Input To Put In with Dana Roth
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Dana Roth
Listen
Topics discussed
Host note
Dana Roth is an SF animator, bassist, composer, and producer whose groove shows up in visuals and sound alike. She graduated Berklee in 2020 straight into the pandemic, burned out on music for a minute, and taught herself animation — which looped her back to bass, her debut album Airship, and a practice where rhythm in picture and rhythm in the pocket keep feeding each other.
We talk through learning animation vs. music school, the chaos of making your own music videos, trusting collaborators to let you be yourself on bass, and why putting a soundtrack on something makes the whole thing feel more magical.
Selected moments
- Bass first, Berklee 2016–2020 1:31 Started on bass, studied at Berklee, graduated into COVID and Zoom finals.
- School burnout → animation 2:17 Post-Berklee burnout; COVID gave her time to finally learn animation.
- Rhythm in animation timing 3:45 Music training shapes how she times frames to the beat.
- Chaotic but intentional music videos 4:50 Making her own visuals — conscious of animation rhythm against the track.
- Animation is slow and expensive 6:52 How long a short actually takes vs. what audiences assume.
- The emotional rollercoaster of creating 9:48 Self-doubt vs. other people's apparent intentionality.
- Music school vs. teaching yourself 12:00 Formal training, mentors, and becoming your own weird version of the craft.
- Animation community ↔ music community 15:02 Overlap between her visual work and the players she records with.
- Trust on bass — give more when you're yourself 30:02 When a collaborator wants her voice, not a generic part.
- Airship and where to find Dana 39:08 Debut album, Instagram, animation + music.
Selected excerpts
I started as a bass player pretty much... I went to Berklee College of Music, started 2016. I graduated 2020 into the pandemic...
I had a bit of a school Berklee burnout... I always kind of wanted to learn how to animate but never had the time, and this was like again COVID so I just went for it.
I think people who do this are very conscious of it, but I just try to bring this extra level of like being conscious of the timing of the animation and how it relates to the music.
I don't know, I sometimes have this idea that other people are like more intentional. I can envision the thing and like get there.
But I guess it's just part of it, like learning something completely on your own can allow you to learn in your own specific way and you can kind of become like your own weird version of that thing.
When I feel trusted and when I feel like someone wants me to do myself, I feel like I do give more.
It's just so powerful and incredible and it can... put a soundtrack to it, everything becomes so much more magical and beautiful.
My album Airship is on all platforms find me on Instagram, I do animation, I do music...
FAQ
What is Dana Roth's background in music and animation?
Dana Roth is an animator, bass player, and composer who studied at Berklee College of Music and developed her animation skills during the pandemic.
How did COVID-19 impact Dana Roth's creative process?
During the pandemic, Dana experienced burnout from music, prompting her to explore animation, which led to a revival of her passion for music.
What is Dana Roth's debut album 'Airship' about?
'Airship' reflects Dana's unique sound and artistic vision, integrating her skills in both music and animation.
Curated notes only — no public transcript. Listen on the links above.