We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rose Rodriguez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rose below.
Rose, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Thanks for having me here. It’s hard to choose which one to talk about since each one has been so unique and special. But I can share some of my most recent ones. :)
Doing a songwriting 101 workshop for youth centers and schools partnering with the Country Music Hall of Fame has been so encouraging. For me as an artist and for them as well to write a song for the first time.
Singing and writing together has been so fulfilling and a lot of fun. Sometimes even as a professional artist and songwriter we doubt ourselves. After seeing a positive reaction to my own music and the songs we are writing on the spot, I have felt purposeful. We try to take the pressure off of songwriting, starting somewhere without being perfect, and polishing the songs along the way together.
I’m also a songwriter for the Lullaby Project Nashville, in partnership with Intersection and Carnegie Hall. They pair songwriters with moms to write songs for their babies. Some of them are in rehabilitation centers, and we hope these songs will strengthen the bond with their children to help them go through the life circumstances at hand. It has been a moving experience to be part of their lives through music, putting their dreams and hopes for their loved ones in a song.
I was also a model in a commercial print photo shoot for AIM, a survivor made clothing and jewelry brand.
As a survivor myself, it was beautiful to collaborate together, empowering each other. I have a song about that called “Yo Tambien”, in collaboration with Alison Brazil. Check out the music video for it, as part of the Ep “Rosa (Duetos)”. Each song on the Ep has a music video, I’ve had a passion for music videos ever since I was a teenager. Shout out to Andy, from Jeanz Media, for making my music video dreams come true. Special thanks to the producers of the Ep: Michia (who co-wrote and sung with me in “Hojas de Verano” and “Adios”, produced “Okay!” With Sean Ryan) and the second producer Alex Rivas (“Yo Tambien”) who brought incredible latin pop arrangements to the song. This Ep is an international collaboration celebrating different parts of the world in a mix of genres: Latin, Pop, Urban, Some elements of Rock (like in “Okay”!) and electronic music.
This year I wrote the school song for a bilingual school that opened in Nashville with Metro called “Aventura”. We recorded it in the studio, the children’s vocals make me tear up every time I hear the song. Coming soon to all digital platforms. I had a full circle moment doing this, I remembered my first time at a studio when I was a little girl too. We sung a song about children’s rights for Unicef called “Igual que Tu” (Just Like You) which won prizes in Netherlands and got translated to many languages.
I also wrote a song for Harper Hill Global and their Hearts United Campaign, to bring awareness about Hypertension in pregnant women. “Mujer = Vida” coming out on Nov.18th to all digital platforms. Now playing in radios, clinics and churches in Honduras. Coming to the U.S. soon too. The informative song and jingle is playing in 104.1 Worker’s Dignity Radio in Nashville. Visit www.heartsunited.info to learn more.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Thanks so much for this opportunity. Nice to meet everyone. I’m Rose Rodriguez, singer, songwriter, actor, model and teaching artist.
I perform with my project Rose Rodriguez, we do shows for all kinds of events and setups. Solo, Duo, Trio, Full Band. With 10+ experience performing, I’ve sung in stadiums, theaters, and small intimate venues. I love them all. There is always something beautiful about each setting.
I’m a songwriter (I write my own songs) and I also write for other projects and organizations. I started acting in commercials, film and TV, I write jingles, now adding voiceovers as well. Nashville is a great place to be for what I do.
Occasionally I also do children’s bilingual music and story times, as well as hosting kids activities on Saturdays at Plaza Mariachi. Have partnered with NPL too. Got to be part of Episode 28th of Wishing Chair Productions online variety kids show. Singing a Spanglish version of “Let’s Make a Rainbow”. That was one of my favorite memories ever.
I got in the industry very young, I’d sing in the choir, went to singing competitions, around the age of 8 was my first time at a studio, for the Unicef song I mentioned earlier. This often happens to me, I don’t know why, my first time doing something is a like a big deal kind of opportunity. I try to do my best and make it look like I know what I’m doing. Taking a leap of faith lol. Being open to learn has always been very helpful.
My first full band show when I moved to Nashville was at Exit/In. For someone coming from Honduras, to perform where other bands like The Police, Chuck Berry, Kings Of Leon and Red Hot Chilli Peppers had been, It was a surreal experience. These acts don’t even perform in Honduras.
My first high paying commercial was here in Nashville too. I almost went blank, but I envisioned me talking to a friend as I said my lines and it helped me relax and enjoy it.
I believe with my songwriting I’m trying to spread positivity, love and joy. Not joy without problems, but the joy that comes from freedom and healing. We all have had mountains to overcome and every step should be celebrated.
I am most proud of myself for not giving up on myself or my music regardless of heartbreak and difficult scenarios. It took me almost 10 years to gather all the requirements needed to obtain an artist visa, which allows me to live and work here as a musician.
I thank God, my family, friends, all of my team of musicians, videographers, producers, colleagues, mentors, and booking agents that I have now too, for joining hands, believing in what we do, and growing together. Surviving, sustaining our businesses even during a world pandemic. We did it!
I love Disney’s mission that is simply to make others happy. I’d like to do that through the shows we do and the songs we write. We performed at a quinceañera this year. Seeing her smile, dance, and even play some songs with us was so powerful. We celebrated her family’s cultural heritage too by including songs from both sides. This is what I’m here for to bring unity, celebrating diversity and love.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Something big for me has been the why I do what I do. It has kept me focused.
Maybe some might struggle to believe in my unconventional eclectic philosophies. But if we talk respectfully, I feel like we can talk about anything.
I’m a Christian, an open minded one lol. I believe in God, I have a deep rooted faith and relationship with Him. I believe in Science too, how it all makes sense together. The natural with the supernatural. How in awe I am by our creator of the universe and us.
I firmly believe we all have a mission on this earth to be light. I believe in callings, God given purpose, divine connections, His plans for us that are great, all the talents he gives us come from Him and for the benefit of mankind, so we can serve each other.
This has kept me going through the ups and downs. From the famous periods of time where I was the first female Honduran singer on MTV, when people have asked me for autographs on the street after touring the country (Honduras), to moving to a new country not knowing anyone, to starting your own solo project, to going through a divorce, to being a quarter finalist at the TV contest Tengo Talento Mucho Talento, to going full time with your business, to the low-likes periods on social media that we all go through with those algorithms that keep changing, but it doesn’t matter because if in your real life you love and like your life, nothing compares to that. I’ve realized It’s about the mission we have on earth. We are enough in Him and he sees everything. Past the momentaneous popularity, the ups and downs we might have, it’s important to stay true to ourselves and what matters to us.
Knowing this, that it’s not just so people can hear or see our talents, but about the connection we share together to actually endure and be resilient together. One smile a day. If we get to make one person smile each day, it’ makes it all worth it.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Go to shows, stream the music endlessly, haha, buy/download the music, stay engaged, be real with us, kindly, lol. Let us know what you’d like to hear from us, give us feedback, share our music/craft/art with others, get creative with content that is valuable, do reels with our music, subscribe to our channels, comment, encourage each other, by doing this we may end up picking each other up on tough days. That’s priceless when we become a community and a support system for all the ecosystem.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.roserodriguezmusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/roserodriguezmusic
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/roserodriguezmusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosarodriguez00/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/roserodriguezhn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIa43OpSd-aRHbG5XovUfQA
- Other: https://linktr.ee/roserodriguezmusic
Image Credits
Studio Pictures by: Annelise Sarah Musicians featured: Andres Silva, Ramiro Vasquez, Alejo Garces, Geva Shinar, Sean Ryan, Alex Rico Tv Show Contest: Tengo Talento Mucho Talento Performances: Tech U and Bridgestone Tower Kids events: Plaza Mariachi