Tori Roze and The Hot Mess

Lemony moments
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By Dave Good, May 8, 2013
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Victoria Roze’s Facebook page says she worked as an art model for years. Perhaps this explains the revealing cover art on the new Hot Mess CD Turbulence: “The idea came to me like a bolt of lightning. I just had to follow through. The cover is a vintage Ford F-150 pickup truck flying off what looks like a hill. But when you open it up, you see that the hill is actually my right cheek [as in buttock], and the back of the album is the back of my head and [nude] torso.”

When I ask Roze if there is any special meaning, she says, “The artwork is a nod to the title of our first album, From the Hip, hence the pickup truck flying off my hip into the air. The band was pretty shocked at first, but we all like to joke a lot, so it’s all in good fun.”

From the Hip was nominated for Best Blues Album at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards, says the singer/trumpet player. It did not win.

Roze’s band, the Hot Mess, was launched at Portugalia in 2008. The band includes her mom, Lee Clark, on flute, evidence that Roze comes from a musical family. Along with playing in peace-and-love era bands, “[Mom] used to hold Janis Joplin’s Southern Comfort for her offstage.” So, how’s gigging with mom working out? “She is a wonderful person to have in the band. Her life experience and ‘mom’ moments keep us all in check when we’re up in the rafters about anything.”

Roze has a rich, soul-mama voice that seems to go wherever it wants without limitation. The Hot Mess is five jazz- and R&B-informed players: Johnny Alexander on guitar, Jordan Morita on trombone, Harley Magsino on bass, and Charlie Weller on drums. “The driven and complex music on this album simply reflects each of us as band members. Was it intentional to make the music this way? No. Was it visceral and did it just happen? Yes.”

After doing a semester of music and theater classes at London’s Old Globe, Roze returned to California and graduated with a degree in theater from UC Santa Cruz.

Is there a single thought that unifies all of the songs on Turbulence? “That life is turbulent and unpredictable,” Roze says, “but we are all human and help each other feel better understood. Every one struggles with the themes present on this album, like money, self-realization, lust, commitment, perfection, distance, loss, death. It’s best to make lemonade out of these lemony moments.” - San Diego READER

TORI ROZE AND THE HOT MESS: Turbulence
By Paul Hormick, June 2013

tori roze
“This is the dawning of the age… And the moon is in… And peace will guide…”

With these lyrics Tori Roze playfully opens her recent release Turbulence. Riffing off “The Age of Aquarius,” the aspirational anthem of the Baby Boomers from the musical Hair, which hit Broadway some 45 years ago, Roze and her band, the Hot Mess, signal that their roots are in the rock and soul of the sixties.

But if you think Turbulence is a rehash of what grandma grooved to while she burned her bra, you’ve got another thing coming. There is not a whiff of patchouli or tie-dye in this disk of eight songs. There is no effort to recreate the psycho funk of Sly Stone or mini soul symphonies of Earth Wind and Fire. You will not hear a guitar with a wah wah pedal. The screaming Hammond B3 organ has been dropped as well. This is soul for today: tight, sophisticated, and up-to-date.

Trombonist Jordan Morita provides all the arrangements for the tunes on Turbulence. They are fresh and inventive without any apparent attempt to be too clever. Although many of the arrangements eschew a keyboard, with the only horn and woodwind being Morita’s trombone and the flute of Lee Clark, Roze’s mother and long-time music veteran, the band has a strong presence and really fills up the room with its sound.

Morita plays fluidly; he also has a rich, muscular tone. One of San Diego’s best up-and-coming bassists is Harley Maqsino. His thick electric bass, with the drumming of Charlie Weller, give all the tunes an exceptionally solid foundation. With funk and soul, the rhythm section is where all the action is, and these guys know it. Guitarist Johnny Alexander, a Guitar Institute of Technology alum, fits into the mix so well that it could be easy to overlook his talents here. A few tunes add John Wilds on trumpet and keyboardist Ben Moore.

The gravitational center of the Hot Mess is Tori Roze, a vibrant and original singer. We lost Amy Winehouse all too soon. But we are lucky to live in a time when such great female singers as Winehouse and Adele have enriched our sonic landscape. It’s great to hear singers really sing.

Like Adele and Winehouse, Roze is a powerhouse of a vocalist with a take-no-prisoners approach. She will advance or retard a phrase, playing with the rhythm of the tune. Roze also stretches the limits of her voice, pulling out all the stops for a full-on vocal assault. Clearly, she is willing to test herself and test some extremes. She is also willing to test her listeners. I’m not sure if I wanted to go everywhere she was going, but I’m really glad that she wanted to take me there.

Turbulence clocks in under 30 minutes, almost qualifying as an EP. Every tune is, however, a winner and a showcase for some great talent. - San Diego Troubadour

TORI ROZE AND THE HOT MESS: Turbulence
By Paul Hormick, June 2013

tori roze
“This is the dawning of the age… And the moon is in… And peace will guide…”

With these lyrics Tori Roze playfully opens her recent release Turbulence. Riffing off “The Age of Aquarius,” the aspirational anthem of the Baby Boomers from the musical Hair, which hit Broadway some 45 years ago, Roze and her band, the Hot Mess, signal that their roots are in the rock and soul of the sixties.

But if you think Turbulence is a rehash of what grandma grooved to while she burned her bra, you’ve got another thing coming. There is not a whiff of patchouli or tie-dye in this disk of eight songs. There is no effort to recreate the psycho funk of Sly Stone or mini soul symphonies of Earth Wind and Fire. You will not hear a guitar with a wah wah pedal. The screaming Hammond B3 organ has been dropped as well. This is soul for today: tight, sophisticated, and up-to-date.

Trombonist Jordan Morita provides all the arrangements for the tunes on Turbulence. They are fresh and inventive without any apparent attempt to be too clever. Although many of the arrangements eschew a keyboard, with the only horn and woodwind being Morita’s trombone and the flute of Lee Clark, Roze’s mother and long-time music veteran, the band has a strong presence and really fills up the room with its sound.

Morita plays fluidly; he also has a rich, muscular tone. One of San Diego’s best up-and-coming bassists is Harley Maqsino. His thick electric bass, with the drumming of Charlie Weller, give all the tunes an exceptionally solid foundation. With funk and soul, the rhythm section is where all the action is, and these guys know it. Guitarist Johnny Alexander, a Guitar Institute of Technology alum, fits into the mix so well that it could be easy to overlook his talents here. A few tunes add John Wilds on trumpet and keyboardist Ben Moore.

The gravitational center of the Hot Mess is Tori Roze, a vibrant and original singer. We lost Amy Winehouse all too soon. But we are lucky to live in a time when such great female singers as Winehouse and Adele have enriched our sonic landscape. It’s great to hear singers really sing.

Like Adele and Winehouse, Roze is a powerhouse of a vocalist with a take-no-prisoners approach. She will advance or retard a phrase, playing with the rhythm of the tune. Roze also stretches the limits of her voice, pulling out all the stops for a full-on vocal assault. Clearly, she is willing to test herself and test some extremes. She is also willing to test her listeners. I’m not sure if I wanted to go everywhere she was going, but I’m really glad that she wanted to take me there.

Turbulence clocks in under 30 minutes, almost qualifying as an EP. Every tune is, however, a winner and a showcase for some great talent. - San Diego Troubadour

Local songbird Tori Roze has a very particular set of pipes with an onstage flair that’s second to none.

More Photos



To be honest, the first time I heard Tori Roze and the Hot Mess live, I was pretty shocked to find out that they were from this neck of the woods.

We’re growing crazy good talent in this city!

This is a band that has the uncanny ability to transcend both gender and generational gaps by simply spot-on rock and blues numbers.

At their last show at Bar Pink on December 2, the band let their influences show by covering Amy Winehouse, Dionne Warwick, and MGMT. A little soulful, a little funky, and a whole lot of fun.

Recently I chatted a bit with Ms. Roze about her background, band, and attempt at reality tv stardom.

Let’s start off with a who’s who of your band. Who would you guys most like to share a bill with?

There are six of us: Johnny Alexander - guitar, Harley Magsino - bass, Serge McCoy - drums, Lee Clark (a.k.a. Mama Roze) - flute/backup vocals/added percussion, Jordan Morita - trombone, and myself on vocals/trumpet.

Who would we like to share a bill with? Oh man, there are SO many internationally: Janelle Monae, Sia, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Fitz & The Tantrums, Bjork, Alice Russell, Aloe Blacc, Ozomatli, Adele, Amy Winehouse (RIP), or Michael Jackson (RIP).

Your mom plays flute with you in your band. Who's idea was it to join forces?

Tori Roze: Once upon a time, my mom put her flute down for 10 years. She went pro at 15 years old and played her whole life through ... then she got busy and stopped. I was already playing as a duo with a buddy of mine and in the midst of assembling a band, I thought, hmm, why don't I ask my mom to just mill through the audience while we play and see how that goes. It went well obviously and I have been adamant about keeping her within the unit.

Do family spats ever influence the music or practicing?

Family spats NEVER interfere with anything band related, we don't really fight at the ages we are now, NOT TO MENTION, my mom is the bomb! We practice at my sister's house, my mom is there to keep us all in check as a unit, so it works out.

How, if at all, has your sexuality impacted your visibility in the music scene in San Diego and southern California? Have you found it harder/easier to get gigs around town?

Sexual orientation. It has been a double-edged sword for me, but mostly to the benefit of our band. There are so many venues in San Diego and we all have quite a few opportunities to play in in this here town ... many of which have only come to us due to my own personal association with those in my oriented community (San Diego Pride Festival, South Bay Pride Festival, Palm Springs Pride, Eden, Bourbon Street, Brass Rail, The Ruby Room, Portugalia, FlawLes events, Lavender Lens events, etc.).

By looking at me, most people assume just because I have long hair and dress like a "girl" that I am "not gay." I will not lie when I say that I use that to my advantage in the grander scheme of things because, hey man, I am a muse, think what you want from the audience, I could give a %$#!. I like my hair, I like makeup, I like girly clothes, so sue me!

More than anything I have made it a HUGE point to not allow sexual orientation into the room while making music/doing anything musically driven, it's just silly to separate things like that.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of gay musicians who have pigeon-holed themselves into a corner [within] the gay community, where there is no room to expand outward; we are not that, we will never be that. I am the only one in my band who is gay or bisexual and music is for everyone, so why put a damper on the stuff, if you can reach tons of people instead? I actually quit a band I was in because they would not play somewhere "gay," I wonder where they are now ... (internal laugh).

After trying out for The Voice, would you ever consider trying out for another talent reality show?

The endless "Have you ever/will you ever audition for...?" Little known fact: Reality shows are NOT based in reality. It's ALL politics and ratings, y’all. Reality shows are ONLY in their true form the first year they are made, after that it's a ratings show and I have no interest in being a "rating."

When I was 21 (circa 2005), I auditioned for American Idol. I rode a greyhound to San Francisco for 12 hours AND I had to take off rehearsal for the musical Hair I was starring in, only to find out that the whole thing was rigged for ratings. I watched at least 30 people who sang much better than me get turned away. I knew it was all a joke, because every single one of them was shoved off after their initial cattle-call audition (the entire stadium can hear you sing during that round, by the way).

No longer mystified, I swore to myself that I would never do another audition of that sort ... then NBC San Diego offered me the chan - San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

Local songbird Tori Roze has a very particular set of pipes with an onstage flair that’s second to none.

More Photos



To be honest, the first time I heard Tori Roze and the Hot Mess live, I was pretty shocked to find out that they were from this neck of the woods.

We’re growing crazy good talent in this city!

This is a band that has the uncanny ability to transcend both gender and generational gaps by simply spot-on rock and blues numbers.

At their last show at Bar Pink on December 2, the band let their influences show by covering Amy Winehouse, Dionne Warwick, and MGMT. A little soulful, a little funky, and a whole lot of fun.

Recently I chatted a bit with Ms. Roze about her background, band, and attempt at reality tv stardom.

Let’s start off with a who’s who of your band. Who would you guys most like to share a bill with?

There are six of us: Johnny Alexander - guitar, Harley Magsino - bass, Serge McCoy - drums, Lee Clark (a.k.a. Mama Roze) - flute/backup vocals/added percussion, Jordan Morita - trombone, and myself on vocals/trumpet.

Who would we like to share a bill with? Oh man, there are SO many internationally: Janelle Monae, Sia, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Fitz & The Tantrums, Bjork, Alice Russell, Aloe Blacc, Ozomatli, Adele, Amy Winehouse (RIP), or Michael Jackson (RIP).

Your mom plays flute with you in your band. Who's idea was it to join forces?

Tori Roze: Once upon a time, my mom put her flute down for 10 years. She went pro at 15 years old and played her whole life through ... then she got busy and stopped. I was already playing as a duo with a buddy of mine and in the midst of assembling a band, I thought, hmm, why don't I ask my mom to just mill through the audience while we play and see how that goes. It went well obviously and I have been adamant about keeping her within the unit.

Do family spats ever influence the music or practicing?

Family spats NEVER interfere with anything band related, we don't really fight at the ages we are now, NOT TO MENTION, my mom is the bomb! We practice at my sister's house, my mom is there to keep us all in check as a unit, so it works out.

How, if at all, has your sexuality impacted your visibility in the music scene in San Diego and southern California? Have you found it harder/easier to get gigs around town?

Sexual orientation. It has been a double-edged sword for me, but mostly to the benefit of our band. There are so many venues in San Diego and we all have quite a few opportunities to play in in this here town ... many of which have only come to us due to my own personal association with those in my oriented community (San Diego Pride Festival, South Bay Pride Festival, Palm Springs Pride, Eden, Bourbon Street, Brass Rail, The Ruby Room, Portugalia, FlawLes events, Lavender Lens events, etc.).

By looking at me, most people assume just because I have long hair and dress like a "girl" that I am "not gay." I will not lie when I say that I use that to my advantage in the grander scheme of things because, hey man, I am a muse, think what you want from the audience, I could give a %$#!. I like my hair, I like makeup, I like girly clothes, so sue me!

More than anything I have made it a HUGE point to not allow sexual orientation into the room while making music/doing anything musically driven, it's just silly to separate things like that.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of gay musicians who have pigeon-holed themselves into a corner [within] the gay community, where there is no room to expand outward; we are not that, we will never be that. I am the only one in my band who is gay or bisexual and music is for everyone, so why put a damper on the stuff, if you can reach tons of people instead? I actually quit a band I was in because they would not play somewhere "gay," I wonder where they are now ... (internal laugh).

After trying out for The Voice, would you ever consider trying out for another talent reality show?

The endless "Have you ever/will you ever audition for...?" Little known fact: Reality shows are NOT based in reality. It's ALL politics and ratings, y’all. Reality shows are ONLY in their true form the first year they are made, after that it's a ratings show and I have no interest in being a "rating."

When I was 21 (circa 2005), I auditioned for American Idol. I rode a greyhound to San Francisco for 12 hours AND I had to take off rehearsal for the musical Hair I was starring in, only to find out that the whole thing was rigged for ratings. I watched at least 30 people who sang much better than me get turned away. I knew it was all a joke, because every single one of them was shoved off after their initial cattle-call audition (the entire stadium can hear you sing during that round, by the way).

No longer mystified, I swore to myself that I would never do another audition of that sort ... then NBC San Diego offered me the chan - San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

Tori Roze Wraps a Love Blanket Around San Diego's Soul
By Chad Deal | Posted November 30, 2011, 11:11 a.m.
RSS | E-mail the Author

Three and a half years ago, singer/songwriter Tori Roze played her first show with her current backing band The Hot Mess at the now defunct Portugalia in Ocean Beach.

“The owner loved the turnout, so we made it a weekly Wednesday night event,” says Roze. “We moved it to the Ruby Room on Tuesdays in June because Portugalia unfortunately closed down after being open for 8 years. The theme is generally female fronted bands, but there is so much male talent out there that we have honorary men bands. I use it as a platform to get performances out there that people wouldn’t normally get to see or know about it. I play out a lot and go to shows a lot so I gather all these random talents and throw a party.”

Talents past at Roze’s “Ruby Tuesdays” include Veronica May, Sister Speak, Steph Johnson, The Cathryn Beeks Ordeal, Josh Damigo, Christy Bruneau, Starcrossed, Nick Z, As Human (aka RYAT), Steve Harris (Styletones), and Bitter Sober.

“Bitter Sober weren’t a band until I randomly booked them one night,” says Roze. “They quickly snowballed and became very popular and got signed.”

Entry to Ruby Tuesdays is a suggested $3 donation which goes to the artists, but don’t let a lack of cash keep you from checking out the event.

“The reason it’s suggested is that if people are broke, we understand,” says Roze. “We don’t want you to miss out. It’s a bummer to make art inaccessible to people just because they can’t afford it.”


I caught Ruby Tuesdays last week when a trio known as Harley’s Monster aka The Beef Wellingtons aka bLUMPy played a mad set of improv free jazz on wandering bass (multi-instrumentalist Harley Magsino is originally from the Philippines, has his Masters from SDSU, and used to play with Hectic Watermelon), utterly unrestricted keys (bUk FiDy is a “failed politician who has returned to music with a vengeance”), and spot-on traps (Isaac Crow is a San Diego native currently working on his Masters at SDSU) which often lapsed into volleys of electronic-style drum and bass and break beats.



bLUMPy (Pennies From Heaven) by kriskors

Check out bLUMPy with Tori Roze and the Hot Mess tonight with a free show at Bar Pink.

“Tori Roze and the Hot Mess got back from a West Coast tour last month,” says Roze, who will be recording her sophomore album in the next few months. “We discovered lots of new bands along the way, so we’re getting them down here to play with us. Next year, the night goes biweekly with drink specials and dress up themes. We’re gunna jazz it up quite a bit.”

A multiple San Diego Music Award nominee, Roze laments the tendency towards genre biases in the local music scene.

“It’s hard being a soul based band in San Diego because we're not indie rock,” says Roze. “We play a lot of house parties, but we don’t get a lot of love from venues. So we’ve banned together as a collective with people like the Styletones, Stevie and the High Staxx, the Amanda Wagner Band, Nick Z, and Rob Deez to book shows together.

“Not only as the leader of my band, but as a manager, booker, and promoter, what I’m trying to do is get us all together to listen to good music at good venues. I want to pull together all these scenes that are seemingly separate and share the love. That’s where I’m coming from with Ruby Tuesdays. It’s a big, wet blanket of love.” - San Diego READER

Tori Roze Wraps a Love Blanket Around San Diego's Soul
By Chad Deal | Posted November 30, 2011, 11:11 a.m.
RSS | E-mail the Author

Three and a half years ago, singer/songwriter Tori Roze played her first show with her current backing band The Hot Mess at the now defunct Portugalia in Ocean Beach.

“The owner loved the turnout, so we made it a weekly Wednesday night event,” says Roze. “We moved it to the Ruby Room on Tuesdays in June because Portugalia unfortunately closed down after being open for 8 years. The theme is generally female fronted bands, but there is so much male talent out there that we have honorary men bands. I use it as a platform to get performances out there that people wouldn’t normally get to see or know about it. I play out a lot and go to shows a lot so I gather all these random talents and throw a party.”

Talents past at Roze’s “Ruby Tuesdays” include Veronica May, Sister Speak, Steph Johnson, The Cathryn Beeks Ordeal, Josh Damigo, Christy Bruneau, Starcrossed, Nick Z, As Human (aka RYAT), Steve Harris (Styletones), and Bitter Sober.

“Bitter Sober weren’t a band until I randomly booked them one night,” says Roze. “They quickly snowballed and became very popular and got signed.”

Entry to Ruby Tuesdays is a suggested $3 donation which goes to the artists, but don’t let a lack of cash keep you from checking out the event.

“The reason it’s suggested is that if people are broke, we understand,” says Roze. “We don’t want you to miss out. It’s a bummer to make art inaccessible to people just because they can’t afford it.”


I caught Ruby Tuesdays last week when a trio known as Harley’s Monster aka The Beef Wellingtons aka bLUMPy played a mad set of improv free jazz on wandering bass (multi-instrumentalist Harley Magsino is originally from the Philippines, has his Masters from SDSU, and used to play with Hectic Watermelon), utterly unrestricted keys (bUk FiDy is a “failed politician who has returned to music with a vengeance”), and spot-on traps (Isaac Crow is a San Diego native currently working on his Masters at SDSU) which often lapsed into volleys of electronic-style drum and bass and break beats.



bLUMPy (Pennies From Heaven) by kriskors

Check out bLUMPy with Tori Roze and the Hot Mess tonight with a free show at Bar Pink.

“Tori Roze and the Hot Mess got back from a West Coast tour last month,” says Roze, who will be recording her sophomore album in the next few months. “We discovered lots of new bands along the way, so we’re getting them down here to play with us. Next year, the night goes biweekly with drink specials and dress up themes. We’re gunna jazz it up quite a bit.”

A multiple San Diego Music Award nominee, Roze laments the tendency towards genre biases in the local music scene.

“It’s hard being a soul based band in San Diego because we're not indie rock,” says Roze. “We play a lot of house parties, but we don’t get a lot of love from venues. So we’ve banned together as a collective with people like the Styletones, Stevie and the High Staxx, the Amanda Wagner Band, Nick Z, and Rob Deez to book shows together.

“Not only as the leader of my band, but as a manager, booker, and promoter, what I’m trying to do is get us all together to listen to good music at good venues. I want to pull together all these scenes that are seemingly separate and share the love. That’s where I’m coming from with Ruby Tuesdays. It’s a big, wet blanket of love.” - San Diego READER

Good Times Home Music Features Sweet Serendipity
Sweet Serendipity
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 00:00
Jenna Brogan Music
UCSC grad Tori Roze makes triumphant return with jazz/R&B outfit The Hot Mess

So far, Tori Roze’s life has been a series of blessings in disguise. The first occurred when the singer/songwriter left The Boston Conservatory for an education that didn’t focus solely on musical theater. After being turned down by several schools, Roze ended up at UC Santa Cruz.

“It turned out to be a good surprise,” says Roze. “I loved going to school in Santa Cruz—I didn’t think I would, but I learned so much and I was exposed to so much.”

After graduating in 2005 with a theater degree, Roze returned home to San Diego. When plans to move to Los Angeles fell through, she met her band mates. “One day I was singing karaoke and some guy came up and asked if I had a band,” she explains. “Being in San Diego was the best mistake ever.”

Once the band formed in 2008, the only thing left to do was come up with a moniker that suited them. “I changed their name every night,” she laughs. “One night we’d be Tori Roze and the Pancakes, the next we’d be Tori Roze and the Waffle Irons.”

While her affinity for breakfast foods hasn’t changed, Roze discovered her band’s name—The Hot Mess—while living with “two fabulously gay men.” “They would come home every night a hot mess, and talk about it the next day,” she says. “It really stuck. We never rehearsed, so it fit.”

A far cry from the indie folk duos that populate today’s music scene, Tori Roze and The Hot Mess delivers a smoldering, old-timey blend of jazz, R&B, and soul with an eccentric twist. Their debut effort, 2010’s From the Hip, is the materialization of a dream Roze had the first time she heard Amy Winehouse.

“When I was living in London, Amy Winehouse had just come out,” she explains. “When I heard her sing, my jaw dropped and I ran to the Virgin store. She made old music relevant to young people, and that is the pinnacle of what I wanted to do.”

Much like her idol, Roze and her band mates make the brass-infused sound and deep contralto vocals, that put big-band music on the map, accessible to a new generation.

Roze believes her passion for the genre developed as a child. “Daniel Jackson did a jazz workshop at the theater when I was 13, and my dad had me bring my trumpet. He handed me a sheet of music, and it just clicked—all the swing music and old standards we listened to were jazz bands.”

Though an old soul—she describes her music as, “if Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin and Erykah Badu had a baby”—Roze is only 27. In fact, she will be celebrating her 28th birthday at The Crepe Place on Sept. 30. “All I wanted for my birthday was to play in Santa Cruz,” she says.

A kid at heart—she worked at Hot Dog on a Stick for nine years because she got to wear a costume (she still has her hat, don’t tell)—Roze still feels vulnerable when songwriting. “Love Heroin” off From the Hip, is a peek into her soul, as she explores the pain of a breakup. “[The song] opened the floodgates and allowed me to release that person from my life,” she says.

Today, Roze identifies more closely with “Tick Tock,” a song that explores the uncertainty one faces when chasing a dream. For strength, Roze looks to her mother, who sings back-up vocals and plays flute, and the rest of The Hot Mess.

“We’re the most motley crew you’ll ever see,” Roze says of the sextet. As for their upcoming show, Roze warns Santa Cruz to expect the unexpected. “I’m quite a sight onstage,” she laughs. “There may be lots of shaky leg dances—who even knows?”

- Good Times

By Dave Good

“None of us even knew we were part of it,” Tori Roze says of a recent poll held on SoundDiego. In the poll, ten area musicians were selected to compete for a slot on The Voice this fall. “The people at Sound Diego, or NBC.com, or whoever they were, voted on the best voices in San Diego.” Five of the ten, including Roze were chosen to represent at the auditions in Los Angeles.

“But the next level is open to the public. It’s not anything special. They’re holding open auditions on August 30 and 31 in L.A.” The only advantage to winning the SoundDiego straw poll, she says, is that the five San Diego winners get to go to the head of the line and will not have to “camp out over night in order to get a spot to audition.”

They include locals Greg Gibson, Ashley Matte, Alyssa Jacey, and Matt Commerce.

SoundDiego is a blog on the web site of the local NBC affiliate, KNSD TV, at nbcsandiego.com. The Voice, entering its second season on NBC, bills itself as a reality talent show. The series consists of three phases: the blind audition before celebrity ‘coaches,’ the battle phase, and the live performance. But at this point, Roze and her fellow contestants have yet to reach the blind audition, which is televised.

“What they don’t tell you about all these TV shows is that there are three rounds before the celebrity judges even get near you. Basically, you go through some producers and interns for a couple of rounds, and then you get to the blind auditions.”


Roze says the next step is to perform a tune minus accompaniment. “I’m probably going to sing an Amy Winehouse song from her first album.”

Has she actually seen the show? She has. Assuming Roze is selected as one of the final four and lands up on broadcast, how does she plan to hold her own in the midst of what is easily the single most gaudy, over-the-top, over-wrought set on television? “I’ve done theater my whole life.” She laughs. “I’d use it to my advantage. That whole set would be my bitch.” - San Diego Reader

SAN DIEGO -- NBC San Diego last week created a competition that pitted local musicians against each other for the exciting opportunity to move forward and try out for the new hit show, "The Voice."

The artists chosen to go up against each other were: Miss Erika Davies, Ashley Matte, Stevie Harris, Marie Haddad, The Ambassador, Greg Gibson, Matt Commerce, Alyssa Jacey, Jesse Lamonaca and Tori Roze.

The competition played out on the NBC San Diego Facebook page and those who "LIKED" the page were eligible to vote for one of two musicians on each day (round). The musicians with the most votes were declared winners.

The five who received enough votes to move forward and represent NBC San Diego are: Tori Roze, Ashley Matte, Matt Commerce, Alyssa Jacey and Greg Gibson.

Native San Diegan Tori Roze, front woman of Tori and the Hot Mess and producer of the weekly "Female Fronted Bands that Rock" every Tuesday at the Ruby Room in Hillcrest, won her round of five last Wednesday.

San Diego Gay & Lesbian News caught up with Roze after her big win to find out a little more about what went down and what is now in store.

SDGLN: Tell us more about this competition. How did it work?

Tori Roze: Basically this is how ye olde NBC's Best Voice competition was run. NBC's Music Blog ran a voting poll of who people believed to be the best voices in San Diego. None of us (who ended up being in the top 10) even knew about this, actually.

So we all get a weird email saying:

"Congratulations, you have been selected as one of the TOP 10 VOICES in San Diego. We would like to offer you the chance for a VIP Audition on the hit show 'The Voice.' You must prepare 30 seconds of an original song to be recorded in our studio and we shall be placing similar vocal style against similar vocal style to cut you guys down to five people. Those five will receive a VIP audition for the show."

The funny thing about the people who were chosen is that every single one of us is a working musician, we all know each other and the room was filled with San Diego Music Award Nominees!

What happens next?

The only thing a "VIP audition" entails is getting to cut in line, that is all. You still have to go through the three or four prelimary auditions everyone has to go through. The funny thing people don't realize about these shows is that there are anywhere between two and ten callbacks before you actually get to meet the famous judges that every one sees on the show. You have to sing in front of a bunch of producers and interns before the blind audition.

It's the same with "American Idol" and any reality-based show, including something like "The Real World."

Now it's time just to sit and wait before heading up to the audition, and keep on keeping on (so to speak), considering all of us moving to the VIP audition are already working musicians.

When is the next audition in L.A.?

August 30th and 31st. They are completely open to the public, so I urge any one who has ever dared to sing and wishes to make their mark in the world to sign up. It's a long line, but if you have the chops and think you can do it, go for it.

Don't hold yourself back from achieving what you want in life!

How are you preparing?

Same as usual, playing shows with the band, coming from the heart, keeping it 100% real to me and my musical vision.

If you pass the next set of auditions ... what happens?

The blind auditions, in which I would get to sing in front of the judges and it would air on television, what a thought!

What do you like best about "The Voice"?

The legitimacy it has established within the music community blows my mind. It is the first and only show of its kind -- where no matter what you look like, or how old you are -- your talent is the thing being judged.

This is also the first competition where nearly every finalist involved already had a career of at least doing music part time, if not all the time. I thoroughly enjoy the judges as well; each has had his or her own individual experience making music and they each speak from a different part of themselves.

It's nice to see these huge artists suddenly becoming human, it makes you realize that everyone has been standing there before, too, with the same amount at stake.

What are your goals for the show?

Personally, my goal is to get the band's name (Tori Roze and The Hot Mess) on the map.

I would also like to represent for a style of music that, here in the U.S., is often discounted by the mainstream. Because of people like Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele, the demand has now been created, but what people fail to realize, is that we have people making this music who live right here [in the U.S.].

The exposure to culture here in the U.S. is in need of a little facelift and we hope to contribute to that, along with people like Janelle Monae, Sharon Jones and all of the ladies previously listed, who are revolutionizing mainstream mus - San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

SAN DIEGO -- NBC San Diego last week created a competition that pitted local musicians against each other for the exciting opportunity to move forward and try out for the new hit show, "The Voice."

The artists chosen to go up against each other were: Miss Erika Davies, Ashley Matte, Stevie Harris, Marie Haddad, The Ambassador, Greg Gibson, Matt Commerce, Alyssa Jacey, Jesse Lamonaca and Tori Roze.

The competition played out on the NBC San Diego Facebook page and those who "LIKED" the page were eligible to vote for one of two musicians on each day (round). The musicians with the most votes were declared winners.

The five who received enough votes to move forward and represent NBC San Diego are: Tori Roze, Ashley Matte, Matt Commerce, Alyssa Jacey and Greg Gibson.

Native San Diegan Tori Roze, front woman of Tori and the Hot Mess and producer of the weekly "Female Fronted Bands that Rock" every Tuesday at the Ruby Room in Hillcrest, won her round of five last Wednesday.

San Diego Gay & Lesbian News caught up with Roze after her big win to find out a little more about what went down and what is now in store.

SDGLN: Tell us more about this competition. How did it work?

Tori Roze: Basically this is how ye olde NBC's Best Voice competition was run. NBC's Music Blog ran a voting poll of who people believed to be the best voices in San Diego. None of us (who ended up being in the top 10) even knew about this, actually.

So we all get a weird email saying:

"Congratulations, you have been selected as one of the TOP 10 VOICES in San Diego. We would like to offer you the chance for a VIP Audition on the hit show 'The Voice.' You must prepare 30 seconds of an original song to be recorded in our studio and we shall be placing similar vocal style against similar vocal style to cut you guys down to five people. Those five will receive a VIP audition for the show."

The funny thing about the people who were chosen is that every single one of us is a working musician, we all know each other and the room was filled with San Diego Music Award Nominees!

What happens next?

The only thing a "VIP audition" entails is getting to cut in line, that is all. You still have to go through the three or four prelimary auditions everyone has to go through. The funny thing people don't realize about these shows is that there are anywhere between two and ten callbacks before you actually get to meet the famous judges that every one sees on the show. You have to sing in front of a bunch of producers and interns before the blind audition.

It's the same with "American Idol" and any reality-based show, including something like "The Real World."

Now it's time just to sit and wait before heading up to the audition, and keep on keeping on (so to speak), considering all of us moving to the VIP audition are already working musicians.

When is the next audition in L.A.?

August 30th and 31st. They are completely open to the public, so I urge any one who has ever dared to sing and wishes to make their mark in the world to sign up. It's a long line, but if you have the chops and think you can do it, go for it.

Don't hold yourself back from achieving what you want in life!

How are you preparing?

Same as usual, playing shows with the band, coming from the heart, keeping it 100% real to me and my musical vision.

If you pass the next set of auditions ... what happens?

The blind auditions, in which I would get to sing in front of the judges and it would air on television, what a thought!

What do you like best about "The Voice"?

The legitimacy it has established within the music community blows my mind. It is the first and only show of its kind -- where no matter what you look like, or how old you are -- your talent is the thing being judged.

This is also the first competition where nearly every finalist involved already had a career of at least doing music part time, if not all the time. I thoroughly enjoy the judges as well; each has had his or her own individual experience making music and they each speak from a different part of themselves.

It's nice to see these huge artists suddenly becoming human, it makes you realize that everyone has been standing there before, too, with the same amount at stake.

What are your goals for the show?

Personally, my goal is to get the band's name (Tori Roze and The Hot Mess) on the map.

I would also like to represent for a style of music that, here in the U.S., is often discounted by the mainstream. Because of people like Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele, the demand has now been created, but what people fail to realize, is that we have people making this music who live right here [in the U.S.].

The exposure to culture here in the U.S. is in need of a little facelift and we hope to contribute to that, along with people like Janelle Monae, Sharon Jones and all of the ladies previously listed, who are revolutionizing mainstream mus - San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

A Hot Mess of Soul On A PlatterWritten by Chris Cadiz. Posted in Music

Tagged: funk, jazz, music, Soul, the hot mess, Tori Roze

Published on April 21, 2011 with No Comments
Finding bands or artists on the interwebs may seem like the most convenient way anyone gets discovered these days. However, to find a band by “winging it” feels more legitamite because you know they are not just any studio band and have the chops to perform live. I would take raw talent over a garageband chop up anytime. Two weekends ago I was lucky enough to check out some bands with a friend of mine at the Viper Room. Given that it has been quite a while since I have watched a live performance, it was not like I had anything better to do on a Saturday night. With drink in hand, I awaited as the curtains opened up. I was suddenly overwhelmed with the sultry voice of Tori Roze and the soulful melody of The Hot Mess.

Here’s a little diddle about them from their myspace page:

Soul/Jazz…Tori Roze is a multi-instrumentalist and soul-singer to the core. Currently living in San Diego, Tori has been writing music since the age of sixteen, utilizing the medium to primarily channel those things that cannot be understood merely by the act of saying the words themselves. The Hot Mess, comprised of five extremely exceptional musicians that literally bring the house down, is sure to leave you reeling with toe-tapping excitement. “If you combined the music of Erykah Badu, Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Pink, and Adele, you would acquire what our sound is. We like to put some stank on it, bottom line.” Seeking nothing more than to shed light on the human experience, Roze is a key artist in conveying the emotional intent behind a song. Her edge being that of a heart-driven soul mixed with the nitty gritty truth, she is sure to leave audiences with the sense of relative human connection and a vocal style that is absolutely unforgettable.

At first listen, I instantly got the feel of Amy Winehouse and hints of Adele. Of course in her own right, Tori is not just a copy and paste of these artists. Besides having an amazing voice, she plays the trumpet and has the showmanship with a little swag on stage which, is the whole package. Another thing worth mentioning is that Tori’s mother is also a band member (plays the flute) which, adds another aesthetic to enrich the sound that they bring.

Their album, From the Hip, was released earlier this January. Songs like “Tick Tock”, “Fibbin”, and “Sweet Drank” definitely engages you to toe tap from the get go. Slower tracks like “Apparently” and “Shanghi Sue” give off more of the sensual parts that this band has to offer. Overall, a definite listen from beginning to end. Please be sure to check them out if you can. The full album and tracks are available on iTunes or Amazon.

Future shows:
Art Walk Sat, Apr 30 San Diego, California,
Rivera Supper Club Wed, May 11 La Mesa

- I've Been Funked Underground Arts Journal by Chris Cadiz

Poetic Memory: Tori Roze and The Hot Mess (List)
This entry was posted by chris maroulakos on Thursday, April 21st, 2011 at 10:00am.

Tori Roze has a big voice. With a set of pipes that powerful, she could crack safes, cause hurricanes, or devour Tokyo. But luckily for San Diego, she uses that voice as a force for good, tirelessly treating fans to her sultry mix of blues and soul.

Along with her backing band, The Hot Mess, Roze can be heard around town covering everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to MGMT, or wowing audiences with cuts from her own arsenal of swanky originals. Her talent hasn’t fallen on deaf ears — the song “Sweet Drank” was recently featured as a Tim Pyles Local Member of the Day selection and she was nominated for Best Acoustic Act at last year’s San Diego Music Awards.

Tori Roze and The Hot Mess have a slew of gigs lined up in the coming weeks — including an appearance at the San Diego Art Walk and Street Fair — and in September they’ll take their steamy stylings abroad for a European tour. Playing all those shows requires plenty of stamina and dedication, so we asked them for a list of the things that inspire them. Their Poetic Memory and a list of tour dates are below.

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Tori Roze (vocals/trumpet)


Lovers (ex/present/future/unrequited/familial/friendly): Always there in the songs, always inspiring the songs, always in the heart, an essential part of the puzzle which constitutes the incessant evolution of my life.

(I know this sounds TERRIBLE but…) Starbucks Triple Grande Peppermint Mocha: I drink one right before I sing, typical Kryptonite (I don’t know why, it just feels so right…future rider requirement, haha).

Animals: They are a constant reminder of the endless possibilities of life as well as the enigmatic cycle we perpetuate.

Laughter: Crucial, need I say more.

Jordan Morita (trombone)


One of my teachers back home named Jimmie Cannon: He was an incredible educator and musician, not to mention the coolest guy you could ever be around.

When I was 16 I saw the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra perform: There was an Ellington ballad called “All Too Soon” that featured trombonist Ron Westray. It was the first time I had ever witnessed in person what a trombone was supposed to sound like. I was so blown away I cried and have never been the same since.

3. D’Angelo – VooDoo: There’s a lot of music that has had an impact on me but there is something about that album that really changed my perspective on what I think is good music. It’s sooo funky, and timing had a lot to do with it too. I first got turned on to it while I was in school and studying a lot of jazz. It was nice to get away from complex harmony and enjoy jamming over one chord and a tight ?uestlove groove. That and the RH Factor really influenced my funk playing.

Johnny Alexander (guitar)

1. Being on “plane”
2. Being on a plane…
3. People with a sense of adventure…

Serge McCoy (drums)

1. My love for my wife often breaks me into song!
2. All things beautiful!
3. The oceans, seas and islands!

Lee Clark (flute/backup vocals/added percussion)


Singing:
1. Yma Sumac
2. Norma Zimmer on Lawrence Welk in the 60s
3. Peggy Lee
4. Ella Fitzgerald
5. Marni Nixon (the voice behind the famous faces who couldn’t sing)

Favorite subjects: Science, medicine, nutrition, & engineering

Favorite movie: The Fifth Element

What not to eat: Natural & imitation flavors, wheat, corn syrup, extenders, stabilizers

Most amazing: That hydrogen & oxygen, two gases, come together and create water, and then we drink it!

Harley Magsino (bass)

1. Yin and yang
2. The end of the world
3. Immortality


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Tori Roze and The Hot Mess tour dates
04/30 – San Diego Art Walk and Street Fair San Diego, CA
05/01 – House of Blues San Diego, CA
05/11 – Riviera Supper Club La Mesa, CA
05/20 – The Turquoise San Diego, CA
05/25 – Bourbon Street San Diego, CA
06/07 – Eden San Diego, CA
06/16 – Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, CA

- Owl and Bear Music Blog

...The last performer in this set was Tori Roze who fronts a 6-piece group called The Hot Mess. I've seen this band play in many different configurations but tonight it was just Tori and her mom, flutist Lee “Mama Roze” Clark. This ended up being one of the most diverse three songs of the night starting with the rockin' tune "Secret" which sounded really good stripped down. Grabbing the guitar, Tori played a pre-Hot Mess song that I’ve never heard before with Lee’s flute accompaniment adding some late-60s flavor. In December Tori and her band released their debut CD, From The Hip, and although she calls herself a true "soul singer" she can deliver torch like nobody's business and did just that ending the set with her ballad "I Try" bringing everyone up to their feet.

- LL (Harley) Richards

Sophie 103.7 San Diego
FM 94.9: San Diego
KPRI 102.1: San Diego
"Forbidden Radio" on Nowlive.com - Radio Shows

San Diego's Independent Radio Station FM 94.9 chooses one band a day to be featured throughout that particular day and it was Tori Roze and The Hot Mess on January 25, 2011 featuring the track "Sweet Drank" - Tim Pyles of FM 94.9

Tori Roze: "No Substitutions."

Ranging from the Joss Stone-ish "Sweet Drank" to the 1990s Taylor Dane dance-anthem style of "Like a Rockstar," Tori Roze is both gritty and soulful. Apparently she subscribes to the MC Hammer school of break-ups, as she sings in "Bet's Off": "You're just trying to make me jealous/Better try harder 'cause nobody can touch this." Her tortured yet self-confident style makes this songstress too legit, too legit to quit.

- Enrique Limon (March 4, 2009) - Enrique Limon of San Diego City Beat

Tori Roze: "No Substitutions."

Ranging from the Joss Stone-ish "Sweet Drank" to the 1990s Taylor Dane dance-anthem style of "Like a Rockstar," Tori Roze is both gritty and soulful. Apparently she subscribes to the MC Hammer school of break-ups, as she sings in "Bet's Off": "You're just trying to make me jealous/Better try harder 'cause nobody can touch this." Her tortured yet self-confident style makes this songstress too legit, too legit to quit.

- Enrique Limon (March 4, 2009) - Enrique Limon of San Diego City Beat

TORI ROZE AND THE HOT MESS
From the Hip




Hearing Tori Roze’s sultry voice for the first time is like learning that Santa Claus isn’t real: It absolutely breaks your heart. Roze seduces you with her Erykah Badu-esque flair, and just when you think she can’t be any smoother, she claws her way into your ears with her rocking roars. While her band is clearly most comfortable playing blues-rock, they show their versatility in “Shanghai Sue.” With its steady walking bass line and ominous horns, the track transports you straight into a 1940s detective flick. Interestingly enough, the backup vocals are provided by Lee Clark, Roze’s mom, a fine singer in her own right who augments “Tick Tock” with rhythmic glottal stops and tongue clicks.

Knowing that Mom is around when Roze bares her soul with lines about “injecting love into one’s veins,” the emotional pull of this record is that much stronger. myspace.com/toriroze
—Sean Michael Delizo

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- Sean Michael Delizo

"Tori Roze's voice gives me fierce goose bumps. She grooves with soul, style and just enough rock to let you know she's serious." Cathryn Beeks, ListenLocalsd.com
- Cathryn Beeks

"Tori Roze's voice gives me fierce goose bumps. She grooves with soul, style and just enough rock to let you know she's serious." Cathryn Beeks, ListenLocalsd.com
- Cathryn Beeks

MUSIC NEWS

http://www.reverbnation.com/controller/fan_reach/pt?eid=1835281_13060946&url=http://www.myspace.com/toriroze Artist of the Week: Tori Roze rocks, I can't say it enough. If you have not seen her perform, now's your chance. This Wednesday you can catch her and her band Backstage at The Bitter End Wednesday at 10pm. - San Diego Reader Online: Cathryn Beeks

Like Stank on Erykah

By Jay Allen Sanford | Published Wednesday, June 17, 2009

“My parents maintained a very musical household,” says singer-trumpeter Tori Roze. “My mom played with Randy Holden, the lead guitarist in Blue Cheer, and she opened for groups like Canned Heat and Three Dog Night. She used to hold Janis Joplin’s Southern Comfort bottle for her offstage.”

Roze’s parents were also involved with the San Diego Repertory Theatre and with Indian Magique, a theatrical troupe that won the Canadian Emmy for Best Comedy Show in 1977. In high school Roze fronted the band Carne Askata before departing to attend Boston Conservatory for a year. After doing a semester in London with music and theater classes at the Old Globe, she eventually graduated with a degree in theater from UC Santa Cruz.

She currently fronts the six-piece rock ’n’ soul combo Tori Roze and the Hot Mess. “If Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald, Pink, and Adele were all to get together,” she says, “you’d get the essence of our sound. Bottom line: we like to put some stank on it.”

Tori performs Friday at Portugalia and Saturday at Winstons.

WHAT’S IN YOUR CD PLAYER?

1. Michael Jackson, Off the Wall. “Can we just talk about how incredible this record is? Fully orchestrated, the man sings his heart out, and it makes your booty wanna move.”

2. Erykah Badu, Mama’s Gun. “I could listen to this forever and be happy.”

3. Björk, Family Tree. “I love how this woman sings from her soul, and you feel it viscerally. I have to see her perform before I die.”

4. Grand Ole Party, Humanimals. “A local band doing something way different — this is what I listen to before I go out to amp me up.”

MOST-VISITED WEBSITES?

1. Myspace.com “I’m always checking up on my music page and updating things, and I’m constantly looking for female-fronted bands that rock.”

2. Sonicbids.com “Always updating my EPK [electronic press kit] and looking for exciting gigs.”

3. Astrology.com “I gots to know my horoscope, shoot!”

4. Google.com “I get extreme usage of the image finder, for flyer-making and whatnot.”

5. Facebook.com “Man, this is the most un-user-friendly site ever, but all my friends are addicted to its crappy layout, so I use it to check in with friends who are too cool to use Myspace anymore. What the heck are they thinking?”

MAC OR PC?

“PC, because I can right-click.”

DO YOU PLAY VIDEO GAMES?

“Eww.”

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER GOT?

“Perseverance, kid — it’s the only thing that’s going to save you.”

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: “I LIVE IN SAN DIEGO BECAUSE.…”

“…I can. Jealous?”

CARE TO RATE THE NEW PREZ?

“He’s pretty snazzy, but he’s got his work cut out for him. Thank goodness he’s eloquent, though. Sheesh!”

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU FEW WOULD KNOW OR GUESS?

“I have worked at Hot Dog on a Stick for the past ten years and counting. Come see me at the Del Mar fair! Not onstage. Just selling hot dogs.” - San Diego READER

"San Diego's Funky Songstress: Tori Roze"

Said LIVE on air April 5th on fm 94.9: "The Local Show." San Diego, CA. - Tim Pyles

"San Diego's Funky Songstress: Tori Roze"

Said LIVE on air April 5th on fm 94.9: "The Local Show." San Diego, CA. - Tim Pyles