Artist Interview: Rose White
An exciting new voice on the music scene, Rose White blends soulful introspection with indie-pop sensibilities, creating a sound that's both delicate and powerful. Her raspy vocals and heartfelt lyrics have captivated listeners, and her unique visual aesthetic has made her a standout artist. We sat down with Rose to discuss her musical journey, creative process, and what's next for her career.
Tori: How would you describe your sound to someone who's never heard your musicbefore?
Rose: I'd say it's a blend of soul, funk, and pop dressed in raspy vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and groove.
Tori: Your vocals are both delicate and powerful—how did you develop your signature style?
Rose: It came with hours and hours of practice. I played lots of function gigs and open mics. Basically, any chance to be on stage and sing, I took it. All of it strengthened my voice and taught me how to control it.
Tori: What themes do you find yourself returning to in your songwriting?
Rose: Relationships with human beings, but not just romantic ones. Human beings fascinate me, and I love reliving my past experiences through music. But on that note, I don’t always write about things that happened to me. I have interesting friends who live their lives to the fullest, and I use it in my songs; see 'Tears Of Regret.'
Tori: Your tracks blend indie pop with soulful introspection. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
Rose: I grew up listening to rock music (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors). I discovered soul and jazz as a teenager and listened to discographies of all the legends like Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, or Bill Withers. From contemporary artists of the last few years, it’s definitely RAYE, Joy Crookes, Loyle Carner, or Olivia Dean. And many, many more.
Tori: Can you tell us the story behind one of your most recent songs?
Rose: I can tell you a story behind a song that’s coming out later this year titled 'Next Of Kin.' I was born and raised in Poland and moved to London 8 years ago. I don’t have any family here, and for a very long time, I didn’t have a next of kin in my NHS files. One time I ended up in A&E (nothing major, but needed medical assistance ASAP) and while registering with the nurse, she said, "Ma'am, do you know you don’t have a next of kin?” to which I said, “I know, I left it blank.” I didn’t give it much thought on the day, but a week later, I dug deeper on why it is that I don’t have a next of kin. I used to have one in the past, so why leave it blank now? Anyway, like a proper songwriter, I wrote a song about it that the world will be able to hear later this year!
Tori: Do you write lyrics or melodies first—or does it change each time?
Rose: It changes all the time, but more often, I will start with the lyrics, or a lyrical idea to be precise. I will have a topic in mind, write loads of lines, and then start dressing it up in melodies.
Tori: You have a striking aesthetic across your visuals. How important is visual storytelling in your music career?
Rose: Thank you very much, but funnily enough, for a long time, it wasn’t. I didn’t put much thought into branding and aesthetics. It was only around the end of 2023 that I wanted 'Rose White' to be associated with a certain look. The blonde bob and a white suit are now my thing, and it definitely saves a lot of time when deciding what to wear on stage.
Tori: What’s your process when preparing to go into the studio?
Rose: Just making sure my voice is in the best condition and that I’m not tired. Most of the time, the song is written, so when I go to the studio, it is to sort out arrangements, and that’s mostly my producer's job.
Tori: As a London-based artist, how has the city shaped your sound and artistic voice?
Rose: It definitely influenced me a lot. London has a thriving soul and jazz scene, so I naturally leaned towards that sound. There’s a lot of talent here as well as networking opportunities.
Tori: What do you want people to feel after listening to your music?
Rose: Seen and understood.
Tori: You’ve released a number of songs that connect deeply with listeners. Is there one that feels most personal to you?
Rose: 'Stronger' must be the one. I wrote the first verse in 10 minutes and the second one a year later, a day before going to the studio. Singing this song live gave me a lot of power, and I’m happy to see others feel empowered by it as well.
Tori: Social media is a big part of music today—how do you balance staying true to your art while building a digital presence?
Rose: I had a very toxic relationship with social media and the numbers game in general up until my recent trip to New York. I visited The Big Apple in May 2024 and stayed there for a month. I met lots of great musicians, none of them big on the social media game, but man… They loved music with all their heart. It was inspiring and refreshing to see people do music for the sake of doing it; not the numbers, radio plays, followers, or views. When I got back, I had a deep think about ways of incorporating that mindset and still being fairly consistent and ‘in the game.’ I’m not delusional, I know that an independent artist needs an online presence, and Instagram is considered our portfolio nowadays. At the moment, I create content that feels natural to me. Some days I post more, some days I post less. I never share my life outside of ‘Rose White’ though. That part is just for me and my closest circle.
Tori: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self just starting out in music?
Rose: Trust your gut. Some collaborations, gigs, sessions that broke me in a way, could have been avoided if only I trusted my gut.
Tori: Have there been any major turning points or moments of clarity in your career so far?
Rose: Yes! Last year, I received a Next Level Award from the Help Musicians organization, and that definitely felt like an industry validation I didn’t know I needed. A part of the award was 1-on-1 Zoom sessions with some industry specialists that completely shifted my way of thinking about my career.
Tori: What role does vulnerability play in your songwriting?
Rose: A very little one if I’m being honest. That being said, I still write vulnerable pieces, but I haven’t shared them with the world just yet (though if you came to one of my live shows, you know exactly which songs I’m talking about). ‘Rose White’ is a brand, and I want her to scream empowerment. Don’t worry though, when the time is right, I will drop the tearjerkers.
Tori: What are some behind-the-scenes details fans might not know about your creative process?
Rose: 1. The lyrics you hear on the record are carefully selected from pages and pages of lines from my journal. 2. Creating backing vocal arrangements is my favorite thing in the world, and I always need someone to stop me and tell me when I’m overdoing it.
Tori: Do you have any dream collaborations—musical or otherwise?
Rose: I’d love to sing on stage with Robert Plant.
Tori: What has the live performance experience been like for you, and how do you bring your studio sound to the stage?
Rose: The stage is me and I am the stage! In all seriousness though, I love performing and I always have. Nowadays, I have an incredible band to back me up. We’ve been working together for nearly 3 years now, and I’m happy to report we’re locked in. When you come to a ‘Rose White’ full band show, expect good quality music, a white suit, lots of energy, and some random Eastern European comedy in between songs.
Tori: How do you stay inspired when facing creative blocks?
Rose: I don’t believe in a creative block. I write every day in a journal. 90% of it is mediocre, but 10% ends up in songs. Even when I think I have nothing to say, I use random prompts I get on the internet or just report how my day went. Writing is a craft like any other, and for a craft to be good, you need to put in the hours.
Tori: What’s next for Rose White in 2025—any upcoming releases, shows, or surprises?
Rose: Rose White is back from hibernation, let me tell you that! I have new music coming out later this year and my only band show on the 23rd of October titled ‘A Night With A Sazerac.’ I think after that night, everyone will know that I like to walk (pun intended, but you will find out soon) and what is a Sazerac.
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