A conversation with Jasmine Rodgers of Bôa

By Lillian Jones

Local Music Director

 

Walking around day three of Austin Psych Fest, me and my photo partner, Andy Page, were bubbling with nervousness. Today was the day we would get the opportunity to talk with the band Bôa. Bôa is a late ‘90s/early 2000s alternative rock band that in recent years grew in popularity. Their hit track, “Duvet”, became viral across social media platforms for its whimsical sound and the fun fact that it was used as the intro for the psychological anime “Serial Experiments Lain”. 

When 5:30p.m. rolled around, Andy and I were approached by the bands manager who took us to a room where vocalist and guitarist Jasmine Rodgers was waiting. The room was separated from the indoor V.I.P bar, had a couch with two chairs and had the first bit of A/C we had felt in the past three days. As we walked in, Rodgers greeted us kindly with a smile, we sat down and began chatting. 

Lillian: What was the process of getting “Duvet” as the intro song to the anime “Serial Experiments Lain”? 

Jasmine: What was the process? I’m not sure. I think the record label we were with, a guy who worked there, I think his friend was working on it and he liked the song. I think it was that simple. It was such a long time ago. I remember I was in Japan at the time and he was just like, “hey there’s this anime my friend is working on, is it okay?,” and I was like “yeah! sounds cool,” and then it just happened!

Lillian: When you first released the Twilight album back in 2001, did you receive the same popularity that you received in recent years? 

Jasmine: No, it was really different. The truth is that now international outreach is possible in a way that it wasn’t back then. I think the anime enabled a lot of people to be able to hear it. So, in that way we had pockets of people who really enjoyed our music for a long time. One of the lovely things about the situation now is that I can tour and see some of those people. Yesterday when we were playing in Dallas, I knew there were a couple people who liked us from the start because they’d been friends with us on FaceBook! 

Lillian: What are your thoughts behind apps such as TikTok’s ability to boost music’s popularity? 

Jasmine: At the moment, it’s been amazing because it’s been able to allow musicians to have another place to put their music. It’s allowed for the everyday person to engage directly – I mean, you’ve probably heard this so many times. You know how you have a soundtrack to your life and your memories? This is like immediately happening, which is really nice to see. As a really nosy person, I can get to see how people are adding our music to their memory. 

Lillian: Yeah for sure! I see people use your music online in so many different ways. Like whether their using it related to the anime or a cute outfit video —

Andy: Or like those compilations of pictures with memories that they have and their using “Duvet” to describe the feeling of those memories. 

Jasmine: Yeah, yeah! It’s so nice! And I love seeing that with everything and meeting new music myself that way as well. So that’s quite cool. 

Lillian: What was the thought process behind your 2024 album, Whiplash?

Jasmine: Well we like to say it’s about breakups, breakdowns and divorces. Which I think encompasses, you know, a broad spectrum of emotions. Over the years we’ve had lots of people messaging us and giving us their own stories about how they’ve engaged in the songs and how they’ve helped them. We realized like, our music is kind of quite like a big hug. So when we were writing it, lyrics wise – I can only speak for the lyrics, I can’t speak for everything else — I was conscious of that as well and I wanted to put messages out there that were another big hug if you need one. 

Lillian: I definitely get that from your songs. 

Andy: One of my favorite things about this album is how your voice has changed. I love listening to your older album, Twilight, so comparing that to Whiplash now, your voice has aged. And it sounds deeper, but to me it conveys more emotion. Like you can tell how this person has grown from all of these years and it brings itself to the forefront through your voice. And it’s amazing! I just wanted to tell you that. 

Jasmine: Thank you! 

Andy: Yeah, sorry really random! I’ve just listened to both of those albums multiple times and that progression into the way your voice has changed is beautiful. I love it.

Jasmine: When I wrote some of the melodies for those songs back then, I wanted my voice to have fists. I wanted it to have the gravitas that it has now. Like for instance, when I played, I don’t know, “A Girl” or “Twilight”, it kind of matches more for me. Even though the emotions were absolutely real and based on the experiences I was having at the time. I definitely can give it more fire. 

Andy: I think that’s why Whiplash has a stronger punch to it. I think this album is amazing. I had another question about the album. I was wondering if you were working on music for Whiplash before “Duvet” got it’s virality? 

Jasmine: Not really, no. I was doing solo music which was much more folky and kind of a lighter feel. We got this wonderful opportunity to do the album. [The record label] were like, “you can release old stuff, offcuts or whatever or you could do a new album,” and we were 100% in for doing a new album. So it was kind of fun! “Strange Few” was the first thing we wrote and I was coming up with the riff as the guys were bringing in their equipment for the rehearsal. It was really nice because I was coming up with the guitar and then we got all set up and it was like straight in. Then we got a song! It was incredible. 

Lillian: What name was your solo project under? 

Jasmine: Just my name. 

Lillian: That makes sense. Some people like to go under other names. 

Jasmine: I wish I had in a way. Because it’s a lovely kind of anonymity isn’t there? When you do it, you’re free to do whatever. But I was a bit unimaginative and just used my own name. It was completely different. The thing is vocally I’ve been singing different styles as well. So to switch back to kind of rock, it’s a much bigger soundscape and it’s a lot less intricate even though I bring in some of the intricate stuff. It’s kind of like, “zzz zzz”, reframe, recalibrate. 

Andy: Do you have a favorite song from the new album? 

Jasmine: Um, at the moment, I’ve been enjoying playing “Strange Few” and “Seafarer” and “Walk With Me”. I kind of like the heavier ones. 

Lillian: Is this your first time in Texas? 

Jasmine: No, we played at an anime convention in 2001 in Dallas. 

Lillian: That tracks! 

Jasmine: Yeah, we had a great time! I can’t remember any of it though. 

Andy: What anime convention was it? 

Jasmine: I think it was called Otakon… look that up though! 

[A concert review of the anime convention performance!  ]

Lillian: How do you like Texas? 

Jasmine: Oh it’s been lovely so far! Really beautiful. I mean, I’m a real nerd so I’ve been looking at all the birds and things like that. 

Lillian: Do you like bird watching? 

Jasmine: Oh I do. Me, Harry and Caleb are like mad bird fans. 

Lillian: What’s your favorite bird? 

Jasmine: Oh come on now… that’s like asking what’s your favorite song! 

Andy: Maybe like what’s the coolest bird you’ve seen? 

Jasmine: The coolest bird I’ve seen? Oh my goodness… probably in Australia, they call them Bin Chickens ,but I think they’re Ibises or something. They’re really ungainly and they’re about two feet tall. They’re like pigeons, how they come and get your food, but they’re massive! And they sort of fall over things and are just so exotic looking. But also probably the Birds of Prey as we’re driving along the motorways here. I think the thing is that it reminds me that I’m somewhere else. It’s such a visceral moment. And the Grackles actually– 

Lillian: You like the Grackles?!

Jasmine: They’re so beautiful! 

Lillian: I liked them as a kid, but my mom would also tell me how disgusting they are. They like to bathe in street water. But they do have a weirdly shiny coat. 

Jasmine: Yeah they do. They’re like Starlings. Anyway, bird appreciation!

After wrapping up the interview, we chatted a bit more about the festival. Andy and I complained about the heat and how our skin was beginning to get red. Jasmine kindly offered us her “proper” Australian sunscreen that smelled sweetly of coconuts. We lathered it into our skin, took some photos and then said our goodbyes. Walking out of the room, our faces were shiny and we couldn’t help but be giddy about the interactions we had just had. 

We later made designated time to see Bôa perform and it was phenomenal. Jasmine Rodgers has a powerful voice unlike others I have seen in recent years. Listening to Bôa through headphones is one thing, but seeing them live is a whole different world. If you haven’t given their newest album, Whiplash, a listen yet, do it now!