Roasalie James drops "Soft Target"
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She confides, "This song is for the generations of women who weren't diagnosed as neurodivergent until adulthood because they just seemed A Lot. It's for the 'over-sensitive drama queens,' who attracted people who liked us a little crazy and vulnerable but had nothing to give us. I'm still awkward and difficult and scared of balloons. I lost a career, and I'm full of chemicals. But I'm not alone. We're not alone."
"Soft Target" is based on her forthcoming album Full of Chemicals, which was produced by Daniel Knowles (Sharon Van Etten) and details her struggles with neurodiversity, addiction, and mental health.
Rosalie James is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from Cornwall, UK. She grew up learning piano and guitar, listening to The Beatles and The Bangles on her bright yellow Sony Walkman, weeping over the impassioned drama of 80s synth-pop and new wave, obsessing over the lyrics of 90s dream pop and indie artists, and drawing inspiration from anyone who could write a good song.
Rosalie has experienced sensory sensitivities and difficulty managing emotions and social interaction since she was nine years old. She has been treated for severe depression and anxiety, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and substance use issues, but it wasn’t until January 2023 that she was finally diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. For the first time, she feels able to live an authentic life. After two degrees and ten years working as a Social Worker in social care and mental health, Rosalie decided in June 2023 that it was time to return to her creative roots. Her desire to change the world abides, instead using her music to raise awareness and reduce stigma in areas including neurodiversity, domestic violence, addiction, and mental health.
Rosalie’s recent Kickstarter campaign raised £5000 in 28 days on the strength of a short video including clips of her songs. She played various festival gigs over the summer of 2023, supported top UK pianist Ben Waters at Mylor Sessions, and appeared on Radio Cornwall for amusing and direct interviews. Her previous singles Will We Ever Rest? and her cover of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill received ads on BBC Introducing South West, a tremendous positive response from listeners.
Rosalie writes and records prolifically. Her back catalog of over 200 songs (growing every couple of weeks) gives her a head-start on future albums and publishing/sync deals. Her songs have already been featured on the UK primetime soap opera Hollyoaks and the US drama The Black Donnellys.
Rosalie’s music is expected to appeal equally to fans of classic songwriters (Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Carole King, Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Deacon Blue) and progressive and emotionally literate indie artists (Conor Oberst, Elliot Smith, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Bon Iver, boygenius, The National). She has a broad reach, with brutally honest and striking lyrics, hooky tunes, a dreamily soulful voice, and a slightly chaotic stage presence.
It is relevant that a lot of Rosalie’s forthcoming album Full of Chemicals was produced and recorded in Los Angeles. Her father lived in California during the early 70s, touring as a stage manager, roadie, and lighting engineer for Grateful Dead, Wings, Santana, and The Tubes. She’s spent her whole life hearing about the West Coast of the US, both the landscape and the musical influences, giving an interesting circular narrative. Her recent trip to Los Angeles allowed her to finalize the lead vocals for the album in Balboa Recording Studio with producer Daniel Knowles (Sharon Van Etten).
To give an idea of the quality of work you can expect, Rosalie’s forthcoming album features contributions from Jorge Balbi (Sharon Van Etten), Lukas Frank (Storefront Church), Steve Jackson (Leo Sayer, Elkie Brooks), Garett Lang (Henry Wolfe, Lisa Loeb) and Jason Abraham Roberts (Norah Jones, Ben Kweller).
Leading single "Girl I Was" is a storytelling narrative of an important but destructive relationship from the artist's past. The raw and honest song chronicles when someone gives one owns power away and the self growth that needs to occur to move on.
While the second song "Soft Target" "is for the generations of women who weren't diagnosed as neurodivergent until adulthood because they just seemed A Lot. It's for the 'over-sensitive drama queens,' who attracted people that liked us a little crazy and vulnerable but had nothing to give us. I'm still awkward and difficult and scared of balloons. I lost a career and I'm full of chemicals. But I'm not alone. We're not alone," confides Rosalie.
Full of Chemicals is a lush mix of dreampop, indie rock, folk and Americana. The upcoming album is a cathartic and important listen, an autobiographical diary of the artist's own struggles with neurodiversity, toxic relationships, addiction and mental health.
"There is so much I want to say, and the depths of terminal sadness and fleeting joy can only be properly expressed through music – any other form of communication is corrupted by confusion and doubt. Maybe feeling too much is actually feeling exactly the right amount when you’re trying to make something meaningful. Anyway, I can’t stop now." - Rosalie James.
