Los Angeles DJ-songwriter-musician David Roshay definitely agrees with the Urban Dictionary’s definition of the name Madeline. His ethereal and sweetly sensual melody named after the late Madeline Kahn is an endearing tribute to an iconic actress.
The Urban Dictionary defines Madeline as such:
“Madeline Kahn is my favorite actress ever!” DJ Roshay proclaims. “I grew up on Mel Brooks films and I was taken by Madeline. History of the World, Part 1, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein…and Clue—although not by Mel Brooks—were the films that exposed me to Madeline.”
“I think the character Lili Von Shtupp in Blazing Saddles ultimately won me over and made me say, ‘Holy shit! I’m in love with this lady!’ I believe I was 13 or so. For me, what was truly special about her is that she understood the unique type of comedy Mel Brooks was looking for in a female role, and she not only delivered, but she exceeded the bar and added to his films comically, but also artistically—all the while being very attractive and a natural-born singer.”
In terms of the song itself, DJ Roshay says his song was inspired by Madeline Kahn in a subconscious way.
“It’s inspired by her but not exactly about her. The song was named after I wrote the lyrics and recorded it. I felt so nurtured when singing it during rehearsal, and I just had this feeling that I was doing everything right musically on the song, but I didn’t have a title. I found an old record with some women talking and I added their conversation to the track. The recording of the women talking sounded vintage and Madeline Kahn came to mind. The rest was history. I had my title.”
Let’s Time Travel Out Of The 1970s
And Blast Off Into the Future
With DJ Roshay’s
Recently Released
Sci-Fi-Themed Album
“Solar Team”
DJ Roshay’s latest science fiction musical endeavor is something just as unique and special as the Madeline Kahn track. The album is a perfect chill-out, calming, downtempo-yet-upbeat, positive journey through the universe with each song based on one on Roshay’s favorite sci-movies.
“My album is mainly inspired by my favorite sci-fi films such as Alien and Aliens, The Fifth Element, Predator, Oblivion, The Wizard of Oz, Blade Runner, The Matrix, Terminator, Star Wars and even Avatar. Also, Carl Sagan’s Cosmos TV show! It’s a great show if you’ve never seen it!”
When this self-taught, L.A. native—born in Hollywood and raised in the San Fernando Valley—sent me the track Celestial Lagoon, I loved it immediately—I could see it my mind as I was listening to it…but when I listened to the entire album on a long drive, I was blown away. I ended up playing it on repeat with the top down on a warm night cruising down the highway.
Having spent some time interviewing DJ Roshay and getting a feel for his daily life philosophy on Twitter, it became clear that he was a highly enlightened, intelligent and aware person…and those attributes come across prominently in his art.
There’s a profound and authentic feel of this album. This is not a sci-fi themed album for the sake of it. In fact, Roshay says:
“I’m into metaphysics and astro-spiritual travel. I love space exploration and it fascinates me how small we are in the universe. I would love to travel through space! All these ideas, I try to explore in my album.”
Explaining Solar Team on a deeper level, he says, “I want people to know that the overall meaning of this album title is about a community of like-minded people, and the goal of bringing more like-minded people together throughout the universe.”
“Solar Team is a name that I came up with when thinking about musical and creative friends in my circle that think and feel similarly to me when making progressive music, namely musicians like The Graves Brothers and Thundercat, as well painter Adam Liscko.”
Overall, Solar Team is in the vein of the legendary Buddha Bar albums, the eclectic, avant-garde compilations that took listeners around the globe on a musical magic-carpet-ride via earthy-tribal, downtempo beats from various cultures around the world. In the case of Solar Team, the listener takes a slow, measured cruise on space ship around the universe and other space-time dimensions.
Asking Roshay for his favorite song, he answers like most artists who have trouble pinning one piece down over the others because each creation is a labor of love, energy and deeply personal artistry:
“My favorites are always changing, but right now it’s Foreign & Domestic and Celestial Lagoon. Ultimately, though, I have to say Leelo because the lyrics are the most empowering for me sing at the moment.
The Cherie Bomb’s picks for best tracks are Enceladus, Evening Star, Foreign Domestic and Solar – these meditative, zen-out songs get stuck in my head all day, while Life Music of the Galaxy and Fantasy & Fairytale jerk me back into an entirely different place in my mind and remind me of 80s New Wave.
Solar Team is available on iTunes now for your listening pleasure.
If you want to catch this progressive, break-out talent in person, he’ll be playing the legendary Viper Room on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood on May 18 at 7:45!
DJ Roshay will also be at Molly Malone’s on June 28 at 11:30 pm.
He is also lining up several other shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco, playing with the talented musical group The Graves Brothers.
Links to his social media pages are listed below for more information on other upcoming shows:
Soundcloud
Instagram @DJRoshay
The Cherie Bomb 