Emerging from the rich musical soil of Illinois in the 1990s, Rosetta West is a blues rock band that has steadily carved out its niche far from the glare of mainstream attention. Hailing from Chicago, this group has long embodied a fiercely independent spirit, championing an artistic vision rooted in authenticity, experimentation, and spiritual exploration. Their sound; an intoxicating mixture of psychedelia, blues, and global folk influences feels like the soundtrack to a dream half-remembered.
Fronted by founder and primary songwriter Joseph Demagore, and supported by longtime collaborators like Herf Guderian on bass and Mike Weaver on drums, Rosetta West is a band that has refused to compromise over decades. Instead, they’ve chosen to forge their path on the edges of the known, attracting global devotees who are drawn to the band’s hypnotic blend of sound and lyrical introspection. Now, with the release of their new album “Gravity Sessions,” Rosetta West invites listeners back into their strange and beautiful world, this time with more rawness, immediacy, and visceral power than ever before.
Released on June 7th, 2025, the album was recorded live over a few spirited days at Chicago’s legendary Gravity Studios. “Gravity Sessions” is not just an album, it’s an experience. This project sees Rosetta West strip things back to the core, delivering mostly live renditions of some of their most beloved songs. The result is a raw, powerful reimagining of familiar material, captured under the expert ear of Doug McBride, a revered name in studio engineering. With only a couple of overdubs, the band allows the natural chemistry between its members to shine through, unfiltered and full of fire.
From the first note, “Gravity Sessions” feels alive. The vocals from Joseph Demagore are as haunting as ever, gritty, obsessive, and emotionally charged, carrying an otherworldly quality that taps into the band’s long-standing fascination with mysticism and the spiritual unknown. His guitar work snakes through the mix with thick, fuzz-drenched riffs, providing both structure and atmospheric texture. Herf Guderian’s basslines are muscular yet melodic, anchoring each track with weight and groove, while Mike Weaver’s drumming pulses with primal energy, adding both tension and explosive release.
Gravity Sessions Album Track List:
Dora Lee (Gravity):
“Dora Lee (Gravity)” opens “Gravity Sessions” with a fierce and unforgettable jolt, immediately immersing the listener in Rosetta West’s trademark blend of hard blues rock, psychedelic edge, and mythic narrative. From the first pounding beat, the track sets an unrelenting pace, built on thick, distorted guitar riffs and a rhythm section that pounds like a ritual heartbeat. It’s a raw, high-energy beginning that doesn’t just ask for attentionit demands it. The production is sharp and dynamic, capturing the urgency of the live recording setting without losing clarity or finesse.
At the center of the track is Joseph Demagore’s gripping vocal performance, which channels both grit and obsession. His voice seems to hover between invocation and confession, delivering the lyrics with a haunting sense of mysticism that mirrors the song’s lyrical themes of spirituality, madness, and mythology. There’s a deliberate intensity in the way his vocals and guitar playing move together sometimes in harmony, sometimes in wild contrast, creating an immersive, almost trance-like soundscape that’s both chaotic and controlled.
What makes “Dora Lee (Gravity)” so compelling is its ability to convey a vivid emotional and sonic atmosphere. The song feels like a descent into a mythic underworld, full of shadowy figures and spiritual unrest, yet grounded by the band’s unwavering commitment to musical tightness and expressive nuance. It’s a perfect introduction to “Gravity Sessions”, setting the tone for the album’s broader themes of timelessness, transformation, and transcendence. As both a standalone track and an album opener, “Dora Lee (Gravity)” is a bold declaration: Rosetta West is not here to entertain passively, they’re here to pull you into something deeper.
Suzie (Gravity):
“Suzie (Gravity)” stands out as one of the most captivating and immersive moments on “Gravity Sessions”, encapsulating everything that makes Rosetta West such a compelling force in the underground rock world. From the opening bars, the guitar takes center stage, weaving a hypnotic pattern that immediately sets a contemplative yet intense tone. There’s a meditative quality to the way the composition unfolds, rooted in the band’s signature blend of psychedelic blues-rock and spiritual undertones. This track doesn’t just play, it unfolds, drawing the listener deeper into its rich, layered soundscape.
At the heart of the song lies a haunting vocal performance that balances raw emotion with controlled intensity. Joseph Demagore’s delivery is steeped in grit and obsession, echoing the themes of inner exploration and mystical searching that define the song. His vocals work in tandem with the rest of the band, Herf Guderian’s driving basslines and Mike Weaver’s steady, propulsive drumming to create a tight yet spacious arrangement. The track pulses with A rhythmic tension that builds and releases, mirroring the emotional journey at its core.
What truly elevates “Suzie (Gravity)” is its atmosphere. The production is clean yet immersive, highlighting the individual instruments while allowing the overall vibe to remain cohesive and enveloping. The song seems to exist in a liminal space, evoking a sense of timelessness and otherworldliness that lingers well after the final note. As both a musical statement and an emotional experience, “Suzie (Gravity)” is a shining example of Rosetta West’s ability to craft songs that feel more like sonic rituals, introspective, spiritual, and deeply human.
Save Me (Gravity):
“Save Me (Gravity)” is one of the most emotionally charged tracks on “Gravity Sessions”, delivering a gritty and urgent plea wrapped in raw, psychedelic blues-rock. From the first chord, the crunch and distortion of the guitar riffs grab hold, creating a sense of unease and intensity that permeates the entire track. The thumping rhythm section; steady, relentless, and commanding drives the song with a forward momentum that refuses to slow down, heightening the song’s sense of desperation and inner turmoil.
Joseph Demagore’s vocal performance is nothing short of gripping. His delivery is soaked in obsession and pain, carrying a raw emotional weight that makes each lyric feel vital and lived-in. There’s a perfect symmetry between his vocals and the instrumentation, both spiraling around each other in a dance of tension and release, giving the song a dynamic emotional arc. As the track progresses, it builds intensity without losing clarity, culminating in moments that feel both cathartic and spiritually unmoored.
What truly sets “Save Me (Gravity)” apart is the haunting atmosphere and exceptional production quality. Every sonic element from the saturated guitars to the ghostly overtones feels intentional and carefully layered, all while retaining the spontaneous, live energy that defines the Gravity Sessions project. The result is a track that evokes a timeless and otherworldly experience, immersing the listener in a sonic plea that’s as mystical as it is deeply human. It’s a powerful testament to Rosetta West’s ability to turn emotion into sound, and sound into something transcendent.
Venous Blue (Gravity):
“Venous Blue (Gravity)” closes Gravity Sessions with a powerful sense of finality and emotional depth, fully embodying the raw, psychedelic blues-rock identity that defines the album. From the opening hypnotic guitar riff, the song sets a brooding and entrancing tone, immediately pulling the listener into a space that feels both intimate and cosmic. It’s a slow burn that unfolds deliberately, building layers of sound and mood that feel like the final descent into the spiritual undercurrent running through the record.
The vocal performance is once again a standout, with Joseph Demagore delivering each line with gritty obsession and aching intensity. His voice seems to waver between confession and incantation, creating a sense of vulnerability even as the instrumentation swells around him. The track grows heavier as it progresses, with thick guitar riffs and a thumping rhythm section reinforcing the emotional weight. This push and pull between tension and release mirrors the song’s thematic essence, offering a cathartic, almost ritualistic closing chapter.
What makes “Venous Blue (Gravity)” such a fitting and memorable conclusion is how seamlessly it ties together the album’s central elements: mysticism, emotion, and sonic immersion. The production is polished and spacious, allowing each instrument to breathe while maintaining a cohesive intensity. The overall ambiance is haunting and powerful, leaving the listener with a lingering sense of timelessness and emotional resonance. As the final notes fade, there’s a feeling that something profound has ended, and that “Gravity Sessions” has said exactly what it needed to say, with “Venous Blue” as its solemn, electrifying farewell.
The sonic palette is wide but cohesive. Each track builds on Rosetta West’s signature sound, a hypnotic blend of blues roots with psychedelic flourishes and spiritual undercurrents. It’s the kind of music that demands surrender, inviting listeners to drift through shadowy emotional landscapes and cosmic meditations alike. The two standout tracks “Dora Lee”, the lead single, and “Suzie,” the newly featured highlight showcase the album’s dynamic range. “Dora Lee” is intense and immersive, brimming with urgency, while “Suzie” unfolds with a more intimate, almost cinematic quality. Both songs now come with visual companions on YouTube, offering further insight into the band’s world.
What sets “Gravity Sessions” apart is its emotional rawness and spiritual intensity. There’s no sense of polish for polish’s sake, only a desire to capture truth in its most visceral form. Despite the live recording style, the production remains clear, balanced, and sonically rich, highlighting Rosetta West’s deep musicianship and chemistry as a unit. Every detail, every note, breath, and reverb-drenched chord is placed with purpose. In short, “Gravity Sessions” is a testament to Rosetta West’s enduring vision. It proves that after decades on the fringe, the band still has the power to surprise, move, and transcend. This isn’t just music, it’s a ritual, a journey, and a love letter to those who listen deeply. If you haven’t yet entered the world of Rosetta West, “Gravity Sessions” is the perfect place to start. Just don’t expect to leave unchanged.
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