Richard Becker Escapes Into Nostalgia On "Rooftops"
Ahead of his debut record, Cedar Forks, Richard Becker has released his third nostalgia-inducing single, “Rooftops.” Encapsulating the feeling of being young again, the Denver-based singer-songwriter fits a vast array of emotions into 4 minutes and 19 seconds. From contemplating the life that lies ahead to reminiscing on the simplicities of childhood, “Rooftops” paints a stunning image of escapism from reality.
Becker’s story as an artist began at the start of high school, falling in love with the genre of indie folk and artists such as Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. These artists sparked his inspiration to begin as a songwriter. During his senior year, he joined the band, Walden, in which he is still a member of today. While writing with Walden for nearly 12 years, Becker had always dreamed of writing and recording a record that pays homage to his roots. Becker shares, “A couple years ago, I realized that dream and that vision I’ve always had and wanted to accomplish was never going to happen unless I actually start recording it.” Thus, the process of creating his first solo record, Cedar Forks, took flight.
“Rooftops” in particular was a song that came to Becker in the most natural way. On the track’s inspiration, he notes, “I actually remember the exact moment when it happened. I was sitting on a rooftop at a friend’s apartment playing their guitar, and I just had these chords that I was going back and forth between. The first two lines of the song just came right then and there.”
Starting off the song in his soft, lulling voice, Becker sings these first two lines, “Sat on a rooftop / Watched cars drive on by.” The track immediately sucks you in to this nostalgic, dreamy atmosphere that keeps you hooked through the ebbs and flows of the song. Building slowly, the song erupts into an anthemic chorus as Becker sings, “Come now let’s go run away / And find ourselves lost in the days.”
“Looking back on life then, it felt a little bit more simple and potent, but it was still heavy. It was still difficult, and there were highs and lows, but that’s just kind of a part of who you are and makes you who you are. I think that is something that rooftops kind of romanticizes, going back and reflecting on [those times].”
The upcoming record explores Becker’s personal ties to his hometown and the neighborhood he was raised in, Cedar Forks, from which the record draws its name. When asked on the themes of the album, he shares, “Cedar Forks is about my entire upbringing. All those formative experiences, whether its heartbreak or grief or faith, family and mental health, all that subject matter that you struggle with and have to navigate as you grow up.” It is a coming-of-age record through and through, diving into the most personal and vulnerable aspects of growing up. “Rooftops” comes as only a small glimpse of the story, following the record’s first two singles “5am” and “Ripples.”
Reflecting on his mission as an artist, Becker mentions, “I want the listener to take away that the human experience is shared. We all have our trials and tribulations that we go through, and I think you have to embrace it and accept it. Know that even when you leave your childhood house behind and move to a different city, it is a part of who you are forever, and that’s a good thing. It’s made you who you are, and who you are is exactly who you need to be.”
“Rooftops” is available on all streaming platforms now.