Koalas Round the Campfire

One koala's take on what making music means to him

“You’ve got to keep the child alive; you can’t create without it.” - Joni Mitchell

On Saturday, January 1, 2022 (New Year’s day), a koala named Rasp and his sidekick Joey spent an hour at the Music Road Trip campfire serenading our guests with originals and covers of songs by artists such as Missy Higgins, Pink, U2, and Lexus Melodie.

The thing that distinguishes Rasp’s music is how he plays with songs to make them his own. An accomplished musician who plays multiple instruments (so far, I know he plays the trumpet, guitar, piano, bass, and drums), he consciously uses technology to create unique effects. When asked about his songwriting process, he said, “I don't write songs very often. I always feel like if I'm going to write, I should have something to say. Then when I start, I get to thinking someone else has already done this and done it better. So, my forte is more in doing interesting versions of covers.

I like changing things around and presenting them in a way you might not have thought of My friends call it "Raspifying" a song. I like when others do it too. Like you hear a song and think, "this sounds like something I know." Then the chorus hits and you realize, "Ohhhh yeah, that's the song!"

Rasp will be performing every Saturday at 2:00 pm (PST) at the Music Road Trip venue, so be sure to mark your calendars. If you can’t make it or are not in Second Life, we will be publishing a recap and recording of his performances along with a question about his life with music each week here in this newsletter. So stay tuned!

To hear a recording of Rasps’ New Year’s day performance, click the link below. Oh, and Happy New Year!