Steve Rogers: The Next American Storyteller
A beloved songwriter is back with his most vulnerable and honest one yet album, Vision in Red— thanks to his fans, horny TikTok's, and Natasha Stark.
An interview by Peter Parker for The Daily Bugle
Within a few minutes of sitting down for drinks with Steve Rogers at Speakeasy in Brooklyn, he has: complimenting my works, claiming has read some of the interviews I did; noted my Led Zeppelin t-shirt, declare his love for their album, and looked physically in pain when I called their song “really old but classic”.
He showed up wearing soft blue and green flannel shirt, washed jeans,s and a baseball cap pulled down to his eyebrow which in my opinion was such a shame because it really compliments his blue eyes.
Rogers was a classic case of a singer-turned-massive-pop-star lost in the sauce of Hollywood celebrity; everyone just wanted a dozen more songs like the mega-hit that took on greater resonance with the new Pepsi tie-in with “I Can Do This All Day”, his eloquent voice says the f-word and creates a vivid image of passion unleashed over the bathroom sink in “If We Can Through This, We Can Get Through Anything” to making us feel the emotional pain of loving someone so much and then losing that love on “Take My Heart”. Rogers’s journey back to creativity was to get more personal, and for the first time, he had something personal to write about.
The result is Vision in Red, his most vulnerable and honest album—mostly because it’s evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Rogers keeps most of his private life exactly that and hasn’t publicly confirmed anything about his relationship with the socialite and Stark Industry’s heiress Natasha Stark. Suddenly, someone who once used to write about loneliness and heartbreak found himself reeling from finding another love.
Vision in Red took us through a journey of love at first sight with the hit single “Shrapnel”. One of the songs rumored about his first encounter (and later rumored as the beginning of the feud) with Natasha Stark.
Peter Parker: I really love this song, one heck of a solid lead single for the album.
Steve Rogers: Thank you so much, it was one of the most bizarre experiences I ever had. I’m sure everyone is already familiar with the infamous “SNL Gate” which in my opinion was blown way out of proportion, so I stated my version with what am I good at, My own song. It was around the curtain call and I was the musical guest to her host that night. Everything went smoothly until they blew the confetti and she’s saying good night, I got caught laughing at her speech and the internet went crazy. The truth is, I laugh because she immediately turns around out of the camera because she accidentally inhales the confetti and spits it out on her hand. I laughed because she’s always got this elegant and posh persona and that was so out of place, that’s why I laughed. I saw the news the next morning, so immediately contacted her Rep to apologize and send her flower, so it was all good.
PP: so that’s also inspired the song “Starry Night”? and another famous incident with the socialite?
ST: it’s actually way before the SNL. It was my first Met Gala, and by how I behaved, I don’t think they would be inviting me back in the future. I admit I was starstruck by her dress. I mean, she wears a dress that’s light up. Did you know she actually helped to make the dress? she made something with fiber optics and... I had no idea about the rest, all I knew it was a high-tech garment. it was not a fashion anymore, that's science. I would have paid more attention in school if she was my teacher.
Fame is a fickle thing. While it can bring power and riches, it can also be something that makes you feel like you are never good enough. There is an old saying that says today’s news will line tomorrow’s bins. And that is exactly how he explains his experience of fame and the media in this chapter, you can’t help but feel sorry for him as you feel the emotion that his voice conveys.
PP: you’ve grown a lot since the last album. I like how the second part of the album is like a self-help book. you mentioned not only love but also how you deal with fame and how it affects your life.
ST: My life has never been so public before and it almost cost me everything I have worked for. Don't get me wrong, I'm eternally grateful because I wouldn't be here if it wasn't because of media exposure, but all the cameras and hackling just... wow. But yeah, occupational hazard.
Rogers also makes songs about the fight and makeup. He sings of the flood of emotions and heartache one feels after a breakup. He compares the memories of his lover to a war – emphasizing how painful it is for both parties. A song for the brokenhearted and will make you think of the one that got away.
PP: you mentioned a lot of war references in your songs, why did that kind of structure appeal to you?
ST: when it comes to quarrels, sometimes shit happens, you gain some and you lose some. And it will cost you something. Just like war. I've been approached by a fan, who said "you're the only person I have to open a dictionary and Google about historical events to understand your lyrics” and he thanked me for getting him a B- for their English paper, it was one of the best compliments I have ever had.
The last chapter of the album represents a more “positive” vibe after the fraught, and fascinating events that were inspired by the series of personal and professional catastrophes that piled on after the massive success of his Grammy-winning album in 2018. Vision in Red was Rogers’s most mature album to date, a rebalancing of sound and persona that opened doors to the next decade of his career. Filled with romantic tracks dedicated to his partner, it takes a wedding-like perspective on their relationship and shares information about their romance. sparking another wedding rumor.
PP: I know you are probably tired of this rumor, but do you care to elaborate on it again this time?
SR: If I had a dollar for every time I've been told I'm engaged. I mean, the truth is, if the answer was yes, I wouldn't say, and if the answer was no, I wouldn't say either. All I can say is that I'm now at my happiest, in life and in my career. All of the support from everyone especially my fans the one that gets me going every day and I appreciate every single one of that.
PP: the color red has been mentioned a lot in your album.
SR: I literally heard a different concept in my head. I rearranged the whole thing, I drove back to the studio, I was so inspired.
That song, he says, eventually became "Lost Cherry" and "Calliope". “Lost Cherry” is one of his most sexually charged songs on the album and a sonically slow steamy ballad. The song details how he wants and lusts over a lover. Many of the sexual references throughout the song pertain to shades of red. Fans note how often Natasha photograph with red, and she's been the BA for Janet's Van Dyne new lipstick line. It's hard not to notice how the man blushed when we mentioned the said song went viral in Tiktok and reportedly been one of the most included songs in the bedroom playlist.
SR: I'm not answering that. I will give this to their own interpretation, some of it is actually fun.
"Calliope" is serendipity. Reflects on a relationship that was never meant to be. It started off through friendship, casually evolved into friendship with benefits, but somehow turned into a true romance.
PP: many fans speculated endlessly about the identity of Anthony Carbonell, a mysterious co-writer since your last album, why only announce who it was now?
SR: at first, she didn’t want to be credited because she thought it would distract people from actually listening to the music, so she went by the name. I have so much fun writing these songs with her. She's always been my muse. The first person that I played every single song that I write for years, the most important critique and support I could have. Red always reminds me of her. she looks good with everything but there's something about red that makes her so special. I mean, just look at her.
Natasha smiles at the pictures included in the interviews, she also scrolls some of the pages checking up the internet reaction for the interview when she hears footsteps approaching her. Smiling to herself as Steve walked towards her half naked scratching his bare toned stomach, hair tousled and eyes droopy, clearly not fully waken up. you wouldn’t believe this is the same person from the interview. “Morning handsome” Natasha greeted from the couch.
Steve just huffed as he buried himself in Natasha’s lap. “you’re up early”
“Conference call with London branch” Natasha rubs the back of Steve’s head making the man hum and she was almost convinced he went back to sleep immediately.
“What are you reading?” Steve peek one eye open to look at the screen.
“Your Daily Bugle interview” Natasha tilts the screen to his face. “I like your picture here” Natasha shows a picture of Steve standing in the studio sporting a dark brown turtleneck and a long khaki winter coat.
“Wow” Steve chuckles at the article. “Parker makes me sound so nice”
“Your name is trending by the way”
“How bad was it?”
“Mostly just them challenging you for a fight” Natasha grins and shows a tweet with her Met Gala pictures and part of the article attached and the user is challenging Steve Rogers for a fight.
“Wow,” Steve wolf-whistled. “Well, I’m willing to try if you were the prize”
Natasha laughed as her face was gently turned towards him as they kissed.