Blossom / Rosie
Rosie Alena and Blossom Caldarone are two budding musicians with more in common than their floral names. They met at music college and have remained friends and collaborators. Despite their different music styles, they both inhabit full bodied voices and an emotional maturity beyond their ages. Blossom’s characterful voice compliments her bright melodies as if Lily Allen were to dip a toe in folk, while Rosie draws listeners in with her unique punky compositions and celestial vocals. We took a bit of a backseat on this bus ride and let Rosie and Blossom do the talking, as what’s more pleasant than listening to two friends chat about their mutual passion for music?
Blossom (left) & Rosie (right)
LB: Where are you and where have you been quarantining?
B: I spent three weeks in this little cabin in Cornwall with a few other artists, having fun and making music. Now I’m ready to throw myself into lockdown in Gloucestershire with my family. My little brother’s quite good with music, so we’ll probably do a few things together. I need to organise my song life, I have loads songs I want to record and write.
R: For me, the first lockdown wasn’t that creative, I was still at uni, but this one I’ve taken the opportunity of space so I’m working on an EP right now with Oli Barton Wood which is exciting.
You were in the same year at Brit (music college), but have you two ever played together?
R: Blossom’s put on her own gigs and we’ve both performed on the same bill.
B: We like doing covers and singing together. I’ve played cello for you on your songs and you’ve done backing vocals on mine. Us and some others recently recorded a set for another friend’s radio show. It was such a lovely night of acoustic music.
R: If we were to form an actual band it would definitely be called something flower-related... We’d have a Emmylou Harris/Dolly Parton kind of vibe.
B: We both love country songs.
What other music have you produced over Lockdown?
B: I managed to make a song called Lonely, about… being lonely. George Moir and I wrote it over zoom in two days. We’d never met each other before, but we sent recorded parts back and forth, then released it two months later with a music video. That song encapsulates such a specific feeling for me.
R: I found that making on a song over Zoom worked if it was already partly done. Trying to sing in harmony over Zoom is just… there’s always a lag. I want to sing with someone in person!
B: In the last year I’ve had to completely change how I write. In the past I’ve struggled to write introspectively, but I’ve started to hone in on certain feelings that I’ve never really had to do before. Rosie’s lyrics are so poetic and ambiguous. Listening to them I’m like, ‘I wonder what that’s about’, but with my lyrics they’re more explicit which means I get completely exposed.
R: I write more about myself and my feelings. I don’t know if I’m a writer or musician first but I do write everyday about how I’m feeling and then make it sound poetic, like finely tuned streams of consciousness. I often create a mood musically from the lyrics I have.
B: I’m completely the opposite. For me writing has always been about observing other people and re-telling their stories.
R: I struggle with frank lyrics. If it were about someone else, I’d just feel bad for that person if they were to hear it.
If you could steal one quality from the other, what would it be?
B: I would take Rosie’s poise. You’re very calm tempered and I could definitely do with some of that…
R: Inwardly I never feel calm! With Blossom, I love how you you’re not trying to fit into a mould, and you’re so articulate. Blossom really knows what she’s talking about.
Is being young in this industry a curse or a blessing?
B: A blessing personally as I know I’ve got all the time in the world to experiment, but in terms of the industry, a little bit of a curse. People don’t take you as seriously, especially if you’re a woman too. I wouldn’t want to work with people who look at my age anyway as I don’t think art has an age. ‘The younger the better’ was made up by big wig A&Rs so it’s a construct and doesn’t apply to us.
R: I felt more competitiveness at Brit, as I kept thinking that I need to be successful in the next two years otherwise it won’t happen for me. Everyone wants to do the same thing at Brit, then as you get older, paths change and we join a supportive community of young artists. There is place for all of us and our different art. That was also what was so great about Brit, our teachers were so passionate and clued into the industry. The day Bowie died, most of our lessons got cancelled and we just got to listen to his music all day. They encouraged that genuine love for music, not about getting the grades. I fell in love with music more and more just by being around such passionate people.
B: Our teacher loved David Bowie, that’s when I got the hype. I was a bit late but I think he would’ve liked that. He was so humble and graceful in his philosophy and music. He was one of the first people to call out MTV for not platforming enough black artists. Up until his death he was always seeking out young artists. He advocated for Lorde, and he did it because he loved her music and wanted to push her.
R: I’ve actually become obsessed with him (Bowie). His career was so multi-faceted. His albums were so different and inspirational. Especially his late album, so dark but so bold.
Any question you’ve always wanted to ask the other?
B: After lockdown, what’s the first thing we should prioritise doing?
R: Take more time off! Before lockdown I was so hectic. I always going somewhere having come from somewhere else. Lockdown has taught me to enjoy the weekend.
R: Apart from music, what’s one other thing that you’d love to achieve?
B: I’d like to fund musicians who are from my area, up North. If I hadn’t gone to music college at sixteen, I might not have pursued a music career because there’s few opportunities or funding around here. Oh also, I’m sorting out my cycle, guys. ‘Period Power’ by Maisie Hill is amazing. There’s so much about periods that we were never told.
R: I’m reading ‘Field Guide to Getting Lost’ by Rebecca Solnit. The whole book is written like poetry and it’s about finding the beauty in being lost, not feeling overwhelmed by it and instead seeing it as opportunity.
And finally, what do you listen to on the Last Bus home?
R: Joni Mitchell. I’d start at the beginning of her music career and work my way up. Her voice is soothing and her music is very beautiful to me.
B: I know this sounds weird, but when I’m walking home by myself, I always make sure that I listen to energising music, maybe The Clash or The Jam. Something that reminds me of London and makes me feel strong and safe, ready to (mimes punching someone).