North Yorkshire indie songwriter Rojor is treating fans to a brand-new album entitled ‘Under The Snow Moon’. I had the chance to sit down and listen to the full album ahead of its September release.
Admittedly, I was new to the work of this Teesside-born artist. However, after some research into Rojor and his contributions to the North East music scene, it became clear that he has earned a reputation as something of a local legend. He has clearly carved out a unique and lasting identity as an artist worth keeping at least one eye on.
On first listen, I wasn’t blown away, but it soon became apparent that perhaps that wasn’t the point. I was instead immersed in a sonic bath with the opening track, ‘Barbed Wire’. Subtle chord progressions leading into a steady kick drum gradually submerged me into a mood that persisted throughout the album.
Tracks such as ‘Desert Maiden’ and ‘Undercover’ blend ethereal vocals with stripped-back lyrics and rhythmic backdrops, encouraging listeners to nod along with the beat. Millennials like myself will be taken back to the nineties and noughties by the album’s unique fusion of dance, indie, pop and ambient elements. Younger listeners will be introduced to a soundscape rarely heard on today’s airwaves but clearly embraced by hard-working and ambitious artists like Rojor. It brought me a strange comfort to know that new music can still evoke nostalgia for a time not so long ago.
The latest addition to an already impressive discography, ‘Under The Snow Moon’ boasts ten solid, well-produced tracks, each flowing seamlessly into the next to create an enjoyable experience from start to finish. Every song was written, arranged and produced by Rojor himself. This one-man-band approach has resulted in an album with a slick finish and an identity all of its own. Fans of Savage Garden, Prefab Sprout and The Blue Nile will undoubtedly find something to love here.
On his website, Rojor lists his causes and beliefs – a somewhat unusual choice for a musician. However, once you delve into the lyrics of ‘Under The Snow Moon’, it begins to make sense. The album’s words add a depth to the music befitting an artist who clearly blends his love of music with a passion for charity. Alongside social themes, Rojor’s lyrics also offer a raw, vulnerable exploration of love and loss. Tracks like ‘It Felt Like Love’ perfectly exemplify this, with vocals pleading into the void that they “Can’t heal without you.” This kind of romanticism is something I always find especially enjoyable in indie and pop music.
‘Under The Snow Moon’ by Rojor is released on Friday 5th September. You can also explore his other releases at rojor.com.
