Adrian Rossi, the lead vocalist and drummer for the retro music band Soul Train, is a multi-talented musician living in Asunción, Paraguay. The Asunción Times recently had an opportunity to speak with Rossi, age 34, about his musical projects and life in Asunción.
Adam Venning for The Asunción Times (AT): Thanks for meeting with me. So you’re Paraguayan, and based in Asunción? How long have you been living in the city?
Adrian Rossi: My pleasure. Yes, born and raised. I’ve lived in Asunción my whole life.
AT: That’s great – I was hoping to ask you about local bars and nightlife here in the city later. But first I want to know about your musical career. When did you first start learning to play music When did you start performing live?
Rossi: Well, when I was 18 years old I bought a drum kit and started practicing. By 19 I was doing some small events and shows, and by 23 I was doing live performances at local bars.
AT: You’re both the drummer and the lead vocalist for Soul Train. That’s quite a different set up than you see in most bands. Is it difficult?
Rossi: I started learning to sing while playing drums in 2015, so I’ve been doing it for a while now. I think, like you said, it makes Soul Train and our live shows different – it’s something that differentiates us. But it’s difficult! I have not had training as a professional vocalist, which is important to learn to avoid straining the vocal chords. It’s something I still have to learn because I had no professional training. However, it’s something that I really love doing, and I’m very grateful to be able to do it on Soul Train the way I do.
AT: That’s very interesting. Other than that, what else makes a Soul Train show special?
Rossi: Great question. So we’re a retro music band. A Soul Train show is just a really nice trip through the 70s and 80s. But it’s more than that. We play classic songs, but with a modern twist. We use a ton of audiovisual equipment and technology. The songs we play are absolute classics, and the way we arrange them invites our audience to sing along. Add in some crazy bass rhythms and some crazy guitar solos, and you’ve got a true musical experience!
AT: Wonderful! Just out of curiosity, what’s your favorite song that you guys perform?
Rossi: Honestly, I can’t choose just one. But I’ll give you three: Forever Young by Alphaville,
September by Earth, Wind & Fire, and Part-Time Lover by Stevie Wonder. But we’ve got a lot of
really great retro songs on our set list.
AT: I love Forever Young. What local venues have you performed at, or perform at regularly?
Rossi: We’ve played at some great local spots, like Black Mango, Rock 66, and JazzCube. Those bars are in Villa Morra. In fact, our next show is at Black Mango on Thursday, September 12th, 2024. The show starts at 11pm.
AT: Any other upcoming shows?
Rossi: Well, I’m also in another band called Mixtape, and we will be performing at Sacramento Brewing Co. (there are multiple locations, we’re playing at the Santisimo Sacramento 655 location) on Thursday, August 29th, 2024. Our band goes on stage at 10pm.
AT: One more question: at The Asunción Times we try to feature local businesses and experiences. Where do you like to do in your free time?
Rossi: I’m really a nightlife guy. We have a ton of awesome bars and clubs in Asuncion. I’ve already mentioned several places that I go to regularly, like Black Mango. I also really enjoy Britannia Pub in Downtown/Centro.
AT: Thanks so much. I’ll see you soon at one of your shows!
Rossi: Thank you, too. See you soon!
Follow Soul Train on Instagram here, and Mixtape on Instagram here to find out details of all their upcoming performances in and around Asunción!
Love it! How much is the entrance fee for the event in Sacramento Brewing Co.?
Such a nice guy I hope their music is good