent in “Mississippi Sun”. “Modern Day Samurai” has a modern rock/radio-friendly sound. “Dog St.” has a harder metal sound." - southern fried magazine

"Initially, I did not think I would like Roi and the Secret People . Headed by Mike Roi of Brooklyn, New York, this southern rock band grew on me as I listened. Not a huge fan of southern rock, I was impressed with the way they adapted their full, rich rock sound to appeal to modern rock fans like myself. With catchy rhythms and an obviously experienced vocalist, the music was easy to listen to, cheerful and upbeat. The songwriting and arrangement were very professional and overall, the music was well-written, well-executed and very marketable. I thought there was a strong Red Hot Chili Peppers sound, especially in the vocals, and in my opinion, this band was definitely on the same level. Overall, Roi and the Secret People had a great southern rock sound that would most likely appeal to the average rock listener as well. They have a great unique sound, a lot of talent and excellent production quality." - Shinbone Magazine

“Based out of Brooklyn, Roi and The Secret People stand up for what rock should be. This is truly a band that lightens your heart when you listen to them. From the southern blend of electric rock to their acoustic jams, this is music that any crowd could enjoy. Their new release, entitled "Dog St.", is a great mix of true rock from the first song to the last. Beautiful vocals, accompanied by soothing music in the background is always a good thing. Roi and The Secret People are already making a name for themselves in New York, and it's only a matter of time before they break out in the States.” —Metal Mark of AtlMetal.com - Metal Mark

Who’s Mike Roi?

A guy who has dedicated his whole life to making music and the dream of entertaining audiences through my passion. I grew up in Jupiter, South Florida then as an young adult moved north to immerse myself first in the music scene of Philadelphia for a while, and then in NYC for many years. I’ve now traded big city living for a quieter residence in Easton, PA but continue to write music and perform locally as well in Philly and NY. I have been singing in bands since the age of 16 and have tried to stay true to kind of soulful music I grew up with ever since. After releasing records out of Florida with my band Brother Grimm (TALES, Cabana Colony), then with my band Roi out of Philadelphia (Intergalactic Rodeo), I formed Roi and the Secret People during my time in NYC. I love the freedom that songwriting gives me, while I stick to my roots I don’t have to be stuck in one genre at any given time.



How you got started in the music scene?

I started out in my teens in the swampy hot weather of South Florida playing in a neighborhood band. I used to sneak out of my bedroom window at night to perform at local house parties before forming a more substantial lineup. That led to my first band in high school, which under parental chaperones at that point, played in the late night clubs of Ft. Lauderdale. Later after high school, with a few lineup changes, I was playing the South Florida scene with my first more professional band called Brother Grimm.



What are your music influences?

My iPod holds everything from Bowie, Nick Cave, Iron Maiden, D.R.I., the Beatles, the Verve, to Waylon and Willie and more. I have a pretty eclectic taste in music and draw my influences from many famous, and sometimes even not so famous, talents.



How was it to worked with Fred Kevorkian?

What a great experience, Fred is a super nice guy. The room he masters in is like a mad scientists lab – organized and clean but with all kinds of equipment I’ve never seen before. It was cool to see all the records on the wall of the recordings he has worked on from some amazing artists in the past.



Phoenix. How was the recording and writing process? What makes this record different to your past record? How you came out with the title?
Serious and fast. I think the songs were all written over a few weeks ,then the pre production took 3 days with us going into the studio for another 4 days to finish the recordings.
My last CD called Dog St., by Roi and the Secret People, was very classic rock sounding, which was what I was going for at the time with those songs. This time I wanted to go somewhere different.Something which explored another side of my musical influences.
The title of the whole album/project is called Phoenix. As i was in the process of moving out of Brooklyn to a house down in Easton,Pa. it seemed to fit with my new transition-a new beginning, sound, and direction for me at a time I was thinking about moving and leaving everything behind.

What has been the funniest moment you have been or took part while touring?

A long time ago – while living and gigging in Philly – I was invited to play a big masquerade Halloween show with my eclectic heavy alternative rock band at the time. We were all onstage and we realized our drummer was missing. It was before cell phones were something the average guy carried in their pocket and we had no idea where he was. Minutes kept ticking by and we had to start the show so we had our friend, who was a reggae drummer, fill in for the whole set. So there was my band all masqueraded out jamming with a reggae dude on the drums. It was wild! We later found out our regular drummer was in a minor fender bender….how did we live without cell phones?!

Are there any more plans for the future we should be aware of?Well I’ve recently put together a group of amazing musicians in Easton, PA. After some really arduous rehearsals and me cracking the imaginary whip to get all the tunes just how I want them to sound, they are going to be playing and touring with me in this next year for the new CD. The guitarist, Randy Melick, and I are working on the newest video to promote the song O’Love.



Where can we find you in Internetland?

www.reverbnation/michaelroi

http://cdbaby.com/cd/roisecretpeople

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Roi



Do you feel you are moving on the right direction?

I’ve never been so sure…
- Vents Magazine

(NEW YORK, NY)—This year, Black Book Magazine called Mike Roi one of the eight greatest artists “who create vibrant, unconventional music in spite of living outside the center of the cool New York.” With his bands ROI, Roi and the Secret People, and Brother Grimm he has garnered rave reviews in such publications as Good Times, Rock N Roll Experience, and Target Audience Magazine and received radio play on such stations as WRSU-FM. With his magnetic stage presence, angelic voice, and deft lyrics, he has proven there is no genre he can’t master—from Southern and hard rock to Indie and folk. Now, his latest effort shows the true depth of his range, both as a singer and a lyricist. Produced by Mishal Zeera, who has gained renown with his own bands Kalki and the Bunker Pets, Throwing Stones offers a fresh new sound combined with Roi’s beautiful vocals and signature heart-felt songs. Mastered at Avatar Studios by the legendary engineer Fred Kevorkian, who has worked with such luminaries as Willie Nelson, Iggy Pop, Ryan Adams, and The White Stripes, Roi’s first solo CD is at once lyrical, edgy, and thoroughly innovative.

As Roi perfectly stated in his feature in Black Book, “inspiration is where you find it.” Here, he combines the best of all his influences from Nick Cave to Neil Young and Tom Waits. From the gorgeous and honest opening track “A Little Pain” to the searing tune “Just a Little Bit Closer,” a song that perfectly captures the high price of fame and friendship, Roi shows that he can be tender, raw, and seething all at once.

Collaborating with Roi on several of these new songs is David Leatherwood, one of New York’s finest bass players who is known for his work with Apache Stone, Puracane (Ubiquity), The Patti Rothberg Band, and Evil Jake and has opened for such acts as Sting, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, and Aerosmith. From the title track “Throwing Stones,” to the haunting “Phoenix” this latest offering shows just why Mike Roi is one of the most inspired and thoughtful singers to burst on the NYC scene.

About the Artist:
Mike Roi grew up in Jupiter, South Florida and is now residing in Brooklyn, NY. Mike has been singing in bands since the age of 16 and has been pursuing his passion for the kind of soulful music he grew up with ever since. He has opened for such renowned acts as The Black Crowes, Midnight Oil, and Marilyn Manson. After releasing records out of Florida with Brother Grimm (TALES, Cabana Colony), then with his band Roi out of Philadelphia (Intergalactic Rodeo), Mike formed Roi and the Secret People. Phoenix is his first solo effort.
- Gina Sigillito

At this moment, Williamsburg might reign supreme as the current indie-rock capital of America, spouting a torrent of nicotine-stained bands into the big time while cornering the market on broken-arm tattoos and art-nerd superiority, but contrary to popular belief, the nabe does not lay claim to every exciting indie band in New York. Dear David Byrne: if you want to discover the next big alternative act, you might try skipping the Bedford Avenue stop. Outside the usual music hotbeds of New York an outcropping of talent is taking root in places like Astoria, Queens, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn and the West Village. What explains this growing diaspora of creativity? We asked eight bands and artists who create vibrant, unconventional music in spite of living outside the center of the cool New York.

Artist/Band Name: Michael Roi
Hood: Park Slope
Who you are: I’m a singer/songwriter from Jupiter, Fla., influenced by Neil Diamond, Neil Young, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, and George Jones.
What drew you to Park Slope?: I never thought of Park Slope as a musical hotbed. I was drawn more to the culture, the artist community, the lack of noisy tourists and especially the tap water. While I live in Park Slope, I enjoy crashing on couches all over Brooklyn. Some friends asked me to write a parody Beatles tune that paid tribute to Sheepshead Bay. While it’s probably as far from the epicenter of the indie music scene as you can get, it’s one of my favorite places to hang and play music. I guess inspiration is where you find it. - Black Book Magazine