Following the release of his funky synth-soaked anthem No Driver, a song that directly takes on the concept of tech-controlled cars and the future of the daily commute, we caught an interview with lifelong musician and performer Ronkat Spearman, to find out more about the song, the upcoming EP, and his journey to this point. Here’s how it went.
* * *
Hi Ronkat – excited to talk music with you! For those new to your work, when did you start making music, and who or what first inspired you?
Hi, I’m excited to talk music with you too. I think music started making me. I remember hearing an upright bass when I was in my crib and I would look up and I remember seeing a man across the hall playing the bass, he was a jazz musician, and then I would hear my parents playing the Beatles, Miles Davis, I had a plethora of music around me always. I also think my parents were programming me by playing the radio right by my crib, I always heard popular music and I think that’s where I got my songwriting from.
I started performing around age seven when my Dad would take me to Jazz clubs in Michigan. I would sit in on congas with jazz great Grant Greene. My father would have me play to his record back home and he would surprise me and take me to the club and then I was sitting in with him. That was a trip.
How long had the idea for No Driver been in the making, and how concerned or fascinated are you by this topic and progression in the modern world?
The concept actually came to me while standing at an intersection in San Francisco when I was watching a driverless car stop and then actually turn the corner and there was no body in there. You look in the car and there’s no one driving the car. I’m fascinated by the progression and I welcome it as long as the cars don’t run over anyone. I welcome the technology.
Tell me about the production – is it a solo venture, and would you enlist a full band for the live performance?
I wrote, produced, played all the instruments and sang for the recording but I have a full band KATDELIC and they’ve been with me for years.
You’ve had a noteworthy career so far as a songwriter – what has been one of your most memorable or impactful collaborations, and how important is networking and collaboration in building a lasting career?
My memorable’s are George Clinton, Lenny Kravitz, Rick James, Prince, Erykah Badu, Bootsy Collins. Kanye was interesting, I wrote for and got awards for songs for Toni Braxton and Jade. Networking is important, It’s vital in a really competitive industry. Sometimes it’s organic and other times strategic.
How was the live show at the Dark Room this week, and what was your highlight from the evening?
The show was amazing and the highlight was when I played an instrumental song that I wrote for my Dad, it’s a jazzy song.
What can you tell us about the upcoming EP Kattitude – why this title, and what can fans expect from the project?
Kattitude is coming out in September and it has some surprise guests. It’s funky, it’s rocking, I wrote and performed all the songs, and it’s meant to leave you with a good feeling, to make you want to play it on repeat and keep on your playlist.
What else do you have planned this side of 2024, and where can people catch you again on stage?
As far as live performances, I have been light on gigs while working on the EP but I do have a street party in San Francisco this September, Halloween at Yoshis, Oakland, and upcoming gigs at the Boom Boom Room SF. I’ll be back with a heavier touring schedule in 2025 to promote Kattitude. Oh, and I was in a indy film here in the Bay Area called Cocaine Roach which premiers on Sept.7th in Oakland.
Is there anything else we should know?
Be on the lookout for my new music and you can get any other info on my website http://www.ronkatspearman.com or @RonKatSpearman_1 on Instagram. I’m on all the socials.
Thank You!
* * *
Find Ronkat Spearman on Instagram or visit his Website.
