In 2020, Dewey Raposo was working at Rhode Island PBS. He’d been at the station for a few years. But like the rest of us, nobody was prepared for the challenges this particular year would present. But in this time of uncertainty, Raposo proposed a new idea for the station.
“We had worked on a project a few months prior where we had recorded a band performing for an online auction, and I realized we could take that performance and sort of build on that and create this entire show. And I was lucky enough to get the green light to spearhead “Ocean State Sessions” in fall of 2020.” Raposo said.
Entering its fifth season, “Ocean State Sessions” has steadily grown in scope, presentation, and musical variety. Raposo has been the show’s constant throughout those years.
“It’s been quite the journey watching the show evolve. I think all the way back from 2020 to now, the show has really taken on a much bigger life than I ever thought it would.”
The show’s goal has always been to highlight local bands and musicians, a scene Raposo has been part of for nearly 20 years with his band Cosmic Factory. The three-piece rock group dips into a variety of sub-rock genres but its psychedelic leanings are most present throughout its catalog. Raposo, along with Mike Baker and Lee McAdams, formed the band in the late 2000s after meeting at East Providence High School.
“I didn’t really know Lee much in high school, but Mike and I were pretty good friends towards the end of our time in school. And we were lucky enough to hook up with Lee after high school and start Cosmic Factory.”
Raposo plays drums and shares vocals with Baker and McAdams in Cosmic Factory. The band says their early influences came from listening to System of a Down. Which, as a drummer, Raposo says is a great place to get inspiration from.
“John Dolmayan was a huge influence. I really loved that band. All three of us really love that band. I think their sound kind of bleeds into some of our stuff at times, for sure.”
Raposo plays other instruments but says the drums are where he enjoys being best. Especially if it allows him to continue playing with his friends.
“Once you start being the drummer, you kind of never are not the drummer. I noticed there are not too many of those in Rhode Island,” he adds “I think the best part of being in this band is the comradery and just the fact that we’ve been able to stick it out this long. We’re all just really great friends.”
If there’s a music venue in Rhode Island, odds are Cosmic Factory has played there. Being a fully fledged member of the RI music scene has given Raposo ample opportunities to get to see potential bands and musical acts for “Ocean State Sessions.”
“I think starting “Ocean State Sessions”, part of the mission, at least in my head, was to sort of give something back to a community that’s given a lot to myself and my bandmates. And I think it’s something I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to do, and I’m glad to get people on the show that I know and people that I don’t know. It’s great to just continue to meet more people in this community and bring us all together and just put a spotlight on what I think is a great local music scene.”
To see how “Ocean State Sessions” has grown over the years, check out all five seasons of the show so far.
And check out Cosmic Factory’s performance from season five of the show and their song “Rose of Jericho”.
