New Single & Video “Melt With Me” is latest from Chelsea Rose
Interview by Charlie Weinmann
The artist answered questions about the creation of her new video, practicing originality and her new partnership with Paul is Dead Records.
Charlie Weinmann: Congrats on the new releases! I know this is your first release in a long while. How does it feel to be releasing something new, and what's your philosophy surrounding releasing new content as a creative?
Chelsea Rose: Thank you! I'm really excited to be sharing something new and fresh after such a long pause! I didn't intend to release this recording. It was just a demo I made in GarageBand a few months back. I enjoy producing and arranging my music but I never trusted myself as an engineer. I think it's easy to dismiss your work when you feel like you're still learning, or don't really know what you're doing. But I've learned to trust my ears and my intuition; it sounded right and felt right, so I went with it! I did some mixing myself then I had my friend Wyatt Blair help me with the final mix and master. I've spent a lot of time in studios in the past, trying to perfect my sound, so I'm into this new approach of letting it be easy, trusting my DIY skills, and going with what feels good.
Can you tell us about the concept of this video? I love that you took the DIY approach with this one. Who collaborated and what was your vision?
I wanted the video to match the visceral feel of the lyrics—the sweet taste of ice cream, the breeze blowing, a sensual touch. I felt like the song had a summer-y vibe so I wanted to capture that. I was also feeling a '90s/Y2K vibe and I was watching Sugar Ray videos for inspiration. (I love them lol). I worked with my friend Jennifer Georgieff on this video and we shot it on her iPhone and an old DV cam. It was such a fun day of shooting! We had a picnic, rode around Highland Park in the back of my roommates' truck, and got messy with a giant ice cream cone. As much as I love a high-production video, I also love the DIY, "let's go for it see what happens" approach.
What types of emotions do you hope this song evokes in people who listen/watch?
I hope people feel sexy when they hear the song or watch the video ;)
You've released some fantastic videos in the past. I'm a huge fan of the videos for your songs "Eyes" and "Minha Velha Amiga" ... What is it about making videos that is satisfying to you? Why do you think it's important?
Thank you! I love making music videos! Having a visual aspect to my music has always been really important to me. I love the idea of creating a whole world that you can draw people into. The music paints a story that can be interpreted in many different ways, but I can take people deeper into the vision and the dream that I see in my head through a video.
I know that you've remained unsigned as a solo artist, until now! Please tell us about your decision to sign with Paul Is Dead Records and how you hope the partnership will help you in your journey.
I'm so stoked to be working with Paul Is Dead Records! To give you the back story, I have a whole album that I spent a few years working on and it's ready to go. But sometimes when you put so much into something it can be paralyzing when it's time to finally share it. Pushing through that anxiety, I started searching for labels and then the pandemic hit, so I sat on it for a year, unsure of what to do. When my good friend and collaborator, Evan Mui, started this label with his two buddies and expressed working together it was a no-brainer! Evan co-produced a few of the songs on the album with me and was there for my whole process of starting on my solo path. So it feels very aligned to be releasing this album together. I'm really grateful to be working with a team that really cares about the music. The album will be coming out on vinyl next year!
I'd like to ask about the notion of 'self creation,' which I know is something that you place great emphasis on. What does it mean to you to self create and how do you manifest that in the projects you work on? How do you ensure you're staying fresh and creating content that is unique and totally your own?
Mmm I love this concept—the idea that you can do and be anything you want to be. I think everyone has something truly unique to offer; it's just a matter of tuning into that and bringing it to life. It's a lot of work though and I know it can be easier said than done for many artists. I'm now learning to ask for help, collaborate and trust others with my vision more.
However, I'm really proud of the fact that I'm self-created. I wrote, produced and arranged my album. I shot my own album cover, created all my own album/single art and creative directed all my videos. Any aspect of "Chelsea Rose" that you encounter is truly me!
Lastly, can you tell us what to expect from Chelsea Rose over the next couple of months to a year?
Well I'm really excited to release my album, Truth or Consequences with Paul Is Dead Records. So people can stay tuned for that. But I'm also wanting to collaborate with other artists, explore more, and just have fun with music! I'm stoked to be playing with my band again and I want to play more shows.
On a personal note, I spent a lot of time doubting myself for the first few years of going solo/recording my album. With so much reflection and healing in 2020 I've learned to really trust myself and my talents. I hope to keep shining my light in a way that will hopefully ignite that spark in others!
