LA Based Rocket, comprised of childhood friends Alithea Tuttle (Bass, Vocals), Baron Rinzler (Guitar), Cooper Ladomade (Drums) and Desi Scaglione (Guitar), began writing during the lockdown of 2020. Having all grown up in Los Angeles, they were exposed to the city’s musical influences at a very young age, attending shows, frequenting record stores, and slowly becoming embedded in the sprawling DIY scene.
A large handful of demos were written with a huge sound in mind, but only so much noise could be made in a one bedroom apartment. The group scraped together what money they had and rented the cheapest lockout space they could find, rehearsing religiously for months until their first show. That show was an outstanding success, and quickly led to shows opening for Julie, bar italia, TAGABOW, Pretty Sick, RIDE, Sunny Day Real Estate and more.
Then it was time to settle in and start the recording process for what would become their first EP. Having moved out of their shoebox lockout and into Cooper’s parents back house, the group finally had the space they needed to create the sound they wanted. In an incredibly fortunate series of events, they came into possession of a 1970’s Yamaha PM-1000 recording console that was donated to their elementary school. With their “new” gear, the band began the process of self-recording, producing and engineering the songs they’d been writing. “We really try to not overthink things and be something we’re not,” they explain, “this EP is born out of trying to be as true to ourselves as possible.”
Opener “On Your Heels” encapsulates their sound, pitting jagged guitars against intoxicating vocal melodies, the stripped back verses building tension to the euphoric chorus before breaking down into hardcore-indebted riffs. “Portrait Show” takes their loud/quiet dynamics and perfects the approach, a la Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. updated for Gen Z. The song “focuses on different versions of myself,” shares Alithea, “while songs like “Normal to Me” and “On Your Heels” have more of an emphasis on the different versions of people that they show you.” The final track “Take Your Aim,” which was added to EP for the re-release with Transgressive Records / Canvasback, perfectly encapsulates the band’s laid back California charm with ripping drums, scuzzy guitars, and nostalgic melody.
Versions of You is a time capsule, a document of the turbulent transition from one’s late teens into their early twenties during one of the most uncertain times to be alive. Despite their youth, there’s a confidence and strength of vision across these 8 songs that is rare to find in a debut.
