Many describe the music of Roselit Bone as “cinematic” and reference the work of legendary film score composer Ennio Morricone. That’s not wrong, but it’s not exactly right, either.
“I’ve never quite identified with [that comparison]. I mean, obviously I like spaghetti western music, but it’s never been a primary influence for me,” says Joshua McCaslin, singer, songwriter, and co-founder of the Portland nine-piece.
“I may draw from similar places that [Morricone] did, like the Mexican ranchera horns and the Duane Eddy guitar twang,” McCaslin continues. “Taking all these elements and trying to cram them into one four-minute song is probably going to make it epic no matter what. I try to squeeze as much as I can into every little song.”
For McCaslin, it’s not about creating something cinematic, but about layering powerful sounds, building an unmistakable aesthetic, and evoking human emotions—both positive and negative.