Rozes: “I Want my Music to be Able to Speak to Everyone.”

Rozes, the Montgomery County native who also goes by Liz Mencel, blew up when her 2015 track with The Chainsmokers rose to the top of the dance charts last winter.

She’s been non-stop busy ever since, collaborating with the next wave of pop stars, performing all over the place and preparing her debut LP, which she hopes to release this year. She performs at The Foundry on Thursday.

We spoke to her about the whirlwind she has been experiencing, and what she has coming up next.

The last time we communicated, everything was kind of blowing up. How has the last year been?

It’s been good, kind of like a whirlwind, getting used to it all. I constantly try to stay ahead of the curve, which is very tiring but a part of the industry.

What have been the highlights of the past year?

I definitely think playing Coachella was a big highlight of mine. I got to play the Let it Snow show for Amp Radio at the BB&T, which was awesome because that’s my hometown arena. That was definitely one of the biggest highlights of mine because there were some friends in the crowd who didn’t even know I’d be playing.

The Chainsmokers have won a bunch of awards and the song “Roses” was up for a bunch of stuff. How has it been dealing with all that?

I’m still numb to it. It hasn’t set in yet. I wonder if it ever will? I think it’s because I’m constantly chasing a moving target that I’m always like, “OK. This happened. What’s next?”

That sounds nerve-wracking! Are you able to enjoy it all?

Yeah, I’m able to enjoy it but it’s very rare that I actually have time to sit there thinking, “Wow, this is amazing.” I, of course, do think it’s amazing but I feel like I’ve gotten to a point when I’m shaking my leg and tapping my foot thinking, “OK. What’s next?”

It’s definitely a learning process for me to be able to just relax and realize this is really cool.

Do you feel like there is momentum now and you need to capture this and push things forward?

While I couldn’t have imagined this, I also didn’t know this is what the life would be like. I’m constantly racing toward a finish line. It’s good for me, because I think I have ADD or something. I always have something I want to accomplish.

It is what it is. I love it.

What are you chasing? What’s in store for this year?

I have a couple songs coming out. I’m playing Firefly this year by myself – I’m not appearing with The Chainsmokers or anything. This will be my own set, which is really awesome. I’m doing some touring. I’m collaborating with other artists, which is really fun for me because I get to put my dream down and pick up someone else’s life.

It’s a lot of working, grinding and releasing music, and working on my LP.

Do you have a timeline for that yet?

We don’t yet but we’re hoping to have it wrapped up by the end of May. Within the next three months or so.

Where have you been recording? In LA?

I’m kind of back and forth. My brother (Patrick Mencel of Bel Heir) is actually my producer, so anything I release is with my brother. I write in Philly but I also come out to LA to write. When I’m in LA, it’s usually for other artists.

Does your brother work for a studio?

He has his own studio in Fishtown. They call their production team Ssik. They produce all my songs.

What are the collaborations you’re working on?

I’m not sure if I’m allowed to announce it yet but I have one coming up pretty quickly. It’s with another DJ act. I’m pretty excited for it.

Who are you writing for?

I’ve written for Louis Tomlinson from One Direction. I wrote with Sophie Beem, who is one of Beyoncé’s girls. Victoria Justice from Nickelodeon. It’s all these people who are starting their solo careers, really.

What do you want out of your career?

I want my music to be able to speak to everyone. I want to really be that escape that I had when I listened to Adele or Alicia Keyes. It’s so important, especially now, that we all have an escape and someone we relate to, and that we all have those outlets that we can pour our emotion into.

Wherever that song winds up – whether I sing it or someone else does, I want it to be able to be there for someone who doesn’t have anyone else.

Are you excited about the show at The Foundry?

I am, especially because it’s an all-ages show. A lot of my fans who are under 21 haven’t been able to see me yet. I’ve been playing all over-21 venues. It will be exciting to see the younger fans.