INTERVIEW: ROSIE talks her debut EP '20mg of Happiness', career and being a role model: "Everything I do is rooted in wanting to make the world a better place."

Image: Ragan Henderson

New York native ROSIE is one of the most talented and empowering artists in the new generation of performers who are revolutionising the music industry with intimate, honest and raw songs that for perhaps the first time authentically convey the experience of growing up, young love and struggling with mental health and self identity. With a mantra of ‘no Facetune, no filters, no makeup, no bullshit’ she is turning the cliched image of a young pop star on its head and by showing there is another, healthier, more natural way to being a performer is making her a strong role model for young women.

She first appeared in 2018 and has steadily increased her reputation and fan base with close to 1.5 million streams per month on Spotify alone. Last month she released her debut EP 20mg of Happiness, with each of its seven tracks exploring a different stage of grief or the transition from one stage to the next. It is a stunning collection of music, incredibly poignant and immersive, with a soundscape that ranges from gentle, acoustic ballads, to upbeat pop tracks through to soaring emotional songs underpinned by subtle electronic beats.

An incredibly confident and assured debut collection, ROSIE is a remarkable performer who has exactly what it takes to be the next big breakthrough act. We recently caught up with her to find out more.

Hi ROSIE! It is such a pleasure to speak with you today. How is life in your world right now?
Thank you for interviewing me, I’m honoured! Life is pretty exciting right now, lots of songwriting, traveling, gearing up for tour and preparing for EP 2. Overall, I’m very busy!!

Your debut EP 20mg of Happiness is out - how does it feel to have it out in the world?
It’s such a relief to share this project with the world, not only because the musical parts have been coming together for over a year, but because emotionally, it feels like the right time to move forward from my “heartbreak era.” 

You have said the EP was inspired by your own grieving process and also to shine a light on mental health. Can you talk us a little bit more about the story behind the EP?
I wrote this EP about the loss of someone who I thought was my soulmate. As a person who always tries to see the best in others, it was impossible for me to recognize in the present moment just how terribly I was being treated. This project is basically just me taking off the rose coloured glasses and picking up the pieces of myself in the aftermath of a truly traumatising relationship.

What was the creative process like for this EP?
The creation of 20mg of Happiness was truly a whirlwind, especially due to Covid. From writing, to producing, to mixing, I had the privilege of working with musicians from all over the world, both in person and via Zoom. I worked with three extremely talented producers: Noah Conrad, Andrew Wells, and Stavros. I tracked vocals wherever was safest, whether that was in my bedroom in my parent’s house, my apartment in NYC or in the studio in LA. The whole process took about a year and it has been the best year of my life! 

Your music is incredibly honest, raw and authentic. I can imagine this is a massive catharsis for you, but is there ever a part of you that becomes anxious, or nervous, about the world hearing and analysing your personal, inner thoughts and experiences?
Sometimes I get nervous that the words I choose are too graphic or the concepts are too dark, but someone once told me the way to write a great song is to write about what scares you, so, I try to live by that rule. My goal as an artist is to raise mental health awareness through music, so even when I am anxious about putting a song into the world, I remember my higher purpose. 

You play a number of instruments including the violin, what role did music play in your childhood?
Music was always my hobby growing up and I was raised in a very musical family, which is why I think I naturally fell in love with it. For me, becoming a professional artist and songwriter was a dream but it always felt unrealistic. Somehow, with the support of my family, I am now living my dream. Looking back, I think 10-year-old Rosie would be very proud of me now!

Was a career in music always where you were going to go, or was it something that came about more organically?
I never thought I had what it took to have a career in music. My confidence in myself has always been lacking, but my family always had full confidence in me and it’s because of them that I am where I am today.

You are all about ‘what you see is what you get’ - no makeup, no filters, no Facetune and so on. We think it is such an important message to get out there, how important is it for you to not only create great music but to also be a role model for young girls and women, that they don’t need to adhere to societal expectations to be accepted?
More than anything, I want to have a positive impact on those around me, and I believe my medium for doing good is my music. It is crucial to me that I am 100% myself and that I stand up for what I believe in, which is mental health advocacy and promoting self-love in an all-natural way. Everything I do is rooted in wanting to make the world a better place— I hope who I am and the music I put into the world reflects that.

The music industry has for so long not been a particularly safe space for women thanks to the fact it has been run by white, straight, older men for so long. What are your thoughts on sexism and gender equality in the music industry?
I believe that there are two corners of the music industry: the light corner and the dark corner. I have been fortunate to spend most of my time in the light corner of the industry, where all genders are treated equally and where sexism and misogyny are not tolerated. I have had instances where I have ended up seeing the dark corners and it makes me sad to know there is a part of the industry that is so extremely prejudiced and unequal. Overall, female representation is everything and I try to do my part by hiring as many women and feminists as possible onto my own team.

What else is coming up for ROSIE for the rest of this year and into 2022?
2022 is going to be the best year yet. I will be touring, I’m going to put out another EP, I’m going to be traveling the world and giving back in as many ways as possible and, most importantly, I am going to dive even deeper into my own relationship with myself and my music.

20mg of Happiness is out now via Arista Records. You can buy and stream here.

To keep up with all things ROSIE you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter.