The team at STARFREAK Magazine is all about a good time. The good times where you have to get a little bit freaky to reach the state of being free and inspired, living a BRAT summer for the entirety of your existence. And, thankfully, London-based Rose Gray meets us on the same level as she navigates the music industry as an underground dance-pop queen.

words by Chloe Williams

photo by @yanavannuffel

With the debut album “Louder, Please” released back in January via Polydor Records and the upcoming deluxe version “A Little Louder, Please” to be released this month, us listeners have a lot to be grateful for as we receive club-worthy anthems time and time again, and now with unexpected collaborators that we all adore.

Rose Gray started her musical journey back in 2019, with the single “good life” produced by herself and Frank Colucci, creating a comfortable base to rise from in the industry. Ever since, each and every single, mixtape, or album on her discography has allowed Gray to explore and find a style that is fun and electric, energetic and intruiging. And, no doubt, we all know a London girl when we hear one. A busy city girl lifestyle, making a hobby out of clubbing and growing confident by the hour – this is Gray. Not only this, but the inclusion of an attitude of optimism and determination, striving for more since the day she was born. What more could we ask for from those we admire? 

Gray’s first project and debut mixtape “Dancing, Drinking, Talking, Thinking” was released in 2021, reflecting on the day-to-day struggles of our generation and the emotions we feel so strongly. The release came after the lockdowns we all experienced due to Covid-19, and it couldn’t have come at a better time; so many of us needed to feel understood, and Gray’s music offered this sense of relatability, becoming a home. But we also needed something fresh, something that would finally get us moving again after so much time without any means of connection or celebration. With an electric pop feel mixed with rock influences, the  EP was the answer to our desires, and was only at the beginning of Gray’s journey.

There is truly no end to Gray’s talent and no lack of music either. To follow, the 2023 EP “Higher Than The Sun” is pure ecstasy in every way possible. With an other-wordly feel, 90s-themed beats and a gorgeous visual representation, the EP is where we can clearly see Gray’s direction with club tunes that live up to all our expectations. While many more singles were released with hit DJs and various remix versions took their moment in the spotlight since then, “Louder, Please” and its deluxe edition is what we are most excited about. Released earlier this year, the debut album includes tracks “Free”, “Party People” and “Everything Changes (But I Won’t)” and is fluent in its technique, creating an energy that is unmatched from the get-go. “This album is an amalgamation of everything I love. It’s pop, it’s club, it’s underground, it’s maximalist, it’s delicate… it’s so me, and I’m incredibly proud of it.” It is certainly unapologetic in its beat, going against the nature of the album title but with grace and respect. The album genre-hops in the best way and honours the world of pop music despite its negative reputation. Pop music is, and always has been, the base of the music industry and the top charts, and artists like Rose Gray are doing no harm as they dive into the area, all while accepting creative influences from all over. This is artistry at its finest, and Gray is learning all she can to embody who she is. 

“A Little Louder, Please” sees artists like JADE, Melanie C, Logic1000, LUXE and Shygirl reimagine the original tracks on the album, and we have already been lucky enough to have a preview. Tracks like “Lotus” and “April” are extras from only Gray, and perhaps some of her best tracks yet, but we have also seen the new version of “Everything Changes (But I Won’t)” featuring Shygirl and Casey MQ. The track is instantly inviting and deserves to be played as loud as possible, with heavenly lead vocals and texturised feels and sounds, diving deep into your soul to get a reaction. It is a guarantee that the rest of the album will capture listeners and find a whole new audience who will appreciate everything it encapsulates.

Ahead of this release, it is key to highlight the busy schedule that has taken Gray hostage. The singer-songwriter secured a spot supporting Charli XCX at her Partygirl London takeover for LIDO Festival in the summer and has since been on tour with both Kesha and Scissor Sisters on their US “The Tits Out Tour” after releasing “ATTENTION!” with Kesha and Slayyyter. Gray is also currently on her own run of headline shows in the UK, including two nights at London’s Village Underground to finish the tour on a high. With more live performances announced in Brazil and Mexico City, Gray is a force to be reckoned with; it is almost impossible to list everything happening in her world right now, and we couldn’t be more excited to see first-hand the art that is being created. 

Rose Gray is messy and real, inviting us into a kaleidoscope of classic pop infused with rave sensibilities and so much more. She is the moment, and we are making sure not to miss it here at STARFREAK Magazine. 

Stream  “A Little Louder, Please (Deluxe)” on October 24th.