Occasionally, life throws us lemons, and we as people can either turn them into sour lemonade or into lemonade. The latter is the better option in my opinion. A song like “C’est La Vie” by Kellie Rose displays her vulnerability and passion. Kellie gives us the light of how to get up and try again and turn your dreams into reality no matter what life throws your way. We had the pleasure of interviewing Kellie Rose, and here is what she had to say:
Q:Some people constantly whine when things don’t go as planned, while others accept setbacks as a part of life and go on. What’s the backstory of “C’est la vie,” your debut song?
KELLIE: 2022 was nearly as hard for me as 2020, aka, the year I lost my business as a full-time musician. I’ll dramatically refer to March 12, 2020, as ‘the day the music died’. What’s incredible, though, is that I’m back to music but in an entirely new way. I’m exploring my relationship with it and its relationship with me. I’m making an honest effort to use it to heal and serve and love.
When I wrote C’est la vie this last summer, I was low and sad and basically in survival mode. I’d given up on pursuing music, but I never stopped writing songs. It’s how I process! I wrote C’est la vie fairly quickly after a conversation with a friend. We were sitting on a park bench, and she gestured to the trees saying, “This is a visual of you right now. You just can’t see what’s on the other side.” I’m grateful to have the song out and available because I’ll listen to it as a reminder to myself to let it be, that I’m okay and the music wasn’t meant to be mine, emotions serve as healing built on rhyme.
Q: How important is it for you to write music based on your own experiences? Do you find it easier to tell a story when it’s your own?
KELLIE: Funny enough, it wasn’t until my release ‘save me’ that I realized I could be a storyteller with my music. ‘Save me’ wasn’t written about anyone, it was just a story. That was my first experience writing a song without a muse. From then, I’ve written from my point of view and then from the perspective of friends, acquaintances or even characters I create in my head. I’m appreciating how they blend together.
With C’est la vie, it was the letter to myself that I needed. A journal entry reminder with the lesson and perspective necessary at that time.
Q: I observe you’re adventurous and play the guitar; do you have a place you like to perform that you haven’t yet been to on your bucket list?
KELLIE: I love this question! I used to live in Europe and I’m dying to play a venue overseas. I’m thinking it’ll be on my 2023 vision board! Amsterdam? London? Berlin? I’m ready!
Q: How was your collaboration experience with Fluencie? What was your favorite moment in the studio?
KELLIE: Alex is SO talented and such a nice guy! I had such a blast working with him, building a friendship, as well as watching his process of producing original, authentic sounds. He played the guitar riffs, the percussion bits, the bass lines; I mean the guy knows what he’s doing. I truly appreciate his style and I’m so thankful for this version of the song we have together.
Q: Explain your songwriting process.
KELLIE: One of my favorite rappers/producers, Russ, said in an interview, and I’m paraphrasing, that he feels like his songs are delivered to him and his part is just getting them out for the world to hear. I love this approach because I genuinely relate. I’ve been writing songs since I was 6, using songwriting to make sense of my world. Most of the time, the song in its entirety pours out of me out of nowhere. I’m just so grateful to have it. Another goal of mine this year is to be more diligent about adding opportunities for creativity in my routines!
Q: Can we expect an EP or even maybe an album? If so, when?
KELLIE:Haaaa, I love this question, too! We can expect a boat load of songs from KR in the future. Singles, EP’s, albums; I’m on one… I’m currently in the process of learning how to produce; I’d love to build my songs myself! Too ambiguous? Check back in a month!
Interviewed by Shertara Brazil
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