Roze is a key artist in conveying the emotional intent behind a song. “Hearing Tori Roze’s sultry voice for the first time is like learning that Santa Claus isn’t real: it absolutely breaks your heart. Roze seduces you with her Erykah Badu-esque flair, and just when you think she can’t be any smoother, she claws her way into your ears with her rocking roars” (San Diego City Beat). The Hot Mess, comprised of five exceptional “pocket” players nailing unexpected original arrangements that will “blow your top,” leaves you reeling with toe-tapping excitement. Instrumentation: guitar (Johnny Alexander), bass (Harley Magsino), trombone/keys (Jordan Morita), flute/backup vocals (Lee Clark a.k.a. Tori’s mom), vocals/trumpet/hand percussion (Tori Roze), and drums (Rashaad Graham). Funky-Jazzy-Neo-Soul = strange beautiful music. The name says it all: The Hot Mess – a motley crew of incredible musical technicians. Do not expect for their music to be predictable or run-of-the-mill – this band is audibly unique. Musically likened to Chicago with a slap of Amy Winehouse + Janis Joplin-style vocals; these guys have got the spicy recipe for eargasmic pleasure.
Their debut album “From the Hip” was recorded live in one room, in one day, with 1-3 takes per song (something unheard of today); thus, completing a full-length LP with Grammy Award winning engineer Alan Sanderson. The band’s sophomore album “Turbulence” was recorded by San Diego-based recording great, engineer, and musician – Ben Moore. Their 2016 single “Irish Coffee” was brandished by the incomparable company of highly reputable San Diego-based songwriter and engineer – Jeff Berkley. In 2017, their song “Sweet Drank” appeared in the film66 & Nowhere(IMDB). In 2018, the band released their long-awaited third full length album called “Baggage Claim,” which garnered yet another San Diego Music Award nomination with the assistance of engineer Alan Sanderson – bringing the grand total to five.
In 2019, the band released a cover of the 1963 hidden gem “Just a Sad Xmas” by The Soul Duo in order to highlight some of the more sonically incredible lesser-known music out there in the world. This recording features the incomparable talents of late San Diego musician & co-founder of Voices of Our City Choir, Nina Leilani Deering (on accordion + backup vocals). And finally, in the midst of the COVID19 Pandemic in 2020, the band (and some additional friends) recorded (at their respective homes) and released “Ghost Town” by The Specials, but with a timely and relevant lyrical twist. With over a thousand shows played, six tours (New York, Texas, San Francisco Bay Area, US West Coast, Southern California), opening for international acts (Jason Mraz, Nikka Costa, Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds), three full length albums, a film-licensed song, and four singles under foot; the thirteen-year span of this band’s existence has not been in vain. Notably and intentionally, all recordings have been produced solely by Tori Roze and The Hot Mess. At current, the band recently released their new groove-oriented single called “Seek Your Sunshine” on January 22, 2022. They plan on touring the greater San Francisco Bay Area in June 2022, which is a reschedule of the “Tour de Bay” they had originally planned for June 2020.
“We pride ourselves on not fitting into the mainstream. The beauty is in the difference. We make genuine art. We shape sound. We care about what we do. We like to put some stank on it, bottom line,” Roze says of their fearless musical style. Their unique edge of heart-driven funky soul-jazz grooves enveloped in the emotionally potent lyrical truth that Roze serves up in spades; Tori Roze and The Hot Mess deliver serious human connection and an original sound that is absolutely unforgettable.
