Desktop Icons: An Interview With Jean Rohe

Becoming an icon doesn’t happen overnight. It takes perseverance and drive. And knowing how you work best.

Creative connections and relationships inspire and fuel my own work, and they’re one of the key reasons I thrive in New York City. I interviewed a variety of creative friends about how they work – from what time of day they’re most productive to what are their biggest distractions and inspirations.

– Barry Goralnick

Jean Rohe

Singer/Songwriter

Barry Goralnick: What voice do you pay attention to?
Jean Rohe: The voice that’s underneath all the ‘shoulds’ – that’s the one I want to pay attention to.

BG: Most productive time to work?
JR: Morning for sure.

BG: Lights bright or dim?
JR: Bright.

BG: Favorite drink?
JR: Definitely a Negroni. Oh, for work? I love my coffee in the morning with just a little milk.


Reeves Desk Lamp (pictured here); Davy Desk Lamp (pictured above): Barry Goralnick for Currey & Co.

BG: Computer or pen and paper?
JR: Pen and paper. I love just a good pen. A proper roller ball ink pen.

BG: Biggest distraction?
JR: Lunch. The promise of lunch.

BG: Current inspiration?
JR: Impermanence.

BG: What’s next from you?
JR: My songwriting duo with Liam Robinson, Robinson & Rohe, is aiming to release a new record, Wait & See, at the end of 2020. For a taste of one my most recent songs, check out the video for “Live” from Sisterly. With all the video conferencing and other distance communication that’s been going on in COVID-land, I’ve been feeling just how deep my need for in-person, live, connection is!

Photography by Maura Sullivan.

Click here to read more from the Desktop Icons series.

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