Roan Grevel Turns Waiting Into Something Explosive
Punk Head: ”Anna" feels intimate, but it also grows into something huge. Did you always know the song needed that kind of emotional expansion?
Roan Grevel: It’s true that I love showcasing this kind of emotional progression in a song. 'Anna' is actually my very first composition; it has evolved over time, but its progression has always remained the same.
I wanted to make it a tense track, waiting is a powerful kind of frustration. I think people don't really expect the way the song evolves, and that definitely comes from my grunge influences.
Grunge tends to want to catch you off guard, shifting the energy and emotion as the track unfolds.
Punk Head: Several critics have described your music as distinctly European alternative rock. What does that label mean to you?
Roan Grevel: I love the alternative genre because, in my opinion, it allows for much more flexibility within rock music. Whether it’s for a whole project or just a single song, I can allow myself to do things that are soft and melancholic, or dive into punk sounds and raw energy. When you’re labeled as 'punk' or anything else, for instance, people only expect a specific kind of riff and sound from you.
As for the 'European' label, it’s flattering because the European scene is incredibly rich.
But to be honest, I don't think in terms of 'regions' when I listen to a track or when I compose. It’s true that I grew up with the melancholy and darkness of certain European bands, but I also love the raw, direct energy of American alternative rock. My music is more of a bridge between those two worlds.
Punk Head: The song has been described as both nostalgic and contemporary. Which records were living in your head while you were making it?
Roan Grevel: Anna' sounds both nostalgic and contemporary because it was written 20 years ago and has been refined multiple times over the years.
I think a lot of influences crossed my mind while developing this track. Back when I was writing and composing it, I was literally feeding on Nirvana’s Nevermind. Around that same time, I also discovered Seether, a band that really knows how to bring a lot of emotion into their songs.
Nowadays, the artists who influence my writing and style the most are without a doubt Benoît Poher from the band Kyo, and Damien Saez on his early albums. They are total opposites in terms of image and style, but they share the exact same talent for storytelling. They have this unique ability to make you really reflect on the meaning of words.
Punk Head: The guitar seems to carry as much of the narrative as the lyrics. Do you think in melodies before words?
Roan Grevel: It’s true that it’s very rare for me to start with lyrics before composing. I feel much more inspired when I’m carried by a melody. Once a melody resonates within me, the words and vocals just follow naturally.
Punk Head: International audiences are discovering your work through this single. Does that outside perspective change the way you see your own music?
Roan Grevel: It really opens up my perspective; it’s fascinating and rewarding to see that music has no borders. Even if people don't always understand the lyrics word for word, they feel the energy. And maybe that also makes them want to dive deeper into the song later on.
Everyone carries their own cultural background, unique experiences, and emotions whether they are learned individually or acquired through society. Opening up to the world allows me to receive even more feedback from completely different viewpoints. Sometimes, people point out a specific part of a song that seemed almost trivial to me, but stands out as a powerful signature for them. It sheds a whole new light on my work, and it’s truly an amazing experience.
