There are two different type of artists: the ones who perform, and then there are artists who feel.
The opportunity that has been given to me to set down with Rosemarie felt less like a Q&A and more like a shared moment. It was raw, real and completely unfiltered.
She’s the kind of voice that makes you pause mid-scroll, mid-thought, mid-heartbeat. In an industry that often rewards volume over vulnerability, Rosemarie is building something slower, deeper and more lasting.
From her creative process to the power of emotional honesty in music, this is one of those interviews that lingers with you.
And in a few seconds, you’re about to meet her not just as an artists, but as a storyteller.
Now, sit, relax and not just read it, but feel it.
In October 2016, a young mother sat on her front porch, pen in hand, daring herself to give music a real shot. Rosemarie had no blueprint, no budget, only a daughter asleep inside and a promise she couldn’t break. Four years later, she signed with Interscope.
Rosemarie’s journey is anything but straightforward. She is gentle, with a great energy that comes across so easily, even through a camera and across oceans. And yet, there is the fire and tenacity of someone who said, “This is it, we’re doing this”. And never stopped.
Rosemarie is blunt about the struggle, the algorithms, the instability, the nights she nearly quit. But she also speaks of music as survival, a constant that saved her life. What follows is a portrait of persistence, honesty, and the magic that keeps her going. We fell in love with Rosemarie’s music first, and then head over heels for the person during the interview.
One of the most heartfelt and interesting interviews, but the best place to enjoy it, is our YouTube channel.
Rosemarie’s childhood was “challenging”, defined by situations most kids never face. When her mother died of cancer just after her thirteenth birthday, music became her lifeline. “Music, to me, has always been there for me when nothing else has,” she says. “It allowed me to find comfort, find solace, find a constant, find something that was always there,” she adds.
The moment everything changed
Fast forward to October 2016. Her daughter was about to turn three, and Rosemarie was staring down the same question every parent faces: how do you tell your child to chase their dreams if you’ve abandoned your own? “If I can be a mom, I should fear nothing else,” she decided. That night, she wrote and recorded The Gray, her first SoundCloud upload. It wasn’t polished, but it was hers, the beginning of a path that led to Bird Vision, then Interscope in 2020.
“How can I tell my daughter that she can do whatever it is that she wants to do? She can follow her dreams, and I'm not staying true to that myself?”
The undeniable pull
The rise hasn’t erased the doubts. Rosemarie admits, “I want to give up all the time. I’m not going to lie to you.” We call her bond with music a toxic relationship: one day euphoric, the next draining and she agrees. The highs are undeniable, songs that connect, nights where magic sparks in the studio. But the lows linger too, the feeling of taking two steps back after every step forward. It’s an honest confession few artists make out loud.
It is this that makes Rosemarie someone unforgettable, though. Her honesty is almost disarming. “Some days I look at the glass half full, and some days I look at the glass half empty,” there is something stunning in this reply, because often we see interviews from artists that are so polished, the answers are dull. Rosemarie is measured in her replies, but it comes from consideration for the question, and then giving the fullest of responses.
That's a perfect way to describe it. A toxic relationship.
Where she finds joy again is in the process. Sessions are small and intimate, usually just her and her engineer. She toplines melodies, sketches lyrics, then builds a mood board to shape the visuals. “I’m a big mood boarder,” she laughs.
For Rosemarie, the music isn’t finished until the world around it takes shape, colors, styling, and images. “It’s almost like building a world, having your vision come to life,” she says, and in that control, she finds lightness. And we, as listeners, get to have all of that delivered to us in the form of her music.
What is the hardest part of all of this?
If fans think being an artist means simply writing and performing, Rosemarie is quick to set the record straight. “Posting on social media,” she sighs, calling it the hardest part of the job. Today’s artist has to be a creative director, influencer, marketer, and strategist. “You have to have like 8 arms,” she says, like a spider, we reply. It’s a reality check for anyone who still imagines the music industry as pure art.
SongsBrew: If you could redesign the way rising artists get discovered and supported, what would you change?
Rosemarie: Oh my gosh, that’s a loaded question. I think the current system, especially with algorithms and discovery on social media, has gotten so incredibly particular. I’d change the way those algorithms work. Social media is a great tool for artists, it gives freedom and exposure, but I’ve seen firsthand the downsides of trying to figure out this mega-machine.
What does the future hold?
For all the exhaustion, Rosemarie grounds herself in one truth: quitting isn’t an option. “Future me would be proud that I just didn’t give up,” she says. That resolve, fragile and fierce at once, truly beautiful to hear in action, is what keeps her moving through the chaos. For us, hearing the replies remind us of just how much artist put into what we hear. And how lucky we are that there are artists so relatable and open as Rosemarie.
But the real truth about Rosemarie comes as the interview is finished, and it’s time for the goodbyes. Here is the (cleaned up) transcript pull:
Julia: This was an amazing interview. I learned so much from our conversation, and thank you for opening up about your mom and family. That was really heart talking. Most people don’t realize that being an artist isn’t as easy as it looks.
Rosemarie: Thank you so much for listening. Sometimes I feel like I talk in circles, but I get to the point eventually, so thank you for hearing me out.
Julia: I do the same, don’t worry.
Rosemarie: I tend to over-explain, at least it means you’ll have plenty to work with instead of not enough.
Julia: Exactly. Thank you again. And thank you for being so open.
Rosemarie: Of course. I really appreciate the opportunity. I had a lot of fun, and your questions were great. Some of them I didn’t even know how to answer, but I loved that.
Julia: Thank you, that means a lot. It was really nice talking to you.
Rosemarie: Same here.
Julia: I’m looking forward to your next release. I loved “Aftertaste” it’s on my playlist.
Rosemarie: Period! Thank you so much.
Julia: It calms me down every time I listen. It’s so chill.
Rosemarie: I love that. That’s what we want, that’s what we want.
Julia: Thank you again.
Rosemarie: Thank you!
Safira (1824): Thank you both. Rosemarie, you were so raw, genuine, and honest, and we learned so much from you. I love your song, and your tone and your vibe are amazing. Everyone in 1824 and all our outlets love what you’re doing. If you ever wonder whether it’s worth making music, just know it definitely is. Your songs really impact people, and that’s why we want to have conversations like this.
Julia: You do you, and you’ll be fine.
Watch the full interview on:
Article Thumbnail Photo Credit: Instagram @lilxrosie
A Final Note
During the interview, this gem landed heavily with us, and we figured you’ll love it, too.
"Music has always been there for me when nothing else has.”
Until next time,
