Des Rocs: “Happiness is on a stage”

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Daniel Rocco, also known as Des Rocs, is a name that probably won’t say much to many. But it’s only a matter of time. We’re talking about a musician from New York who has recently touched Italy with his first headlining European tour, where he spreads around his style, his guitar on fire and his pure energy. With a new album just out, Des Rocs kindly accepted our invite to answer a few questions on his new Dream Machine, on his idea of music and on happiness.

Hi Daniel, thanks for your time and welcome to VEZ Magazine. So, here we go: are you excited for (if we are not wrong) your first ever show in Italy? 

“I feel great. It’s been a dream of mine to play here for a really long time, so I’m very excited to play here tonight. Very excited. Bologna is number one. I’m excited.” 

It’s not your first time in Europe, by the way, you’ve played a bunch of concerts in England over the past days and a few in the past years, so the question is if you find some differences between European and American audiences. I saw a couple of video on YouTube of you performing in Chicago a few months ago and the crowd was so loud and happy, and your performance was a blast. It seems to me that the louder and more energetic the crowds is and the better you and the band play, you feed on their enthusiasm.

“No, I’ve been here before, but I’ve never headlined in Europe, so it’s a whole different kind of experience. I think European audiences are much more open minded, and I think they have a much greater appreciation for rock that is cultural across the whole culture. Whereas in the United States, all the genres, they all live in their own little universe. Some people like pop, some people like rock, some people like rap. But in Europe, I feel like people appreciate all genres of music equally. So you could have the same amount of people at a rap show as you can at a rock show. And that’s really cool to me. You don’t have to only like rock to go see rock in Europe. You know what I mean? I mean, in the US you’re only going to have people who are rock fans and don’t like other genres of music.” 

Let’s talk about Dream Machine. You said on an interview that your previous work, A Real Good Person in a Real Bad Place, was “born out of a tremendous amount of darkness”. Does Dream Machine bring some light? And how much what you feel and what surrounds you affects your music style? 

“Absolutely. Like, Dream Machine is the opposite of my previous work. It is a much bigger, grander reimagining of all things by Des Rocs. My surroundings are very, very important to my music. Very, very important. I’m always influenced by places. Places are very inspiring. If I made an album today in Italy or if I went to New York and made an album, it’d be two totally different albums. Yeah, always plays a very important part.” 

Can you tell us what the cover of your record means? Is it an idea of yours or not?

“Yeah, it’s mine. It’s a symbol. It’s my symbol. It’s one that I created that represents strength. It’s kind of these two fangs, and they’re connected in the middle by one rod. It’s like one core symbol of strength and the whole message of Des Rocs is about perseverance and overcoming the odds and strength. So that is everything, what it’s about. And I wanted to have this statue, just like in a desert, in a very hostile location to show that you could always persevere.” 

How much your way of writing and composing has changed over the years? 

“Not much. I’ve been writing the same way I have, just like as a little kid. And if anything, I’m always trying to get back to the way I wrote before there were any expectations on my music. That’s really the best. If anything, things have gotten fine tuned along the way, but now I’m a lot more aware of the audience, which I think is bad for the creative process, and it’s better when you’re creating in total isolation, not thinking about the audience.” 

So do you feel like searching for freedom in the way you wrote in the past? 

“Oh, yeah. When you’re writing and you don’t think anybody’s going to listen to what you’re doing, you can write whatever you want. You’re totally free because you don’t think it’s ever going to do anything. So it’s very freeing when you’re writing early on.” 

Looking at the present day, is there an artist you would like to work it, or tour together?

“Present day artist, Foo Fighters definitely.”

At last, we are used to close the interview with some unusual question. What’s your idea of happiness? 

“My idea of happiness? Being able to make music full time, all the time and not have to worry about anything else. Being able to perform shows. Every day that I can play a show is a day that I’m very happy. I never take it for granted. I’m going to be happy for every second I’m on the stage.”

Cover picture by Luca Ortolani