CloudwatcherUno sits down to hear the story of Rodney Rice and his love of music. It was when he reached the tender age of twelve that Rice discovered his affinity for the guitar. Armed with only a rudimentary knowledge of a few chords, he eagerly began strumming the instrument, pouring his heart and soul into his every note. Little did he know that this humble beginning would mark the inception of an extraordinary musical journey.

While pursuing his burgeoning music career, Rice embraced various opportunities that came his way. At one point, he ventured into the world of oil and gas rigs in the heart of Texas. Yet, even amidst the gruelling and demanding nature of this work, his passion for music persisted. It was during this time that fate intervened in the form of an enlightening conversation.

Taking a leap of faith, Rice embarked on a new chapter in his musical odyssey. It was within the hallowed walls of the Congress House Studio that he brought his artistic visions to life. With every strum of his guitar and every heartfelt lyric sung, Rice weaved together an intimate tapestry of emotions, pouring his soul into the creation of his first two albums, Empty Pockets and a Troubled Mind and Same Shirt, Different Day.

However, it was Rice’s third album, simply titled “Rodney Rice”, where he truly found his stride. During the challenging times of the pandemic, Rice embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery and musical exploration. Seeking a new sonic palette for his music, he decided to work with the renowned Bomb Shelter studio in Nashville.

Embracing a more analogue approach, Rice and the team at the Bomb Shelter delved into uncharted territory, experimenting with different sounds, recording techniques, and instrumentation. The result was an album that stood apart from his previous works, both in terms of its production style and its lyrical depth.

With his third album, Rodney Rice has solidified his place as a rising star in the Americana music scene. His warm, gritty vocals, ingenious lyricism, and dynamic melodies continue to captivate audiences and establish him as an artist to watch. As Rice himself sums it up, “The process was more analogue, and combined with changing all the variables, it’s no surprise there is a distinct difference between this one and my first two albums.”

Rice knows just how to capture the fleeting glimmers of an emotional moment in life and turn them into songs that evoke our own feelings of despair and hope; loss and love. And he delivers those lyrics with a knowing nod and wink, creating memorable characters in his songs whose foibles remind us of folks we know. As he says, “Music is a common language that reaches all and brings people from worlds apart together.”   

Listen in to the conversation between Rodney and CloudwatcherUno by clicking the link below. Stream the rest of the eleven seasons on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.