We recently connected with Emily Rose and have shared our conversation below.

Emily Rose, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Ever since I can remember, I have always dreamed about being on stage, singing and playing my guitar. I would prance around my living room with the Karaoke Machine Microphone—singing any chance I could get. I played my first show in pre-school; it was at the public school talent show. I sang Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine.” Looking back, I find it funny and crazy that I sang this song as a pre-schooler. I would sing every chance I got—at local talent shows, performing the National Anthem at different events around town, anything like that. After some guitar lessons, my parents decided they wanted to help me get gigs.

At the age of 14, I sang at a local radio station show, performing “The Teddy Bear Song” by Barbara Fairchild. This paved the way to gigs at local picnics and parties, followed by me joining a Conway Twitty Tribute Band. We played all the county fairs around New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I consider this my “official” introduction to the world of singing and performing—and I was hooked.

I was the teenager locked in her bedroom, writing songs, songs, and more songs. I skipped high school events like prom in order to play live shows. When senior year came around and the question of colleges and careers were everywhere, everyone told me the same thing: If you really want a career in country music, you’ve got to move to Nashville.

About a week after my high school graduation, I made my first trip to Music City, together with my parents. We scoured the city and looked for an apartment for me. Two months later, I packed up all my belongings in a trailer, hitched behind my dad’s Suburban, and made the move to Nashville. My first seriously big risk. Except for some advice I had received, and one friend I knew who lived there, I didn’t quite know what I was getting into. Still, I dove headfirst into my dream. The same dream that pre-schooler Emily had, and I’ve never looked back.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an independent singer-songwriter living in Nashville, Tennessee. I have been living and working in Music City since 2012, honing my songwriting craft, figuring out who I was as a person, my core beliefs, and what I wanted to say as an artist.

Since 2019, I have released numerous singles and two EPs—all via my own label imprint The Growing Rose Recording Company. I am currently preparing the release of my debut album, “Welcome To Motherhood,” which is scheduled for a Winter 2025 release. It is a concept album focused on all things motherhood. The change, the healing, the depression, the challenges, the ups, the downs, the messy, and all that comes with being a mom. For me, it’s personal, as I had my first child three years ago. While I’ve always been a storyteller, now I feel more like a truth teller.

The one thing that has always helped me in my journey is hearing other people’s stories. So, for me, I cannot talk about the last few years without every lyric in these songs, and music has a history of healing. My goal is to share these stories, and help other women feel seen and heard.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My adult life feels like a constant and continuous journey of resilience. I never had a Plan B when I moved to Nashville more than 10 years ago. I quickly learned how much time, work, energy, and effort it took to become successful in this industry. I have heard things along the way—“Maybe you shouldn’t write your own songs,” “Maybe you’re not cut out to be a songwriter,” “We have too many female writers at this company already,” “Who’s going to sing that,” the comments go on and on. I may have let those words get to me now and then, but I never let them get in my way or completely stop me. If anything, I think I let it fuel me, always keeping my foot on the pedal. I decided, early on, that if I wanted to make music and make this my career, I would have to take matters into my own hands. So, I started my own label imprint, began building a team of good and honest people, and wrote and recorded songs that I wanted to share with the world.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Ever since I can remember, when I was feeling sad or alone, I would put on my headphones and let the music take me. I have always found it beautiful, that music can put feelings to words for people who can’t necessarily do it on their own. The right song can help you feel less alone, it can make you feel seen, it can make you happy, or it can turn around a bad day. When I know that a song is coming straight from the singer’s heart, I feel even more connected to it. Knowing they meant every word they sang, because they wouldn’t be singing it unless they truly felt it.

When I look at the bigger picture of what it means to be a singer, I find myself thinking about the listener. Nothing is more meaningful to me than sharing my story and knowing that the person on the other side of the headphones is maybe feeling seen for the first time—or maybe I’m helping them to communicate their own feelings or maybe my words and music are simply bringing a smile to someone’s face.

Ultimately, I want to help people and I want to make a difference. I want the music I make to be as fulfilling and healing for others as it is for me. I want to push the boundaries of honesty and storytelling. I want to connect with people on a real level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emilyroseofficial.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyroseofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyRoseNashville/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCx5Whsr0cuK9mHoKAkbEVg
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/47S4jVuPrRhfAV0j0ctV46?si=z610nx2gQpKMzQETw4DjxA

Image Credits

Main Photo Yiota Katsaitis
Green background with blue shirt photo Jim Demain
Rest Katie Mae Busby