Roll of the Dice: 8 questions with La Rosa Noir

Features, Interviews, Roll of the Dice

Chicago post-punk outfit have been turning heads with the new record Arellano. TGEFM is stoked to have had a few moments of time with La Rosa Noir to discuss the band, what makes Chicago a hub of creativity and the importance of representation in the scene.

Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the release of Arellano. What can you tell us about La Rosa Noir for readers just discovering the band?

(Yeshi Regalado, Frontwoman of La Rosa Noir) La Rosa Noir is a post-punk band with dark and dreamy surf tones. Influenced by 90's moody alt rock. We strive for a sound that's cool and fun. 
(Janesse Espino, Lead Guitarist of La Rosa Noir) I think we have a broad range of sounds that you'll find something you like if you give it a chance. 

What album or band or significant singles made you go “Yeah, this is what I want to do”  Not just an influence but who or what was the catalyst?

(Yeshi) For me it all started when I got my first cd, it was Madonna's Like A Virgin album. Then I started to explore frontwomen in other genres like the 2000's pop punk princess Avril Lavigne and iconic 80's rocker Joan Jett. Once I started discovering more women fronted acts it was game over. I knew that for the rest of my life no matter what I did I would always dream of being someone as cool as they are. Someone that gets to create something long lasting and impactful. 
(Janesse) I remember when Green Day first came out with American Idiot and how excited it made me about playing guitar and wanting to be in a rock band. 

Chicago has always been a pretty amazing city for art and music, especially punk. What is it about the Windy City that has led to so much of an overabundance of creativity within its limits?

(Yeshi) I honestly think it's the weather, haha. The way the seasons change. How cold it gets. How hot, warm, cool, chilly, and wet this city gets. It's always either intense or perfect. I don't know, it kind of feels like the energy of this city is bound to inspire creativity. So much happens all the time and has happened. There's a lot to be inspired by what this city brings. This is a very emotional city and I think that has a lot to do with the creative surge that comes from it. All the best art is emotional and I think that's why Chicago is able to produce so many talented artists that have so much to express, and they do it the way they know best, through art. 
(Janesse) Chicago is a vibe. So many cultures and ethnicities make it a rich and diverse place to grow up in and pull inspiration from. 

The world has been going through some shit over the last few years. What affect, if any, have the cultural and political landscapes of the last few years have on your music or the live scene in general?

(Yeshi) The pandemic was a crazy period. I missed playing with my bandmates even just to jam. It did have its pros here and there. I wrote a lot during this time. “Lavender Warm” was born in the middle of the pandemic. 
(Janesse) Our first show back after not being able to perform for a year (because of covid) was a huge testament to how much love and camaraderie there is in the music scene. It was an incredible night of music and the local music scene has only gotten bigger and better. I think we all realized we need this. 

Your label and its parent label have done a great job of showcasing the current wave of Latinx Alt-punk bands. How important is that representation to you as both artists and members of the community?

(Yeshi) Latinx/POC representation is really important to me. The only latina alt singer I knew of growing up was Mazzy Star. Other than her I grew up idolizing a lot of female frontwomen in rock/alt genres but they were usually white. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just one of those things you notice. I'd always thought it would be cool if there was a latina, let alone a chicana rockstar. I learned about Selena later in life, my family didn't really listen to her that much. Once I found out she was also a no sabo kid like me with a thick and beautiful voice, a fellow chicana, and so kind that when I found out she ended up dying young, it broke my heart. I kind of felt like she was my long lost big sister and I missed the chance to get to know her, leaving it up to me to continue the work she's done. 
(Janesse) I grew up always searching for an artist that I could relate to and saw myself in. Being in LRN has given me the opportunity to be the artist I searched for. Being a part of My Grito has shown me that there is a community of others like myself and it's been very empowering. 

One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should?

(Yeshi) Some bands that TGEFM readers have got to know about are Scarlet Demore, Si Dios Quiere, Snuffed, Payasa, Demo Division, DayBreaker, Los Skin, X Will Mark The Place, Evil Empire, Sidehug, The Fundamental Kink, Division Point, Machine. ,We Weren't Invited, and The Renters to name a few. 
(Janesse) Literally any group in the Chicago Music Scene are incredible. Some of my favorites are Dead Dog, The Fundamental Kink, Division Point, Nikko Blue, Scarlet Demore, Demo Division, and Attaguns. 

Now that the world has its hands on the album, what's next for La Rosa Noir?

(Yeshi) We're back to work and writing new music. We're planning to unveil a new song at our upcoming album release show December 16 at Sleeping Village. We're planning to release an ep sometime next year. Do a lot of touring and hopefully play bigger and crazier shows. I'd love to play a fest or two. 
(Janesse) We want to keep this momentum going and keep writing and recording and hopefully we'll have an ep in the spring or summer. We have a short hand with our producer now so writing has become a much quicker process that I'm confident we can have new songs ready to go soon. In December we have our album release show at Sleeping Village and I'm so excited to celebrate this huge milestone. 

What do you wish I asked about or that you had more of an opportunity to speak about during this interview?

(Yeshi) Nothing comes to mind. These are really great questions and I appreciate you taking the time to ask them so deeply.

Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.