ME: You’ve opened and toured for some large and great names such as Kali Uchis, The Maria’s and Vansire, and Dream Girl who I also interviewed. Which of these musicians was the best to open for?
ANDRIA ROSE: Each show was a great and different experience. I don’t think I could pick my favorite one. I have a special place in my heart for every show that I do because each show, for the most part, has a different crowd. It’s so exciting, to me, to see how everyone reacts to the songs. I’m always hopeful they like it, of course. The fact that I was granted the pleasure of opening for these amazing artists that inspire me so much is something I don’t take lightly.
M: Because you’ve been able to perform so much, what place would you say you’ve had your best performing experience at?
AR: I’ve got two shows in mind for this question: the Kali Uchis show in San Antonio and The Maria’s show in El Paso. So for the Kali show, it was such a great experience from the moment we arrived at the venue. First of all, the venue (The Aztec Theater) had been a dream place of mine to perform for a while. So I was so excited and happy to finally be playing there. Kali’s crowd was so sweet. It’s a bit nerve wracking at times when you’re the opener for a much bigger artist; there’s a bit of worry that the crowd won’t be well receiving. But that was far from the case. I have never been so hyped up by a crowd before. It was amazing. Everyone was so beautiful and I gained a lot of new listeners after that show. The Maria's show was so special to me. El Paso was the last date of our Texas tour with them and it was bittersweet. We played at Lowbrow Palace and that venue was super cool. We played our set and the crowd was so encouraging of us. At that time, that was probably the biggest show we had played yet (and the biggest show we’d done with The Maria’s) and the way it felt in the moment to be so well received in a city we had never been to was insane to me. We definitely felt the love, even after. We took so many pictures with people and signed so many things. That was really my first taste of all that and I will never forget it.
M: Is there a place that despite all this travelling, you still dream to perform in/at?
AR: I’ve never been overseas, but Paris has always been a dream of mine. I hope someday to play there, maybe at one of their vintage Theaters.
M: You have your debut EP out now, called Electric - what is your favourite song on there and why?
AR: I think my favorite song is Prelude. It’s very personal to me, and from what I gather, it seems to resonate with a lot of people due to it’s lyrics. I love to sing it live, too. Whenever I do, I’ve noticed people like to sway or close their eyes.
M: Why was the EP named Electric?
AR: I’ve always been very fond of the word ‘electric’. It’s beautiful to me. It’s always the first word to pop into my head when trying to describe someone or something that makes me feel happy and magical. So to me, ‘electric’ is more of a feeling. And when writing all six songs on the ep, I had that feeling in mind. So it only felt right to name the ep after that feeling-- Electric.
M: I personally adore the aesthetics of your covers and even the titles of your songs such as ‘French Perfume’. Where do you feel this aesthetic derived from?
AR: Thank you! Aesthetics and visuals are very important to making art. If you have an aesthetic that resonates with people and is eye catching, you’re more likely to grab attention and keep it. That’s how it is for me. Whenever I see an artist with really cool visuals and artsy covers, I am intrigued. Ever since I was little, I have been infatuated with vintage. I’ve always been drawn to it- especially old movie stars and singers. I love Nancy Sinatra, Kay Starr, Doris Day and Julie London. Also, I think the fact that my mother always had our house decorated with elegant paintings and furniture when I was growing up really made its way into my own aesthetic. She also loved the color red (she still does) so we had a lot of red things in the house. And I adore the color red. I suppose, all in all, I like to feel classy and I love anything in regards to art; so I just try to integrate those aspects into my music and visuals. I want my listeners to feel elegant and serene and maybe even nostalgic when they see/hear my repertoire.
M: Growing up, was it always music that you wanted to pursue?
AR: Yes. It’s always been music for me. I’ve always loved to sing and play guitar. I’d spend hours upon hours in my room just writing and singing. I still do.
M: Did you have support when you decided it was music that you wanted a career in?
AR: My family and friends have always been supportive of me, luckily. They try to make it out to my shows as often as they can. I am so grateful for that.
M: Aside from job opportunities, what doors has music personally opened for you?
AR: I’ve had the pleasure of making a lot of connections with the musicians I’ve opened for and with their teams. It’s crazy to me that the artists I’ve looked up to for quite some time, I now call friends and acquaintances.
M: Since we’re in a pandemic, I like to end my interviews on random questions, I think it’s fitting of me to ask - what are you doing in this scary/uncertain time to keep productive?
AR: Gosh, we’re in such a weird time in history. If I think about it too much, I get freaked out. So in order to occupy my mind, I’ve been doing a lot of reading, painting, bird watching and gardening in my free time. I’m staying quarantined with my boyfriend Bryan, who also helps me make all my music (and plays bass in my band), so we’re just trying to finish up this new ep. I’m hopeful for an end of summer release. It’s a perfect time to perfect our craft. My heart goes out to those who are affected by all of this and I am praying it will be over soon.
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