Weaving between pop subgenres Alessi Rose is developing a sound and style all her own. Mixing the dreams and delusions of youth with the sometimes crushing, other times euphoric realities of coming-of-age, the 20-year-old artist’s innate understanding of the intersection between vivid fantasy and disarming honesty is part of what makes her ascension inevitable.
“‘say ur mine’ is about liking someone and it being so incredibly one-way that I invented a whole parasocial relationship in my head,” Alessi deadpans. Shimmering synths and a hopeful, light guitar pulse collide, reined by words that explore the fallouts and freefalling feelings of falling in love alone. She sings with a characteristic candidness that seems to contradict the emotional weight of lines like “you could breathe and I’d feel everything.” It’s executed beautifully, self-produced alongside SYBLYNG, each twinkling element bringing a new vibrancy to the mix. Second track ‘hate this part’ continues this candid suckerpunch approach, tackling the moment of leaving home for the big city, and all the bittersweetness and homesickness it entails.
By her own admission, Alessi was always a serial oversharer with a deep love for writing; an appreciation that in the last year took her to undertake an English Literature degree at King’s College London. So when it came to crafting lyrics, Alessi’s healthy obsession held her in
good stead. Accustomed to spilling her thoughts onto the page, she quickly joined the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo and MUNA in spotlighting the value of emotional literacy through her lyricism.
Alessi’s been sharing music on the internet since she was 13-years-old. Her journey began by uploading covers on YouTube before the inevitability of TikTok took hold, where the musician’s creative coming-of-age took place. Her intimate vocals and charming honesty
soon found a generation of fans seeking out a new type of artist: those self-assured in their vulnerability and the relatability of their specificity. The success of her covers on the platform emboldened her to upload self-penned demos that caught ears worldwide, including those of several high profile managers, UK and US record labels in both the UK and US, and BBC Introducing; Alessi promptly charting in the top 10 most played local artists of 2022 without a single release to her name. Enabled by lots of time to do nothing in the pandemic, Alessi began teaching herself to produce alone in her bedroom; a limbo period crafted into a catalyst for discovery, and the sign of an unceasing work rate that refuses to let her stand still.
With the unveiling of ‘say ur mine’, ‘hate this part’ and with further releases before the year’s out, Alessi Rose is stepping up to the mantle as pop’s bright new hope. Here is an artist that seeks to confront, comfort and celebrate leading with her heart
