Esther Rose was on a long solo drive when she started writing the opening title track of Want, her stunning fifth album. At first, the words seemed almost like a joke, something to keep herself amused as the miles passed. “I want a puppy, but I don't want a mess. I want to know where I’m going without GPS,” she sang from behind the wheel. Soon, the idea snowballed into a list of desires that spanned existential, spiritual, and mundane; romantic to platonic to familial; at once wildly ambitious yet piercingly relatable; all set to a catchy melody that blends her pop instincts with country storytelling and the raw immediacy of a basement punk show. In other words, she was on her way to another classic Esther Rose song. This precise blend has made the Santa Fe-based artist one of her generation’s most beloved songwriters: someone whose live shows are known to conclude in mass tears and group hugs. Still, something was different this time. “For me, these songs felt like revelations,” she explains, comparing the 11-song record to a memoir, alive with kinetic storytelling and personal insight. In its newly direct and stirringly nuanced writing, you’ll hear about rock bottom encounters, shifting relationships with substances, evolving perspectives on adult partnership, and, as evidenced by those early lines in “Want,” a few jokes along the way. Vivid and bracing, Want places you in the passenger seat while each of these feelings arrive. Indie Only version
Esther Rose was on a long solo drive when she started writing the opening title track of Want, her stunning fifth album. At first, the words seemed almost like a joke, something to keep herself amused as the miles passed. “I want a puppy, but I don't want a mess. I want to know where I’m going without GPS,” she sang from behind the wheel. Soon, the idea snowballed into a list of desires that spanned existential, spiritual, and mundane; romantic to platonic to familial; at once wildly ambitious yet piercingly relatable; all set to a catchy melody that blends her pop instincts with country storytelling and the raw immediacy of a basement punk show. In other words, she was on her way to another classic Esther Rose song. This precise blend has made the Santa Fe-based artist one of her generation’s most beloved songwriters: someone whose live shows are known to conclude in mass tears and group hugs. Still, something was different this time. “For me, these songs felt like revelations,” she explains, comparing the 11-song record to a memoir, alive with kinetic storytelling and personal insight. In its newly direct and stirringly nuanced writing, you’ll hear about rock bottom encounters, shifting relationships with substances, evolving perspectives on adult partnership, and, as evidenced by those early lines in “Want,” a few jokes along the way. Vivid and bracing, Want places you in the passenger seat while each of these feelings arrive. Indie Only version
Whitney Rose has never been intimidated by the unconventional. She is a driven and ambitious troubadour who is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of life on the road. Hailing from Prince Edward Island, a picturesque province off the Eastern coast of Canada, she has spent the last several years living in the heart of the Lone Star State, perfecting a beguiling Texas sound that is most certainly her own. Since releasing her first album in 2012, she has seen her star rise and has become what American Songwriter calls "one of the most talented rootsy singer/songwriters on the crowded Americana scene." Paste affirms, noting that "she has firmly etched her identity in a genre that begs for singularity simply to stand out." Her new album, "Rosie," will mark her sixth studio recording and the second on her own MCG Recordings label. "Whitney Rose is making Country Music Gold," wrote The Fader. Nothing has changed in this regard. "Rosie" is a masterpiece of storytelling, showcasing Rose's exceptional songwriting ability and undeniable talent as a performer. Recorded at Cedar Creek Studios in Austin, Texas, "Rosie" features brand new Rose-penned tracks that are sure to captivate listeners. Her voice is pure and powerful, and her writing is both witty and insightful.