Using personal pain/struggle as inspiration for writing and composing music has been common practice since forever. But the ability to make the listener actually feel the ache, that takes a special kind of artist. With her smoky overtones and weighted warble, Baby Rose certainly fits the bill and proved as much with her debut album, To Myself – a collection of songs created after going through a devastating breakup with her longtime boyfriend.
High-profile gigs like a feature on Matt Martians' The Last Party, opening for Ari Lennox's Shea Butter Baby Tour and a coveted spot on J. Cole/Dreamville's Revenge of the Dreamers III helped generate buzz for the late-summer release. Now the Atlanta-based, D.C. native brings her modern-day blues to Berlin's COLORS Studio with a performance of her heartbreaking ballad "All To Myself."
Embracing autumn's palette, Baby Rose opts for a merlot ensemble to complement the moss green background. The rich hues are a figurative reflection of her vocal depth. In the original studio session, Rose downed mimosas and tequila to summon the headspace that followed her breakup – then went on to record the song in one take. She mimics the process for this performance, taking a sip from a glass before blowing us away with her searing rendition.
Given Baby Rose's themes of heartache, it's hard not to think of fellow low-voiced singers like Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse. But this young woman is no imitation, she's the real deal. Scroll down to hear her slay the Tim Maxey-produced single, then download a copy of To Myself for more of her soulful blues.
