Meet Imogen Rose | Singer Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Imogen Rose and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Imogen, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, a special place. Walking down University Boulevard you’ll run into a perfect blend of retired hippies, children of retired hippies, college students, high schoolers, and artists of every medium. The music community is vibrant, with performers and listeners alike there to embrace a real love for the craft. Starting out at open mics when I was fifteen, I saw the same faces at every spot, and people much older and wiser took me on as a student, sharing stories and giving advice.

I spent the majority of my time in high school talking to strangers at my favorite cafe. In Manhattan, where I’m now attending college, people have this tunnel vision that they turn on to get to work or the grocery store without being completely overwhelmed by everything happening around them. At home, I have found people to be very open- ready to accept a new experience or foreign energy. As a songwriter, the good stuff lies the grey area between reality and response, and to hear different stories guided me to a more developed truth of my own. It’s these truths that I want to illuminate in my writing.

Long story short, Tucson embraced me. I was taken in and inspired to pursue music by every person I met. Opportunities were gifted to me. I grew. I learned. And I carry the curiosity instilled in me through those experiences in my life and my music.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I approach songwriting from the lens of honesty. Is this lyric communicating exactly what I am trying to say? Does it reflect the depth of the song? Do I actually believe that what I’m writing? These are some questions I find myself returning to. There’s a real balance to be found between making a song that sounds good just to write a song, and a song that feels truthful. Honestly, if I could snap out a quick song just for good practice, I would, but I’m usually too caught up in intentionality to let a filler line stay for long. Some people listen to music for the atmosphere it creates; I listen for the wisdom I can learn. I guess that’s why I tend towards folk these days rather than, I don’t know, EDM. Exploring jazz has also really opened me up to communicating through chord progressions and general -vibe- because I can follow the song where it leads me. One thing I’m truly grateful for has been the opportunity to perform, which shapes my music more than anything else. If I’m trying out a new song and there’s a line that disconnects me from the audience or the energy of the room, that’a how I know it needs to be reworked. Something I notice with musicians I enjoy that start off writing and releasing music before they perform it is that the listening experience feels less intimate. I’m trying to bring the intimacy of my performances into my recordings, rather than the other way around. I don’t usually perform my earlier work (songs off my EP) at a gig for this reason- I need a band to fill the room in order to do those songs justice. Actually, my sets are pretty much entirely filled with unreleased music. My goal on stage is to be a catalyst for connection within oneself and with the other people in the room. I’m still learning how to combine that intention with my online image and recorded work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Thou must check out:

Espresso Art Cafe
Tucson’s city’s vibrant murals scattered around the downtown area
The Miniature Museum
Gates Pass/Saguaro National Park
Groundworks’s weekly shows saturated with local bands
Nico’s Taco Shop

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, my mom, shoutout Ann Marie Chiasson, has encouraged me from the beginning to follow my love for music. She supported all musical endeavours, from coming to open mics and giving me honest feedback at the end of the night to funding and influencing the creation of my first EP. if you ever see me perform live, you’ll hear me talk about her.

I owe my initiation into the Tucson music community to Groundworks, a local youth-oriented venue. I started out there as a performer and quickly became involved in the learning opportunities they had to offer. I was taught how to do live sound engineering and put on line-ups with a crazy variety of musicians. Go to a show there sometime! The intimate setting is always filled with good people.

I also have immense gratitude to my music teachers in high school. Every cliche saying about music teachers is true- they not only deal with palpable teenage angst every single day, but cultivate it into passion. Thank you Ms. Jurman and Ms. Reed for everything.

And a thank you to Autumn Dominguez, Jonathan Hines, and the Strawberry Jam jazz session back in tucson for creating heartfelt community and playing brilliant music. They kept jazz alive in Tucson- a real gift. Saturday nights aren’t the same without it.

Website: www.imogenrosemusic.com

Instagram: @imogenrosemusic

Image Credits
Phil Kelley Photography THE GARAGE Production Company, Cindy Monroy