Interview: Claudia Brizzi

Photography: Ragan Henderson

Your latest single "Someone you once had" tells of the emotions felt at the loss of someone and how to overcome the pain through self-love. What do you think you learned from this breakup? Did expressing it through a song help you overcome it?

 The biggest lesson I learned from that breakup was, if a relationship doesn’t work out, it’s because they weren’t right for you, not because you weren’t right for them. It took me 22 years of life to realize that my worth is not dependent upon someone else’s love for me, and I would say that writing this song was a huge part of making that self discovery.  

Singer, author and songwriter: if you had to choose, which of these roles do you identify with most?

 Songwriter! The word holds so much power and meaning because, (at least in my dictionary), a synonym for “songwriter”, is “creator” and creating is what I love most, whether it’s creating a song, a music video, or a live show for my fans. It’s all based around songs, and writing/creating for me! 

In your first single "Startover," you are torn between two opposing actions: "starting over" and "letting go." To face and overcome grief, which of the two paths do you think should be taken?

 It took me writing this song to realize, I don’t really think there’s such a thing as starting over when it comes to relationships. There is no going backwards in life, only forward, that’s just the way time works, and for me the idea of starting over was more of a denial/bargaining tactic of not being ready to face what I was really going through. I believe facing and overcoming your grief and your struggles is always the best way to heal, but sometimes it’s just easier to look for an alternate solution until you’re truly ready to deal with everything. 

The world of music and film have always traveled hand in hand, and your passion for writing has also led you to collaborate with the film world; in fact, you co-wrote the title track of the film Love Again with Celine Dion. How do you think it has changed your career? Would you like to be able to continue collaborating as a songwriter for other films?

 I think it’s too soon to say how, “Love Again” has changed my life, but I can confidently say that the entire process has taught me so much. I had the pleasure of writing the song with Dan Wilson, and I’m so grateful to have had my first major sync with such a legend. Above all, I feel so fortunate for everyone who made this possible, (especially my manager Matteo, Dan and his manager Jim Grant), and if given the opportunity again, I would love to keep writing for films! 

Your first tour "The Healing Tour," which will start in June, will take you to sing in several big cities in the United States such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. But what other countries would you like to perform in?

 I would be honored to tour in Southeast Asia. I’ve been told I have a large fan base there and I would love to show my gratitude by playing a tour. I’m also looking forward to a European tour, really manifesting that one.

Do you think that getting in close contact with your audience and sharing your emotions with them can be another missing piece that can help you get over a loss and put a smile back on your face?

 I do! Music is a huge reason why I survived the losses that I experienced in high school and early college, and feeling close to some of those artists really saved my life, because I felt less alone. Music is healing, and I can only hope my listeners feel close to me because of how vulnerable I am. More than anything I want my music to be a support system. 

How will you prepare to face this tour?

A huge part of tour prep for me is mental. Of course practicing with my band and rehearing my songs is equally as important, but I know I can’t do my absolute best on stage unless I’m in the right headspace. A lot of therapy, meditating, journaling, and reading is involved, but most importantly, I try to give myself grace and compassion through this process, because I am an imperfect human being just doing my best to give back to my supporters. 

You have had the opportunity to open concerts for numerous international artists. How have these experiences affected your musical journey?

These experiences have changed my life. I always doubted myself as an artist and a performer, but opening for Chelsea Cutler and Jake Scott taught me that I am a real artist and performer, and playing live is now my favorite part of being an artist. 

Thanks to digital evolution, so many artists today have the opportunity to showcase their talent to the world. How have you managed to stand out from the rest and what, in particular, would you like to be loved for by your fans and beyond?

My biggest goal is to spread mental health awareness through music, and I have been able to spread my message further than I ever imagined with the help of social media. I think I stand out because of my honesty and vulnerability. I truly share everything I feel when I’m online, and it’s scary, but it’s worth it when I hear that my music has helped someone. I hope to be loved for being the kind of artist that feels like your friend, that feels like someone you can talk to and relate to. 

How do you overcome the pressures and expectations of the music industry while remaining true to yourself and so authentic?

I make a conscious effort every day to stay within myself but a big reason I have made it this far is because of my team. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by people that keep me grounded even in the most chaotic moments. Whether it’s my manager Matteo, my A&Rs, my agent or my digital team, I have such an incredible support system on all sides, and they’re the reason I stay sane! 

Through your social profiles, one of the aspects that stands out the most is precisely your sincerity and the way you express emotions in a spontaneous and natural way. Do you think it is these characteristics of yours that have made people become attached to you and your music? We think that your transparency that you express through your stories and posts is really reflected in your songs, and this is definitely a very important aspect of making your mark.

I appreciate that so much! It’s definitely been a journey figuring how to put myself online in a way that feels authentic to me while connecting with others, but I think I really had my “Ahah” moment when I realized that people were connecting with me most when I was the most honest and raw version of myself (in my music and just as a person). So, yes I do think those characteristics are one of the reasons I’ve built this incredibly kind, sensitive and empathetic fan base. 

The video of you singing Never the 1 on Tik Tok went viral in a very short time. Can we say that social media has changed your life?

 You can 100% say that and I completely agree. I always say that Tik Tok was kind of a catalyst for my career. I’d like to think I would have achieved all of this regardless of social media, but Tik Tok just sped up the process.

Your songs stem from events that have marked your life and from direct experiences: what made you realize that your desire was to become a singer?

Everything I write is based on real life experience. The first time I realized I could express myself through music was when I was 12, when I first learned to play guitar and sing at the same time. There are so many reasons I became a singer, from family history, to my education, and so much more, but the moment I picked up the guitar really solidified my passion. 

How would you define your sound? Do you identify with any particular genre of music?

I’d say I fall under the category of “Emotional, dramatic pop artist”

Your brother Matteo is also an artist and a songwriter, not forgetting that he is also your manager: what is your relationship with him like?

Matteo is my favorite person ever. He is the reason I am where I am. We’ve written songs together since we were teenagers. We’ve been working together as artist/manager for nearly 5 years now, and on top of that he’s also an incredibly talented songwriter writing for other artists. What I love most about our relationship is that, from the hours of 10am-8pm on weekdays, he’s my biggest collaborator and closest teammate, and from 8pm on, and weekends, he’s my closest friend and favorite person to spend time with! 

Let's talk about the relationship between music and fashion. Can we say that you express your personality through the clothes you choose to wear as well? What do you try to express through your looks and what are the must-haves that I cannot miss in your closet and during your tours?

I’m all about feeling the full spectrum and contrasts of my emotions, from the high highs to the low lows, and I really try to express that in my style. I love contrasting colors, specifically black and white. I love mixing casual and formal wear, and flashy pieces with conservative pieces. It’s all about the contrast for me right now, and of course, I always try to add in a little bit of red. 

Why exactly is the color red so present in your life and, more importantly, on your social profiles?

 Well, the first half of my legal name is Rose, and roses are red, so it started as a nice association tactic, like people would see “Rosie” and think “red”. But now, the color red holds so much significance to me in so many other ways. 

Red is also the color of love. How much does it matter to you both personally and musically?

 Red has so many different significances, especially for me, but I really identify with how intense they all are. Red is passion, love, anger, courage, etc, and I try to channel emotions in my music. You can especially hear it in my upcoming EP.