Rory D'Lasnow

You don't know the name Rory D'Lasnow. Yet.

But the Jersey-bred singer-songwriter takes a big step forward when he hits the stage at Northern Soul's monthly Artist Spotlight concert this Friday, Nov. 2.

D'Lasnow, a Bergen County native, caught the eye of Northern Soul booker Dave Entwistle at the bar's weekly open mic, where he quickly ingratiated himself to the Hoboken music community. Entwistle described D'Lasnow's songs as "sad boy soul music" with penetrating lyrics delivered in a soulful tenor.

"I've been playing since I was a little kid, but I actually picked up the guitar upside down and backward, and never got around to changing it," D'Lasnow said. "That's something a lot of people have pointed out since I've been playing out more. 'Hey, that guitar is upside down!' But it's just the way I learned, and I try to roll with it. Everything else I do righty, but for some reason, I play the guitar like a lefty."

That's what caught Entwistle's eye, and, apparently, other people are noticing, too. D'Lasnow just announced that he's been asked to open for "American Idol" winner Lee DeWyze at the legendary Stanhope House in Sussex County on Dec. 6.

But, first, he'll take the stage in the unique barrel room of the new Northern Soul, which relocated to the western end of First Street in Hoboken a few years ago.

"Just this past summer, I started to feel caught up with the whole 'you gotta make sure you have something to fall back on' thing, but until then I had put music on the back burner," D'Lasnow said. "I'd released a couple of EPs maybe five years ago, but for a while I felt like I needed to be a grown up and do real things. But when you love something, there's no getting away from it, and this last summer I really started getting into the Hoboken music scene, and it's been a totally transformative experience."

He's written more than a hundred songs has lately been making more of a push, said D'Lasnow, who works as a case manager in social services as a day job.

"I definitely grew up on the Beatles, like many people, but I think some of my biggest influences are Brandon Flowers from The Killers, Taking Back Sunday, Regina Spektor,'' he said. "I listen to pretty much anything ... and I just try to emulate some of the things I like in what other people are doing."

Entwistle, who's been a bit of a guru for the local scene through his tenure at the original Northern Soul, then at Maxwell's, and then back at Northern Soul, provided a lot of encouragement, but D'Lasnow said he's received support from throughout the scene.

"It's just been awesome to see the passion that people in this community have," he said. "I always hear how great Maxwell's was, and I had been there to see other acts, but I never got to play there."

D'Laslow has made the rounds of open mics and whatnot at area venues like Finnegan's as well as Jersey City's FM, Pet Shop, and LITM.

"It's definitely turned out to be an awesome scene to be part of," D'Lasnow said. "I wish I had gotten here sooner, but no time like the present, right?"

D'Lasnow will be playing the second monthly Artist Spotlight at Northern Soul; the inaugural session happened in September with Stephanie Doucet. Entwistle came up with the idea to ease live music back into the venue.

"Before I got back here, Northern Soul was doing Thursday nights, but they just weren't working out," Enwistle said. "They were getting people in to play every week, but people weren't coming out to see them, so financially it just wasn't working out for the bar. So then my situation changed and I left Maxwell's, and they asked me if I wanted to start up the open mic again, which I gladly did."

Noise complaints from neighbors had put a damper on shows at the new Northern Soul, but, Entwistle said, they have a sincere interest in bringing live music back to the bar

"So the game plan was, can you do something special, once a month?'' he said. "That way, it wouldn't be every week bothering the neighbors, but it would be a first step."

That led to the creation of the Artist Spotlight, with The People's Open Mic still running every Wednesday.

"So right now, I can book acts, but they have to be pretty chill," Entwistle said. "I can't do any rock 'n' roll bands yet. I can bring in acts that are a little more laid back, they won't bring a lot of noise. We did Tiphanie Doucet for the first one, and she had a pretty big set up. She had a cello player and a keyboard and a violin and a big standup bass. But at the end of the day, it was nice and chill and worked out really well.

"So what I'm trying to do with the Artist Spotlight is, since I have those limitations, I'm trying to find either established artists in the scene, who might have a new single to release, or an EP, or they have something going on that needs a special event. And we can curate that event specifically to them. They're not one act on a bill of four, it's all about them. And we have them do it stripped down, more acoustic, and I think it will really be special. I hate to bring up MTV Unplugged, but that's basically the idea. If Nirvana could do it, it should be good for Hoboken."

Northern Soul, naturally, is set up as a bar; when Entwistle does one of his Spotlight shows, he entirely changes the environment.

"It's a nice little space with tables and chairs, and the focus is entirely on the artist," he said. "And the cool thing is they have this barrel room, where they just had couches. When they first opened, I think it was a wine room or something."

When Northern Soul first hosted those Thursday music nights, Entwistle said, they had an awkward spot in the bar for the bands to set up.

"For me, there was nothing great about this," he said. "It wasn't good for the performer, and it wasn't good for the audience either."


Tiphanie Doucet performing at Northern Soul's first Artist Spotlight show in September.

But the barrel room, Entwistle realized, created a beautiful presentation for the artist and the viewer.

"I decided if I was going to do this, it had to be there," he said. "So they gave me permission, and every week, I convert that room for the open mic, and once a month, I set it up really nice for the Spotlight. I'm basically trying to do two things: One, I'm setting up evenings for artists who are already established and have a following in town and something to promote. And second, I'm looking for new artists, other people I'd like to welcome into the scene."

Rory D'Lasnow, welcome to Hoboken.

If you go ...
Rory D'Lasnow will perform at Northern Soul. 700 First St., Hoboken, at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2. Free. The People's Open Mic convenes at Northern Soul every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. - Jim Testa, NJ.com

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Bergen County singer-songwriter Rory D’Lasnow has been part of New Jersey’s music scene for well over a decade. He recently performed a solo acoustic set as part of Asbury Park PorchFest, earlier this month he was interviewed on Danny Coleman’s ROCK ON RADIO, and he also recently shot a music video for his new single “Never Be Mine” featuring Jamie McClanahan of The Victory Drive (coming soon). Rory released his first EP When All is Fading in 2011, followed by an Acoustic EP in 2015. Last month, he formed a new alternative rock band, Black Rose Revival. Check out our interview with Rory, below, to learn about his journey and the inspiration behind his music.
What’s your name, where are you from originally, and where are you based now?
My name is Rory D'Lasnow. I'm originally from Englewood, NJ and grew up there for sixteen years. I spent some time in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California - but now I'm back in North Jersey over in Teaneck. The people are a lot friendlier everywhere else (just kidding), but my heart is here.

Tell us about your musical background. You do a bit of everything -- singing, songwriting, and playing multiple instruments.
I have been singing, playing guitar, and writing songs since I was in kindergarten but picked up the guitar upside down and backwards - which is how I still hold it. I actually recently found a home video of my father, who also played guitar, encouraging me to turn the guitar right side up as a little boy, but I seemed to gravitate toward playing it wrong - with the low E string at the bottom, not at the top. I also play a little piano.

How would you describe your genre/style?
I would say I gravitate between an acoustic singer-songwriter style and a harder alternative rock vibe, especially with my band - Black Rose Revival.

Who are your influences?
My influences are pretty varied. I grew up on The Beatles, Everly Brothers, John Fogerty, and other older music. I would say my music is influenced by them to a large extent - but I also am inspired by some more modern rock like Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, Say Anything, and Jimmy Eat World.

What's the inspiration behind your music?
A lot of my inspiration for my music comes from things that have impacted me in life. I often explain to people that I lost my mother when I was fourteen and this strongly shaped my world view and provided a lot of the ideas behind some of my sadder songs. I write a lot about love - shocking, I know - as well. I aim primarily to write songs about things that touch us on a deeper level, but hopefully in a way that hasn't been done a hundred times before.

How has it progressed over time?
I would say my music has progressed in that my songs have become a bit more contemplative. My first song was called "Nana's Still Askin' For Milk" about how my grandmother was displeased with what my father and I had picked up from the grocery store. I hope I address more complex issues than that these days, but then again - that definitely was a difficult topic ha!

How do you hope people will feel when they listen to your music?
My sincerest wish is that people feel something when they hear my music. Some of my greatest joy has come from people walking up to me and saying that one of my songs resonated with them. I do have simple pop songs, too, but I probably most value the songs that are raw and emotional.
Rory D'Lasnow black and white photo.jpg
What has your personal journey been like? When did you discover that you loved music?
As I alluded to before, I've actually been playing guitar since I was a little kid. My mom and dad encouraged me to play little concerts at the Englewood Library or Borders Books (back when they were in business), and I often participated in talent shows on cruises when I was younger, as my mother was a travel agent and we used to get discounts. This kind of love of performing was instilled in me at a young age. Music has been in my life since I was a little boy, and I was about as Beatles-obsessed as they come (I was Team John, now I'm more of a Paul guy!). I would listen to anything I could get my hands on, and I think I knew right out of the gate that music was my passion.

What are your goals as an artist? What would you like to accomplish by the end of this year?
I would say my primary goal is just to reach as many people across as many places as I can. Music to me is about connection and people are what make life so interesting, so I most look forward to sharing my experiences and sharing in others experiences along the way.

On a more practical level, I hope to be able to be a self-sustaining original music artist. I recently made the jump to becoming a full-time musician, and I've found that playing cover gigs has been financially sustainable for now (knock on wood) and has really helped me stay sharp. That said, as much as any songwriter would respect a song like “Sweet Caroline” - eventually you do tire a bit of playing it!

Who would you like to meet?
As far as people I'd like to meet - I'd say if you're reading this interview - I'd like to meet you! In all seriousness, there isn't one kind of person so to speak. I've found that no matter what your background or where you're from, there are often more commonalities than differences between us. That shared human experience is what makes connecting with others so special.

Are there any artists, bands, or producers who you'd love to collaborate with one day?
Boy, as far as collaboration goes - the list is long! I'm sure I, along with everybody else, would dream to some day work with Paul McCartney. I also greatly admire a lot of the musicians I listen to - Max Bemis of Say Anything, Hayley Williams of Paramore, Brandon Flowers of The Killers, Ben Platt, Regina Spektor. I'm one of those people who really delves into what inspires people and what peoples' stories are. I'm not writing fan fiction or anything (though if you're into it - I can't knock it!) but I do enjoy trying to get to know the people behind my favorite songs.
Rory D'Lasnow plays at Asbury Park's The Saint.jpg
Do you have any shows coming up?
On Friday 11/15, I'll be taking part in a Citywide Charity Event sponsored by NorStep Productions down at Bourre in Atlantic City. On Wednesday 11/20, I'll be at Havana in New Hope, PA as part of Pat Foran's Music Showcase, and the next day - Thursday 11/21 - I'll be opening for Nick Clemons at Crossroads in Garwood, NJ with Mike Rocket.

What words of advice or encouragement would you give to someone who wants to follow a similar passion, or is maybe facing obstacles similar to what you've faced?
Oh man - I actually have a lot to say about this. I spent almost ten years second guessing music as a career path. Please - don't doubt yourself. If you love something - pursue it with reckless abandon. And here's the biggest reason why (besides all of the YOLO stuff I could say and the preaching I could do about how life is too short): things do get easier.

If something scares you because you've never done it before - well guess what - it's only the first time ONCE. For the longest time I thought "Oh, I want to play in Hoboken, but I'm kind of nervous." I started with open mic’s and met some of the best people I've ever known. Then breaking into NYC a bit seemed like an insurmountable obstacle. Now I play shows in New York all the time and have come across tons of wonderful people over the course of different events I've attended. I'm hardly the world's biggest success story and I hope my journey isn't close to its end yet, but at the end of the day I think I embody pretty well the idea that you should just go for it because the pieces come together along the way. What is at one point anxiety-provoking and replete with possible obstacles can often become second nature. And then - it's a lot of fun.
Black Rose Revival
Black Rose Revival

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I'd just like to say, please don't hesitate to reach out - not just about music! I'd love to hear from you as I love people as much as I love music. And keep an eye out for my new band, Black Rose Revival. We just got started last month, but it's myself with three other veterans of the NJ Music Scene - Phil Beam and Roy Brunston of RESURGE and Sergio Arsenio on drums.

Where can people find you online? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Spotify, YouTube, etc.
The best place for people to reach me is Instagram (instagram.com/rorydlasnow) or on my band account (instagram.com/blackroserevivalofficial).

My music pages are also on Facebook (facebook.com/rorydlasnowmusic) and (facebook.com/blackroserevivalofficial).

I have a couple of solo EPs and a single on Spotify and SoundCloud under my name and hopefully some BRR tunes will be to come as well.

Youtube and Twitter I have been trying to use more, but both are similarly able to be found by looking up Rory D'Lasnow or my band name, Black Rose Revival.

In addition, my official website, rorydlasnow.com, has a comprehensive list of all of the events I'll be a part of with press links/photos/videos etc - all that good stuff. Thank you for your time!

~

You can also listen to Rory’s music on Soundcloud, Spotify, and YouTube. - Sonia Schnee, Jersey Indie

Rory D'Lasnow “Never Be Mine” | Offstage Tunes Interview

Singer-songwriter Rory D'Lasnow has always played the guitar upside down and backwards. “It’s technically wrong,” he says. But is there a right and wrong in music?

On the day of our interview, Rory casually followed the crew to the rooftop of a co-working space, took out his guitar, and with no preparation or warm-up routine, started playing his original songs. It was a warm day in the fall, and under that sunshine, Rory sang while accompanying himself on his guitar. And the music just happened. Rory D'Lasnow, poised as a professional musician, determined to play the way he’s meant to play. I listened to the music. There’s a tinge of melancholy packed in a lively beat. It’s beautiful and instantly memorable. It made no difference which way he held the guitar.

It seems natural that a career in music would be his destiny. It must be easy, right? Just like words of encouragement one comes across everywhere: find your passion and go for it. But ask an emerging artist this, and they, like Rory, would probably have a very different view. During our conversation, Rory shares his concerns about being a professional musician. Fueled by passion, this career choice was made only recently after difficult deliberations, but the challenges are still ahead. Find out what he says in this video.

Chances are most of us have not found our “passion” yet. Chances are we struggle with the day-to-day hustle and bustle and don’t even have the time or energy to seek any different ways to live our lives. Chances are when someone like Rory D'Lasnow walks into our lives, they will dazzle us with courage and talent. Then, chances are, however slightly, we would look introspectively and give ourselves a nudge so we might move, shift, or turn, at least a little bit, towards becoming the person we aspire to be.

We all know that it takes more than a leap of faith to become a professional musician, so let Rory tell you what he thinks of this process. Hopefully you’ll enjoy our conversation and find yourself a little “nudge” to push you forward. - Louise Lau, Offstage Tunes