It’s been just over a year since we last checked in with DU student and singer-songwriter Rosie Ayala, better known as Rosie’s Haven on streaming platforms.
Since then, Ayala has released five singles, all of which encompass different aspects of her life, passion and pleasures. Her music is described as a mix of R&B, experimental pop and electronic.
A unique part of Ayalas’ story is her support system in the world of music — her producer is also her twin sister, Maxii Ayala, who is pursuing film production at Loyola University in New Orleans, their hometown. Aside from producing for Rosie’s Haven, she has worked on several independent projects of her own in cinematography and production.
From August to November, Ayala dropped a new single every month.
“This was my way of testing the differences in streaming between albums and singles, and honestly, it worked well,” said Ayala.
The streak started in August with “SIREN EYES,” a dream-like pop song with psychedelic notes to wrap up the summer. SIREN EYES recently hit 15,000 streams on Spotify.
“I pretty much market myself as a mermaid, and living in Florida for a few months fit that aesthetic perfectly,” said Ayala.
Before going abroad, Ayala prepared several songs to bring with her, releasing them in quieter moments to keep her name on people’s radar.
“In a way, being alone in a new country helped,” said Ayala. “I spent most of my time walking the streets, listening to my tracks, really critiquing them and deciding what I wanted to put out.”
In September, while Ayala was abroad in Alicante, Spain, she dropped “SEDUCTION,” a y2k-inspired song that is impossible not to dance to.
“This genre is super popular across generations,” said Ayala. “Even my mom was singing along.” This song with boundary-pushing lyrics empowers Ayala and hopefully her feminine listeners to embrace their sexualities and break the bounds that society has placed on women.
Yet another 2024 single, “NO CONTROL” dropped in October, which highlighted Ayalas vocal range and emotional lyrics that reflected the feeling of feeling out of control, hence the title. The lyrics “you say you’re tired over nothing, see it crystal clear with your issues so outspoken, but nobody cares” represent her biggest pet peeve — “people who constantly complain but never do anything to change their situation.”
At this point in her release streak, Ayala was focused on staying relevant and keeping up with the music scene, rather than prioritizing exposure and numbers.
“People get bored fast, and if they aren’t hearing new beats, older releases start to fade,” said Ayala.
My personal favorite, “UNIVERSES”, a much slower beat, came out in late November. The album art was created by a Minneapolis-based artist THE CYNICAL FOOL, who creates and sells upcycled art through a variety of mediums.
“These kinds of connections bring me so much joy,” said Ayala. “Seeing creative minds work so effortlessly is just mad impressive.”
This song’s hard-hitting lyrics will take you to a different world.
After a short hiatus to let listeners catch up on her tunes, Ayala came out with her latest single, “TANTALIZE,” on her 21st birthday. The electric beats combined with her mesmerizing vocals will get you up on your feet in no time.
“This was actually the first song my twin and I didn’t argue about while recording,” said Ayala, explaining that she only had one day to record when she was back in her hometown of New Orleans for Christmas break. “Ideas bounced back and forth so naturally.”
When it comes to songwriting, inspiration hits Ayala out of nowhere. “It really depends on my free time,” said Ayala. “School definitely drains my creative energy.”
Keep your eyes out for Rosie’s Haven’s upcoming “TANTALIZE” music video, along with some live performances, including a free house show on April 19, where you can hear these new singles up close and personal.
