We had the good fortune of connecting with Rose Stoller and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Rose, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I often lean into risk-taking, especially in performance situations. I like the challenge, I like the failure, and I know that I will need to fail many times before nailing something, so my attitude is that I better get those flops out of the way sooner rather than later.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m most excited about going deeper into songwriting. It’s something I had been obsessed with as a kid but never really gave myself a shot at it until lockdown. I value the idea of a songwriter so much, someone who crafts these pieces that are tangible pieces of art but they’re intangible because they’re songs and only exist in the air when performed. They can’t be held. My dad bought me a guitar when I was like 13 and I only used it for photoshoots. I never even tried to learn anything on it. I was just in it for the photo-op! I think truthfully I always wanted to sit down with it but didn’t have the strength to dedicate myself to anything more than posing with it. I was trying it on for size, gaging how it felt when I wore the instrument, and seeing if it felt like something I connected to physically. I was definitely finding myself. I’m happy to have found my way back to this instrument that has been the catalyst for so many creative moments for me. I am now working on recording my first bunch songs to release. There’s endless things to explore in songwriting and I’m most excited to uncover what new songs I can carve out of me.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Amazing question, so fun to answer. Soft Swerve for Ube Ice cream! Mochidoki for mochi ice cream. I really like ice cream haha. Please do both in that order. Dessert before dinner I guess? Punjabi Deli is a favorite and beautiful spot to keep as a tradition after seeing music at Rockwood. Also Nublu. Also The Jazz Gallery, which has been my favorite jazz venue since I first saw Gretchen Parlato sing there in high school. What I love most about New York are all of the public spaces – and yes, they’re dwindling, but public space wherever you can find it is just a beautiful thing to be savored – cafes, parks, libraries, book stores, movie theater lobbies, plazas, atriums, etc. I like placing myself somewhere odd and watching the city happen from that perspective. NYC is a great place to be introspective because it’s so easy to be anonymous, which I find very fun.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh so so so many people! I can’t pick one but I have love for the mentors who brought me into art spaces at an early age – Brian Hampton, Teri Roiger. I’d also like to shout out the peers who I enjoy working with, making music with, creating with. These are people who inspire me and particularly encourage me keep making honest stuff – Kengchakaj Kengkarnka, Sam Weber, Jeremy King, Josh Giunta, Ryan Amador, Brian van Oosterum, Carly Walsh, Jules Olson, Noga Cabo, Glenn Echo, Jack Redsecker.
Website: www.rosestoller.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/weirdsoundgirl
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTBON7xR0jT86t3DN8g0XQg
Image Credits
Autumn Jordan @atmnjrdn, Alberto Alejandro @albertoalejandro_, Derek Nelson/Pine and Palm Photography @pine_and_palm_, Izzy Nelson @sweetgritphoto, Chryzten @witch_haus, Paula Court © The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation