We recently had the chance to connect with Roger Carefree and have shared our conversation below.
Roger , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Recently I’ve been finding extreme joy gaming and collecting. I’ve come to realize that gaming brings me peace and gives me a sense of clarity. I enjoy RPGs (role playing games) that allow me to fully immerse myself in a compelling story line that ultimately results in me achieving a specific goal. Sort of like life. I’ve also been enjoying going back to my childhood roots and collecting Pokemon cards. Some are a little pricier and harder to obtain but I enjoy the thrill of opening a fresh pack not knowing what will be inside. Also collecting graded cards that increase in value over time as they are sealed to maintain quality and integrity. Mainly it’s the nostalgia that gives me comfort and the satisfaction of finding and owning that one card I’ve been searching for. All in all these things have made me a lot more happier lately.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
First off I would like to say thank you to Voyage magazine for allowing me share my story and giving me as well as other creatives a platform to share our thoughts and ideas. The work you guys do is invaluable and I’m truly thankful and appreciative. My name is Roger Carefree and I’m a professional hip hop musician based out of Houston Texas that specializes in creating timeless yet entertaining music that listeners of all ages can enjoy. I represent Bzerk Records and Carefree Entertainment. Which are labels and brands created and built by a collective of myself, family and close friends who are also creatives. My idea and goal is to create great honest music that connects as well as entertains but also inspires others. What makes me unique is my approach musically and that I tell my story a little differently than others. Honestly just giving my fans an audio introspective into my life that comes from the heart. Whether it’s something fun or light like an uplifting empowering song. Or a darker song with a more deeper more painful undertone. And everything in between. It’s all about the message for me. My love and passion for music began at a very young age. From watching my older brother freestyle rap with his friends to buying and hearing my first hip hop album (Nas Illmatic). When I wrote my first rap when I was 12 I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I didn’t know it yet but I was setting the foundation for my future. Recorded my first song and the rest was history. What began as a dream has now become a realistic goal that is well within my reach. And with hard work and perseverance I will achieve it. Basically at this time I’ve been focusing on completing a project called Metamorphosis that has been in the works for a few years and is actually pretty personal to me. Each project I do is based off actual life experiences and emotions. And this next one is no different. Detailing and reflecting on my life and growth over the past couple of years. I’ve given fans small previews and insights but they have yet to hear the completed project. As I usually make my rollouts larger than life. I love building the anticipation knowing that my listeners will truly appreciate something I put my heart and soul into. But I have been releasing unrelated singles demonstrating my versatility and growth as an artist and also just having fun creating good music with good people. It’s never been about the money for me. I really enjoy what I do. Everything else is just a bonus. I love Hip Hop.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that always felt the need to be accepted. I used to base so much of my self worth and value on my that. So much so that it actually inhibited me and prevented me from reaching my full potential. I know better now. I’m much more comfortable now with who I am and what I represent. As an artist as well as a human being. I know now that my differences are my strengths and my uniqueness is what sets me apart. I was trying to fit in when I was born to stand out. Not anymore baby. I stuck my flag in the ground and I’m making my mark. The world is mine.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Two tragedies have occurred in my life that have wounded me deeply. And to be honest I’m still healing. But I’m stronger now. One of those was losing my older brother back in 2009 in a fatal car accident. My big brother was on one of my biggest inspirations and heroes growing up. Also my biggest supporter. So that affected me on the grandest level. Losing him was like losing a fundamental core of who I was. I based a lot of my life around advice he gave me and just mirroring his own movements. He always wanted me to learn from his mistakes and would constantly give me crucial lessons on life. Of course we weren’t perfect and sometimes had our disagreements but in the end we were brothers and we felt like all we had was us. We had a certain understanding and bond that other people just couldn’t understand. Music has helped me heal by giving me an outlet to convey my emotions and pain in a way that speaks to the soul. And being able to share that with the world is my gift. And it’s a beautiful gift at that. God has truly blessed me. The second is the hardest, most painful and actually the most recent. Last August I lost my precious mother suddenly to heart failure. One week before my 36th birthday. This one is actually pretty hard to talk about. And I’m definitely still healing from it. My life pretty much came to a stand still as my whole world was shaken and turned upside down. I was lost in a cloud of confusion, pain and self reflection as the reality of death stung me more harshly than I could have ever imagined. I thought losing my brother was tough. But this was something else entirely. My mother was a bright beautiful soul and a beacon of light in my life. Wherever she was, that was home. She was also one of my biggest supporters. Always showing me off to her friends and colleagues. Telling me how much she was proud of me even when I felt like I wasn’t doing enough or just stuck in self doubt. She always knew what to say to snap me out of it. What pushes me more to continue on with my path is the fact that she believed in me even at times when I didn’t believe in myself. Her incredible work ethic and dedication to her family and loved ones was inspirational to say the least. It took me awhile to pick myself back up and get to a place where I was comfortable to start recording again. But this time was different. My voice had changed. It had become more raspy and you could hear more pain in it. At first I was taken back because I wasn’t used to how I felt or sounded. But I have a lot of good people in my life that have encouraged me and pushed me. Also ensuring me that I should embrace this new change and use it to my advantage. Reminding me of a line from one my songs, “I understand now that my best music comes from pain..” I’ve come to accept and love who I am. Giving my music a more raw and gritty feel but at the same time vulnerable, strong and resilient. Also my precious momma would definitely not want me to quit. So that’s what I do it for. I only wish we had more time so she could witness my dreams come into fruition and I could repay her for all the love and support she gave me.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you’re too old to be successful and you’re out of time. Great music is timeless and has no age limit. It’s all about connecting with people through a wide range of emotions and experiences. As long you’re staying true to your craft and honing your skills, there is always room to improvement and growth. And your best music is made when you’re passionate and care about what you do. I think this applies to a lot of things in life. When you truly love something you nurture it.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I’m mostly at peace when I’m able to articulate my thoughts alone in a comfortable space. I often find myself having to tune out the outter world in order to find my inner voice. It gives me a sense of oneness and helps me reassert myself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purpleskyzzzzz?igsh=NnE1eWZ4cDEzMmx1&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-carefree-a147ab168?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/purpleskyzzzzz?s=21
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16H9kfdUnb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@purpleskyzzzzz?si=iQvcqc7j1NPeU270
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/MDMyjgtfwWsBEeTAZ1
- Other: https://linktr.ee/rogercarefree
Image Credits
Diana Morales
