Rosali | photo by Constance Mensh | courtesy of the artist
Listen to Rosali spin Frank Ocean, Fleetwood Mac and more in her guest DJ set on the XPN Local Show
Philadelphia singer-songwriter Rosali released her wonderful sophomore LP Trouble Anyway last Friday on Spinster Sounds, and tonight she headlines Johnny Brenda’s to both celebrate the record and kick off a summer tour.
Before she packed up to hit the road, Rosali swung by XPN studios yesterday for a Guest DJ set on the XPN Local Show, and she spun everything from Richard & Linda Thompson and The Velvet Underground to Mary Lattimore and Brian Eno.
Between sets, Rosali and I talked about her new record as well as the way her other two bands, Long Hots and Wandering Shade, juxtapose alongside her traditional songwriter solo work. “We wanted to do something courageous,” she said of her bandmates in the freeform guitar improv group Wandering Shade, while Long Hots is spoken of as a means of channeling anger and releasing negative energy.
Likewise, her own album can be cathartic and transformative, and in our record review yesterday, Sarah Hojsak spoke about it in terms of finding power and strength in moments of despair (both personal, and collective). “A goal of mine in my music is about having a strong emotional side,” Rosali said. “Being vulnerable at the same time as being okay with that, and having people connect with their emotions through what I’m doing. I hope people feel that, and find some hope and inspiration through my songs.”
Rosali also talked about the inspiration she finds in the songs she chose; the powerful woman archetype embodied by Solange, the beautiful simplicity of Big Star’s “Thirteen.” She spoke of her love for Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, her sense of pride at watching her good friend Mary Lattimore’s artistic growth and continuing achievements, as well as the daring eclecticism and sensitivity of Frank Ocean. “He’s very emotive and taps into something very raw and real, which I like to draw from as well when I sing and write lyrics.”
Listen to Rosali’s guest DJ set below, and catch her tonight at JBs with Daniel Bachman and Erin Rae. Tickets and more information can be found at the XPN Concert Calendar.
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Playlist
Richard & Linda Thompson – “Jet Plane in a Rocking Chair”
Solange – “Losing You”
Velvet Underground – “I’ll be Your Mirror”
Big Star – “Thirteen”
Frank Ocean – “White Ferrari”
Mary Lattimore – “Hello From the Edge of Earth”
Brian Eno – “St. Elmo’s Fire”
Fleetwood Mac – “Songbird”
Rosali – “Lie To Me”