By Sean Reis
Production Manager
As the top track on the Billboard dance/electronic chart with over 100 million total plays across major streaming platforms, most students likely heard “Roses” by The Chainsmokers over winter break. However, most students may not have heard other music from the song’s featured artist, ROZES, before she visited the College on Tuesday, Feb. 2, when the talented, young artist performed in the Brower Student Center food court.
The CUB Alt event opened with an acoustic set by Modern Chemistry, an alternative rock band from New Brunswick, N.J., before ROZES brought energy to the stage with an enthusiastic drummer by her side.
Performing “In & Out” to start her set, she showcased her talent as an individual artist and immediately had the crowd in love with her unique voice.
As ROZES graced the stage, the crowd had no idea what to expect, which is exactly what she predicted in an interview with The Signal.
“(The show) is gonna come from left field… it kind of goes a little hip-hop, so it’s gonna be fun,” she said.
The Philadelphia-born artist included tracks from her soon-to-be released “Burn Wild” EP, which she described as her “bridge between reggae, electronic and hip-hop.” The hip-hop that she performed felt emotional with distorted and raw bass, while the electronic elements helped hype up the crowd. This was countered by relaxing reggae that was intermingled throughout the show’s flow.
Although the solo show ROZES brought to the College definitely demonstrated her versatility between genres, she did not ignore her claim to fame with two of her best friends, Drew Taggart and Alex Pall, better known together as New York’s favorite disc jockey duo, The Chainsmokers.
“Working with The Chainsmokers, I didn’t really know what to expect going into it,” she told The Signal. “They were just two dudes. We were in Drew’s apartment and it was just a hangout basically. Like, we had Chinese food!”
When ROZES performed their collaboration toward the end of the set, most students left their seats and gathered in front of the stage to dance, sing and take selfies. The occurrence, which is rarely seen at the smaller concerts in the Brower Student Center, was the perfect way to close the show before she said goodbye to the College with the song “R U Mine.”
The “Burn Wild” EP will be out on Valentine’s Day “for all of the single ladies,” ROZES said.
After “Burn Wild,” stay alert for more music because ROZES is not only working with Sebastian Ingrosso from Swedish House Mafia, but she also dreams to work with Diplo and Skrillex one day, as well as with the music industry’s top producers. ROZES has high aspirations for her age and is ready to be the star she has the talent to be in the new year.
