5 questions + 5 facts about 1 person you should know.

5 facts

1. I am originally from (i.e. hometown): Aberdeen, Washington – A place fellow Aberdonian Kurt Cobain once described as “the armpit of the world”.

2. My childhood hero/idol was: my dad.  Sting. Steely Dan.

3.  where you can usually find me: anyplace there’s live music or a hell of a wine selection.
4.  My favorite place in the world (other than Des Moines) is: it’s a tie – London or Rome.

5.  My favorite small Iowa town name is: Madrid or New Delhi. Iowans have a way with pronunciation.

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Roxi Copland wasn’t born in her hand – although if you’ve seen her perform you might think so.  No her big breakthrough actually came on her third birthday, when she was gifted with a piano and a metronome and “it was all downhill from there.”  Gifted would be a good word to describe Roxi – 26 year old Washingon State transplant who can usually be found belting out Billy Joel at the Grand Piano Bistro or seducing the lounge crowd a the Cosmopolitan with her jazz ensemble.

Roxi originally moved to Iowa  to attend Grinnell College.  Plan A was to study political science and pre-law, and she picked Grinnell of all places because “they gave me a lot of money to do so… and because I knew Herbie Hancock went there, so I figured they must have a fantastic jazz department.”  Music was going to be the thing on the side , but then…

“I think a defining moment for when I decided I wanted to be a professional musician came when I had this dream in college . . I was in my forties in a huge corporate office at some hot-shot law firm, making a ridiculous amount of money – but I wasn’t really happy because I kept asking myself ‘What if I hadn’t chosen the safe route?’”

The day after she graduated Grinnell, the “un-safe” route appeared, and she took it. ” I was sitting in with a band and a guy came up to me and asked if I’d be interested in singing with a local group who was based in Des Moines.  I said ‘why not?’ and that’s how this whole thing got started.”

“This whole thing,” seems to be working out pretty well for Roxi, who plans on expanding her touring range and playing more shows in Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha,  Minneapolis, and beyond.   She jokes, “I’ve been told by my publicist that it’s about damn time we make a t-shirt, too.”

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roxi copland performs at peoples court during the valentines' day st. vitus show

5 Questions:

1. Whats the best and worst thing about living in in Des Moines?  Best thing – all the attributes of a decent size city (I can find good sushi, quality diverse live music & theater, spend $300 on a pair of jeans, and get a great Cosmopolitan) – but the people are nice too!

Worst thing – the airport. I’d kill for a direct flight to anywhere other than Chicago and Dallas Fort Worth.

2. What the next show or event you’re most excited about? I’ve got a lot of shows coming up in the near future but I was excited this last week that we just confirmed a booking opening for the Des Moines Symphony at Yankee Doodle Pops.

3 . What is one thing most people don’t know about you? My real name isn’t Roxi, and no, I’m not going to tell you what it is.

4. If not music, then what? Probably be a bloodthirsty corporate lawyer and put my expensive political science degree to good use.

5.  If money were no issue,  what would you spend the rest of your life doing? I’m doing it.  And it rocks.

Roxi Copland |  roxicopland.com |   myspace.com/roxivocals

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