ANNA Promotion - Bands: Innocent Rosie

Started playing late 2005, early 2006 and has since completed several tours around Europe and in the U.S.!
We found a label, Swedmetal, and inked a deal with them - and now we just released the debut album, "Bad Habit Romance".

A-N-N-A: How did your name „Innocent Rosie” come about and what’s the meaning behind it?

Innocent Rosie: Everything is not as innocent as it seems, (try us live) plus it has a nice bluesy touch to it!

A-N-N-A: So, let’s talk about the history of Innocent Rosie - can you tell us a little bit about how long you have known each other and when Innocent Rosie was founded? How came the formation of your band about, since you come from different parts of Sweden?

Innocent Rosie: Benjamin and the former guitarplayer had known each other since childhood, and since we all hail from small towns in Sweden (except for Dixxi) it's not too hard to track down people who seem like the right persons for the gig!
Oscar and Joel met at Sweden Rock Festival, and Joel later moved to the west coast of sweden, talked to Oscar and ended up joining the band!

Dixxi worked at a music store in Gothenburg, and after the former guitarplayer left the band, he was asked to be a stand in for the Italy-Tour - and we ended up really good friends, so he was asked to join full-time!

A-N-N-A: Can you give us some insight into your band - what's the relationship like between you guys? And can you each tell us a little bit about yourselves?

Innocent Rosie: We are all really, really good friends. We're very much alike, and very different from each other. We all share the same personality, more or less, which makes touring and recording very easy. We don't have to argue or throw tantrums at each other, 'cause there is no need for it. We know where we stand. But where we all draw our influences from, is different.
We all have different taste in music, so when we meet halfway when writing songs, the magic happens.

A-N-N-A: Your debut album has just been released on February 18th, - how long did you work on the album? Where was it recorded? And what did your days look like while working on the new album, some bands being locked up in a studio in the middle of nowhere…

Innocent Rosie: It was recorded at Sound Solution Studios, with Richard Bengtsson (Arch Enemy, Shining) as a producer.
We've been working on the album for about a year or so. We had some line-up changes when we were almost done, so we had to change/rearrange some parts - for the better.
We completed a lot of sitcom episodes there as well (My name is Earl, check) and watched the Woodstock DVD 50 times over and over. Haha!
And yes, we were in the middle of nowhere, so that was the only thing to do. Which was great, 'cause we really focused on the music! The whole band was there to have our saying on everything, so that noone had their parts erased without knowing and so.

A-N-N-A: Have you received any feedback from your fans yet regarding “Bad Habit Romance”?

Innocent Rosie: A lot! Man, it's great to hear fans who have been with us since the demo-tapes, saying they love it! And I think we managed really good to keep the same raw, punky attitude through the album as we had on the demos.

A-N-N-A: Who is writing the songs in Innocent Rosie? Where do you get your inspiration for writing new songs?

Innocent Rosie: We all write the songs, so everyone has their vibe to them. That's how we operate, like a unit. We don't have one songwriter, that would never work out. Oscar is writing all the lyrics, but the music is written by all of us.
Inspiration? Everything. From Rock’n’Roll to the happiness/boredom of everyday life. And Norwegian black metal!

A-N-N-A: Which song on Bad Habit Romance is the most personal for you? Can you each name your favorite song?

Innocent Rosie: For me, (Joel) the most personal song is probably Let a memory die, and the reason is personal, hah.
But the favorite song? We care for all of them, naming a favorite song would be like having a favorite kid. You have to like them all, otherwise they wouldn't have made it to the album.

A-N-N-A: What are your plans for 2009 and what do you want to achieve this year? Do you have any upcoming plans for touring or festivals? Where can people expect to see you and when?

Innocent Rosie: Touring! That's all we plan to do, play everywhere all the time. That's what records are for, to be able to tour!
We've hit Italy once, and going back again in April, then we're going to play some gigs in Sweden, including one festival together with Mando Diao and Hammerfall. We're planning German Dates in May right now, and later this year we're going to England and the U.S.

A-N-N-A: You’ve just returned home from a short tour through Italy – how did it go? Did you have fun in Italy and how did the Italians enjoy your shows. Are your fans there any different from your Swedish fans?

Innocent Rosie: We love it there the Italians are great, wild motherf*ckers! That's why we're going back again.

A-N-N-A: You’ve played numerous times in L.A., especially at the auspicious Whiskey a Go Go, which is pretty unusual for European bands – how did these gigs come about? And how was it?

Innocent Rosie: The Whisky was/is great. A legendary place, to say the least! All our heroes started there (Zep, The Doors) so the place holds a rock’n’roll legacy! They hold a festival there each year called the Cruefest, who contacted us and asked if we wanna play (the wonders of Myspace) and we did. And yeah, it is as great as people say it is.

A-N-N-A: If you could look into the future where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Innocent Rosie: Doing what we're doing right now, and still have the intensity and passion for it. I need my adrenaline fix to survive!

A-N-N-A: Thanks for taking your time to do this interview. Perhaps you can leave a final word for your fans and people out there interested in Innocent Rosie?

Innocent Rosie: We love you, see you in a bit! And, yeah, don't be afraid to get yer brains blown out! PEACE!