Tattoo Talk: CYPRESS SPRING Guitarist PAUL ROCHE Offers Insight into His Tattoos and the Band’s New Album

Something we don’t get nearly enough of is country rap. What a novel concept, huh? Combining two totally different musical genres? Well that’s exactly what the Vernon, Floridian band Cypress Spring does. The crew is led by guitarist Paul Roche, who has been in the music industry for a long time, playing with his dad’s southern rock band in bars that he wasn’t even old enough to get in to, covering songs by artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Merle Haggard.

Kalan Miller brings the rap vibe to the group, influenced by popular early 2000s rappers such as Nelly, T.I. and Ludacris. Kalan has always enjoyed meshing country into his rap stylings which jived well with the interests of Roche. Factor in member Tyler Ackerman and what we have now is Cypress Spring, with a new album called American White Trash, which is now available. As you may have expected, these dudes are into tattoos, so who better to do a Tattoo Talk with? We spoke with guitarist Paul Roche about his ink.

When, where and what was your first tattoo?
Paul Roche: My first tattoo I got when I was 16, it is an eagle on my back.

Do any of your tattoos have a particularly special meaning behind them? If so, do share man!
Roche: Yes, I have a couple that have special meaning. On the inside of my right arm, I have my grandfather’s name in his memory. On the top of my forearm I have the Punisher skull with the III% insignia within it, if you’re not familiar with III% it stands for the three percent of the Americans that fought against the King’s tyranny during the Revolutionary War and of course I have my two daughter names, Makayla and Kynslee, along with their birthdates below my elbows on each arm.

“White Trash” is the most recent music video released from Cypress Spring, off the album American White Trash.

Do you have a specific shop or artist that you frequent (insert shameless plug time!)?
Roche: My go-to guy is the one and only Jerry Pipkins. He owns Seventh Seal Tattoo club.

Do you have any new tattoos planned or underway? Give us the dirt, dude!
Roche: I’m currently in the early stages of letting Jerry design me a Liberty/Declaration/Revolutionary style sleeve for my left arm.

Have you seen any fans with a band tattoo, anything crazy memorable?
Roche: To my knowledge, other that Kalan and myself, there are three people that I know of that have CS (Cypress Spring) tattoos; My mom has one on the back of her neck, Tyler’s brother Jordan has one underneath his arm, and a friend of ours Treay Varnum has one on the side of his neck.

We know you have one… tell us about that stoned/drunken joke-tattoo you once got….
Roche: Actually, I’m probably one of the rare few that don’t.

Check out some dope, exclusive pics of Paul Roche’s forearm ink.

Do you have any tattoos that you now hate, want to replace, or have covered up, and why?
Roche: I have a Scooby Doo tattoo on my left arm that I want covered up, not because I hate it but it is a memorial tattoo that needs to be re-done and placed somewhere else.

Have you had anything covered up? If yes, what was it and why… we need details!
Roche: Not yet….

Have any tattoos that were painful. Like made you cry, see white light, and regret being born?
Roche: My first tattoo was very painful, I forgot to eat anything before and my sugar bottomed out and almost passed out.

If you HAD to get someone’s face tattooed on you, whose would it be and why?
Roche: Jennifer Aniston, because that’s my girl!

Was the album art influenced by any of the themes explored on the album?
Roche: Yes, it was. We’re all very patriotic and want to make our staple on the world, what better way to do it other than Mt. Rushmore.

This is “America.” No, not that video, but stellar nevertheless!

This is your second album – how has your music progressed or evolved (if it has?)
Roche: I think that our album has definitely evolved. We wanted something different than what most artist are providing, so we amped it up and cooked up a generous amount of all of our musical backgrounds in this new album.

We’re premiering “Anybody Out There” – What are your favorite tracks and why? What’s the reaction to the music/tracks in a live setting?
Roche: “Whiskeys Always Strong”: It’s a very heartfelt song written by Kalan, he touches on the subject of going through a bad breakup in his hypothetical love life and the only solution is to drink the pain away, very relatable to most people that has ever went through a bad breakup.

“Heaven’s Got a Dirt Road”: Everyone in this world has lost someone that they have deeply cared about, including myself. I know that the people we have lost along the way are very proud of us for chasing our dreams and to be able to reach the hearts of so many people with this song.

“Bird Dawgin’”: In this music industry there is (unfortunately) a lot of drama, this is just our way of saying, “Hey, we see you but were not buying into it because we’re here to make a name for ourselves and not getting caught up in the BS.”

“The Other Half”: This is one of my Top 5 because I have been through a divorce; I know where this guy is coming from.

“Anybody Out There”: This is a very deep song. It is truly our lifestyle. We have to work every day and bust our asses in the heat just to be able to provide for our families. This one really hits home for me.