–By Armando Sultan–

New York City based Dance-Pop artist, Rooky, is an NJCU alumnus who graduated with a music business and guitar performance degree.  Since graduating, he has pursued a professional career in music alongside his manager, Nick Schlatmann.

Two years ago, Schlatmann connected with hip hop legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of the iconic rap group, Run DMC and showed him some of Rooky’s music.  DMC fell in love with the tracks and asked to get involved. This serendipitous meeting led to the recording of “LIVE FOREVER,” which Rooky has just released a music video for.

NJCU recently sat down with Rooky to ask about his recent collaboration with DMC and his plans for the future.

1) Where did you get the name from?
My manager Nick Schlatmann came up with the name and I loved it instantly. I also love what it symbolizes – basically that I’m the Rooky, the underdog, and I have the fighter’s spirit to prove it!

2) I hear you just released a single with DMC of Run DMC, how was working with a legend?
Words can’t describe how much of an honor it was to work with DMC. First of all, besides being one of the architects of hip hop, he’s also one of the most passionate and genuine people I’ve ever met. There’s a fire inside him and he brings that to everything he does.
When he got the track, it took him only one night to write his verse. ONE NIGHT. And recording in the studio with him is a breeze because he usually does his parts in one hot-fire take.

Also, since we’re both obsessed with all kinds of music, we have a blast whenever we talk. Within half a minute, both of us have wide eyes and we’re yelling about how great this album or that album was. DMC is the man.

3) The song Live Forever also has a video out, how was that process?
From the first treatment to the finished product took a little over a year. In that time we had one production company involved, then schedules conflicted, so serendipity stepped in, and connected us to our director Rodrigo. From there, Nick and I worked with him on choosing locations, casting the actors, finishing the treatment, and finalizing all of the preproduction details.

After that, we showed up to set, which looked amazingly post-apocalyptic, and shot for about 11-12 hours straight. That shoot day was one of the most fun days of my life. There was definitely a familial vibe on set, like “we’re all in this together; it’s going to be great.” It made the time fly by.

4) Has education at NJCU helped your music writing ability or your career?
Yes, it has tremendously. Most of it runs as processes in my subconscious at this point, but I know it’s there. The music education I received at NJCU helped mold me into the songwriter and musician I am today, because music is a language and the more proverbial words and phrases you know, the more you have to draw from as a writer.

5) Any special professor or class that is unforgettable for you?
Prof. Ed Joffe’s Jazz History class and Music Business class – those were fun, challenging, and I learned a ton from him. He was always tough to please academically, and I thrive in that environment. It’s how I learn best.
My favorite playing experience came from Paul Myers’ Brazilian Ensemble – I loved the music. It was freeing.

6) Last time we spoke, you mentioned a great deal about your manager being a huge part of your music career, can you elaborate more on that?
Nick is the best manager in the world. We’re a team. We have 10 hour meetings dreaming up plans for the future, then we go home and email each other back and forth til 4 in the morning fleshing out the details. We’re both very passionate and very ambitious, and that’s why we get along so well.

Nick connected me with DMC, Nick helped me fine tune my sound, Nick is hooking up tours and high profile shows. We have a lot of great things in store and I’m very excited for the future. This is only the beginning!

7) Where did the inspiration for Live Forever come from? and did you write this song by yourself or was it a full collaborative effort between you and DMC?
“Live Forever” started as an instrumental track I made in Reason software on my Macbook. I remember playing it for my little brother, who is always honest, and he said, “That’s hot! Makes you want to dance!” so I knew I was on to something.

A few months later I meet DMC, and he wants to hear some of my songs, so I play that one for him, and he gets really, really excited about it. It was a truly surreal and validating experience. Here’s someone I grew up idolizing, a superstar, and now he’s sitting right next to me in the studio, saying I’m a great songwriter and he’s going home to spit a verse over one of my tracks – I couldn’t believe it was real.

8) The video looks amazing, did you write it yourself? Or was it a team around you?
Thank you so much – the first treatments were written by Nick and myself. We knew we wanted a horror theme so that was our starting point. Then, one day Nick hit me up and said we should combine “Girl Interrupted” with “Shutter Island,” two of my favorite movies, so that was the move! Next, we brought the treatment to our director and he extrapolated his vision from that idea, and I love where he took it.

9) Whats the future of Rooky? are you planning on putting out an EP or an event, or both? Where can we find your music?
I’m currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on an EP, though I keep writing songs so it may become a full album soon if I’m not careful! (laughs) – We have a big NYC date coming up soon and we’re planning a summer tour that I’m very excited about. You can find my music on iTunes and follow me on youtube, instagram and twitter – the name for all is @rookyofficial

10) Lastly, with such major success, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians currently in school and are following your path?
It’s important to form a strong mental picture of what you want your life to look like – whether it’s teaching violin to kids, conducting the philharmonic, or touring the world as a singer – and then passionately go for it. If your dreams turn you on, follow them, and the world will bend to your will. Don’t ever be a wandering generality.
And if that doesn’t work, just go to A.C. and bet it all on black.