The Sounds of Anna Rose are in Full Bloom
In an industry of mostly airbrushed, synthesized performers, Anna Rose is a breath of fresh air: she sings, she plays guitar and piano, she writes all of her own songs and she isn’t afraid to throw a punch.
The 24-year old self-described jeans-and-T-Shirt-girl once hit someone who argued that Eric Clapton was a better guitarist than Jimi Hendrix.
“Oh, that’s such a great story! Well, it makes me look like such an asshole,” she says with a laugh. “I don’t presume to be the authority on these things but, in my opinion, Jimi Hendrix was an incredible innovator and he created a whole new sound for the electric guitar… If I had to choose to listen to one of them over the other for the rest of my life, it would be Jimi Hendrix.”
She adds, “And to be fair, I was drunk and hated this kid anyway… I just wanted an excuse! But it was a good excuse!”
With her willingness to fight in defense of her biggest inspirations and a dog with a rock-and-roll name, Joplin, it’s clear that Anna Rose breathes music.
“I can’t remember ever wanting to ever do anything else besides music,” she says.
Influenced by everyone from Buddy Guy to B.B. King, Joni Mitchell to Sheryl Crowe, her debut album, “Nomad,” fuses folk-rock and blues music with a hint of rock and roll and a little bit of pop. Whether it’s the soulful “I’ll Be Gone” or the smooth “Whispers,” Anna Rose doesn’t disappoint.
Many of the songs for the album were written when she was just 18 and on the move between New York and California.
“I didn’t really feel like I had a home. All those songs – or, most of them – were written when I felt really up in the air. I didn’t feel settled at all,” she says.
Some songs reflect issues she has faced in her past. “Gillian,” a gentle ballad laced with raw emotion, is a song that Anna Rose describes as close to her heart. It was written about one of her best friends who passed away when they were young.
“She was my band-mate and one of my best friends. Her dad is still my guitar mentor, to this day,” Anna Rose explains. “It took me a really long time to write anything about her and that was my way of being able to express that.”
Other songs have no personal connection but are simply inspired by Anna Rose’s surroundings. Regardless of why she writes, Anna Rose says, “I feel like I have a responsibility if I’m going to put something out there that it should be from my heart and be genuine. There’s no better way to do that than to write your own music.”
Yet Anna Rose doesn’t just perform. She was on her college dance team and would someday like to choreograph a few pieces and try to get them shown. She also owns her own publishing company, which gives her the rights to her songs, and record label, which has helped her shop her album around.
“I know that, as a businesswoman, I am very happy to have this label and, in the future, I would like to be able to sign other artists to it. I co-produced my record do I’d like to be able to produce other artists,” she explains. “Even if my own music isn’t getting out there anymore or if my own career as a performer doesn’t work out, I am in the other side of things. Being able to have a little bit of a hand in the other side of things should strategically keep you around for a little while.”
She credits some of her business-savvy to her father, Academy Award winning songwriter and composer Alan Menken.
“My dad is a major component in my life; I’m really close with him,” she explains. “He’s really taught me that hard work is what allows you to be in this business. It’s not something that’s handed to you no matter where you come from.”
Her family and friends have been a source of support for her as she’s worked to create her album.
“They believed in me before I believed in me. I don’t think I would be this far without them at this point,” she says.
As for her fans?
“I love you!” she says genuinely. “If you listen to my music, I love you.”
