JAVA Nov 19

JAVA: Tell me a little bit about you. Did you
grow up here in the Phoenix area?
Rolland: I did. I grew up in Mesa, and I live like five
minutes away from my childhood home.
Oh wow. So, you’ve gone far…
(Laughs.) Oh yeah. I can walk to my parents’ house,
that’s the problem. My mom grew up here, and my
parents still live in the same house that I grew up in. I
still take my dogs for a walk on the canal that I would
run on growing up. So, it’s nice still being connected
after all this time, you know.
I do. I’m a native as well, although central
Phoenix. I can’t see leaving. It’s so easy to get
everywhere.
Well, a few years ago, I was traveling into downtown
Phoenix to do a lot of activities. It’s much harder
(living in the east Valley). I just don’t drive as much
as I used to. And so, I’m trying to absorb and extend
my time working in the studio and being at home. As
much as I love being stable where I am at, it’s always
just a game to figure out how to feel connected and
actively participate in downtown Phoenix. I love that
place, but it’s a little far.
Photo: Julius Schlosburg
From time to time, people come into your life that just shine. Sometimes you even expect it because
of their talent and ability to create beautiful art, but when their star shines about as bright as
any can, it’s still overwhelming. You brace yourself for the impact, yet the wind can still get
knocked right out of you.
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Grace Rolland is one such person. Under the moniker Rising Sun
Daughter, she has released an extraordinary debut EP, I See Jane. The 30-year-old Mesa native has taken the
last two years to craft the five songs that make up what is essentially her first solo record. While you may
know her from Run Boy Run – an Americana band that achieved a fair amount of success with support from
Garrison Keillor and his longtime syndicated radio show, A Prairie Home Companion – Rollvand’s work with
Rising Sun Daughter deserves equal celebration.
By day, Rolland works at the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale, before returning home to hang out
with her dogs, Patty and Porter, and spend time working on her craft. She seems to be compelled to pick up new
instruments, especially ones involving strings, so it’s anyone’s guess what sounds will show up on the next Rising
Sun Daughter record. We caught up with Rolland during a break from work on a beautiful October day.
The music scene is better than ever in town
right now. Maybe that’s because our population
has exploded, or maybe people just care more.
It’s not like I need to go somewhere else to get
my music out, as if there aren’t enough people in
Arizona. That’s kind of a daydream notion, that
you have to live in LA, or that only people in those
historically commercial markets will listen to your
music. There are literally millions of people here, and
everyone deserves good music, so I can still live and
make music here, which is fun.
So, tell me a bit about working at the Musical
Instrument Museum. It’s such a great venue for
concerts.
I’m really thankful to have that job. For one thing,
the financial stability is essential to me as an artist,
and I feel so much closer to quality musicians. I
get to watch those people perform, I help support
their shows, and I’m learning audio engineering.
It’s a place that I feel, even if I’m not working
in a performance capacity, it’s a nice peaceful
environment, and, in my opinion, it’s the best concert
hall in the country.
It really does sound amazing in there.
JAVA 35
MAGAZINE