Artist Interview: Ros4anna
The independent artist Ros4anna.mp3 sits down to discuss her latest multi-genre project, "gg's journals x." The album blends lofi aesthetics with a new rock-rap sound, weaving a narrative of identity, growth, and digital nostalgia. Below is the full Q&A from the interview.
Tori: The title "gg's journals x" suggests something deeply personal. Can you share the meaning behind "gg," and what made you decide to turn these private "journals" into a public, multi-genre album?
Ros4anna: “gg” are the initials for my character’s name “ghost girl,” who is the protagonist of the album. These “journals” per say refer to her experiences dealing with a relationship that isn’t working out as well as navigating difficulties with identity and purpose after the breakup. I wanted to share them to show people that it’s okay to go through these difficulties and that they will never last forever. It’s important to always continue pushing through even if you are low.
Tori: Your music is described as combining a lofi aesthetic with a new rock-rap style. How did you navigate the studio process to fuse these two distinct sounds into a cohesive, yet unconventional, tracklist?
Ros4anna: From the beginning, ros4nna.mp3 has been about having a lofi aesthetic that feels comfortable and almost poetic to listen to. Across my previous albums, I have experimented with bedroom pop, alternative R&B, and boom-bap hip-hop. So when navigating the studio setting, it was whatever came naturally to me as an artist. I made use of multiple video game references as that is very much what I love and closely hold onto when dealing with my own emotions.
“gonna_say” and “call_again” were the first tracks on the album I produced, recorded, mixed, and published those two as singles in one night. They are the reason the album exists and helped form the track list.
Tori: The album explores heavy themes of growth, identity, and relationships. Was there a particular song that was the most difficult, or perhaps the most cathartic, to write due to its personal subject matter?
Ros4anna: I think “half_life” (the final song) is the most heavily thematic song on the album as it talks about gg coming to terms that she is alone now but not completely. She can finally let go and continue with her life as she truly wants it to be.
Tori: Beyond the main genres, were there any surprising or unexpected musical influences that crept into the production of "gg's journals x"?
Ros4anna: I think one music influence that crept in was the emo rap era of 2016-18. Whilst creating the album, I was listening to a lot of artists like Lil Peep again, which I think inspired the use of trap drums for majority of the tracks.
Tori: If you had to pick one track from the album as the definitive entry point for a brand new listener, which one would it be and why?
Ros4anna: It would definitely be the first track “nintendo_wii_revisited.” I design all my albums to be listenable from the beginning to the end to allow the user to hear the story unfold (almost as a live performance) which I feel makes my music unique in its own way.
Tori: What specific digital spaces, sounds, or aesthetics from the early 2000s era (e.g., dial-up tones, early social media, video games) made their way into the fabric of the album?
Ros4anna: The main aesthetic of the album is definitely video games from the 2000s / 2010s. Heck, each track is named after one. I think this created the base that allowed me to experiment with things like using dial-up tones and voice messages to tell the story.
Tori: How do you see the digital identity of "ros4nna.mp3" relating to your real-life identity, and how does that duality play out in your storytelling?
Ros4anna: “ros4nna.mp3” is me but I am not her. She is a part of me, but also someone I aspire to be. She is confident, strong, and courageous to show her passions and speak about her personal struggles. There is less of a duality but rather a lot of thinking on how I present ros4nna through music where it’s up to the listener to decide what type of character this is as opposed to seeing her on a screen.
Tori: Do you think this digital nostalgia offers a comfort or a commentary on the current state of technology and connectivity?
Ros4anna: Most definitely it offers a sense of comfort... I think a lot of 90s / 2000s babies will find this and it’s a purposeful choice feeding into the lofi aesthetic.
In regards to a commentary, in a way I guess it is. We see companies nowadays want to focus on pleasing investors instead of creating a product that will be loved and cherished for years after. There is such an importance in this and it’s the reason I will always prefer older games consoles and music systems (literally listening to mp3s on my PSP as I write this).
Tori: As an independent artist, you have complete creative control. What is the most rewarding, and conversely, the most challenging part of developing such a multi-genre sound without the backing of a major label?
Ros4anna: There is a true benefit to being independent in that I’m not tied to the strict guidelines in creativity and productivity levels that artists who are backed by a label may face. My whole music process works on spontaneity and working only when I feel I have the energy to.
The most challenging part is staying relevant. In this day and age, music is closely tied to social media. The only reason I was able to grow is because of my Instagram Reels I was posting daily during the summer. Despite my enjoyment from creating media, it does have its tiresome moments. The benefit to having a label then is they can advertise for you on a bigger scale. It’s all pros and cons, but there are so many more pros to being independent in my opinion.
Tori: Can you describe your typical songwriting process? Do the lyrics, the lofi/rock-rap beat, or the digital aesthetic come first?
Ros4anna: The digital aesthetic is very much something that has a looming presence as it’s something that has influenced me and my music on a deeper level, hence it’ll come out in all parts of the process.
The first thing is the beat, which I usually produce fairly quickly on a good day. Then the lyrics are usually me experimenting with whatever sounds good (sometimes freestyling before writing). Mixing and mastering very much reinforces the direction I have in mind for the song, which I am slowly getting better at with every album published.
Tori: You seamlessly transition between genres. How do you decide which stylistic vehicle best serves the emotional narrative you want to convey in a particular song?
Ros4anna: To be quite honest, it kind of just happens. I guess it’s an ear you build over time or something. That’s just how music works for me sometimes haha.
Tori: Looking ahead, what are your plans (if any) to translate the unique sonic textures of "gg's journals x" into a live performance? What can fans expect from a ros4nna.mp3 show?
Ros4anna: I would love to do live performances at some point. Can’t say much as I have zero plans at this moment. Maybe when the weather gets a bit warmer we can see.
Tori: Which artists, regardless of genre, are you currently listening to that you feel are pushing the boundaries of what music can be?
Ros4anna: I have been listening to a few artists who definitely are pushing boundaries with their music. “htmljones” is a good friend (and previous collaborator) of mine who has many tracks rapping in English, Tamil, and Japanese over hyperpop and alternative beats (it’s so cool you have to have a listen). Also “Princess Xixi” who takes a very alternative perspective on the UK grime scene which is so awesome.
Can’t forget to shoutout my girl “Myth Madeline” who is an incredible musician from Washington DC. The best way I can describe her music is a rhythmic warm hug, with incredible vocals and production.
Tori: What's the "x" in "gg's journals x"? Does it signify a final chapter, an intersection of styles, or something else entirely?
Ros4anna: It symbolises a kiss (usually used over text), presenting the album as having some undertones as “girly and cutesy.” It also goes back to some of my earlier tracks on streaming platforms having that vibe and it was really fun revisiting it for this album.
Tori: If a fan takes away one core message after listening to the entire album, what do you hope that message is?
Ros4anna: Hmm this is a good question. Live life for you because you only have one try at this (probably).
Follow Ros4anna here!
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