Rosalie James is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from Cornwall, UK. She grew up learning piano and guitar, listening to The Beatles and The Bangles on her bright yellow Sony Walkman, weeping over the impassioned drama of 80s synth-pop and new wave, obsessing over the lyrics of 90s dreampop and indie artists and drawing inspiration from anyone who could write a good song.
Rosalie has experienced sensory sensitivities and difficulty managing emotions and social interaction since she was nine years old. She has been treated for severe depression and anxiety, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and substance use issues but it wasn’t until January 2023 that she was finally diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. For the first time, she feels able to live an authentic life. After two degrees and ten years working as a Social Worker in social care and mental health, Rosalie decided in June 2023 that it was time to return to her creative roots. Her desire to change the world abides, instead using her music to raise awareness and reduce stigma in areas including neurodiversity, domestic violence, addiction and mental health.
Rosalie’s recent Kickstarter campaign raised £5000 in 28 days on the strength of a short video including clips of her songs. She played a range of festival gigs over the summer of 2023, supported top UK pianist Ben Waters at Mylor Sessions and appeared on Radio Cornwall for some amusing and direct interviews. Her previous singles Will We Ever Rest? and her cover of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill received adds on BBC Introducing South West to huge positive response from listeners.
Rosalie writes and records prolifically and has a back catalogue of over 200 songs (growing every couple of weeks), giving her a head-start for future albums and publishing/sync deals. Her songs have already been featured on UK primetime soap opera Hollyoaks and US drama The Black Donnellys.
Rosalie’s music is expected to appeal equally to fans of classic songwriters (Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Carole King, Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Deacon Blue) and progressive and emotionally literate indie artists (Conor Oberst, Elliot Smith, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Bon Iver, boygenius, The National). She has a broad reach, with brutally honest and striking lyrics, hooky tunes, a dreamily soulful voice, and a slightly chaotic stage presence.
It is relevant that a lot of Rosalie’s forthcoming album Full of Chemicals was produced and recorded in Los Angeles. Her father lived in California during the early 70s, touring as a stage manager, roadie and lighting engineer for Grateful Dead, Wings, Santana and The Tubes. She’s spent her whole life hearing about the West Coast of the US, both the landscape and the musical influences, and this gives an interesting circular narrative. Her recent trip to Los Angeles allowed her to finalise the lead vocals for the album in Balboa Recording Studio, with producer Daniel Knowles (Sharon Van Etten).
To give an idea of the quality of work you can expect, Rosalie’s forthcoming album features contributions from Jorge Balbi (Sharon Van Etten), Lukas Frank (Storefront Church), Steve Jackson (Leo Sayer, Elkie Brooks), Garett Lang (Henry Wolfe, Lisa Loeb) and Jason Abraham Roberts (Norah Jones, Ben Kweller).
Leading single “Girl I Was” is a storytelling narrative of an important but destructive relationship from the artist’s past. The raw and honest song chronicles when someone gives one owns power away and the self growth that needs to occur to move on.
While the second song “Soft Target” “is for the generations of women who weren’t diagnosed as neurodivergent until adulthood because they just seemed A Lot. It’s for the ‘over-sensitive drama queens,’ who attracted people that liked us a little crazy and vulnerable but had nothing to give us. I’m still awkward and difficult and scared of balloons. I lost a career and I’m full of chemicals. But I’m not alone. We’re not alone,” confides Rosalie.
Third single “ISLAND” insight into the experience of parenting when you’re little more than a child yourself. It speaks of the loss and regret implicit in realising that although you did your best, it often wasn’t good enough. Rosalie James experienced severe depression, anxiety and addiction while raising two children in her late teens and early twenties. Both are now healthy, happy and confident adults, giving hope to anyone struggling with early/single parenting that love, respect and open communication can still form a solid foundation to any relationship. ISLAND features stunning vocals from LA-based musical tour de force Storefront Church (Lukas Frank).
Full of Chemicals is a lush mix of dreampop, indie rock, folk and Americana. The upcoming album is a cathartic and important listen, an autobiographical diary of the artist’s own struggles with neurodiversity, toxic relationships, addiction and mental health.
“There is so much I want to say, and the depths of terminal sadness and fleeting joy can only be properly expressed through music – any other form of communication is corrupted by confusion and doubt. Maybe feeling too much is actually feeling exactly the right amount when you’re trying to make something meaningful. Anyway, I can’t stop now.” – Rosalie James.
You can connect with Rosalie James on Instagram @rosalie_james
