Neu Get To Know… Rosie Alena

Describe your music to us in the form of a Tinder bio.
Introspective, ethereal and atmospheric with a taste for theatrics and a touch of love ;)

What’s your earliest musical memory?
Peeking through gaps in the crowd to see Cerys Matthews and folk band Chumbawamba at Cambridge Folk Festival aged 7. Being comforted and inspired by the sound of my mum singing musical theatre classics. Dancing to Black Eyed Peas ‘I GOTTA FEELING’ in the kitchen and front room with my Dad and sister - quite literally jumping on that sofa!

Who were some artists that inspired you when you were just starting out (and why)?
Cerys Matthews for providing me with the first ever album I owned (‘Never Said Goodbye’) and igniting my obsession with lyrics and vocal harmony, 2012 Lana Del Rey for bringing a much needed darkness to chart topping pop music at the time, Lianne La Havas for her faultless, gorgeous voice and interesting guitar parts, Carole King for her classic songwriting and rawness, Tori Amos for her quirkiness, virtuosic piano playing and for making an album (‘Under the Pink’) that I saw myself completely in and changed my whole perception of what I thought I knew.

You’re from London! What do you think of the music scene there at the moment?
It’s a thriving community driven by love of what we do and filled with an eclectic mix of interweaving genres. I feel like I’m part of a massive team of unique individuals that support and admire one another, especially within my own musical friendship circle. It’s very exciting to be a part of. There’s space being made for more typically underrepresented groups but that space could definitely get bigger.

Are there any other artists breaking through at the same time that you take inspiration from?
There’s so many! And so many divine women. Have to give a shoutout to as many as I can: Sarah Meth, Tyler Cryde, Jessi Mac, Henry Webb-Jenkins, Aga Ujma, ELSAS, bb sway, Prima Queen, CIL, Bingo Fury, Blossom Caldarone, Léa Sen, Tony Njoku, Zola Courtney & Modern Woman.

Who would be your dream collaborator?
Bjork, all the way, any day.

Musically or otherwise, what are you most looking forward to this year?
At the moment I’m definitely most looking forward to the three-week European tour I’m just about to embark on supporting Alex Cameron. Looking forward to the scenic long drives, gigging in a new city every night with fresh audiences and seeing how many elaborate charity shop dresses I can fit in my suitcase! It’s all a bit of a dream come true to be honest. Can’t quite believe it’s happening. But it is!

If people could take away one thing from your music, what would it be?
That we are complex creatures, we don’t have to be characterised by one thing and we can change our minds. My debut mini-album takes on a myriad of conflicting emotions. Women can be vulnerable, assured, indecisive, commanding, irrational, rational, powerful, ecstatic, inquisitive, audacious, sad, desirable, cruel and nurturing all in parallel. And yes, I did write all the songs.