#56 - Roe O'Brien

Episode Overview

Roe O'Brien (Roe Knows Best) is a New Jersey-based singer-songwriter. Following her Northbound EP and collaborative Weekend at Mauchie's project with Max Rauch, Roe has now released her first full-length album, "Now Arriving at Secaucus Junction", recorded with Doug Gallo. In 2025, she formed her first full band with guitarist Mike Farrell, bassist Paul Calabrese, and drummer Benjamin Delloiacono, bringing her songs to life on stages across New Jersey.

In this episode, Roe discusses the making of "Now Arriving at Secaucus Junction" and her production philosophy of "no moment wasted." We dive deep into tracks like "Out of Touch," "Suffocate," "Smoke in the Furniture," "Secaucus Junction," "191 Bus," and "TV Tyranny," exploring her songwriting process, her approach to defying expectations, and how forming a full band has informed her future work. Roe also shares insights about her choir background, her melody-driven approach to songwriting, her experiences navigating open mic nights, and the authentic New Jersey transit sounds that bring the album's title track to life.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction and Catching Up
• 01:20 – Album Announcement: "Now Arriving at Secaucus Junction"
• 02:36 – Forming the Full Band
• 06:04 – Band Rehearsals and Learning Songs
• 10:13 – How Band Experience Informs Future Songwriting
• 12:49 – Choir Background and Listening Skills
• 15:59 – Memorizing Lyrics and Melody as Conversation
• 19:29 – Melody Machine and Voice Notes Archive
• 22:33 – Breaking Form and Defying Expectations
• 25:56 – Open Mic Experiences and Fighting for Audience Attention
• 32:44 – Concert Phone Recording Discussion
• 58:34 – Working with Doug Gallo on the Album
• 1:01:26 – Production Philosophy: "No Moment Wasted"
• 1:02:27 – "Out of Touch" Deep Dive
• 1:07:10 – Percussive Elements and Defying Expectations
• 1:22:33 – "Suffocate" Song Discussion
• 1:44:26 – "Smoke in the Furniture" Discussion
• 1:49:56 – "Secaucus Junction" Song Discussion
• 1:51:28 – NJ Transit Samples and Authenticity
• 2:36:10 – "191 Bus" Discussion
• 2:43:45 – "TV Tyranny" Discussion
• 3:02:13 – Closing Thoughts