Interview with Ventura Breeze | April 22, 2021
“Bill never ceases to amaze me with his songwriting ability, quality of sound and over all fun vibe. On his latest project, Smoke & the Earthtones delivers the vintage sound of California rock. ”
HOMESPUN | AMBER & SMOKE | VC REPORTER | JANUARY 22, 2018
“There’s something special about a duo. More than a band, where it’s easy to replace a weak or insane link (usually the drummer), a duo has to have complete trust and respect in each other to work. There’s no replacing anyone in a duo, and the fragile nature of that relationship is what can create powerful music and performances. From Lennon and McCartney to Simon and Garfunkel to The Captain and Tennille (well, maybe not the Cap), when a duo works, it works on an entirely different level than a band or a solo artist. If there’s anyone on the local scene that subscribes to and demonstrates that fact it’s Bill Rotella and Amber Olive, better known as Amber and Smoke....” - Chris Jay
EX-MOORPARK TEACHER HAS NEW GIG | VC STAR | MAY 8, 2017
“The Ventura County Star releases an article on Bill Rotella highlighting his musical upbrings, new album, and duo band "AMBER & SMOKE." ”
CAREER INTERVIEW | ALL ABOUT JAZZ | DECEMBER 3, 2014
“Singer/Songwriter Bill Rotella Recalls Tom Petty And Roger McGuinn On New Solo CD Breaking up may be hard to do, but it can be pointedly humorous as well. “I can’t hide the tears/That I never cried,” confesses singer/songwriter Bill Rotella on “When You Left Everything Went Right,” the first single from his latest album, All Roads Lead Home...” - Eric Taylor
"ALL ROADS LEAD HOME" review | NO Depression | august 14, 2013
“They call it Americana now, but in the early ‘80s singer/songwriter Bill Rotella knew the genre under its original classification: country rock. Of course, that was before a new generation of college kids raised on punk and indie records gave roots music an alternative edge... ” - Stacey Zering