Following the release of Number One, her genre-fusing, debut single as a solo artist, we caught an interview with Felicia DeRosa to find out more about the song, her thoughts on live music, her plans for the future, and a whole lot more. Here’s the conversation in full.
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Hi Felicia, thanks for your time and congratulations on the release of the single. For those who don’t know, how would you describe yourself as an artist, and what does the song Number One mean to you?
Hi! How would I describe myself as an artist? Hmmm…I feel like I just describe myself as an artist that doesn’t believe in barriers. My father had a huge taste in all different types of music so needless to say I grew up a lot of different types of musical influences and sounds. And just based on feel, words that hit me in a certain time, a solo, a progression, a super sad or super happy or crazy time in my life, I grabbed all of these influences that have stuck with me through the years and somehow they all incorporate themselves into what I write without worrying about what I HAVE or SHOULD sound like to fit any one genre. And I think in this day and age mixing different influences and genres is more common and accepted than ever. It’s super awesome..
Number One is literally based on a feeling. Not only love, but the blurred lines between trying to figure out if it’s infatuation or or true, and regardless almost not caring…to stop thinking about it to the point where it haunts your dreams. I don’t know about you, but when some one creeps into my dreams I want them even MORE in real life .. haha… It also might have an underlying message about feeling comfortable and open with these feelings!
You wrote the song a fair few years back, with your band Inosoul – how does it feel to venture out as a solo artist right now?
It’s amazing! But a LOT of work at the same time! I love the guys I played with. They were some of the most talented musicians I played with yet. My upcoming EP, Number One, named after the single is being dropped in late July.. and most of the songs on there are ones I wrote with them! When we decided to part ways, I took it upon myself to produce my version of these songs to keep forever. I even had most of the original artists come to the studio and record the parts they wrote! It was super fun.. But yes, going solo is a lot of work. Especially starting out. You work every aspect of the process on your own, it’s part of the struggle but also part of the thrill and come-up. Long days, nights. I love it though!
What do you hope people take away from the song?
This song is super fun-loving, super chill, up lifting. The surface level of me just hopes people enjoy bumping this with the windows down, on the beach or at a get-together all through the summer. The deeper layer of me and what this song emulates is to embrace what you feel man, love is a hell of a drug and we should always stay true to ourselves and expressing who we feel that high over.
Is there a longer project on the way, and if so – will the songs fall in line with this sort of vibe?
Number One is an EP I’m releasing, Number One of course being the title track. Later this summer. This short but sweet EP I’m writing take ya through a few different vibes. Uplifting, sassy, Love and maybe even a little heart ache. Definitely a short wave of a few different emotions that still stay cohesive with each other. Number One definitely ya more pop-reggae influences, as I said I love different sounds and soul, I definitely feel like I show some other aspects of myself in this coming project, my musical first impression if you will, haha,
Who or what would you say inspires you the most, creatively?
Ah! So many things. Art and where it comes from is sooo subjective it’s crazy. Honestly waves of feeling, a memory, a smell. The true organic beauty of inspiration is it’s spontaneity, at least for me. It’s like, it could all just be one moment, conversation, memory, DREAM, smell that invokes True inspiration on me. If I have to pick one thing that I know helps bring all of these things to surface is traveling. Being somewhere new or that gives me nostalgia, big waves of emotion have always given me my best lyrics.
How important is live music for you as an artist, and what can people expect from a live show?
I love this question because this is something that people I know well enough will expect me to say.. Super important! I think great live performances are imperative to success as an artist and it’s actually what I’m most comfortable with… I always say that I am more of a live performer than a studio artist on any day.. I grew up super, super shy with really bad stage fright in the past years with past bands, learned to and have done more live performances than I’ve recorded.
A live performance with me is just gonna be a of energy and a lot of engaging with the people that are engaging with me. A trip! And sometimes the unknown! That’s the best part about it… It really all has to do with the energy in the room. I feel like not one show I have done has been exactly like another. It’s just all of these different vibes and emotions being thrown all around, bouncing off the walls. It’s my fave.
You’ve had some pretty great feedback from a number of publications, including some over in the UK – in my opinion, your sound would work beautifully over here right now. Will you be touring in the near future, and are there any plans or hopes to travel over seas to perform?
Oh my god thank you! It’s super dope.. to reach parts of the world I haven’t even been to yet. I can’t believe it! I’m just doing … just being me with this sound so I hope it does! I most definitely plan on touring sometime in the future.. especially overseas. I’ve actually never left the U.S. so I will be MORE than stoked to get out there. There just may be some plans to get out there soon.. hehe.. just keep in tune with my website for future tour dates!!
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be, and why?
Oh my god I was afraid this question would come hahaha.. SO many artists immediately flood my mind. Honestly, in this point in my life it would probably have to be Amy Winehouse or Kehlani. The soul and emotion that those two women have in their voice and music although different sounds, are amazing and have been on repeat on my playlists lately. I SO sadly cannot with Amy, but maybe one day Kehlani might peep my flow haha.
What’s the bigger picture – what are your hopes creatively over the coming months and years?
Oh I have definitely just begun.. I have SO much more to show the world. Every great artist really has so many emotions and messages they want to share.. I don’t care if it’s a cliche, but I want to inspire. I want to inspire staying true, overcoming heart wrenching obstacles, I want to blur the lines even more about what we think we have to be or sound like to be accepted, no matter if that’s in music or in our daily lives and a human. It’s so much more than people just liking your music I want to be a part of the community and gain a voice to use to heal any way that I can. I think that’s honestly my most important goal at the end of the day. Maybe also another inspiration – Helping others.
Is there anything else we should know?
Ahhh.. let’s see. Just stay tuned! It’s super hard for one song to fully encompass all the aspect of a Gemini like me haha.. But check it out! If you vibe with it you vibe with it.. if not it’s all good! I’m just super excited to release this song, my EP Number One, and more projects to come. Excited to meet new people and musicians, possible collaborations coming your way hehe…And all of that will definitely be shared with you guys on my social and website. I just want to heal and have fun man. I want to share with like minded beings and just vibe on that wave with y’all… it’s definitely gonna be a fun ride.
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Find & follow Felicia DeRosa on Spotify, Soundcloud, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. Visit her Website for more information.
