George Rose Sends Out A Search Party
There’s something so pure about the unadulterated creative output of an artist who writes, records and produces a body of work entirely themselves. Prince did a lot of this, as has Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and Natasha Khan of Bat For Lashes. George Rose’s latest EP, ‘Searching’ was made entirely this way, with all parts performed by himself, as well as the D.I.Y. side of release and promotion.
Of course, we’ve written about George Rose before as an artist and a producer. It’s coming up for a year since he released his debut solo EP ‘you’re not worth an album, so here’s an ep’ featuring his single release ‘self care’. Later that summer and inspired by the pandemic, he released his video for ‘i’m bored x’, it was in October Moths and Giraffes wrote about his track ‘Summer’, featuring vocals from Lauren Dejey and Harry Mockett. As well as producing music by the latter, we’ve also written about his work with Lailana and Francesca.
George Rose’s self-produced vocal on ‘Searching’ is something you can’t help but focus on. It brings intimacy to a new level, sounding like it’s inside your head, compressed to the point of erasing the distance between your ear and his vocal cords. The lyric itself is personal, further inspired by the cloud of loneliness that’s been draped over all our shoulders due to the very nature of isolation. George Rose has a talent for squeezing every moment out of a song and folding it back into the lyric, so consequently not a moment is wasted. The first ten seconds alone read; ‘I talk a lot about self-care but what really is it? Feeling anxious again, I paid the doctor a visit. If this CBT can’t set me free, then, how the hell can I feel like I’m being me again?’
Outside of the vocal work is a programmed beat, synth swirls that wouldn’t be out of place in a club, and there’s a vague tinge of funk somewhere in the verses, though it’s almost like the funk fader is at 3 rather than 9 or 10, but it’s there if you look. Searching dives head-first into electronica after the last chorus, there’s no better way I could see this EP opening than with this track, both thematically and musically.
The much shorter ‘Searching ii’ is built on George Rose’s signature talent for vocal manipulation, which can be seen in hints of his other production work. A drone serves as a base while guitar mimics the fluttering of pitch-shifted vocal tracks, a more thoughtful introduction to Searching ii’s short lyric, a continuation of the first part. Here, a bell-like synth picks up the mimic of the vocal melody instead of guitar.
A flick of a lighter brings in a pretty guitar part I’d liken to a lullaby. George Rose’s vocal soon follows and while the former guitar continues, more guitar layers double Rose’s vocal melody for the most thoughtful track on the Searching EP. Breaking up the early lines on ‘Alone’ are bursts of static beneath them, though not uncomfortable for the listener, certainly alter the tranquillity bringing it more in line with the narrative.
The moment the drums come in, bringing in a guitar solo with it is my favourite moment across the three tracks. As a drummer, you know when a beat hits right when head bobbing is an unconscious mobility decision. It especially works when the guitar lead and drums work in unison on the beat, a moment I can’t wait to see live someday.
Though of course the basis of this EP is pandemic inspired, ‘Alone’ also seems to touch on interpersonal communication, as evidenced in the final verse and particularly the last lines. “It’s ok if you’re sad, ‘cause I’m sad too. I know so much has changed but nothing really has, you know that all I want is just to make you glad.” With pre-pandemic normality still some way off, could it be we still don’t know the scale of the mental damage we have suffered under the strain of it all?
1. Your new EP 'Searching' is a collection of three demos you made during lockdown, would you tell us about the writing of these tracks? Did they begin on guitar?
I wrote the title track, ’Searching’, two years ago as a voice note, I then made a small demo and forgot about it until the lockdown last March. From there I re-produced the song using my laptop and the apparatus available to me in my bedroom studio (mic, guitar, laptop). I wrote the other two songs in March, I came up with the lyrics first then made the instrumentals around it bit by bit.
2. What's your recording set-up at home and what's your favourite software plug-in to use?
I’m normally on the move so just my laptop, audio interface, whatever microphone I have available and whatever instruments that are nearby! I try to do most of my recording at Numen Studios so I can spend the time by myself editing. My favourite - and most used - plug in is Melodyne, which I use to change the tuning of my voice so I can make the synth chord sounds and augmented vocals that you can hear on most of my records.
3. Since you did everything on this EP yourself, did you also make the artwork?
Yes, it was the first artwork I’ve ever made for a musical project. I scanned in a watercolour texture that I painted, along with the text and doodles that I drew and put it together on Photoshop. I wanted to make something that captured the feeling of helplessness that you can hear on the records, which is why the doodles depict scenes of being asleep/in a bad way.
4. What about a music video, is there one in the works?
Potentially, I’m going to have a go at making one myself but it depends whether it comes out well or not!
5. 'Searching' has two parts on the EP, would you consider 'Alone' part three? Or is it something different entirely?
All the songs follow the same theme - both sonically and lyrically - which is why I put them together on the EP. I didn’t want to be too specific with the lyrics to ‘Alone’, focussing more on small thoughts I had rather than a story, I think that helps to paint a deeper picture for the lead single, as ‘Searching’ is far more direct with its lyrics.
6. What was the very last bit of music your ears heard before answering these questions?
It was a production I’m working on for an artist called Tasha bloom, hopefully coming out this year!
7. With seemingly persistent doom and gloom everywhere we go, what's one thing you're thankful for right now?
I’ve gradually been able to make music my full time job over the course of the last year, which is a big achievement for me as I’ve been trying to do so for the last six years. There’s still a long way to go but I’m happy it’s on the right track.
8. Beyond the Searching EP, can you tell us about future plans for 2021?
I’m working on loads of music for myself and some other really cool artists at the moment. There’s going to be a lot of music coming out and hopefully a holiday to Greece when lockdown ends!
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Follow George Rose on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @georosetunes.
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