Q&A: Dex Romweber

For all the variation he’s seen throughout his life, John Michael Dexter Romweber always finds a way to keep himself rooted to his music.

With a musical affinity that ranges from Ray Charles to Johann Sebastian Bach, the musician who goes by “Dex” is still going strong after more than 35 years in the business.

Romweber, who used to be a part of the Flat Duo Jets, calls Chapel Hill home and will be playing just down the road alongside his sister as part of the Dex Romweber Duo. The album release show of the outfit’s third album, “Is That You in Blue?” takes place tonight at 9 p.m. in Cat’s Cradle.

Dive was able to get a hold of Dex for an interview.

Diversions: After a few decades of creating music professionally, you are still going strong. What’s kept you going all this time?

Dex Romweber: It’s just been a long process. I’ve just tried to be myself and make a contribution to the arts as an expression of myself. I’m not that in control of my life, really. It’s a thing I was born into. Performing is something that I felt was part of my destiny.

Dive: How important to you is it to have grown up with such an eclectic taste in music?

DR: Everyone has their own style. Even if someone teaches you something, you have the tendency to adapt and make it your own. What can I say, you draw from certain influences and they propel you in a certain direction.

Dive: Would you say that you went through definitive phases in your music styles, or where you constantly trying to pull different genres into one sound?

DR: When we were younger, it was all about early rock ‘n’ roll. I’m talking about people like the Toasters, I’m talking about Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley — people like that. Then it got more original and it just sort of evolved into whatever it ended up being.

Dive: Did you ever think you’d end up in a duo band with your sister?

DR: I didn’t really plan on it, it just happened by accident. We had spent most of our adult lives in separate bands. A few other things had fallen through and it just happened that we were free at the moment and decided to hook up.

Dive: How’s the chemistry been between you two? Is there any type of a sibling rivalry?

DR: We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve got the ball rolling well. She’s an amazing talent and propels and inspires me. I generally try not to argue anymore [laughs].

Dive: When you started out, where did you see yourself ending up? What’s the journey been like?

DR: I hoped to be a lot richer [laughs].There are problems and there are things one has to deal with. At times I have been hard on myself, where I wish I had played better, or been in a better mood, or going on stage when one is in absolute turmoil is a real trip. Everyone has jobs that they go to that make them part of society. My life is rather isolated, and then it’s very public. There are such extremes.

It’s not a bad thing. For me, it’s all about disciplining of oneself. I realize that the reason I couldn’t get out of it is because the high of performing was so much. Music is an amazing thing and is probably the best thing on the planet — it’s been an interesting career.