The Roseline (pronounced rose like the flower, line like a straight line) is a band from Lawrence, Kansas USA. Six albums into their career, they have crafted a songbook that is at once familiar and singular. Founder and songwriter, Colin Halliburton, began the project as an acoustic folk trio, and it has since evolved into the five-piece Americana rock band of its current form. Kind foreign press and high charting on the Euro Americana Chart (‘Lust for Luster’, ‘Blood’, and ‘GOOD/GRIEF’ all charted in the top ten), led to a deal in the Benelux with Dutch label, King Forward Records. The band also released one album, Vast as Sky (2012), with the Bay Area label Ninth Street Opus (home to Sarah Lee Guthrie and Carrie Rodriguez).
The band recently wrapped up their seventh LP titled Constancy which will be released on November 5th, 2021. The album marks a distinct evolution in the band’s sound, as they found themselves taking more risks in the studio and expanding their sonic spectrum with the addition of vintage synth textures, myriad guitar effects and heroics, as well as a more collaborative songwriting approach.
The band’s new single, “Catalpa” is a bittersweet farewell to living in a college town. In our interview, Colin Haliburton gives us a peek at his humorous influences and his approach to songwriting.
Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.
Kathleen Edwards “Asking for Flowers” — I could’ve picked some Townes deep cut just to be cool but I’ll just be real. I absolutely adore this song. It’s self-deprecating, funny, horribly sad, and just impeccably crafted. Jim Scott’s production/mix is perfect. Colin Cripps’ guitar tone is just barely breaking up in a great way, and that repeated line is so sticky sweet. Love those brushed drums — so simple, yet effective. And Kathleen’s voice is pure Canadian maple syrup. This song always finds its way onto a mix or playlist I make.
Explain the title of your album.
There’s something to be said for stubborn perseverance. I think good things can come from the simple act of showing up repeatedly which this band has managed to do over the course of seven records. By all available metrics we should not still be doing this, but goddamn it’s fun and fulfilling. To be honest I found the cover image first and then started connecting the dots to make Constancy a relevant title. I think it works though!
Tell us about the first song you wrote.
I can’t remember the first song I wrote but I remember one that was definitely one of the very earliest. It was called “Lonely Christmas” and the chorus was just “I guess it’s just another lonely Christmas” repeated three times. It was this very earnest/emo folk song about enduring the holiday season sans significant other, I guess. Just unfiltered, early 20s, melodramatic drivel. My close friends that were privy to this glorious 4-track demo will NEVER let me forget it. Looking back on it, it’s almost funnier when coming at it from the angle of a Jewish kid in Kansas during Christmas time. Of course I was lonely!
Do you have any songwriting tips you can share?
The only two things that enhance my songwriting are reading and playing guitar regularly. When I find myself avoiding either of those things, my songwriting seriously suffers. Or simply ceases to exist.
Who would you love to collaborate with? why?
I really wanna make a record with John Medeski on keys. He’s my favorite living abstract expressionist. That sounds super duper pretentious but I’m for real! I think it would be a cool juxtaposition to have him just go wild over some elegant folk rock. Someday…
