December 22nd, 2014 
Brian Leak 
Boris Rogowski began writing songs as a lovesick teen at 15. Years later, he’s still creating music, now under the banner of The Society Islands. In September, he released his newest album, The Big Sleep, an 11-track, indie-pop and neo-folk record brimming with unique textures and vast instrumentation.
We recently had the chance to speak with Rogowski about where his musical path began and where it’s at currently following the release of his newest works. Read through the jump to get the scoop from The Society Islands as he dishes on his influences, working solo and what he has in the pipeline for the future of the project.
I know that The Society Islands is an island group in the South Pacific that contains Bora Bora and Tahiti. Is this where the project’s name was derived from or does it have a completely different meaning for you?
I stumbled upon the name while reading about the French artist Paul Gauguin who spent the last part of his life on Tahiti, painting and philandering – or so I read. I thought it was a pretty cool band name. In the past, much has been made of the friction between ‘society – many’ and ‘island – one,’ but to be honest, I just thought it had a good sound to it. I like things that sound good.
What music did you listen to growing up and who are some of your most important influences?
As a kid, I listened to classical music exclusively. My father collects recordings of classical works, always has; it’s mostly radio recordings on reel-to-reel, although he has tons of vinyl as well. I used to ask him to play me this or that, and I think I was especially fond of music from the baroque era, Bach and Haendel and Vivaldi. In the late ’80s I listened to Eurodance and Simple Minds, mostly – New Gold Dream is still one of my favorite albums – haters gonna hate. In the early ’90s it was grunge, and then I started smoking pot and began to listen to all kinds of stuff and lost interest in genres. If I needed to come up with the three albums I think influenced me the most: Wowee Zowee by Pavement, Angel Dust by Faith No More and Gaucho by Steely Dan.
Do you recall what initially inspired you to want to become a musician?
I don’t think I ever wanted to become a musician, to be honest. But I started writing songs at age 15 because I was terribly lovesick. There was this one girl at my school who was a complete mystery to me, and I was obsessed with mysteries in those days. Looking back, I don’t think she was mysterious at all, just a normal girl obsessing over boy bands and doing her thing. But to me she was an enigma, and I would create an entire world out of my perception of her. Actually, I still draw from that image pool now and then; it was a very rich and complex thing – youth is such a strange time.
Were you born and raised in Germany or did you move there at some point? Do you feel that Europe itself has any specific influence on your sound?
I was born and raised here, and I have never lived anywhere else. As to European influences, I really can’t tell. I think influences come from everywhere, and it’s impossible to break them down into factors like geography. I certainly would approach music differently if I had grown up in Canada or China or Chile, but I really don’t know what the exact difference would be.
I know that on your Facebook and such, you tend to refer to “we.” Is TSI still a solo project for you or has it become a full band at this point?
It is absolutely a solo project. I do all of the writing and 99% of the playing and even the engineering and recording myself. It is really the epitome of a solo project. Sure, I have guest singers/musicians, but I always know exactly what I want them to do.
Do you plan to keep it as such or do you ever find yourself wanting to expand to a full band?
On stage, yes. I have played TSI songs with various lineups, and that was always great fun. As of now, I don’t really have a fixed band, but I would love to have one and play more regularly. In the studio – I think no. I have too strong an idea of where I want things to go, and I guess I would just end up being some hard-ass dictator and everyone would hate me. So no, not a good idea.
How would you briefly describe The Big Sleep to someone who’s never heard your music before?
It’s a collection of songs that I came up with. It’s the best I could do. I gave my best to do it, and I love it and I hope that you will love it, too.
How have you been enjoying the reception from fans and critics on the album?
I’m really happy that I’m getting so much positive feedback. When you do everything on your own, you automatically lose all distance. That’s why reception is so important. I guess it helps you see things that are beyond your perspective. I can say with confidence that first and foremost, I make music for myself; I have no high expectations of fame and success. Still, I like to be liked, just like everybody else does.
I know there’s an unofficial video out for “Archer,” but do you have plans for an official video for it or any other track on the album currently?
I had plans for a “Gone” video, and I also had a team to realize them. But then life happened and it didn’t work out. It was a great concept, though. I would still love to do a video, but I am extremely picky. “Any video is better than no video” is a view I definitely do not subscribe to. I am not putting out shit, and I am not putting out half-baked or okay either. But if someone came up with a great idea and a great concept, I’d definitely be up for it.
Have you already been working on new material since releasing this album? Any specific plans for your next release?
I have written lots of songs and half-songs in the meantime, and I will definitely start recording again soon. There’s not really a specific plan, but I think whatever I do will be more stripped-down. The Big Sleep is an extremely colorful album with very intricate arrangements, and I don’t think I could take it much further than that. So the obvious way to go would be to head in the opposite direction, and at the moment I think that this is what I’ll do. That said, please do not be mad at me if I end up making a concept album with a 60-piece orchestra. I never really know where things are going until they are well underway.
With 2014 at its end, what do you have planned going into 2015?
Oh, tough one. 2015 still seems awfully far away. But my plans involve long walks and good food.
- UTG PREMIERE: Hymn – ‘Mouth’ EP - June 10, 2016
- SakkieFTW snaps you out of it with new EP, ‘Experiment 1.3.2’ - June 6, 2016
- The Lost Poets’ ‘Insubordia pt II’ is dark and gritty - June 3, 2016
Posted in 
Tags: 