Dex Romweber discusses life as a musician, an artist, and his love of the land
November 18, 2013
Dex Romweber has built a richly varied musical career spanning his work with Flat Duo Jets, solo recordings, and his current collaboration with his sister Sara in the Dex Romweber Duo. Speaking from his home in North Carolina, Romweber shared thoughts on music, art, nature, and the path he continues to follow.
What have you been doing lately?
Me and Sara just got back from Spain where we played a festival. We recorded our next record a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re pulling things together — photos and song order. My mom was on album covers in the ’50s, and I found one in a thrift store in Athens, Georgia. We’re using that bizarre 1956 cover she was on inside the CD and album packaging. I’ve also been doing a lot of solo gigs around North Carolina and neighboring towns.
It’s a hard business, and you never know when the next buck is coming. It’s important that I keep working. I’m a little older now, so it’s not as easy as it once was, but I’m older and wiser, so everything keeps rolling. I’m also an artist and painter. I have an art show in Charlotte on December 13 with a friend, and I’m looking into putting my artwork online.
You released Piano in 2006, which many listeners consider a standout record. What do you remember about making it?
I wish I would have practiced piano more for those sessions. I had gone through a lot in my life at that time. All the material was done from memory, and some of those songs were written years before.
Can you tell us about your and Sara’s gear? You’re known for not using pedals.
I don’t use any pedals, and my amp is a Randall, which is a pretty raunchy amp. It’s about as low-income as my guitar, so the two go together. I never really needed pedal boards. At one point I had a delay unit, but that fell by the wayside. When I have more money, I’ll probably buy another unit, mostly for recording.
Jack White worked with you on a Third Man EP and has cited you as an influence. What was that collaboration like?
I haven’t seen him in a couple of years and I’m not sure what he’s up to. Me and Sara were on tour, and on a day off he invited us to his mansion in Nashville. He had a recording studio there, and we knocked out the 45 in the span of a night and a day.
I first met him around 2003 when we played a show before The White Stripes in