Having looked to cement herself on her local scene for the last few years, Amsterdam-based singer and songwriter Nana M. Rose is now looking to go international as she shares her debut single 'Love Me Like I Love You'.
With nods to fellow soaring songstresses such as Adele and Lana Del Rey, 'Love Me Like I Love You' makes for an incredible introduction to the artist. Filled with heartfelt keys and her stunning voice throughout, this initial offering shows great promise for her in the months ahead.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has inspired her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The voice! My parents always tell me I used to sing myself to sleep when I was a toddler. After they had put me to bed, I apparently started singing: first softly and quietly, and eventually I was growing more confident and was singing louder and louder until I was almost screaming, and then, all of a sudden, I fell silent again because I had gone off to dreamland. I can’t recall any of this, but apparently I was addicted to singing back then already, haha. At that time I wasn’t aware I had a voice that was worth pursuing as an instrument. I guess it was just something that eased my mind.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
There are so many different artists that inspired the way I write and make music now. But there are three artists that I have been a big fan of ever since I was a teenager and those are Adele, Lianne la Havas and Matt Corby. They really inspired me to explore and play with all the different facets of my voice, from a vulnerable falsetto to big and powerful belting and I think that is something still noticeable in my voice too.
I also have played the violin from a young age, and I feel like my melodies are still influenced by the melodies I used to play back then. Another big influence was certainly the music my parents listened to. There was always music playing in our house growing up. My parents would listen to a variety of artists, from Pavarotti to Fleetwood Mac. All these influences are still flooding into my music today.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
As a teenager I really wanted to express myself through my taste in music. I used to love discovering music that my friends had never heard of. Artists I loved were Lykke Li, Little Dragon, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Angus and Julia Stone, The Cinematic Orchestra, Patrick Watson. And also of course still (always!) Adele, Lianne la Havas and Matt Corby.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
Not really a song, but I remember the first time I went to a music festival. I was so blown away by the effect music had on people there. I think that was when it really hit me how powerful music is and how much I wanted to be involved with it. For example, I remember this concert by Charles Bradley. He was crying throughout his show because he was so thankful that so many people showed up. He then came into the audience and started hugging almost everyone in the audience. It was so powerful. I felt like everybody in that audience became one during that show. I think it is still one of the most powerful shows I’ve ever seen.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
At the moment I’m listening to Joy Crookes, Baby Rose, Lana del Rey, the new album of Lianne la Havas, YENDRY, Angel Olsen, Julia Jacklin, and The War On Drugs. I love listening to artists with a strong identity, and artists that create albums that allow me to wander around in their unique little world for a bit.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
All of them! I write about the things I experience, the things that I feel. And almost everything that I experience or feel is also influenced by other people. I am also very interested in the way people connect in this overly competitive, individualistic world. The way this world has shaped our relationships fascinates me and I love to explore this in my writing.
What has been the most unusual moment in your career so far?
A year ago, I was asked to write a song and perform it at the yearly commemoration for fallen soldiers and resistance fighters (during World War II) from the Dutch province that I am from. It took place in a beautiful old church in a little town, and a lot of high profile people were speaking about everything that happened back then, which was very impressive and intense. It was such an honour to be able to perform my song during that event. For this commemoration I was collaborating with an artist friend of mine, who creates beautiful paintings. While I was singing, she was creating paintings on the spot for the whole audience to watch. This was definitely a very unique and special experience for me.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
My biggest relax-moment of the year is festivals. Some people get home exhausted but for me it’s so energizing. It’s just one big playground for me. When I get back home after 3 days of dancing, running around, discovering new places and new music, and having so many laughs with friends, I just feel more alive than ever. I also love to go to museums, watch modern art, read poetry, read books, take a hike and smell fresh air, and travel by making music. If I feel like discovering a new city or country, I love to do this by planning some gigs in this city/country and in that way meet interesting people and discover a city in a light that you wouldn’t when you go sightseeing all the tourist spots.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
I think if it wouldn’t be music, it would still be something creative. I mean, I didn’t really know I could sing until I was 15 years old (I did love to sing but it wasn’t something I thought I was any good at) so before this, I had loads different future-plans: first I wanted to be a graphic designer, then I went through my fashion design-phase, after that I thought I might want to go to film school, and finally I thought I wanted to study literature. Eventually I discovered music, I loved it, and I was sold and I found that I could combine all of my passions with music. I mean, music naturally combines all of these things: there’s poetry in the lyrics, there’s music videos, there’s fashion in these videos or on stage, and there’s graphic design in cover art.
Lately, I have been thinking that I'd quite enjoy teaching in a primary school. Shaping young minds and helping them develop their own characters and following their passions and dreams. I think that’s so cool. But I think that ultimately, the lifestyle of a 9-5 job wouldn’t be a great fit for me, haha.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
I feel like a career in music is all about patience, and building your career step-by-step. I think it’s important to realise that success doesn’t come overnight. Many people think that's how it works, and then when it doesn't immediately happen, there's a lot of disappointment. But music and performing is a craft and it needs time to get better and better. And the only way to get better is by just doing it. Just go out there and do it. Then reflect on how well you did it, learn from it, and then do it better next time. But most importantly: just love what you do. Then it’s not so difficult to just keep going.
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Nana M. Rose's new single 'Love Me Like I Love You' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.