ROSESIA: “Everything I go through… seems to motivate me to work harder“

ROSESIA shares advice for aspiring singer-songwriters, talks about the healing role of music in her life, and more!

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “ROSESIA is ___” or “ROSESIA’s music is  ___”? 

“ROSESIA’s music is like a season,” because the stories in my music have their own seasons. For example, my album Loneliness is like winter, [because] the songs give me the feeling of being cold and alone. My new single, “Milkshake,” has the feeling of sunny, clear summertime. My song “Summer, Bummer” also has the feeling of summer, but it brings back memories of a blue, rainy summer day. 

Please describe your new single and why people should listen to it! 

I think “Milkshake” is a pop song [for a] summer drive! This song is about trying to hit on a boy I like. It's an addictive, bright, and bouncy song. And if you watch the music video, you can enjoy the lyrics more, [because] it's not just the story of a girl who falls in love. There's a twist at the end! 

How did you develop an interest in becoming a singer and a songwriter? 

I had a hard time in my third year of high school. The old feelings that were piled up in me burst, so I [started] craving music as a means to express my feelings. I first tried to cover songs, but I eventually had to write my own. Everything I go through in my life seems to motivate me to work harder on music. 

What has changed about your music over time? 

All of my early songs were gloomy. Recently, I [have] tried various genres, such as bright summer songs and hip-hop/R&B. 

You post lots of song covers on YouTube. Which ones are you the most proud of, and why? 

It changes from time to time, but these days, “Breathe : Panic Disorder” is my favorite, because the lyrics touch my heart the most. This song [is] my own way to deal with panic disorder. 

How do you decide which songs to upload on SoundCloud and which ones to upload on other streaming platforms? And do you plan to release anything new on SoundCloud soon? 

I was active on SoundCloud until last year. Soon, when I write and upload a new demo, I'll organize my SoundCloud and upload [it both to SoundCloud and elsewhere]!

What are the biggest similarities and differences between Loneliness and ROSETTE? 

I think the two albums have a lot more differences than similarities. First, It took only about a week to make Loneliness. At that time, it [had not been] long since I started music, so I completed the songs without editing [them]. ROSETTE was made with more than a year of investment, arranging one song more than five times and remaking and putting in songs I [had] made before. There are also genre differences. I think Loneliness is almost a lullaby! But ROSETTE includes so many genres: R&B, hip-hop, pop… The similarity is a storyline. I always try to write my own story, [and] both albums contain my life story. 

What do you do when you’re struggling to come up with ideas for a song? 

I usually get inspiration by listening to albums randomly through Spotify. For example, the album ROSETTE was inspired by SZA’s album SOS. Sometimes I get ideas from movies, books, or my dreams, too. 

Do you ever wish that you could just be a singer or just be a songwriter, or do you like being both at the same time? Does it ever get overwhelming? 

I LOVE being both at the same time! I like not only singing, but also writing the stories I want to tell in music, and it [helps] people sympathize with [them]. Usually, it doesn’t get overwhelming for me, [since] I write lyrics and melodies and record at once. It's such a fun time for me! 

What advice do you have for aspiring singer-songwriters? 

I recommend you work on it a lot. In the beginning, I think I found my color more and more by making and uploading two or three songs a day. Even if you can't make a perfect song at first, it’ll improve just by continuing to work. So don’t worry and try! 

What are your short-term and long-term career goals? 

My long term goal is to [be] on a billboard someday! I hope many people listen to and like my songs, so I want to [be] on big [stages] and many talk shows. My short-term goal is that many people like my new single, "Milkshake," and watch the music video a lot. I put a lot of effort into making the music video. And I hope people look forward to and like the next album! 

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music? 

I'm planning to release my next album in December. I'm working hard on making songs and music videos [for] my third full album, so please look forward to it. I'll come back with winter vibes and [the] ROSESIA vibes that many people [have] loved. Please listen to "Milkshake" a lot before then! Thank you, and I love you all!

Check out “Milkshake” here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photos courtesy of ROSESIA.