By: Josh Kitchen / December 18, 2024
Photo credit: @averagecowgirl
For the release of her new single, "STAY 4 LOVE," UK dance-pop artist Ella Rosa was not just content with dropping the track across all streaming platforms. Rosa threw an unforgettable party at Bar Next Door in Hollywood which included a live performance by Rose, boutique party favors & photo ops, and DJ sets from ELIO and Sophie Cates. Rose has been laying down fantastic pop-forward electronic dance tracks with more than a bit of operatic influence and flare. Before making her mark on pop music, Rosa studied opera and that dramatic element of her artistry can be found on her latest tracks "FUN," and "STAY 4 LOVE." I got to chat with Rosa after the release of the latter track where she spilled on that operatic influence, how fashion shapes her style and worldview, and more.
I was lucky enough to be at the single release of "STAY 4 LOVE" last week—tell me about how it was for you.
It was so exciting. I love/hate release day. I hate it because I don't like not doing anything, and I feel like not seeing people's deadpan reactions is kind of tough. So I really enjoyed seeing everyone's actual reaction and being able to show everyone how passionate I am about the project. It’s like an action thing, but the wait is worth it, right?
I really loved the element of the instant cameras at the event. It seemed like your intention was to bring people together in an intimate way to feel this music together - and it worked.
Yes, exactly. We lived through this pandemic, and I feel like we were all dying for that human connection. That’s what this project really fights to bring back.
Photo credit: Hannah DeVries
I know you studied opera. Talk to me about that.
I was literally raised with it. I feel like I was embarrassed about it for so long because it was so ingrained into my DNA that I kind of rejected it. Now, it’s been a second since I’ve fully trained, so I’ve accepted it again and am really trying to bring it into my music. I feel like pop music is missing something camp and dramatic. Lady Gaga is so good at adding dramatic elements to her pop music, and opera is so drama, so I’m like—I should be adding it into my music.
Is that you singing those operatic parts?
Yes, and at the end of "FUN", it’s all opera. We added it as a joke, but I ended up loving it. That’s what sparked my idea to bring it into more of my music for this next project.
Can we expect more of that operatic sound on the rest of your singles?
Yes! I’m in sessions right now, and I’m reminding myself to add it because it doesn’t just happen naturally. Expect a lot more in the new year, for sure.
Speaking of the new year—are these singles building up to an EP, a full album? Tell me what’s coming next.
I’m releasing single after single. Caroline Polachek had a year where she just released singles, not as part of a project, but as part of an era. She experimented with different sounds and genres, and I really loved that. I’m in an era I’ve coined as "STIMULATED." It’s this feral energy where I’m excited to create without being boxed in. I don’t want to be tied to a strict project—just freedom.
I’m glad you said “feral,” it’s so relatable. We all lived through something crazy in the pandemic, and now that we’re kind of getting back to living, there’s this pent-up energy, and your tracks capture that so well.
Exactly! I love seeing artists like Charli xcx and Caroline [Polachek] doing that feral thing in their own way. I didn’t necessarily take references from them—I just love how they take the ugly stuff in life and make it really cool and curated.
You’ve mentioned before how much fashion influences your artistry, and at the "STAY 4 LOVE" release you wore this really amazing gothic red dress. Can you elaborate on your relationship with fashion?
Fashion is so intertwined with my music. Designers like Helmut Lang inspire me because they balance simplicity with edge, and I aim for that in my style. Fashion allows me to visually communicate the emotions and themes in my music. For example, the red dress you mentioned was a deliberate choice to convey gothic romance—it’s bold, dramatic, and unforgettable. Many of my friends are in fashion, and being surrounded by that creativity pushes me to experiment more with how I present myself and my music. Fashion isn’t just clothing—it’s storytelling. Whether it’s through a tailored suit or a flowing gown, it’s about creating a world that matches the sound I’m putting out there.
I love how live music is such a vehicle for human connection, and that's something I thought was so special about the release party for "STAY 4 LOVE." What’s a concert or live experience where you really felt that?
It’s probably not the answer you’d expect, but I recently saw Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil doing a night of opera arias. Diana Damrau sang, and she’s been my favorite since I studied opera. I posted her, and she reposted me—it was surreal. The audience was such a melting pot—young people, old people, chic people, not chic people—but everyone appreciated the music as high art.
What's something you want people to take away from your music?
I want to create a culture around my music where the awkward, unique, esoteric people—the ones who don’t fit into the “hot girl norm”—feel they have a space. I want my music to make people feel proud to be themselves, even if it’s a bit messed up.
Check out "STAY 4 LOVE" below and follow Ella Rose here: www.instagram.com/itsellamusic
Photo credit: @averagecowgirl
Great interview! Her music is great. Love the opera elements in FUN