DU’s up-and-coming solo artist, Rosie’s Haven, may just be the university’s claim to fame in 10 years when the whole world is listening to her music.
Rosie Ayala, the second-year hospitality student from New Orleans, has been making her mark at DU since performing at an open mic night last year in the Community Commons. Over the summer, she released her longest album to date, “Outlaw” which garnered attention across campus.
Ayala’s newest release, “ESCAPISM,” is an 11-minute compilation of five songs that express pain, isolation, hope and psychedelic rediscovery. The album has a unique and experimental style, and could be described as an ambient house mix.
“intro”
This brief but dramatic electronic introduction sets the tone for the album with eerie vocals that showcase Ayala’s range and blend the beat perfectly into the second track. “I wanted an eerie, angelic sound to begin such an upbeat album, and I really like how it all turned out,” said Ayala.
“Virtue”
The upbeat nature of the song contrasts with the lyrics, which are almost an internal monologue expressing pain and vengeance. As much as this song makes you want to dance, you can also dig deeper and see the lyrics reflecting a “vivid emotional landscape of inner turmoil, self-reflection and the complex nature of love and personal growth,” said Ayala.
“blame it on the weather”
This uplifting song is less complex than a lot of Ayala’s music, which makes it the perfect song for dancing at the club and feeling empowered. The message is that sometimes you need to let loose, accepting whatever problems you have going on and focusing your energy elsewhere.
“in the hills”
My personal favorite from the album, this song’s abstract beat has a psychedelic structure that perfectly matches the lyrics, which paint the picture of a transformative spiritual experience shared with friends and nature. A repeated lyric that reflects the energy of the song is “I found myself in the hills, I found myself in the valley. Time don’t exist over there, you find it right there inside of me.”
“Elegant”
Finishing the album off is another upbeat song with layered vocals where Ayala experiments with the blending of the beat and her voice, creating a unique and ethereal experience for listeners. The complex emotions reflected in this song resonate with the listener as an “intense yet intimate feeling,” according to Ayala.
