Blake Rose

BOILER

As a dynamic vocalist, deft multi-instrumentalist, and dexterous producer, Blake Rose not only dives in and out of different sonic wavelengths, but he also attunes to experiences and emotions. Against a backdrop of glistening alternative atmospheres, hummable pop choruses, and immersive electric guitar-laden soundscapes, he lyrically places himself inside of identifiable moments and unfiltered conversations unlocked by a keen sense of empathy. You'll practically hear his memories and anecdotes unfold in real-time as he ponders the nature of nostalgia, infatuation, struggle, mental health, and family. Emerging in 2018 out of Perth, Australia, he initially gained traction with "Hotel Room," "Best of Me," and "Lady" before 2020's "Gone" exploded to the tune of 65 million Spotify streams. "Lost" picked up over 100 million streams as well. Meanwhile, his A World Gone By EP arrived to widespread critical acclaim. FLOOD hailed it as "a body of work that's easy to get lost in," while V Man dubbed him an "Artist to Watch" and FLAUNT attested, "Blake Rose is your new favorite artist." He notably sold out headline gigs on both coasts of North America in addition to sharing stages with Noah Kahan, Ashe, Boys Like Girls, girl in red, Dean Lewis, and many others on the road. Now, the Australia-born and Los Angeles-based artist chronicles a series of realizations and revelations on his 2023 EP, You'll Get It When You're Older [AWAL Recordings].

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As a dynamic vocalist, deft multi-instrumentalist, and dexterous producer, Blake Rose not only dives in and out of different sonic wavelengths, but he also attunes to experiences and emotions. Against a backdrop of glistening alternative atmospheres, hummable pop choruses, and immersive electric guitar-laden soundscapes, he lyrically places himself inside of identifiable moments and unfiltered conversations unlocked by a keen sense of empathy. You'll practically hear his memories and anecdotes unfold in real-time as he ponders the nature of nostalgia, infatuation, struggle, mental health, and family. Now, the Australia-born and Los Angeles-based artist chronicles a series of realizations and revelations on his 2023 EP, You'll Get It When You're Older [AWAL Recordings].

"As you're exposed to the world, you understand there's a lot more to it, and life isn't black-and-white," he observes. "The choices people make are heavily influenced by the lives they've lived. When you're younger, you haven't experienced much trauma, so it's easy to be naïve about life. Getting older and breaking away from your parents, there's a lot more responsibility. It's quite possible for anyone to be derailed. I've learned empathy towards the actions of others is so important. Often, they're not fully to blame for what they do; it's their circumstances. Life influences your choices."

Blake's life has continued to fascinate. Adventure and music defined his childhood in Perth, Australia. The family often embarked on long car trips before one marathon trek for three months camping across the continent. Growing up in a state of constant motion, he honed his voice, picked up guitar, and taught himself production. Busking as a teen made it possible for Blake to bounce between California and Australia as he developed a profile. Emerging in 2018, he initially gained traction with "Hotel Room," "Best of Me," and "Lady" before 2020's "Gone" exploded to the tune of 65 million Spotify streams. "Lost" picked up over 100 million streams as well. Meanwhile, his A World Gone By EP arrived to widespread critical acclaim. FLOOD hailed it as "a body of work that's easy to get lost in," while V Man dubbed him an "Artist to Watch" and FLAUNT attested, "Blake Rose is your new favorite artist." He notably sold out headline gigs on both coasts of North America in addition to sharing stages with Noah Kahan, Ashe, Boys Like Girls, girl in red, Dean Lewis, and many others on the road.

Throughout 2022, he assembled what would become You'll Get It When You're Older. Taking the reins as producer on the bulk of the material, he once again steered the vision. At the same time, his writing grew more personal, culling the project's title from a direct dialogue with his sister over a decade prior.

"My older sister was battling drug addiction — which she is thankfully now on the other side of," he says. "That period was pretty rough for our family. It had a subconscious impact on my life, and it manifested itself in some of these songs. When I was 14, she joined us on our big road trip, and she was in the depths of addiction. Since I was confused and trying to understand where she was coming from, we had a long conversation. We went back and forth, but it ended with her saying, 'You'll get it when you're older.' Those words stuck with me the whole time. As I started writing songs, our conversation would always come up. I essentially tailored the EP around the subject matter."

Throughout 2022, he set the stage for the EP with "Demon," "Magazine," "Dizzy," and "In Your Arms," which Billboard applauded as "an affecting piano ballad that showcases his skill set." On the 2023 single "Use Me," luminous guitars and keys shuffle towards a handclap-fueled chant, gasping to contain unhealthy infatuation in an irresistibly infectious chorus.

"On the surface level, it's about being attracted to somebody and lust creeping in to the point where you would let this person do anything to you," he reveals. "You're so obsessed you don't care. However, upon a closer look, one might realize the song is actually about addiction, resembling the relationship between a drug and its abuser. The substance is personified."

Then, there's "Don't Stop The Car." On the track, a glitchy beat brushes up against his breathy vocals as the momentum crashes into a hypnotic hook.

"It's about reaching a breaking point from all of the anxiety and pressure in your life building up so much you start chasing adrenaline to escape it," he reveals.

The finale "Already Be Dead" directly nods back to the aforementioned formative discussion with his sister. Acoustic guitar creaks beneath the verses, and his high-register echoes on the hook, "Oh Darling if I was you, I'd already be dead."

"'Already Be Dead' fully realizes the whole concept of You'll Get It When You're Older," he notes. "Most importantly, it further cemented the respect and admiration I had gained for my sister for making it through."

By tuning into the emotions of others, Blake ultimately delivers an authentic exploration of what it means to be human.

"When you listen to the EP, I hope you walk away with more empathy for others," he leaves off. "Try to see all sides of the story to understand the people around you. I'm in a period of my life where I'm trying to be as empathetic as possible not necessarily just with the music, but with the world. I think I'm on the right path."