Rozes: “Music Was Just My Thing, Always.”

We learned about Rozes a few years back as she was starting to dig into the music industry. Then we caught her performing with The Chainsmokers on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (and The Roots!). 

We missed her jam-packed record release show last week at Boot & Saddle so we decided to drop her a line to learn more about the homegrown talent who has the number one dance track in the country.

Who is Rozes? Where did she come from?

I’m a 22-year-old singer songwriter, who made my surface through electronic dance music, although that is not where I intend to stay with my career. I’m from the Philly burbs (Montgomery County), where I still currently live, but work in Fishtown, Delaware, NYC and LA.

How did you get started in music?

Music is in my blood. Everyone in my family plays at least two instruments, including my parents, who both come from musical families also.

I grew up on Jazz music, and singing standards with my dad in our music room as a kid. I started piano lessons when I was 6, and then violin around the same time. I’d like to say music is my second language but it’s really my first. I was in a world traveling children’s choir and started playing saxophone and guitar in 7th grade.

Music was just my thing, always.

You don’t see a lot of pure dance music coming out of Philadelphia. A lot of your stuff sounds like it would be huge in Europe. What are your inspirations?

Thank you! As I said, I grew up on jazz, so my inspirations have always been Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and more currently, Amy Winehouse. I also draw inspiration from Fleetwood Mac, Adele and The Police.

You are already writing stuff and performing for people around the world. How did that start?

I went through a really bad break up in high school (typical), and since music was always my escape, I figured I would try writing my own. I got to a point where singing other peoples words/music wasn’t enough anymore.

Writing was just something that came naturally to me. I always knew what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it. I guess I have that kid to thank for breaking my heart.

You’ve been on The Tonight Show. You sold out your release party. Where do you go from here?

I leave for LA and I’ll be there until about mid-March doing some writing and playing some shows. When I get back, I head to Texas for SXSW which I’m totally stoked about! Then from there… new music is to be released ! It’s a journey that never ends.