September 2, 2025 • 27 mins
Olivia Rose of Oh, Rose opens Season 6 with a candid conversation about musical origins, creative evolution, and embracing life's next chapters. From her early days in Asheville, North Carolina, where her friend's mother taught her guitar at age twelve, to becoming the frontwoman of a respected indie band, Olivia's journey reveals the deep connections between personal experience and artistic expression.
Music flows naturally for Olivia, who recalls waking up as a child with songs already formed in her mind. "I will just start, a song will just come to my head, I can sing about anything that I'm doing at any given moment," she explains. This instinctive approach to songwriting has matured over time, as she translates personal moments into universal themes that resonate with listeners. Her process often begins with a thought or phrase that strikes her as particularly true, developing into fully-formed compositions that sometimes reveal their deeper meanings long after they're written.
The conversation takes a meaningful turn as Olivia, expecting her first child in September, reflects on how motherhood will influence her creative path. Rather than viewing this transition with trepidation, she approaches it with curiosity and openness. Drawing fascinating parallels between the chaos of touring life and the unpredictability of parenthood, she shares advice from a bandmate who recently became a father: "I think you're going to be surprised at how equipped you are for this and how much being in a band and this strange form of chaos that we have chosen over the years is actually going to come in handy."
Olivia's recently released EP "For Art" stands as both a creative milestone and a musical gift for her unborn child, who has been present for the creation of these songs. Though she plans to take a well-deserved break from performing, she assures us that her musical journey continues: "As long as I am writing and playing and recording music, O Rose will continue to exist and evolve." Her story reminds us that art, like life, thrives through transformation and growth.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
oh rose (00:31):
I was thinking about you I was thinking about you
Could have invested all my time.
Well, here we are back, seasonsix people.
We've got a great season linedup.
(00:52):
I mean, season five was amazing, so many great guests.
And already we have greatguests lined up for season
number six.
And I start off with a banger.
Here I have Olivia rose comingin from portland.
Is that true?
No or no?
Olympia, washington.
(01:13):
That's right.
Okay, I was thinking of thelabel.
I think the label is a portlandlabel, am I?
Oh Rose (01:20):
well, no, yeah, you are correct, anticoagulated Future
is Portland, but actually theystarted in Olympia, a house
called the Alamingo, andtechnically my whole band lives
in Portland.
I am the single holdout inOlympia.
So you got it it's Olympia andPortland Right on.
oh rose (01:44):
And I mean your music, mean we're I was just trying to
describe it a little bit toolivia before we hopped on here.
But I mean, it's such abeautiful cross mix of dream
poppy and indie, and there'ssome country tings, and there's
also some screamo in there aswell, for, uh, the metals out
there the metal heads heads, andwe're going to talk a little
bit about her latest record thatshe just put out a week ago, a
(02:09):
little EP.
She has called for art, so checkthat out too.
It's on band camp and all ofyour platforms.
Olivia, thanks so much forjoining me for this first
wonderful episode of season six.
I really appreciate you carvinga bit of time.
Now I'm going to put a littlecaveat on this one.
I really appreciate you carvinga bit of time.
Now I'm going to put a littlecaveat on this one.
I reached out to Olivia.
We're not supposed to well,we're me, it's just me here, but
(02:32):
I wasn't really going to startuntil September.
But Olivia is expecting and Ijust so wanted to talk about
this record and make sure thatshe has some good things to
listen to when she hitsmotherhood.
So, olivia, thanks so much forthis.
I really appreciate you hoppingon here.
Oh Rose (02:50):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
I'm happy to be here.
oh rose (02:53):
So, olivia, let's get this conversation started with a
little rewind in the history abit, and I like asking artists
kind of like where it allstarted to begin for them.
Oh Rose (03:16):
I like asking artists, kind of like where it all
started to begin for them, someof those salient moments where
it was like, yeah, that's wherethings started to happen for my
music and do you have some ofthere?
So I grew up in asheville,north carolina, so I'm
originally from the south, myfamily's from the south um of
the us and, um, when I was like12 or 13, um, my friend, one of
(03:40):
my best friend's mom, she was inum, she was in a bunch of bands
so she was in like doo-wopbands, kind of kind of some
country bands, and she's the onethat taught me how to play
guitar.
Um, and she was just cool.
She was a young mom, soprobably in her you know 30s,
when we were all like 12, 13 andjust I don't know just cool,
(04:02):
and her, her friends were cool.
And then me and her daughter,zara, and a bunch of our friends
, a group of girls, we were alllearning how to play guitar,
bass, drums, and we started aband called the Hissy Fits and I
just, and we had one song so wewould play over and over and
(04:23):
over again.
But yeah, it was just and wehad one song so we would play
over and over and over again.
But yeah, it was just.
It was just like cool, it was acool community and I think that
that's what really, and Idiscovered so much music through
that.
So it was like the breeders Igot breeders, Kristen Hirschsch.
(04:47):
That was a really big influencemuses and yeah yeah, throwing
muses, it's huge.
Oh my, I've loved throwingmusic.
I don't know if you ever heardof that dog um that was a big
influence yes um.
So it's all of these kind of undall of these influences from
kind of Gen X like yeah, there'sthis band DQE, and then you
(05:12):
know, you know, like alsolistening, like driving her mom
crazy, listening to like myChemical Romance and like you
know, but yeah, that's kind ofthe origins of me as a
songwriter musician.
I'd always been singing, butthat was kind of the origins of
me as a songwriter musician.
I'd always been singing, butthat was kind of the start, I
would say, of music.
oh rose (05:32):
Was that a big interest of yours?
Also, though, to write songs.
Like you talked about theinfluence of your mom's friend,
your friend's mom, and that theywere doing it and like you,
kind of like.
I mean, I remember these samesame types of stories, just
idolizing singers andsongwriters and bands, just like
, just like holier than thou,like untouchable.
(05:53):
How, how did you, how did youfind your way into saying, okay,
I'm gonna, I'm gonna try towrite some songs like you're,
you were learning guitar andlike what were kind?
of like your inspirations, tostart saying, yeah, I'm gonna
give it a shot and see whathappens so I'd always been
writing songs since I canremember.
Oh Rose (06:12):
I remember when I and to this day I will just start, I
will song will just come to myhead, I can sing about anything
that I'm doing at any givenmoment, and so, like I used to
wake up, I remember as a littlekid probably earliest memory I
have a memory vividly of wakingup and just having a song in my
head and writing it in myjournal.
(06:34):
So it was always acapella, andso I think that introducing the
guitar kind of made it more likesolidified it and structure.
You know we have burst, chorus,bridge, um, but always, always
writing songs, always writinglittle doodles, um, and always
(06:54):
saying and like what?
oh rose (06:58):
what brings those seeds into your, your, your mind?
Like, did they tend to like beconnected to experience you
might have had?
Or a thought?
Or like where do you, where doyou get your inspiration from
when you're writing your songs?
Oh Rose (07:14):
Probably a lot of the times it's from a thought or
something someone has said thathas inspired, felt very true in
a, in a moment I don't know ifthat that's the best way I can
describe it A lot of the times,um, or yeah, or an inside,
(07:40):
almost like an inside joke, ornot even just something that,
something that resonates in away that you I think that that's
the most exciting part aboutsongwriting is that when you can
kind of and I would saystorytelling, writing in general
when you can tie in, you'retrying to translate something
(08:02):
that really impacts youpersonally, but then creating a
thematic, almost like narrative,something cohesive out of that,
so little snippets of thoughtor what I hear, what someone
says, um, something thatinspires.
oh rose (08:17):
That yeah and then the, the actual song, the verse,
chorus, etc.
Is kind of is it you figuringout that one kind of thesis of
the song and then workingthrough, like, the new things
come out of the song as you'rewriting it, so it may be
inspired by a thought or a theme, and then it, everything just
(08:38):
starts flooding out fromexperience and absolutely.
Oh Rose (08:42):
Yeah, like or like, yeah, starting with like a
mantra of words, you know, maybea chorus and repeating, and
then how does this and all theseother words?
And the best part is when youdon't even know what that is
about and then later it becomesclear.
So definitely.
oh rose (09:01):
You know, I'm going to give you an example of that
because I love how you justdescribed it.
And so I listened to the songthe Call, right, it came out in
2024.
I think you released it as asingle and then it appeared on
Dorothy Is that?
I think that's the timelinethere.
I just felt that that song,after I'd heard that you were
(09:22):
pregnant, that the Call changedits meaning for me a little bit
and then it kind of startedbecoming a little bit of a baby
song or a sense that a growingfamily or something that was new
was coming and that I was ready.
I'm not dreaming about itanymore.
The call has come in and I'mgoing for it.
(09:42):
So when you said that, Istarted to think about that song
and what I knew about it, basedon what you had told me and how
this story started to unfoldwith it now I have no idea if
that's what you're writing about, but I think that it works
nicely with the lyrics that youwould put together and then kind
of knowing a little bit aboutyour experiences yeah, it's been
(10:04):
interesting how that's anotherthing where songs you can kind
of just maybe that's somethingthat I don't know.
Oh Rose (10:13):
I think that that makes it feel more almost universal,
or it can have differentapplications depending on
context.
Context, um, I wrote that, uh,when we got a call, we got asked
(10:33):
to go on tour in 2021.
So it was during right, socovid, I mean right, um, and uh,
we were touring with futureislands, or asked to tour, and
we're, the tour is going tostart in like three days,
because one of the bands thatwas supposed to open for them,
uh, their visas didn't getapproved and so they had called
us up and, um, and it was justthat deciding moment.
(10:55):
I also had really not beenplaying, I mean, since since
covid started.
So there was a lot of, um, kindof fear and uncertainty there,
and I think that that was also aturning point for me to start
saying yes in different ways.
And, similarly, I think thatthat's definitely what my
(11:19):
experience has been likeentering into motherhood and
like that, yes, like yes, yes,yes, okay.
I'm going to take it this iswhat life is, is telling me.
It's, this is what life iscalling me to do in this moment,
and and that's what I'm goingto do.
oh rose (11:35):
Yeah, I love that too.
I read that you and your, yourbandmates, when you're touring,
you always try to go and seewhoever's family that you're
closest to or like.
Family is a very important partof not only the band itself and
its um strength over all theseyears I mean, you guys have been
doing this since 2014 but thatalso you have this connection to
(12:00):
family, like family.
Family seems very important tothe band itself, like the bigger
family as well.
Um, yeah, can you talk to thata little bit?
Oh Rose (12:09):
yeah, I think I mean we know, I know all my bandmates
family.
So I mean, stevie, I was juston a pontoon boat with his uh,
his parents and his, his sisters, um, one of them was in town
from texas with her husband andwe were just full like the
fastest pontoon.
I didn't know pontoon boatscould go that fast, um, and it
(12:30):
was a blast.
But we all know each other'sfamily.
I mean, we have all becomefamily.
Also, our families are kind ofspread out all throughout the US
.
So I think that thatrelationship, knowing each
other's families, also continuesto anchor us in as a family, as
(12:52):
this kind of found family.
But then, um, yeah, and like,from our parents I've met and
our siblings and it's just thisreally awesome.
I don't know, yeah, when I seetheir, their families or their
parents or I know I'm friendswith their siblings and um, and
vice versa, and their siblingsknow my brother and it's just
(13:13):
this whole really cool uh, world, you know.
oh rose (13:18):
I love that, I mean it.
It does, um, help the bandmanage.
I'm sure I mean I've spoken tomany bands where I mean the
first thing they say is, if youguys aren't good together as a
group, forget about music.
You know, like you can pretendfor so long, only so long, until
you know the reality hits youin the face.
(13:40):
What do you think the longevityhas been, or some of the
recipes or tips and tricks thatyou could share, having a band
that you feel this close to andthat you've really evolved as a
band over the, you know, overthis last decade?
Oh Rose (13:56):
Yeah, I think just having genuine respect and care
for one another as people, notjust as I mean, we've bonded,
we've bonded through music, theshared experience of being on
the road, very, it's, it's hard,and we just genuinely enjoy
each other's company and it's soit's hard to describe it,
(14:30):
describe it just.
I just feel so lucky to havethe people, these people, in my
life and the community that ithas given me is quite amazing,
and I think it's really palpablewhen people are around us.
oh rose (14:42):
Um, so, yeah, I love that and what are your biggest
nervousness is about bringing alife into the world, or flip it
on its head, the biggest.
I mean the joys are prettyobvious, but like it's going to
start battling with your, yourmusic.
(15:03):
Um, when you bring a new humanin, how, how do you, how are you
starting to get your mindsetaround having to have?
You'll have this little personto care for 24, seven, all the
time.
Where, where are you at withthat?
And it's kind of conflictingwith your, your, your, your
(15:27):
music and how, how you thinkyou're going to manage all that.
Oh Rose (15:29):
Mm-hmm.
Well, it's definitely going tomake coordinating a little more
difficult, I would say, or moreof a challenge.
And oh man, I don't know, Ijust so.
Also the bassist in a rose then, um, he just had a baby in
(15:50):
february, so, and I mean, we'replaying, he's making it, it's
you know, we're just gonna makeit work.
the thing is is I have beentrying to get away from like the
grind of touring and doing thatfor a while Now.
It is actually detracted fromme as an artist and making art,
(16:13):
um, because you get sucked up inpromotion and album cycle or
all of and then touring and it'sand it's hard and that is an
okay thing for me to put a pauseon right now.
That's prior to baby, so the24-7, I mean we'll just take it
(16:36):
as it comes.
You know, I think I've built areally beautiful life to raise a
child in, and so, and I knowit's going to be hard, um, and I
think that I'm up for that.
And speaking with ben um, theother, a couple weeks ago, you
know I was talking about thesefears and like gosh, this is
(16:58):
gonna be brutal, and he was.
He was saying to me, you know,dad, now for about six months,
and then he's like, honestly,olivia, I think you're going to
be really surprised at howequipped you are for this and
how much being in a band andthis really strange form of
(17:21):
chaos that we have chosen overthe years is actually going to
come in handy, uh, for you inthis in this role and it was
really cool to hear that becausehe's like, I mean we've lived
in like a van, or I mean ourfirst doors in a subaru for two
months like no sleep insane,insane people and like, and it's
(17:44):
gonna be different, um, but Ithink that also, hopefully, um,
I can remember to find joy andmeaning and curiosity in the
experience, because I think thathas been a core part of of all
of it.
It's like, how does this, how doI translate this into meaning
(18:07):
through my music?
How do I get curious orinterested or excited and what's
happening to me at this momentin my life and then maybe
translate that to music?
So, yeah, we'll see.
I don't know, or maybe it'sgonna really suck.
Well, I'm sure there are goingto be moments where it sucks,
but I know there's going toreally suck.
oh rose (18:24):
Well, I'm sure there are going to be moments where it
sucks, but I know there's goingto be far more moments that are
joyful and happy.
I'm excited I'm speaking from.
I've done this three times andyou know, actually it's funny
You're welcoming a child in andmy last child just left for
college, so I have an emptyhouse now.
It's just, it goes so fast,fast.
(18:48):
So I'm saying in a really goodway, but I like what you said of
cherishing and and you knowseeing how life unfolds in front
of you with whateverexperiences you have, don't
resist.
Oh Rose (18:59):
I can't like I can't.
I I took the call like I madethis I this.
Nobody did this to me.
Well, I guess my husband.
But you know, whatever, we weredoing it, so it's good.
oh rose (19:12):
That's cool, that's cool.
And kind of thinking about thenewborn coming in.
I kind of had I put it as aquestion of like what?
What song from oh Rose would bethe first song that you think
that your newborn would likeconnect to, or like soothe them,
or like what song of yours youwant your baby to hear of yours?
Oh Rose (19:35):
I think, yeah, I mean that question.
Um, it's so funny.
I asked my husband this, andhe's like baby, and it's, I have
a song from uh while myfather's baby, and I was like
baby, and I have a song fromWhile my Father Sleeps, called
Baby, and I was like no, no, no,that's not going to soothe this
child, and I do think, though,that, honestly, any of the songs
(19:55):
from the EP, from For Artbecause I recorded them and was
playing them while he's been inmy body, you know, so he knows
those songs and I love thesesongs, and I think, out of all
of those, maybe a toast, becauseI think that that's kind of
(20:16):
this.
It just sums up the fear, thehopefulness of what is to come,
and I think that it's reallyabout just it doesn't shy away
from the fear of of uh, startinga family and doing this and
(20:39):
choosing um, making choices thathave led to really ultimately
birth this birth in this nextchapter, but, um, I think just
any song from the ep is going tobe a little lullaby for him.
oh rose (20:53):
Now I'm curious to see if it soothes them, you know
well, I really love this ep, umand I, before we hopped on um, I
was just talking about yourcatalog and the evolution I felt
of it from this raw grungy, youknow, like indie rocky, to like
(21:15):
these really heartfelt ballads.
You know, I just love the waythat you guys weaved and I mean
from like the record Seven.
I mean, is it that track too?
That's kind of your screamingtrack or one of your screaming
tracks.
Oh Rose (21:31):
Oh yeah, Seven, yeah the song.
Seven from Seven yeah.
oh rose (21:35):
Unbelievable, like your range is just dramatically
amazing, and I've really, reallyappreciated that.
This new EP, olivia, to kind ofwrap things up, what?
Where are you leaving Old Rose,like as you embark on?
Oh Rose (21:58):
this new journey in life.
Where are you placing it?
On your bookshelf?
On my bookshelf, so definitelytaking maternity leave from
playing live shows, for I'd sayI mean baby's coming in
September, I'd say at least sixmonths, but also, you never know
.
I say this all the time andthen someone's going to probably
ask me and I'll you know.
colleyc (22:18):
I'll do it.
Oh Rose (22:20):
But I would say sticking close to home, unless
something really you know.
I say that I don't know, butO-Rose is not.
It's not stopping, it's notgoing anywhere.
Basically, as long as I amwriting and playing and
recording music, o-rose willcontinue to exist and evolve.
(22:40):
So I think I'm really excitedto see what songs are going to
come from this next chapter.
I can't wait to write somesongs inspired by my child.
oh rose (22:55):
I can't wait either they're going to be amazing.
Amazing.
colleyc (22:59):
What inspiration.
oh rose (23:01):
Well, I wish you all the best libya in uh september
onward.
Oh Rose (23:06):
Um, I'd love to touch base to uh once the baby's here,
just to see if you're doing allright yeah, yeah, reach out um
and totally get a little littlecrying clip maybe I'll be, like
man, this is, this is I'll let,I'll let you know, I'll give,
I'll be honest.
oh rose (23:27):
Cool, Cool, Well, and and congrats on this new EP too.
I'm glad that it came outbefore life takes a, shifts in a
in a in a different directionfor a while, but, um, I think
you left us with some reallygreat tunes to enjoy while you
become a mother and uh, andbecome a parent.
So all the best with that andI'll, like I said, I'll keep in
(23:51):
touch and the next time Rosecomes out we'll have you back
and we'll talk about the recordand the kid and how it's gone.
Oh Rose (23:58):
Yeah.
Love it Wait for thoselullabies coming down the peg.
oh rose (24:04):
Right on, Right on Well thanks.
colleyc (24:24):
How about raising a toast before the wine turns
crush?
How about raising your eyes Tomake mine for good luck again?
(24:49):
How about raising a family thatstays together?
How about raising a boy to theceiling, to the charter and all
(25:14):
these doubts?
I am terrified.
Guitar solo.
(25:37):
How about raising yourself upoff the couch Cause you don't
wanna talk back?
How about raising my voice?
(25:57):
How about raising the phone tocall your mom and tell her what
went wrong?
To run all these doubts andtake me far, but it's only water
(26:21):
Coming out the eye.
And if all the weight ofeverything, let this last
forever, we'll be fine.
We'll be fine, we'll be fine.
How about laying it all out onthe table, your hopes and all
(26:59):
you're able to share?
How about holding my hand?
How about going to bed with allyour worries?
And no one can be more than Ihave all these doubts.
(27:23):
I'm terrified.
I was thinking about you I was thinking about you
Could have invested all my time.
Well, here we are back, seasonsix people.
We've got a great season linedup.
(00:52):
I mean, season five was amazing, so many great guests.
And already we have greatguests lined up for season
number six.
And I start off with a banger.
Here I have Olivia rose comingin from portland.
Is that true?
No or no?
Olympia, washington.
(01:13):
That's right.
Okay, I was thinking of thelabel.
I think the label is a portlandlabel, am I?
Oh Rose (01:20):
well, no, yeah, you are correct, anticoagulated Future
is Portland, but actually theystarted in Olympia, a house
called the Alamingo, andtechnically my whole band lives
in Portland.
I am the single holdout inOlympia.
So you got it it's Olympia andPortland Right on.
oh rose (01:44):
And I mean your music, mean we're I was just trying to
describe it a little bit toolivia before we hopped on here.
But I mean, it's such abeautiful cross mix of dream
poppy and indie, and there'ssome country tings, and there's
also some screamo in there aswell, for, uh, the metals out
there the metal heads heads, andwe're going to talk a little
bit about her latest record thatshe just put out a week ago, a
(02:09):
little EP.
She has called for art, so checkthat out too.
It's on band camp and all ofyour platforms.
Olivia, thanks so much forjoining me for this first
wonderful episode of season six.
I really appreciate you carvinga bit of time.
Now I'm going to put a littlecaveat on this one.
I really appreciate you carvinga bit of time.
Now I'm going to put a littlecaveat on this one.
I reached out to Olivia.
We're not supposed to well,we're me, it's just me here, but
(02:32):
I wasn't really going to startuntil September.
But Olivia is expecting and Ijust so wanted to talk about
this record and make sure thatshe has some good things to
listen to when she hitsmotherhood.
So, olivia, thanks so much forthis.
I really appreciate you hoppingon here.
Oh Rose (02:50):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
I'm happy to be here.
oh rose (02:53):
So, olivia, let's get this conversation started with a
little rewind in the history abit, and I like asking artists
kind of like where it allstarted to begin for them.
Oh Rose (03:16):
I like asking artists, kind of like where it all
started to begin for them, someof those salient moments where
it was like, yeah, that's wherethings started to happen for my
music and do you have some ofthere?
So I grew up in asheville,north carolina, so I'm
originally from the south, myfamily's from the south um of
the us and, um, when I was like12 or 13, um, my friend, one of
(03:40):
my best friend's mom, she was inum, she was in a bunch of bands
so she was in like doo-wopbands, kind of kind of some
country bands, and she's the onethat taught me how to play
guitar.
Um, and she was just cool.
She was a young mom, soprobably in her you know 30s,
when we were all like 12, 13 andjust I don't know just cool,
(04:02):
and her, her friends were cool.
And then me and her daughter,zara, and a bunch of our friends
, a group of girls, we were alllearning how to play guitar,
bass, drums, and we started aband called the Hissy Fits and I
just, and we had one song so wewould play over and over and
(04:23):
over again.
But yeah, it was just and wehad one song so we would play
over and over and over again.
But yeah, it was just.
It was just like cool, it was acool community and I think that
that's what really, and Idiscovered so much music through
that.
So it was like the breeders Igot breeders, Kristen Hirschsch.
(04:47):
That was a really big influencemuses and yeah yeah, throwing
muses, it's huge.
Oh my, I've loved throwingmusic.
I don't know if you ever heardof that dog um that was a big
influence yes um.
So it's all of these kind of undall of these influences from
kind of Gen X like yeah, there'sthis band DQE, and then you
(05:12):
know, you know, like alsolistening, like driving her mom
crazy, listening to like myChemical Romance and like you
know, but yeah, that's kind ofthe origins of me as a
songwriter musician.
I'd always been singing, butthat was kind of the origins of
me as a songwriter musician.
I'd always been singing, butthat was kind of the start, I
would say, of music.
oh rose (05:32):
Was that a big interest of yours?
Also, though, to write songs.
Like you talked about theinfluence of your mom's friend,
your friend's mom, and that theywere doing it and like you,
kind of like.
I mean, I remember these samesame types of stories, just
idolizing singers andsongwriters and bands, just like
, just like holier than thou,like untouchable.
(05:53):
How, how did you, how did youfind your way into saying, okay,
I'm gonna, I'm gonna try towrite some songs like you're,
you were learning guitar andlike what were kind?
of like your inspirations, tostart saying, yeah, I'm gonna
give it a shot and see whathappens so I'd always been
writing songs since I canremember.
Oh Rose (06:12):
I remember when I and to this day I will just start, I
will song will just come to myhead, I can sing about anything
that I'm doing at any givenmoment, and so, like I used to
wake up, I remember as a littlekid probably earliest memory I
have a memory vividly of wakingup and just having a song in my
head and writing it in myjournal.
(06:34):
So it was always acapella, andso I think that introducing the
guitar kind of made it more likesolidified it and structure.
You know we have burst, chorus,bridge, um, but always, always
writing songs, always writinglittle doodles, um, and always
(06:54):
saying and like what?
oh rose (06:58):
what brings those seeds into your, your, your mind?
Like, did they tend to like beconnected to experience you
might have had?
Or a thought?
Or like where do you, where doyou get your inspiration from
when you're writing your songs?
Oh Rose (07:14):
Probably a lot of the times it's from a thought or
something someone has said thathas inspired, felt very true in
a, in a moment I don't know ifthat that's the best way I can
describe it A lot of the times,um, or yeah, or an inside,
(07:40):
almost like an inside joke, ornot even just something that,
something that resonates in away that you I think that that's
the most exciting part aboutsongwriting is that when you can
kind of and I would saystorytelling, writing in general
when you can tie in, you'retrying to translate something
(08:02):
that really impacts youpersonally, but then creating a
thematic, almost like narrative,something cohesive out of that,
so little snippets of thoughtor what I hear, what someone
says, um, something thatinspires.
oh rose (08:17):
That yeah and then the, the actual song, the verse,
chorus, etc.
Is kind of is it you figuringout that one kind of thesis of
the song and then workingthrough, like, the new things
come out of the song as you'rewriting it, so it may be
inspired by a thought or a theme, and then it, everything just
(08:38):
starts flooding out fromexperience and absolutely.
Oh Rose (08:42):
Yeah, like or like, yeah, starting with like a
mantra of words, you know, maybea chorus and repeating, and
then how does this and all theseother words?
And the best part is when youdon't even know what that is
about and then later it becomesclear.
So definitely.
oh rose (09:01):
You know, I'm going to give you an example of that
because I love how you justdescribed it.
And so I listened to the songthe Call, right, it came out in
2024.
I think you released it as asingle and then it appeared on
Dorothy Is that?
I think that's the timelinethere.
I just felt that that song,after I'd heard that you were
(09:22):
pregnant, that the Call changedits meaning for me a little bit
and then it kind of startedbecoming a little bit of a baby
song or a sense that a growingfamily or something that was new
was coming and that I was ready.
I'm not dreaming about itanymore.
The call has come in and I'mgoing for it.
(09:42):
So when you said that, Istarted to think about that song
and what I knew about it, basedon what you had told me and how
this story started to unfoldwith it now I have no idea if
that's what you're writing about, but I think that it works
nicely with the lyrics that youwould put together and then kind
of knowing a little bit aboutyour experiences yeah, it's been
(10:04):
interesting how that's anotherthing where songs you can kind
of just maybe that's somethingthat I don't know.
Oh Rose (10:13):
I think that that makes it feel more almost universal,
or it can have differentapplications depending on
context.
Context, um, I wrote that, uh,when we got a call, we got asked
(10:33):
to go on tour in 2021.
So it was during right, socovid, I mean right, um, and uh,
we were touring with futureislands, or asked to tour, and
we're, the tour is going tostart in like three days,
because one of the bands thatwas supposed to open for them,
uh, their visas didn't getapproved and so they had called
us up and, um, and it was justthat deciding moment.
(10:55):
I also had really not beenplaying, I mean, since since
covid started.
So there was a lot of, um, kindof fear and uncertainty there,
and I think that that was also aturning point for me to start
saying yes in different ways.
And, similarly, I think thatthat's definitely what my
(11:19):
experience has been likeentering into motherhood and
like that, yes, like yes, yes,yes, okay.
I'm going to take it this iswhat life is, is telling me.
It's, this is what life iscalling me to do in this moment,
and and that's what I'm goingto do.
oh rose (11:35):
Yeah, I love that too.
I read that you and your, yourbandmates, when you're touring,
you always try to go and seewhoever's family that you're
closest to or like.
Family is a very important partof not only the band itself and
its um strength over all theseyears I mean, you guys have been
doing this since 2014 but thatalso you have this connection to
(12:00):
family, like family.
Family seems very important tothe band itself, like the bigger
family as well.
Um, yeah, can you talk to thata little bit?
Oh Rose (12:09):
yeah, I think I mean we know, I know all my bandmates
family.
So I mean, stevie, I was juston a pontoon boat with his uh,
his parents and his, his sisters, um, one of them was in town
from texas with her husband andwe were just full like the
fastest pontoon.
I didn't know pontoon boatscould go that fast, um, and it
(12:30):
was a blast.
But we all know each other'sfamily.
I mean, we have all becomefamily.
Also, our families are kind ofspread out all throughout the US
.
So I think that thatrelationship, knowing each
other's families, also continuesto anchor us in as a family, as
(12:52):
this kind of found family.
But then, um, yeah, and like,from our parents I've met and
our siblings and it's just thisreally awesome.
I don't know, yeah, when I seetheir, their families or their
parents or I know I'm friendswith their siblings and um, and
vice versa, and their siblingsknow my brother and it's just
(13:13):
this whole really cool uh, world, you know.
oh rose (13:18):
I love that, I mean it.
It does, um, help the bandmanage.
I'm sure I mean I've spoken tomany bands where I mean the
first thing they say is, if youguys aren't good together as a
group, forget about music.
You know, like you can pretendfor so long, only so long, until
you know the reality hits youin the face.
(13:40):
What do you think the longevityhas been, or some of the
recipes or tips and tricks thatyou could share, having a band
that you feel this close to andthat you've really evolved as a
band over the, you know, overthis last decade?
Oh Rose (13:56):
Yeah, I think just having genuine respect and care
for one another as people, notjust as I mean, we've bonded,
we've bonded through music, theshared experience of being on
the road, very, it's, it's hard,and we just genuinely enjoy
each other's company and it's soit's hard to describe it,
(14:30):
describe it just.
I just feel so lucky to havethe people, these people, in my
life and the community that ithas given me is quite amazing,
and I think it's really palpablewhen people are around us.
oh rose (14:42):
Um, so, yeah, I love that and what are your biggest
nervousness is about bringing alife into the world, or flip it
on its head, the biggest.
I mean the joys are prettyobvious, but like it's going to
start battling with your, yourmusic.
(15:03):
Um, when you bring a new humanin, how, how do you, how are you
starting to get your mindsetaround having to have?
You'll have this little personto care for 24, seven, all the
time.
Where, where are you at withthat?
And it's kind of conflictingwith your, your, your, your
(15:27):
music and how, how you thinkyou're going to manage all that.
Oh Rose (15:29):
Mm-hmm.
Well, it's definitely going tomake coordinating a little more
difficult, I would say, or moreof a challenge.
And oh man, I don't know, Ijust so.
Also the bassist in a rose then, um, he just had a baby in
(15:50):
february, so, and I mean, we'replaying, he's making it, it's
you know, we're just gonna makeit work.
the thing is is I have beentrying to get away from like the
grind of touring and doing thatfor a while Now.
It is actually detracted fromme as an artist and making art,
(16:13):
um, because you get sucked up inpromotion and album cycle or
all of and then touring and it'sand it's hard and that is an
okay thing for me to put a pauseon right now.
That's prior to baby, so the24-7, I mean we'll just take it
(16:36):
as it comes.
You know, I think I've built areally beautiful life to raise a
child in, and so, and I knowit's going to be hard, um, and I
think that I'm up for that.
And speaking with ben um, theother, a couple weeks ago, you
know I was talking about thesefears and like gosh, this is
(16:58):
gonna be brutal, and he was.
He was saying to me, you know,dad, now for about six months,
and then he's like, honestly,olivia, I think you're going to
be really surprised at howequipped you are for this and
how much being in a band andthis really strange form of
(17:21):
chaos that we have chosen overthe years is actually going to
come in handy, uh, for you inthis in this role and it was
really cool to hear that becausehe's like, I mean we've lived
in like a van, or I mean ourfirst doors in a subaru for two
months like no sleep insane,insane people and like, and it's
(17:44):
gonna be different, um, but Ithink that also, hopefully, um,
I can remember to find joy andmeaning and curiosity in the
experience, because I think thathas been a core part of of all
of it.
It's like, how does this, how doI translate this into meaning
(18:07):
through my music?
How do I get curious orinterested or excited and what's
happening to me at this momentin my life and then maybe
translate that to music?
So, yeah, we'll see.
I don't know, or maybe it'sgonna really suck.
Well, I'm sure there are goingto be moments where it sucks,
but I know there's going toreally suck.
oh rose (18:24):
Well, I'm sure there are going to be moments where it
sucks, but I know there's goingto be far more moments that are
joyful and happy.
I'm excited I'm speaking from.
I've done this three times andyou know, actually it's funny
You're welcoming a child in andmy last child just left for
college, so I have an emptyhouse now.
It's just, it goes so fast,fast.
(18:48):
So I'm saying in a really goodway, but I like what you said of
cherishing and and you knowseeing how life unfolds in front
of you with whateverexperiences you have, don't
resist.
Oh Rose (18:59):
I can't like I can't.
I I took the call like I madethis I this.
Nobody did this to me.
Well, I guess my husband.
But you know, whatever, we weredoing it, so it's good.
oh rose (19:12):
That's cool, that's cool.
And kind of thinking about thenewborn coming in.
I kind of had I put it as aquestion of like what?
What song from oh Rose would bethe first song that you think
that your newborn would likeconnect to, or like soothe them,
or like what song of yours youwant your baby to hear of yours?
Oh Rose (19:35):
I think, yeah, I mean that question.
Um, it's so funny.
I asked my husband this, andhe's like baby, and it's, I have
a song from uh while myfather's baby, and I was like
baby, and I have a song fromWhile my Father Sleeps, called
Baby, and I was like no, no, no,that's not going to soothe this
child, and I do think, though,that, honestly, any of the songs
(19:55):
from the EP, from For Artbecause I recorded them and was
playing them while he's been inmy body, you know, so he knows
those songs and I love thesesongs, and I think, out of all
of those, maybe a toast, becauseI think that that's kind of
(20:16):
this.
It just sums up the fear, thehopefulness of what is to come,
and I think that it's reallyabout just it doesn't shy away
from the fear of of uh, startinga family and doing this and
(20:39):
choosing um, making choices thathave led to really ultimately
birth this birth in this nextchapter, but, um, I think just
any song from the ep is going tobe a little lullaby for him.
oh rose (20:53):
Now I'm curious to see if it soothes them, you know
well, I really love this ep, umand I, before we hopped on um, I
was just talking about yourcatalog and the evolution I felt
of it from this raw grungy, youknow, like indie rocky, to like
(21:15):
these really heartfelt ballads.
You know, I just love the waythat you guys weaved and I mean
from like the record Seven.
I mean, is it that track too?
That's kind of your screamingtrack or one of your screaming
tracks.
Oh Rose (21:31):
Oh yeah, Seven, yeah the song.
Seven from Seven yeah.
oh rose (21:35):
Unbelievable, like your range is just dramatically
amazing, and I've really, reallyappreciated that.
This new EP, olivia, to kind ofwrap things up, what?
Where are you leaving Old Rose,like as you embark on?
Oh Rose (21:58):
this new journey in life.
Where are you placing it?
On your bookshelf?
On my bookshelf, so definitelytaking maternity leave from
playing live shows, for I'd sayI mean baby's coming in
September, I'd say at least sixmonths, but also, you never know
.
I say this all the time andthen someone's going to probably
ask me and I'll you know.
colleyc (22:18):
I'll do it.
Oh Rose (22:20):
But I would say sticking close to home, unless
something really you know.
I say that I don't know, butO-Rose is not.
It's not stopping, it's notgoing anywhere.
Basically, as long as I amwriting and playing and
recording music, o-rose willcontinue to exist and evolve.
(22:40):
So I think I'm really excitedto see what songs are going to
come from this next chapter.
I can't wait to write somesongs inspired by my child.
oh rose (22:55):
I can't wait either they're going to be amazing.
Amazing.
colleyc (22:59):
What inspiration.
oh rose (23:01):
Well, I wish you all the best libya in uh september
onward.
Oh Rose (23:06):
Um, I'd love to touch base to uh once the baby's here,
just to see if you're doing allright yeah, yeah, reach out um
and totally get a little littlecrying clip maybe I'll be, like
man, this is, this is I'll let,I'll let you know, I'll give,
I'll be honest.
oh rose (23:27):
Cool, Cool, Well, and and congrats on this new EP too.
I'm glad that it came outbefore life takes a, shifts in a
in a in a different directionfor a while, but, um, I think
you left us with some reallygreat tunes to enjoy while you
become a mother and uh, andbecome a parent.
So all the best with that andI'll, like I said, I'll keep in
(23:51):
touch and the next time Rosecomes out we'll have you back
and we'll talk about the recordand the kid and how it's gone.
Oh Rose (23:58):
Yeah.
Love it Wait for thoselullabies coming down the peg.
oh rose (24:04):
Right on, Right on Well thanks.
colleyc (24:24):
How about raising a toast before the wine turns
crush?
How about raising your eyes Tomake mine for good luck again?
(24:49):
How about raising a family thatstays together?
How about raising a boy to theceiling, to the charter and all
(25:14):
these doubts?
I am terrified.
Guitar solo.
(25:37):
How about raising yourself upoff the couch Cause you don't
wanna talk back?
How about raising my voice?
(25:57):
How about raising the phone tocall your mom and tell her what
went wrong?
To run all these doubts andtake me far, but it's only water
(26:21):
Coming out the eye.
And if all the weight ofeverything, let this last
forever, we'll be fine.
We'll be fine, we'll be fine.
How about laying it all out onthe table, your hopes and all
(26:59):
you're able to share?
How about holding my hand?
How about going to bed with allyour worries?
And no one can be more than Ihave all these doubts.
(27:23):
I'm terrified.
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