We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lydia Rose a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lydia , appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

When I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a professional singer, I knew that I had to take a big risk and step out of my comfort zone. Leaving my home in Australia at the age of 18 and moving abroad to try to make it in the music industry was a huge leap of faith, but I was determined to make it work.

I decided to move to London but I didn’t know anyone in the industry, and had no connections or job prospects lined up so, needless to say, I faced a lot of challenges. I had to work multiple part-time jobs just to make ends meet, I had to live in share houses with strangers, eat only 2 minute packet noodles for breakfast/lunch/dinner, all while trying to navigate a new music scene that was very different from what I was used to in Australia.

One of the biggest risks I took was when I decided to quit my part-time jobs and focus solely on my music career. It was a scary decision, because I had no guaranteed income and no safety net, but I knew that I had to take the risk in order to fully commit to my passion.

After spending 5 + years living in the UK and honing my craft, I decided to make the move to the beautiful island of Ibiza, Spain (London is amazing but was a little too cold for my liking). Once again it was a completely different scene and culture, but I embraced the challenge and worked hard to establish myself as a singer there.

After a few years of the life on the ‘White Isle’, I then I felt the urge to move a little closer to Aus, so I did a little research on warm sunny places with a thriving music and events scene and decided to move to Bali, Indonesia (a country I had never been to before). Once again i had to start from scratch with learning a new culture, language and making new connections and working with new musicians etc. This definitely took a while to establish but I never gave up so thankfully, that risk paid off…. I started getting more gigs and before I knew it, I was performing at bigger weddings, venues and festivals – all because I took a risk and followed my heart.

I believe that taking risks is essential if you want to achieve your dreams and live a life a little on the wild side :)

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Growing up in a large Australian-Irish family, music was always a big part of my life. With 6 sisters and 2 brothers, there was always someone singing or playing an instrument in our house. It was only natural that I would follow in their footsteps and pursue a career in music.

I have a deep love for performing and entertaining people. Whether it’s at a wedding, corporate function, or any other type of event, I always strive to create a special and memorable experience for my clients and their guests. What really sets me apart as a performer is my ability to interact with the crowd and create a personalised performance that caters to their specific tastes and preferences. I’m not afraid to take countless requests on the spot, and I love nothing more than getting the audience involved and singing along.

In addition I love to combine my love of travelling with performing (hence why i haven’t lived in Australia for the majority of my adult life). For this reason I market myself as ‘The Gypsy Songstress’, drawing on my Irish heritage and the rich musical traditions of the gypsy travellers of Ireland.

Growing up, I was exposed to a wide variety of music, but I found myself drawn to the smooth, sultry sounds of jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. So you will always hear a jazzy element in my vocals, no matter the Genre Im singing.

But basically I’m a hopeless romantic. Nothing brings me more joy than performing at weddings and ensuring that everyone in the room is shedding (happy) tears at the start of the day to the never leaving the Dance Floor at the end of the night. To make this happen, I’ve assembled an incredible band and team that travel with me all over the world. Depending on the vibe, we can range from a six-piece jazz band to a DJ spinning party tunes.

For me, it’s not just about performing, it’s about creating a connection with the audience and leaving them with a lasting memory of a truly special and unique experience.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that the pandemic was a major turning point for me and the music industry and a time we had to pivot (albeit reluctantly). It hit us like a ton of bricks, and we were left reeling. In Indonesia and across Asia, I personally booked well over 100 weddings/events for 2020 alone but, as the pandemic showed no signs of slowing down, cancellations and postponements started pouring in.

At first, to be completely honest, I drowned my sorrows with wine and vodka, but eventually I snapped out of it and decided to channel my efforts into songwriting (a craft that I had neglected for years)… So I put pen and paper and started writing original music again. It was therapeutic and a real lifesaver for me, allowing me to release the stress and anxiety that I was feeling at the time.

Also during this time, and living in a developing country, I knew I wanted to give back to the community. So I put a lot of time into philanthropic endeavours like teaching vocals/choir and local orphanages, distributing donated food parcels to those in need, organising fundraisers with various charities and rescuing (and re-homing) street dogs (Shout out to Stellas Child Foundation, Bali Children Foundation, Bali Hospitality Movement and ACT for Bali Dogs for all that you do). These causes are close to my heart.

The effects of the pandemic are still being felt in Indonesia and around the world and it will take time to recover from this devastating blow. But I am happy to say that finally things start to pick up again and for that I’m eternally grateful.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

There are countless ways society can support artists and creatives, but I think it really starts at home with your friends and family and local community. The simplest thing anyone can do is attend gigs or events, or share a post promoting when someone is doing a live performance, or even just to like or comment on social media posts- it’s surprising how much of a difference even just a a little bit of support can make .

But if we start at home with friends and family to support us, it can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond our immediate circles.

In addition, I believe that both small and large businesses have a unique opportunity to support local artists by featuring their original music in their promotional materials. Instead of relying solely on popular music backed by big labels, why not showcase the amazing talent that’s right in our community? Moreover, the government can play a crucial role in nurturing our local creative scene by offering grants and other incentives (community festivals etc) to help artists thrive.

And finally, as artists, it’s also important that we support each other. I know there’s a lot of competition in the industry, but there’s enough room for everyone to succeed. By promoting and uplifting other artists, we can create a community that supports and encourages one another.

Ultimately, it’s up to all of us to do our part in supporting artists and creatives. By investing in our artists, we can create a vibrant and dynamic culture that benefits everyone.     

Contact Info:

• Website: lydiarosemusic.com
• Instagram: @lydsy
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegypsysongstress
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/lydiarosemusic
• Other: linktr.ee/thegypsysongstress

Image Credits
@ptaufiqphotography @by_dasha_almazova