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A modern-day poet in her own right, Rosemarie aims to combine sonic experimentation with vulnerable lyrical intimacy, resulting in a sound that feels timeless yet relevant. Though she has Los Angeles roots, the Dominican-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter is the product of a musical household and a mobile upbringing, allowing her “eclectic” tastes to traverse genre lines. However, thanks to a taste for smooth grooves and her personal affinity for writing, which she calls a “therapeutic” skill, R&B proved to be a perfect fit.
After posting a series of covers and song challenges online, Rosemarie connected with Bird of Bird Vision Entertainment in 2017, and signed with Interscope Records shortly after. She released a string of tracks during this time which showcased her ability to provide modern jams with an ageless vibe. The soulful, down-tempo “Henny Talk” and the sultry “03 Love,” which features legendary rapper Juvenile, appeared on her label debut EP, the duality exploring Sinnergy (2021). The nine-song project garnered positive reactions from fans and critics alike, not only landing her on “Best Of” lists from Billboard and Okayplayer, but catching the eye of R&B superstar (and the originator of Rosemarie’s first cover song) Alicia Keys, who cosigned the artist via Instagram.
“It's been really almost incomprehensible that something that I use to self-soothe has taken me on such a crazy journey,” she explains of her writing, which she acknowledges has grown as she experiences the vastness of her emotions. “I had this thing inside of me that had laid dormant for so long, and it came to the surface when I needed it most.”
As Rosemarie continues to mature as an artist and person, her fanbase has grown and accolades have followed. Her sophomore EP, 2023’s Rock Paper Scissors, further delves into her emotional well by exploring love’s ebbs and flows through metaphors, stellar hooks and modern production. The guitar-led “Breaking” highlights Rosemarie’s unparalleled vocals and pen, while the reggaeton-inspired “Aprovecha” showcases her range, as she sings in both English and Spanish. The EP’s deluxe edition features rapper Roddy Ricch on the mysterious rap-sung collab, “Is It Real.”
“I started in a space that came naturally to me in R&B,” she notes of her work. “But as far as creating, I never want to be held in one box. I think that's what’s helped push me into the direction I’m trying to head in.” Her ability to shapeshift as a musician with the R&B space christened her “One To Watch” by Complex in 2023.
Rosemarie continues to expand sonically while focusing on the crafts of collaboration, performance and creation. In late-2023, she teamed up with Grammy-winning artist Ryan Tedder on a disco-tinged reimagining of the Faith Evans classic “Love Like This,” which served as the soundtrack for a nationally-syndicated ad for Target. She will also support musician Arin Ray on the West Coast leg of his 2024 Phases Tour. However, she assures that these experiences are “just the beginning” of what is sure to be a fruitful career.
“I feel like I'm just barely getting my pinky toe on the road,” she laughs. “You can get caught up in that sort of whirlwind of comparison and ‘what ifs’... I think [what helps me stay grounded] is the affirmation that who I am is enough.”
I couldn't have dreamt up all the things that have happened up until this point,” she continues. “It makes me so excited and nervous and anxious that—literally—the possibilities are endless.”
