DS Interview: Ricky Rochelle Reveals What’s Under His Second Layer

New York has a long history of producing some of the most iconic punk rock and pop acts around. Hell, without that storied city we wouldn’t have the foundations that have held our scene up for decades. Ricky Rochelle came up in the Long Beach area of New York as the drummer and singer of pop punk upstarts The Young Rochelles. Now, with his second solo record Second Layer, Ricky is delving into a deeper reservoir of inspirations and the results are stunning. Elements of synth, reggae, and big pop hooks swirl and mingle with his established punk foundations to create a confection that is both light, sweet and easy on the ears. However, beyond the surface lies a story of trauma, disconnection, and redemption. It’s in this second emotional layer that the true beauty of this record hides.

I caught up with Ricky to chat about the record, what inspired him and the process of making Second Layer. Go check out the record and read on to get the low down!

DS: Hey Ricky! Thanks for taking the time to chat. The new record sounds great! It’s definitely a bit of a departure from the Ramonescore style of your previous projects. What influences were you pulling from that lead to this new batch of songs?  

RR: Hey, thanks!! You know, not many of the layered sonics were present in my mind while I wrote my new album, Second Layer. I’m very open to what my music productions can become, especially these days when I’m not writing within the confines of a Ramonescore box, or whatever pop punk style defined The Young Rochelles. I enter the recording studio with the songs written, and I come to perform them with that day’s natural energy.

I trust my producers 100%, and while I co-produce my music, I let the main producer lead the way. My current producer, Gregg Gavitt, has impressed me with his musical intelligence, playing abilities, and important additions to my songs. His bass guitar and keyboard playing are pure wizardry. Gavitt seemingly has endless knowledge of all music from 1970 to today. The power pop-esque keyboards, The Police/The Slackers homages, and leaning into grunge and other sounds I’m not known for, mostly come from Gregg. He’ll hear my pop punk songs and sometimes want to take them on a slightly different journey. Admittedly, it occasionally can be out of my comfort zone to let him steer me into somewhat new territory, but those risks have defined Second Layer, making it stand out in my discography. Gavitt and I make a complimentary combination, and it’s always a super fun process to record music with him.

DS: The recording is very tight and clean. Can you tell me a little about the recording process? 

RR: I’m a recovering perfectionist, known for obsessing over vocals and song mixes. Lately I’ve been more relaxed with artistic decisions, so I don’t get stuck in the process, but yes, a lot of care is taken into making things sound the way they need to sound. Additionally, these songs were recorded one at a time, rather than in the same chunk of time. I’m more inspired that way. I’ve retired from doing demos.

RR: A lot of heavy and personal feelings came up during the recording process. The story can be heard on this album, but the long and short of it is that I became estranged from my Dad after a lifetime of surviving his verbal and emotional abuse. My parents divorced when I was two years old; My mom left with me in the middle of the night, fearing for our lives after what she felt was a direct threat. At that age, I believed my parent’s divorce was my fault, and wasn’t told otherwise. I was always caught in the middle of him and my mom, who he consistently tried to hurt…using me as his pawn. He had severe mental problems, and I should have been more protected. I suffered for many years.

As a son seeking his father’s love, I gave my Dad the benefit of the doubt until I truly believed we couldn’t continue our communication any longer. It was time to stand up for myself. The final straw broke when he went into a rage that lasted for months regarding him not knowing my wedding date, even though no invitations had even gone out by that time. He didn’t know any less than anyone else in my family did. But he flipped. He had a history of ruining personal events for me, and it ultimately became unsafe to invite him to my wedding… so he wasn’t there. Fast forward almost two years of no communication, and I found myself on the phone with my Dad telling me he had stage 4 esophageal cancer. He ended up in the hospital shortly after that. Then a nursing home. Then a hospice care center. It was in those final two months of his life that we reconnected after a lifetime of ups and downs. He finally offered some sort of non-apology, minimizing the significance of the harm he caused, which I hesitantly accepted. After all, it was the only option. We buried the hatchet, and weeks later, he was gone forever. The songs on Second Layer, especially the back half, tell the story of me and my Dad. I hope that my story can provide some relief to other survivors, who too often fall through the cracks of society, and are expected to be self-sufficient in a sometimes cruel world. We are all human and there is hope beyond our problems. We thrive by finding support and solutions.

So, I didn’t set out to make Second Layer a serious album from the start. The maturity of themes on the album was just a reflection of the tough times I endured during the years of its creation.

DS: Sounds like a heavy experience. I’m glad you were able to use that emotional journey to fuel your creative output. With a couple of solo releases under your belt now, what has the general response been to this turn of your career so far?

RR: The response has been great. People are enjoying the variety of themes and sounds and taking it for what it is: personal and artistic growth, if you will. I keep seeing the words, “Emotionally resonant” describe my new album in reviews. I think that’s a good thing… haha. Anyone who’s taken the plunge into my new work has expressed many kind words. Perhaps people thought all I could do was Ramonescore, but it was always clear to me that I have more to offer. My mission is to keep relaying important messages through relatable stories, wrapped in the uniquely catchy melodies I receive from the universe. I’m happy to report that my records are selling and my streams are growing, with prominent playlist placements helping the cause.

DS: You’ve certainly broken the mold with this album. What prompted the move to Germany based Lighthouse Records for this release?

RR: Lighthouse Records was the most enthusiastic about Second Layer and heard something special in it early on, before I had even realized its strength. He made a solid offer and I accepted. (Thank you Niko!! I enjoy working with you).

DS: Very cool! So, what can fans expect in terms of touring for this record? Are there any shows on the horizon that we should know about?

RR: I’m starting with localized shows and will be branching out from there. There are always a million things happening at once for me, so it’s just another plan, but touring remains on my mind. If I can get the right crew for the job, I’ll be out there again. My next show is on November 8^th in Brooklyn, NY at The Gutter with Goin’ Places and The Downstrokes.

DS: Thanks so much for your time and for bringing this gorgeous record into the world! Is there anything else on your mind that you’d like our readers to know about?

RR: I’m continuing my climb and you should too!! Keep making music, art, and all that. Live and love life while there’s time!! Support the artists you like. And as always, fuck fascism. Thank you again for your kind words and all the great questions. Dying Scene rules. See ya!!