This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Mojomama recently released their new album, Red White and Blues on May 24, 2018.
Mojomama is a Longmont band who combines Old School R&B and Funk influences. The band won the Colorado Blues Challenge, recently, and will attend the International Blues Challenge for a second year in a row as the representative from the Colorado Blues Society. The International Blues Challenge will be held in Memphis, TN in January 2019.
Lyricist, Jessica Rogalski, responded to questions asked about the new album. The following is the interview.
What was your source of inspiration for the album you just released?
The source of inspiration came from many years of listening and playing the blues. I wanted to connect with familiar ideas from the style of blues and express my own experience playing this genre of music.
The fans have been a big inspiration for me I wrote "Lets Go Out" for them , "I wanna dance, I wanna move ,I wanna shake my tail get into a groove."
"Blue sister" is literally about my Blues sisters on the music scene. Women musicians need to support each other, build each other up and celebrate our accomplishments together. Each libation represents a certain friend in the first verse. Blues is also a way to share your heartbreak through song.
"Rise Above" is about loosing loved ones and asking why but being confidant that we will be reunited on the other side. I think everyone can relate to this heartfelt concept.
The title track "Red White and Blues" is my social commentary, and my expression of free speech about the sad state of our nation. To quote the great Nina Simone "You cant help it, an artists duty ,as far as I'm concerned , is to reflect the times"
If I am not mistaken, your last album, Mojomama, was released in 2015. How has your music developed/grown since that album?
Since Mojomama's last release, our music has grown to find a stronger focus stylistically. We have been focused on writing original blues since we got more involved with the Colorado Blues Society. They hold a local competition for the larger International Blues Challenge which sends a winner each year to compete in Memphis Tennessee. Mojomama won in 2017 and 2018 where we made it to semifinals. We will return to Memphis in 2019 and hope to go all the way this time.
What is your favorite song on the album and why?
Every song is dear to me so its like choosing a favorite child. I would say I love them all equally. However, I am most proud of "Rise Above" since it's the most emotional and deepest personal experience on the album. Music is meant to heal and this songs lets me express a loss that is very hard to put into words.
In the song “Sing You the Blues”, the chorus says (hopefully I heard correctly): “blues will make you stronger / the blues will make you wiser / they’re going to burn a fire / I’ve got to take you higher / The one thing i’ve got to do is I got to sing you the blues.” I understood from that that there is some sort of “power” within blues music. Is that correct? What message are you trying to get across with that awesome chorus?
"Blues will make ya stronger, Blues will make you wiser, we gonna burn a fire, I got to take ya higher" was a phrase that just flowed out into the music. This song is about me and my relationship with the music, the fans and my students. It is my gratitude that we have a fan base that understands the feeling that the blues gives you. It is the familiar feel of the 12 bar blues progression that evokes the heart felt connection to the pain and joy of the past while letting you live in the moment. "There's one thing I got to do, I've got to sing ya the blues."
Besides purchasing your album, where else can people listening to your music (e.g. spotify)?
You can find Red White and Blues @ www.mojomama.net or I-tunes and on CD Baby.com
Visit Mojomama's website to learn more about Mojomama, their new album and where Mojomama will be playing next.
