Power To Move You – LiLi Roquelin aims to inspire at Rockstock & Barrels

“Power To Move You – LiLi Roquelin aims to inspire at Rockstock & Barrels”
The Wave | on June 13, 2019
By Ralph Mancini

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LiLi Roquelin will be one of the main attractions at the 2019 Rockstock & Barrels.

If visiting beachgoers suddenly find themselves swept away by an angelic sound emanating from the boardwalk soundstage at Saturday’s Rockstock & Barrels, chances are it will probably be coming from French phenom LiLi Roquelin, who will be part of the pageantry at the annual surf, skate and music festival.

The heralded singer/songwriter/ producer is no stranger to big crowds— see her American National Anthem performance at Citi Field— or Rockaway, for that matter, as she’s recently headlined Thai Rock. But the June 15 showcase will be the Astoria resident’s first beach event that will see the multi-award winning artist join the likes of jazz songstress Sasha Dobson and violinist Morgan Weidinger, among others, at the peninsula’s preeminent summer boardwalk bash.

“I will be performing songs from my new album “Be Inspired.” It’s a mix of upbeat indie/folky pop-rock songs and a few ballads on voice/piano and ukulele, accompanied by guitar and drum offerings, provided by Curtis Becraft and Sam Scozzari,” said Roquelin, who prior to relocating to New York nearly 12 years ago, lived in the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio.

It was in the Midwestern market that the fledgling performer learned much of what she knows about the business through her singing, recording and lyrical production work with two rock bands over a period of four years.

“I really enjoy telling a story and how my songs move people,” observed the local musician who has relentlessly pursued — and achieved—her goals of being a proficient pianist and, more recently, mastering the art of playing the ukulele.

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The seductive vocalist will be performing tracks her latest release “Be Inspired.”

Roquelin’s storytelling powers shine through in her previous offerings as well, including featured tracks of her “Beautiful Sun” album in which she directed bassist/guitarist Askold Buk and cellist Christopher Marion through her mesmerizing audio journey.

One of her peers that Roquelin credits in her professional development is Brian Scheuble, the mix engineer of her latest LP.

“He is not only talented and has the biggest names in the industry on his résumé (see Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Liz Phair, et al.); he is humble; he has a high work ethic and is egoless. He is not condescending, which is hard to find, especially when you’re a woman producer in a male-dominated industry.”

In fact, Roquelin noted that only 7- percent of music producers are, in fact, female, and hopes to encourage other women to not harbor any fears that may dissuade them from directing or even having complete control of their musical endeavors.

Since migrating from her native Toulon, France, the rising star has earned considerable notoriety through social media, as evidenced by her 9,500 real followers on Twitter and 10,000 real followers on Instagram.

But while those numbers are certainly nothing to sneeze at, the rising star has little time to look back and sit on her laurels.

“I am not afraid of challenges. I like to push myself out of my comfort zone, because that is the only way to grow. In my head, I’m constantly creating or coming up with marketing ideas to get my music out there,” added the stunning vocalist, who counts meditation, psychology, nature walks and reading French literature among her favorite hobbies.

Rockstock & Barrels is an opportunity for Roquelin to reconnect with one of the music exhibition’s founding fathers, Walker Hornung, who much like Roquelin has ample experience in multiple aspects of creating and performing music.

Those who may want an advance sampling of Roquelin’s material prior to Saturday’s 1 p.m. showing, can look up her videos on Youtube.com or visit her personal website, liliroquelin.com.