Introducing… Roxanne de Bastion

Roxanne de Bastion, the London-based singer-songwriter renowned for her nomadic lifestyle, has just released her latest work, a four-track EP titled Seeing You. Released on September 22nd through Brighton-based Hidden Trail Records, this EP showcases Roxanne’s versatility and storytelling prowess. She recorded it in North London with guitarist Ben Walker, who boasts a guitar collection that rivals Spinal Tap’s. Roxanne describes the EP as “quite varied in style and dynamics, but they all tell a story. Lyrics are very important to me; they’re personal to me, but I’d like to think they’re open enough for listeners to find their own meaning within them.”

Roxanne’s earliest musical memory is an endearing one. At two years old, she had a toy fish that played a tune when its string was pulled. She reminisces, “I remember the melody really well (and the fish, it was a fluffy bright red and gold creature).” However, it was discovering The Beatles that truly ignited her passion for music. Watching Yellow Submarine at four and finding a cassette tape of The Beatles Live at the BBC at eight made her fall in love with music. “I’ve been in love with music ever since,” she says. Later, Alanis Morissette’s emotionally charged songs and dynamic vocal range inspired Roxanne to perform, write, and record music. “Her songs were so packed with raw emotion and her vocal range from fragile to explosive really inspired me.”

When it comes to her current listening habits, Roxanne admits, “The only MP3 player I currently own is my laptop. Unfortunately, there are indeed hundreds of my demos and mixes on there, which is annoying when I switch the play-mode to shuffle.” She enjoys listening to music from other independent artists she has met on the road, such as Jess Morgan, Laura Meyer, and the Sky Captains of Industry. “No one knows them, but everybody should!” she says enthusiastically.

Roxanne expresses her disinterest in much of today’s heavily autotuned and compressed pop music. “I feel that’s just dumbing down the song and isn’t giving the listeners any credit,” she explains. As for future collaborations, she has an open mind and a long list of artists she’d love to work with, reflecting the abundance of talent she admires in the music world.

Her recent tour experiences have been both hectic and rewarding. “I’m on tour in Germany at the moment and am typing these answers on a rickety little train from Frankfurt to Weilburg (Where? Exactly!),” she shares, highlighting her dedication and passion for connecting with her audience through live performances. Despite the busy schedule, she looks forward to taking some time to reflect and create more music in the near future.

Roxanne de Bastion’s journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of creative expression and a deep connection to her audience. Her latest EP, Seeing You, and her dedication to authentic storytelling continue to set her apart in the independent music scene. For those wanting to stay connected, Roxanne welcomes fans to reach out through her website, Facebook, or Twitter.