Eliza Rose Means Business
Gearing up for the release of her new intergalactic EP, ‘Business As Usual.’
No one stands on business like Eliza Rose does. The DJ, singer, songwriter and producer is a by-product of years spent in the underground music scene in London. A self-starter, Rose refuses to bend to norms and practices authenticity both on and off stage.
Last summer, she topped charts with her hyper-viral track, “B.O.T.A,” released from her own label, Rosebud Records. The artist founded the label because she wanted to sing across genres without restrictions and revive vinyl. Recently, she signed to Warner Bros. where she continues to mesh UKG and Soul with Afro-futuristic visuals.
Rose’s engaging and unexpected combination of styles along with her deep London roots, make her a homegrown favorite. Continue reading below for our interview with Eliza Rose. You can stream the four-track EP, Business As Usual on all major streaming platforms from April 24.
Your upcoming EP, Business As Usual reflects your East London roots. Can you tell us a bit more about the references?
My favorite genres, soul and UKG (U.K. Garage), have had a huge impact on my style as a musician, songwriter and producer. Business As Usual is a perfect mix of these two genres. UKG was part of my upbringing in London; everybody listened to UKG when I was growing up. When I worked at a local record shop, I was quite quickly able to discover the more underground sounds of UKG… so, not just the bangers like “Sweet Like Chocolate” that we all loved, but things like groove chronicles and getting deep into labels.
Then, when I was 15, discovering Amy Winehouse definitely set me on the path of uncovering more soul sirens. I fell in love with Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.
Why is East London a creative inspiration to you?
East London has always been a creative hub. Although gentrification has caused some changes, I believe Hackney still has some amazing pockets of creativity. Despite the changes, there is a beautiful mix of cultures where different worlds come together.
In Business As Usual, you incorporate some extraterrestrial characters. Can you tell us a bit more about why and what that futuristic mix means to you?
I always like to incorporate an otherworldly nature into my visuals and overall creativity because raving as an experience is, in a sense, otherworldly. You’re kind of getting out of your mind, moving in a sonic space, tapping into a beat– it’s a unique energy!
By infusing an extraterrestrial planet vibe into my work, I can really let my imagination run wild. My creative director, Jeanie Crystal, did an amazing job of incorporating Afrofuturism and an Alien planet Eliza vibe into the video.
Before you dominated mainstream charts, you were big in the underground DJ scene. What was the journey of going from DJ to singer/songwriter?
It felt very natural. I started out as a singer many years ago and then I kind of fell out of love with it when I started DJing. I always had this feeling that I would come back to it when the time was right. It feels as if it’s a full circle moment to meld the two together. The more you do in music the more opportunities you create.
What would you say is your style sonically and how did you arrive to that?
My record label, Rosebud Records, really gave me the autonomy to release anything I wanted to. I didn’t see any label wanting to release a soul track and then a UKG remix of it, so I just did it myself!
The label was never about being an earner; it was about releasing dubplates. After the success of “B.O.T.A.,” that had to change slightly, but ultimately it was about me being able to put out soul, UKG and electronic dance music versions to allow me to explore those sonic sounds that I love.
What message would you want your music and artist persona to send?
Live your life and be you! Sing to soul and boogie to some garage!
What are your biggest dreams for 2024?
To ensure I maintain a healthy work-life balance. My passion is to create wicked underground dance music and I want to ensure that I always have the ability to pursue it. This year, I want to prioritize creating space for creativity.
