Roseanna – recently released her single ‘Awake’ & has her  film Pressure hitting cinemas here on Sept 9th, I got to run some questions by her recently. Take a read.

Ian: Congratulations on the release of ”Awake” The track captures that exhilarating feeling of having someone constantly on your mind, that stage where daydreaming about them almost feels better than dreaming. You said it’s about “that person you just can’t get out of your head.” Was there one particular person or experience that inspired the song, or is it a blend of different moments?

Roseanna: Thank you so much! Yeah, definitely a blend of different moments, because I picked up the guitar I realised I’d never written anything quite like it before, and it brought up that feeling in me. It’s crazy what emotions music can pull from in us. I just knew this is where it had to go in that playful energy and also nostalgic too.

Ian: ”Awake” was produced by you alongside Zach Paradis. What was the creative process like in the studio, and how did working together help shape the song into its final form?

Roseanna: I usually bring Zach a part-produced demo, and he helps bring it to the next level. The best part of working with him is that he just gets it. I can say something like “it needs to sound more ‘oooo’, you know”, making random hand gestures, and he knows exactly what I mean. He also hears sonic influences differently than I do. I lean British and Irish, he leans American, and it all comes together cohesively. He is a lover of music and creating for the song and the joy of it, so there’s never any pressure; it’s always experimenting, fun & trust!

Ian: There’s a real sense of warmth and anticipation running through ”Awake”. Musically, were there any artists, sounds, or influences you found yourself leaning towards while creating this single?

Roseanna: Oh, I was listening to JT, Ed Sheeran and KT Tunstall, that throwback, 2000s leaning vibe which I have always loved and never done. And then in the room when Zach heard it he was referencing Nelly ‘Ride wit me’, which I never would have thought of. That’s what’s so cool about creating with other people, you just never know what they’re going to hear. It makes it so exciting.

Ian: As both the songwriter and co-producer, how involved were you in crafting the final sound? Was there a moment during production when you knew the song had become exactly what you wanted it to be?

Roseanna: Honestly, it was Zach’s reaction when I first brought it to him that made me think I could release this. He was like, “okaayyy, this is different for you,” in a good way, haha, and that made me love it even more. That’s when I knew it was exactly right, and I was less scared of it. Sometimes we write songs, and we don’t think they’re ‘for us’ because it doesn’t ‘fit’ our sound or the box we’re in. I decided then to stop limiting what I can do.

Ian: Every new release marks a different chapter for an artist. Where does ”Awake” fit into your musical journey, and does it hint at the direction you’re planning to take next?

Roseanna: As a singer-songwriter, I wanted to have fun with this one and try something I’d never done before. It’s pushed my own boundaries. I’ve got some big ballads coming next, and this song is what gave me the confidence to not be scared of going even further sonically and being a bit more dramatic.

Ian: While fans are celebrating your new music, they’ll also soon see you on the big screen in Pressure, releasing in cinemas on September 9th, alongside Andrew Scott, Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon and Damian Lewis. Did stepping into that world influence your songwriting or creative perspective in any unexpected ways?

Roseanna: Yes, I am very excited for Pressure to be out in the UK. Funnily enough, I actually filmed Pressure before I wrote “Awake,” so it wasn’t a direct influence on this particular song. But the two worlds are so connected for me. I recently did a Gerry Grennell masterclass here in LA, and it clicked that singing and being on set acting give me the same feeling. That out of body, fully present experience where you’re not really thinking, you’re just being, and the emotion comes through you.

Ian: You’re building a career across music, film and television, three demanding creative worlds. How do you balance them, and do you find that each discipline feeds into the others rather than competing for your attention?

Roseanna: I would love to say I’m great at balancing them all, but I am only human, haha. I always want to be doing more and think I can fit it into a 24-hour day. I’m constantly learning how to balance better, because I feel my best self when I’m doing them all. There was a time I didn’t let myself believe I could act, sing and write songs, and I felt like I had to choose one, and it just made me sad. So now I’m so happy every single day that I get to do them all and live my dreams, even if it looks like busy chaos from the outside. It’s the best kind of chaos.

Ian: When you’re creating music, do you approach storytelling differently than you do as an actor? Is there a freedom in writing songs that you can’t always find when performing someone else’s script?

Roseanna: There’s a difference between telling a story through someone else’s script and through my own words, but at the core it’s the same thing; we’re all human beings wanting connection. Whether it’s my lyrics or a character’s lines, it’s about getting emotionally vulnerable enough to understand another person’s point of view.

Ian: Looking ahead, what excites you most right now as a musician? Are you already working on new material following ”Awake”, and can fans expect more releases in the near future?

Roseanna: The freedom to create is really exciting me at the moment. We are in an age where we can release music to the world with ease and find people who get us! I also think we’re coming back into an era of wanting live human connection, and I want to play live as much as possible. I’m constantly writing. I’ve currently got three songs in the works for release.

Ian: Finally, if listeners could take away just one feeling after hearing ”Awake”, what would you hope stays with them long after the song ends?

Roseanna: To feel good, that adrenaline rush of good! Also, to want to listen to it again and have it stuck in their heads, of course.

Words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic
Photo credit – press photo