Spotlight – Dirt Road Opera

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Spotlight - Dirt Road Opera: Redefining Roots Music with Heart and Harmony

In this feature of Spotlight – Dirt Road Opera, we dive into the world of a band that masterfully blends roots, folk, and country to create a sound that’s as soulful as it is authentic. Known for their captivating harmonies and heartfelt lyrics, Dirt Road Opera has carved out a unique niche in the music landscape, offering stories that resonate deeply with fans. In this exclusive interview, the band opens up about their musical journey, the stories behind their songs, and their passion for connecting with audiences through raw, genuine performances. Join us as we uncover the artistry and ambition behind Spotlight – Dirt Road Opera.

How did the Dirt Road Opera get together?

Barry and I have worked together and collaborated on many different projects since the first vocal track I did for one of his songs when I was 13 years old! We have both had our separate careers, with different bands for years. And then just over a decade ago we found ourselves looking to make some changes, musically and creatively, so we decided to start a band together, along with a few other members of our previous “musical families”. We have seen a few bandmates come and go over the years but, our partnership has proved to be a solid one! (Rachel)

What are some of the unique influences each member brings to influence the band's sound?

We all come from different musical backgrounds so there’s a lot to draw from. Classic Rock to bluegrass and old country have played important roles in our lives. We like playing acoustic guitars around the campfire fire and rocking out on stage with the full band. One of the main threads throughout is our vocal harmonies, which we pride ourselves however the band is presented. (Barry)

Are there any out of the box parts of your lives that help to mold the music to what it is today?

Unwavering support from our families has played a major part in our careers. We are also very DIY, Other skills we have such as video photography, engineering and producing our own stuff, are helpful and give us more control over what we do. (Barry)

We have some new music on the way with Where the Chicory Grows. Can you give us some insight on how this piece came together?

This song was inspired by the devastating loss of my family’s property to a wildfire in August of 2023. I’d always thought of writing a song about our home, Keefers BC and the story of how my family came to settle there. Unfortunately it took the tragedy of losing it all to finally write the tune “Where the Chicory Grows”. Keefers was an abandoned Railway community by the time my family called it home. Over the years it became a huge cornerstone in my family’s history. Writing a song about it seemed to be a good way to pay tribute to everything that was lost. (Rachel)

If we take it back to 2019's Seven Shells, how do you think today's music has evolved?

We’re still pretty much on the same musical path we were on in 2019, But I think having two lead vocalists ultimately pushes our music to continually evolve. Having two voices with completely different sounds, and strengths, gives us the opportunity to constantly explore and create a new sound, to an extent.

What are some of the more interesting parts you have learned about yourselves during your music journey?

Being in a band is much like a marriage and there’s a lot of give and take involved. I think over the years we’ve matured and have learned how to creatively approach our work in a positive way that benefits the songs. Our motto is “the song must win” and it’s usually obvious who’s idea is going to make that happen. Rather than argue about whose idea is better, it’s just quicker to try both and see. Mutual respect along with a deep friendship keeps things rolling along smoothly (most of the time:) (Barry)

How do you balance everyone's input in making music?

Balancing every band member’s input can be an art in itself. But for the most part, I think we’ve been pretty lucky in the way that we are all generally on the same page when it comes to the vision of the music that we make together. In Dirt Road Opera, everyone’s voice, and instrument play a unique role, and it’s rare that we’ve had conflicting ideas of how the end result should sound. (Rachel)

Dirt Road Opera’s music often feels like storytelling—if you could bring one of your songs to life as a short film, which would it be, and who would you cast?

Rachel’s dad, Dave Matkin wrote a moving song called Horseshoe Turn that tells the true tale of his friend being wrongfully accused of murder. I think that would make a great film. I’ll leave Rach in charge of the casting. (Barry)

I have recorded my Dads song “Horseshoe Turn” a few times in my life. Most recently on Dirt Road Operas debut album “Nowheresville”. My Dad wrote the song about a stretch of road leading to our home in Keefers. He used to give our neighbor rides into town and eventually learned of the story of him being framed for murder. I think the story would make a great Tarantino style film. I’ll leave Quentin in charge of casting 😉 (Rachel)

Your music has roots in Americana and folk, but if you were to release a song in a totally different genre as an experiment, which genre would you choose?

Well, a totally different genre for me would be a modern R&B type song, which we actually have sitting on the back burner right now. I think it’s going to be fun to step out of the box and try something new and hopefully learn something along the way.

What’s one ‘dirt road’ or unexpected path in your musical journey that you’re grateful you took, even if it wasn’t easy?

A definite unexpected bump in the “ dirt road “ was releasing our debut album (which we spent far too long making;) about two weeks before Covid released itself (as Barry likes to put it lol) Obviously that was a horrible time for many people. For us, as musicians releasing our debut project to the world, well, we could not have had worse timing! We faced enormous challenges. Nearly every aspect of the music industry was disrupted for a very long time. As were most aspects of life as we knew it. Unfortunately we weren’t given the opportunity to properly release, and promote the project that we had worked on for years, and are extremely proud of! I think that the pandemic era forced us all to rethink how to create, share and appreciate music.

What is one thing you think should be asked more in an interview that isn't asked enough?

What do you think of streaming royalties these days? (Barry)

If you had to introduce your music to a new fan for the first time what is the one that best showcases the Dirt Road Opera?

I’ll have to say Can’t Find a Way. It’s a good story about unrequited love and Rachel’s voice is perfect for it. (Barry)

Barry wrote “ Can’t Find a Way” years ago. When he decided to record it with “ The Cruzeros” for their album “El Nino” He asked me to sing the Background vocals on the track. I fell in love with the song then, and now, 20 some years later, I’m lucky enough to get to sing the lead. There is such a history around that song. I think it really encompasses who we are now as Dirt Road Opera. (Rachel)

What’s a piece of advice that you’d pass on to aspiring musicians about balancing friendship and professionalism within a band?

Being in a band is like having a second family. The balance between friendship and professionalism can be tricky at times. I think it’s very important to leave egos at the door, and understand that everyone has a role, and that it’s not a competition. Communication is key, and as long as everyone feels heard and respected, it’s smooth sailin’. (Rachel)

What do you hope people take away from your music?

We hope they’ve enjoyed listening to our songs and they feel musically satisfied and would come back again. (Barry)

I hope that our listeners find some sort of connection to our music. Seeing their own stories reflected in music that we make. A Lot of our songs are inspired by personal experience. But I hope they can still resonate with the listeners. (Rachel)

What’s coming up next?

We are currently in the process of writing and recording another EP. Both Barry and Rachel have a few upcoming “reunion” shows to commemorate their recent induction into the B.C. Country Music Hall of Fame alongside the other members of their former band “ The Cruzeros “ We hope to get out there and perform as much as we can in the new year, to promote our new music and hopefully recruit a few more DRO fans!

Spotlight – Dirt Road Opera is now at an end. Thanks to this fun group for taking the time to chat

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