An Interview with memorial Television

An incredible new album release from Memorial Television brings a diverse range of approaches, styles, and genre-bending elements to the likes of which I can say I haven't quite heard before.

The Have A Nice Day album entrances you with such a thick-laid personality and honesty that you end up getting engulfed by as well as some of the sonic presence and approaches that this record spans.

A lot of this stuff, to me, is super cinematic as it blends indie, bedroom pop with rock, and so much more.

Some of this is put together in an orchestral manner. That's part of why it feels cinematic to me in the first place. The other reason is the honesty I mentioned before. There are so many truths that come spilling out for everyone to soak up that it's incredible.

The record starts off with a song simply called "Memorial Television Sings To You", and this is a track that feels different. It's got such a great riff performed with strings and piano and has a way of building intensity as the song unfolds.

This is an outstanding track to introduce the record with simply because it expresses so much of that honesty and gives off that lush character that you can expect plenty more of throughout the record.

This is not the kind of album that you only listen to a few songs from. This is the kind of record that you listen to in full. Listening to one or two tracks will not give you anywhere near the spectrum of what the album has to offer as a whole.

There's a lot to be said and there's a lot to be heard here. There are layers of texture and sound floating through the ethers of these songs and each track individually gives off a different mood and has a way of displaying a certain chapter in the artist's life.

Songs like "Popstar" are insanely addictive and colorful but it's also about how it's performed with this in-room slightly older-sounding piano.

It's hard to explain in words but that tonality gives it Persona.

As soon as this track opened up, I was immediately reminded of artists like Daniel Johnston for example.

If you do not know who Daniel Johnston is, that's your own fault and you should go find out.

As this album unfolds, you get plenty more glimpses into the artists alive. It is slightly sporadic, very charismatic, vivacious, and at times robust.

There are surprises around the corners, and I feel like this is the kind of record where someone locked themselves in a room and did their thing.

A memorial television is a project from songwriter and performer Andy Rosales and it's clear that Andy has a love for his craft.

Some of the songs feel like they were cathartic for him to write and release while The listener can connect with them and relate to a lot of what he's saying.

The vocals are what feel vulnerable. Not just the lyrics, but the way they're performed gives them even more vulnerability and in doing so you get attached to this vibe that's given off.

There is such a wonderful atmosphere that the whole record delivers and once you're in it, you don't want to leave.

Once you hear that first song, you immediately want more. This is technically a 15-track record however, that doesn't include little interlude-style tracks like "JCPenny" which only last a minute and 20 seconds or so.

As I mentioned earlier, there is rock on this record, so you have some vibrant guitars, harder-hitting backbones, and other influences that are intertwined throughout the album.

I love that more personal acoustic guitar-feeling stuff because you end up vibing with that in my opinion. One of my favorite tracks on the record is the closing track which is called "University St." and I feel like this was a perfect final track on the release.

This is definitely an album you want to put on some headphones and kick back too. You want to soak in all the lyrics, textures, layers, soundscapes, approaches, and everything else that the record boasts.

In my opinion, doing so with headphones on is the best way to take all of that improperly.

I swear this is the last time I say it but, again, do the full Monty. Listen to the record all the way through in one shot. It's only 38 minutes long so you can do it.

It's worth your time to hear something that's a little outside the box and has a deeper meaning and some depth behind it along with catchy and colorful fun.

With the release of such a well-crafted album, we wanted to have a conversation with Andy about how the record was created and what might be coming up next for the artist.

Here's what happened.

RAG: Hey Andy, thanks for taking some time with us! Let's start with the Have a Nice Day album! This record felt honest and spanned several pop approaches! Where did this record come from?

The album came from me examining what I had done so far. I had put out four albums before "Have A Nice Day" and I realized that I hadn't really written an album that was a little less serious. My last album, "Violent Green", that I put out in 2023 was all serious. It was an album about familial relationships and the trauma that bad relationships in that context can bring. What felt natural to me was to make an album that was different from that. This new album is still in parts serious, but it feels way more fun and has more personality than in my past albums.

Musically, it came from me wanting to make an album that didn't feel like it had too much of a narrative. I wanted to make an album that felt like 15 seperate 'spaces' in one package. They have something in common with one another lyrically, but musically different from each other. I wanted to put a contrast between songs like "Talking in the Street" (which is a fun song) and "Belong", which came from a very guttural place within me. 

RAG: I am hearing several heavy styles on this album! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

I have an ongoing list of top 5 influences for me. Right now (it changes sometimes), it's The 1975, LCD Soundsystem, R.E.M., Vampire Weekend, & Mitski.

For this album, I really thought more about song length than ever before. I challenged myself midway through the album process to make songs that are no longer than 3.5 minutes - just to see if I could make something interesting in a short span of time like that. For that, I was really inspired by Mitski's Be the Cowboy, the Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs, and the Pixies' Doolittle. What I really like in those records is how all the songs are shorter, unique and diverse in their sound and structure, and how a song that is short can still be effective in squeezing its way into your brain and sticking with you. Another great record that inspired me a lot was by a small Illinois indie rock band called Company Calls. Their album, Grounded, is so amazing. It's a 14-song album that is 28 minutes long. That really stuck with me that an album can be so short, but also catchy and fun. I admire them greatly.

RAG: How did this all start for you as an artist? 

I felt a void in me as a teenager to create music. I had been so inspired by The 1975 immensely in high school and they were one of the bands that inspired me to start making music. Also, a couple friends and people from local bands here in El Paso, TX influenced me to start too. Shoutout to Fat Camp and Melancholy 10. 

RAG: This felt like a big undertaking! Did it take you long to put this album together?

I first started writing songs for “Have A Nice Day” in September 2023 and finished the album in February 2025. It took a while to get all the songs together and to figure out what kind of album I wanted this one to be. At first, I wanted it to be 12 songs, but then I kept making songs I really liked and that felt right to put on the album. “Endangered Species”, “Honeybadger”, and “Don’t Let Them Turn You Around” were the late additions to the album. 

RAG: Are you performing live or touring now that the record is out?

I’m not touring. I’m looking to get my band back together and perform locally, but I’m performing and recording with Star Plus, a band I’m in here in El Paso, TX. We just released our first single, “Time”.

RAG: What's next for you as an artist?

As an artist, I’d love to create an album that is simple and catchy. I think lots of times, I try to write complicated stuff, and I think there would be some creative growth and freedom in writing simple and catchy guitar songs. There are still so many records I’d love to make - my dream pop album, dance album, etc.

RAG: Who's in your headphones right now?

As of this moment, I’m getting back into LCD Soundsystem a lot. They’re super amazing and a big influence on me. The Cars are also really hitting with me right now. I’m wanting to make that catchy guitar album using their influence on me. Black Country, New Road’s newest album is also hitting with me too. 

RAG: Did you record this at a personal studio, or did you go to a big studio for this record?

This album was recorded at home! I find that there’s a really cool energy that comes with recording music at home. I’ve never made a music at a big studio really, so writing/recording at home informs the energy of the music. It’s cool to know that I wrote and recorded the entire album in my room.

RAG: Can we expect any music videos coming from you in the near future?

I’d love to do a music video. I’m not ruling it out. I’d just have to motivate myself to do it, but I’d love to. 

RAG: As an artist getting his stuff out there, what kind of advice might you give to others trying to get the music heard?

I don’t know if I could give advice being such a small artist, but I always try to stay true to myself and to love every song I make. If I don’t love it, it shouldn’t come out. 

RAG: Before we go, is there anything you'd like to express to fans of the music?

Thank you so much for listening to my music! It really means so much to me. Thank you for giving it a chance and I really hope you like it!

RAG: Thanks again for taking the time! 

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