FEATURE:
Spotlight
Rose Gray
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ALTHOUGH there are not many new interviews online…
from Rose Gray, she has been involved with some fantastic features through the years. A hugely talented young artist whose music should be in everyone’s rotation, her latest track, Last Song, is among her best. With embers of ‘00s Pop and Electronic together with modern vibes and the huge personality and buzz from the infectious and irresistible Gray, she is an artist who is going to go far. I am not sure whether there is an E.P. coming soon. Before wrapping up and looking to the future for the incredible Rose Gray, there are a few interviews that I want to bring in. A lot of the online promotion and interview surrounded around the release of Drinking, Dancing, Talking, Thinking (2021). It is an amazing and eclectic 1990s-infused and inspired collection of songs from one of the most promising British artists. The London-born Rose Gray is, like me, someone hugely inspired and motivated by the music and characters of the ‘90s. Not that she is beholden to the decade. She is a singular voice who does not wear her influences heavily and too obviously on her sleeve. The first interview I want to quote from is The Forty-Five. In addition to talking about her Drinking, Dancing, Talking, Thinking mixtape, we discover about her childhood and fascinating upbringing:
“Born and bred in E17, she only has fond memories of her childhood, and speaks warmly of trips to the market with her parents, and of Sundays spent watching greyhounds speed around the borough’s long-since-closed dog track – the same stadium where Blur famously shot the now-iconic artwork for ‘Parklife’. “I really love my area, but it is quite a confused little place because it’s quite close to Essex,” she smiles. “And at school with you were either one or the other: a real East Londoner or quite suburban with different prospects for your life. I definitely decided that as soon as I possibly could I would be making my way in the city.”
You could argue this desire to make an impact is hereditary: both her mum and stepdad are jobbing actors after all, and – being the oldest of five – much of Rose’s childhood was spent socialising with her parents’ friends, many of whom were also actors or musicians. “I think I just thought that everyone was in the arts somehow?” she shrugs. “Like that’s what everyone did.” But compound that upbringing with the eerie focus that she credits to being a “textbook Capricorn”, and it feels like Rose was always destined to push herself to the fore.
“Seriously, my tunnel vision is almost quite dangerous. I was quite dweeby at school, always wanting to spend hours on projects. And I was sporty as well. I used to train a lot, do cross country and play football for a girls team, so I was quite driven with practise. And I always wanted to win things. So it hit me hard when I left college and I realised I was no longer the little star at school with a really good voice. Suddenly you’re in this massive pool of brilliant people and you need to work out who you are and what you want to do before you can make anything happen.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Eva Pentel
After dropping out of her Performing Arts course, she focused on finessing her songwriting, though it was still to be some time before her epiphany at the Bussey Building. Even looking back on 2019 singles ‘Good Life’ and ‘Blue’, Rose confesses to feeling removed from the pared-back, jazz-influenced sound. “I think I took myself a bit too seriously with the other releases. Because I’ve got a soulful voice it was easy for me to lean into that neo-soul and jazz influence but actually the music I love to listen to, and the music I like to go out to, is quite different. My manager was like, ‘Rose, you want your music to reflect who you are.’ And I feel like this mixtape is 100% me.”
Recorded over the last year and half with long-term collaborator Frank Colucci plus Rob Milton (Arlo Parks, Easy Life) and Mark Ralph (Georgia, Jax Jones), the seven-song collection solidifies Rose’s status as a rising star, and one who isn’t too proud to wear her reference points on her sleeve. Joining the Madchester swagger of ‘Save Your Tears’, the balmy dream-pop of ‘Same Cloud’ channels the swirling rhythms of ‘Screamadelica’ while ‘Easy’ features the sort of rave piano last seen on Strike classic ‘U Sure Do’. And that’s before you even get to her uncannily faithful version of Saint Etienne’s ‘Nothing Can Stop Us,’ her latest release”.
With a foot in the 1990s (musically) and the ’00 (musically), there is that sound and blast from the past. Rose Gray is a very modern artist who, in a sea of competitors, is shining and a real bright spot. I think she will be a massive artist of the future. NOTION confirmed this promise and potential when they spoke with Rose Gray back in late-2020:
“Noting Primal Scream, Massive Attack and Saint Etienne amongst her influences, Rose Gray has been building a name for herself as a rather uniquely British pop star. Lacing her music with her own blend of 90s dance melodies and 00s indie-pop vocals, the budding artist has been creating quite a buzz since releasing her first single last year.
Recalling house parties, bus rides, and the highs and lows of relationships, Rose’s music, in her words, “captures the early 20’s experience and all the in-between”.
The Walthamstow musician started her music career young but rebelled against the traditional popstar aesthetic she was being corseted into, instead, choosing to run down her own path.
With six singles under her belt, Rose is gearing up to release her debut mixtape, ‘dancing, drinking, talking, thinking’, due in January 2021.
From singing about a loved one with a cocaine addiction on the stripped-back track “Billy” (“But the powder’s got to you/ It’s got a power over you”) to serving up nostalgic Balearic House vibes on “Easy” and “Save Your Tears”, Rose Gray’s mixtape is the antidote we all need in today’s fun-sapped world.
You’ve just shared the brilliant new song “Save Your Tears”, a homage to 90s dance music. You’ve said that the genre is a big source of inspiration for you – what drew you to it in the first place?
From a young age, I was always in awe of the voice. Soulful pop Queens. From, Aretha, Dusty to Etta..and modern Queens like Amy, Christine Aguilera, and Lauryn Hill. I’ve always loved playing with my voice, and I feel 90’s dance music sets the stage for this exploration. Crazy big voices and soundscapes cushioned by breakbeats, strings, electronic elements live and programmed. It just feels so fun. I found a place that really works for my voice and where I’m at as an artist. Before lockdown going out and partying was a massive part of my life and I wanted this to reflect in my music. I have the freedom to sing and speak all in one song. 90’s dance music does this a lot, someone like Lady Miss Kier (the lead singer of DeeLite) positions herself so perfectly within a dance track. She’s a big inspo for me. There’s also something quite magic that 1990 is now 30 years ago. In the 90’s a massive subculture was psychedelica/ trip rave music.. heavily influenced by the 60’s. Now in 2020, we are 30 years on from the ’90s, it’s like a natural revival of this music. It feels like the right amount of time to be making and recreating these sounds. I also just honestly love this music.
Who are some of your all-time favourite 90s dance artists?
Ok here it goes. Saint Etienne of course. Primal Scream. Opus 111…the lead singer gives me Grimes. I like listening to quite obscure stuff a little different from the music I’m making like Eris Drew or just ravey mixes. 1998 Madonna, Ray Of Light. I love this era for Madonna. Andy Wetheral mixes of any kind, he remixed ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ its magic. Smoke City. The Grid. Moby of course. Massive Attack and Portishead for slow dancey jams. The list could go on.
PHOTO CREDIT: Freddie Stisted
Your mixtape, ‘dancing, drinking, talking, thinking’ is due in January. What can we expect from the record?
So, ‘Dancing, Drinking, Talking, Thinking’ – is just that. it falls into one of those motions, maybe a few at the same time.
It’s 7 tracks. It’s fun. It’s sad. It’s classic. I’ve cried and danced making every track on it. I hope it captures the early 20’s experience and all the in-between.
Do you have a favourite song from the mixtape?
It’s always different. The mixtape goes through the motions. Some days I feel like I want to dance to some of the songs. Other days I could cry to all of them. I think I have a soft spot on a track called “Interlude, Thinking” – I produced it myself in June. It’s a reflection/realisation that partying and getting involved in fun dark things maybe isn’t what I really want. I love the string arrangement”.
There are a couple of other pieces I want to bring in before closing up. DORK chatted with Rose Gray in February last year. At a strange and stressful time for artists trying to put material out there, they asked as to whether lockdown and the pandemic had altered her approach to music and songwriting:
“Hi, Rose. You’re often described as telling sweeping stories with your lyrics, how do you approach writing?
I try not to give myself rules. I do write a lot of my songs as notes on my phone, concepts on my phone, so I do call myself a lyricist. I have a lot of poems and writings that I’ve built myself up, but if I’m at home writing, I do write a lot of my stuff on the spot.
You have a new mixtape coming up, right? How would you describe its sound?
I think it’s really fun, there’s a massive influence of 90s dance music! It’s quite classic with a lot of breakbeats. One thing as well that I feel threads through the whole mixtape is there’s a lot of lyricism, there’s a real story that comes through. It’s about a time of my life where I was partying and going out a lot, and so it feels like it’s going through motion.
Has lockdown changed the way you approach the creative process?
100%. I had a lot of unfinished songs. From the second week of lockdown, I started to figure out the production software Logic. I needed to figure out how to produce, how to make beats, how to finish off the vocals at home, so I’ve learnt a lot. I really love production and playing around, there is something on the mixtape I produced completely.
How has the mixtape changed the way you think about music?
For me now, I feel quite excited about where I can go. It’s the first stepping stone, and there’s so much material, and I feel quite excited. There are no rules, my next EP or album could be completely different. I feel creative freedom, especially for when I can play live again. I have so many ideas. I want to keep being different”.
There is one more feature that I want to include. Fred Perry asked some quick-fire questions about Rose Gray’s favourite music, some of the songs she grew up listening to, and songs that define the teenage her:
“If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
John Lennon. I would love to share poetry or ask John to play something on his white grand piano. I think we could write something beautiful... try and put the world to right.
Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
Brixton Academy in London. I love this venue. The sound and atmosphere, the way the floor is raised so even if you're near the back you have a perfect view.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Of course Amy Winehouse. I grew up loving Amy, her lyricism and honesty had me in awe from a young age. I related to her, I felt like I'd never listened to a female being so honest about love and loss. But also - Melanie. She went pretty under the radar in the '60s/'70s and should have been huge.
The first track you played on repeat?
'F*ck You' - Lily Allen.
Apart from playing the Spice Girls and Christina Aguilera on repeat as a young one, I have a real memory of buying 'It's Not Me, It's You'. I remember breaking up with my boyfriend who was the definition of the guy described in 'F*ck You' so it just became my vent song.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'With Every Heartbeat' - Robyn.
If I listen to this I am 14 again dancing around my room.
One record you would keep forever?
'A Brand New Me' - Aretha Franklin (song - 'Angel' The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra version)
I grew up on Aretha Franklin. She had a true voice of an angel. I think I will love this album for the rest of my life. The Royal Philharmonic version of this record is so beautiful.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Groove Is In The Heart' - Deee-Lite.
Family parties and or weddings I will leap from my chair for this song. Also 'Green Light' - Lorde.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Yes I’m Changing' - Tame Impala.
I played this walking home the other night, the sun was just coming up and it was a special moment, beautiful way to start/end the day”.
I shall wrap up now. Keep an eye out for Rose Gray throughout 2022. With a new track out there, I think we will hear more from her. Whether that is another mixtape, or an album has yet to be seen. Whatever it is, it is going to be a fantastic release. Although she has a deep love of the music she grew up on from the 1990s and 2000s, she is someone who is very contemporary and unique. On the evidence of a song like Last Song, it will not be long until we will see the fantastic Rose Gray…
REALLY take off!
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