Q&A: Andria Rose
LIKE HONEY STRAIGHT OUT OF THE JAR - Cinematic and grounded, the solo artist Andria Rose is crafting a new wave of jazz-influenced music. Her soft and smooth vocals glide over the chill beats she’s created, leaving the readers with a taste on their tongues that they can’t quite wash away. The listening experience that is perfectly complemented by the visuals that she helps to create. Check out her latest remix of her track “French Perfume” and read below to learn more about Rose’s debut EP, creative process and how she wants her music to be perceived.
LUNA: For those unfamiliar with your music, what are some of the key elements that make your sound?
ANDRIA ROSE: I would like to say I’ve got a very dreamy sound, with fusions of psychedelia and jazz. My songs are not fast paced, but more chilled and relaxing. My friend Victoria says it’s like “honey straight out of the jar.” That’s one of my favorite things I’ve had my music compared to. I would also say it’s got a bit of a vintage, nostalgic feel to it.
LUNA: Can you take us through your typical creative process for a song?
ANDRIA ROSE: Initially, I used to write the foundation to my songs completely on my own on guitar or piano. Then I would show my boyfriend Bryan, and he would lay down a bass or guitar riff and top it off with some drums. That’s how we made my ep ‘Electric’. But now, we write even more collaboratively than before. Oftentimes, the roles are switched and he lays down a song on guitar or piano and I top it off with a melody, lyrics and some final ideas here and there. I think we really understand each other musically, so making music with him comes very naturally.
LUNA:What were some common themes & narratives you touched on in Electric?
ANDRIA ROSE: Romance and reassurance.
LUNA: Now that your debut EP has been out for a bit, which song do you still get the most excited about?
ANDRIA ROSE: Even though it is the shortest one on the EP, I still get pretty excited about Interlude. I just love the image it paints of an enigma (a woman) who seduces men in a hotel and steals their hearts. It’s also the only song on the EP that dabbles into Spanish. When we perform it live, we do a longer rendition of it and it’s so fun. I just love how chill it is.
LUNA: What’s been inspiring you lately?
ANDRIA ROSE: With the current situation in the world, and having to stay put in my home, I’ve been able to find much inspiration in greenery. Since it’s spring, everything is so saturated and blooming so beautifully. I’ve got a garden in my backyard, and I’ve taken much passion to gardening lately. My flowers inspire me very much. I picked up a Spanish Lavender plant a while back in the clearance section because it was dying. But now, it’s covered in purple and smells so good.
LUNA: You’ve been able to open for some really incredible artists like Kali Uchis, The Maria’s and Inner Wave, how important is crafting the live aspect of your music to you?
ANDRIA ROSE: Putting on a good live performance is very important to me. I know that the majority of shows I’ve been playing lately are opening gigs for big artists; and I know that I am primarily playing to a crowd that is not mine. It’s important to me that they like what they see and hear. My band and I practice (before this pandemic) as often as we can. We experiment with different intros and outros to the songs and we always switch up our setlist to make things exciting. I am very hard on myself, though, and oftentimes can’t watch a live video of myself. I’ve been trying to be better about that.
LUNA: I can definitely tell you’re putting in the effort on the visual side of things, like with your video for “French Perfume” (love it!). How would you like to see that side of your identity expand?
ANDRIA ROSE: Thank you! That one was very fun to film. I think I go through phases of what in particular I am inspired by. For the ‘Electric’ era, I really wanted to emphasize the old glamour and red aesthetic. It’s what I was really into at the time of writing it. I was spending a lot of time at the old hotels downtown and soaking in the environments. I wanted the EP’s aesthetic to embody that feeling of nostalgia and elegance I’d feel at these hotels. But for this next EP we’re working on, I am more inspired by darker colors, fruits and nature. But at the same time, a splash of Electric’s aesthetic will always be in everything I do.
LUNA: Is there anything in particular you’d like people to take away from your music?
ANDRIA ROSE: I just want my listeners to feel inspired when they listen to my music. Whenever I listen to my favorite artists, their work inspires me to do all sorts of different things: go on a drive, bask in the sun, paint, relax, drink wine, dance around naked, go on a walk, admire my flowers. I hope my music can evoke the same kind of feelings in my listeners. I do hope my music provides a sense of comfort in such troubling times, too. I thank the universe for music in times like these.
LUNA: 2020 has been an interesting year for us all to say the least, so what do you want the rest of the year to bring you?
ANDRIA ROSE: I truly hope the rest of the year brings more opportunity in regards to my music. My goal is to release this EP we’re working on right now, before the year ends. After that, I hope to organize my first headlining tour, if time allows. But all in all, I can only hope for the rest of the year to bring healing. I hope those in need of recovery, recover. I pray the rest of the year brings alleviation.
