Fresh off the release of her debut LP, ‘Louder, Please,’ Rose Gray caught up with Atwood Magazine to discuss the significance of releasing an album, and how her music fits into the sound of pop music today.
Stream: ‘Louder, Please’ – Rose Gray
I think ‘Louder, Please’ is an underground pop record. It is most definitely pop – but it has its root firmly in the soundscapes and world of underground club culture, dance music, electronic, electro-clash.
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There’s a moment in every rising star’s career where the world starts catching on — when they go from playing small gigs to soundtracking entire nights out, when the reviews go from promising to undeniable, when they go from being out at parties to being seen out at the parties.
Since the release of Rose Gray’s debut album, Louder, Please on January 17th, it’s clear that she is living in that moment.
Over the past few weeks Gray has been racking up some major career milestones – from DJing Vanity Fair’s star-studded Rising Stars party, to winning the 2025 MTV Push UK and Ireland prize, beating out talents including Good Neighbours and Teddy Swims. She’s won over some of the industry’s toughest critics, with The Guardian hailing her debut as a “sweat-soaked” record that “fizzes with inventiveness.”
While Gray’s career is taking new form – as she continues to promote the record and prepares to headline a trio of shows this March in London, Manchester, and Brighton – you would hardly know it from first impression. As she joined our call bursting with energy, the singer admitted she’s a bit stressed. Not about her career and managing this moment – but rather about her wifi connection. “I’m a bit stressed about my internet” she told us, though quickly reassuring not to fret “I think it should be better than I had before, it’s a new router.”
On her debut album, Louder, Please, Gray’s sound is as bold as it is infectious, a high-energy fusion of underground club beats and pop grandeur. “It’s most definitely pop,” she explains, “but it has its roots firmly in the soundscapes and world of underground club culture, dance music, electronic, electro-clash.”
The album is full of euphoria, while balancing lyrical themes of hedonism and love.
“I’ve always wanted to be an albums artist,” Gray says. “I don’t think people respect the power of a good album enough.”
With support from some of the industry’s biggest collaborators, including Justin Tranter and Uffie, Gray’s sound has carved out its own place at a time when pop, and particularly electronic pop is having a big moment.
“I’m very excited by pop music – where it’s heading and what’s happening. I definitely feel those open arms for what I’m doing right now.” Gray shares.
“Obviously thank you Brat summer for opening the door for people who didn’t expect industrial sounds with a female pop vocal. Madonna did it. Bjork did it. Maybe even like Sade did it on more electronic stuff, and now Charli – there’s something happening where club music has become pop music.”
For now, we sat down with Rose Gray to talk about her debut album, her favorite lyrics, and the state of pop music today.
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:: stream/purchase Louder, Please here ::
:: connect with Rose Gray here ::
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A CONVERSATION WITH ROSE GRAY
Atwood Magazine: Congratulations on the release of your debut album, Louder, Please. How has the response been since you released the album?
Rose Gray: Honestly, it’s been really good. I put it out on the 17th of January. It was nice to bring it out at the beginning of the year, I felt very refreshed and ready to go in 2025. It’s been so much better than I thought it would be, putting out this album. My biggest thing is that I feel like I’m getting fans, like I can feel it. I feel it like when I’m out in Hackney and someone comes up to me. People are listening to the album, which I’m still finding – not weird – I’m just getting used to the fact that people know my music now.
Has this experience of releasing an album, and a full package of music, been different than your experience with past releases? I know you’ve released quite a few singles and a couple EPs before the album came out.
Rose Gray: So different! A lot of people have discovered me for the first time, and it’s been with the album. It’s great because you can see my depth, and my musicality – and really get to know me as an artist. There’s many faces to me, and my music, and I think that the album shows them. I’ve put out quite a lot of music, and I’m obviously proud of everything that I’ve put out. But I think that this is my best work to date – and it feels good for things to be clicking on music that I feel deserves it.
Yeah, I know that the last time you spoke with Atwood Magazine was in 2019, so it's exciting to be talking to you for your debut album six years later.
Rose Gray: I remember that – I was so young!
What made you decide now that it’s time for a full length album having put out music for a while in smaller doses. Did you feel like this was the right moment, or was there something special about this collection?
Rose Gray: I think personally I’ve always wanted to be an albums artist. I don’t think people respect the power of a good album enough. I’ve had enough material to put out an album for years – actually years and years – but it didn’t make sense to bring out an album then. I have sat on this album for about two years. I’m definitely in the albums world now, I love it. I’m hooked. I just want to bring out another one.
To someone who hasn’t heard this album, how would you describe it? Is there a best occasion for someone to listen to Louder, Please?
Rose Gray: So I think Louder, Please is an underground pop record. It is most definitely pop – but it has its root firmly in the soundscapes and world of underground club culture, dance music, electronic, electro-clash. I would say that for the listening experience – I think every individual is very different. I love to listen to really heavy, hard stuff like from the moment I wake up. Then when I’m going to the club, I listen to more beautiful, ethereal string stuff. So I wouldn’t want to say the record is just for the club, it’s just for the beach, it’s just for the commute. I think there is something for everyone and every moment – but it definitely works on a holiday.
I’d love to talk about some of the songs and lyrics on the album. Do you have a favorite lyric, or is there any lyric that you feel like really summarizes this album?
Rose Gray: There’s a lot of fun lyrics, but there are two lyrics that really stick with me and they’re both quite simple. In “Everything Changes but I Won’t” there is a lyric that says, “I still feel that love.” I know it’s very simple, but it truly captures that feeling of basically feeling the sensation of that first time you fall for someone, and you fall in love and you have your first kiss and its so magic. It’s that emotion, that over many years you can still feel that way with someone. I really like that lyric – and my best friend likes that lyric as well. She told me that’s her favorite lyric.
I also like the lyric in “Hackney Wick,” “take me right back to Hackney Wick, all the love all the energy.” I think there is a bunch of fun energy in some of those core places, where I grew up partying.
I wouldn’t want to say the record is just for the club, it’s just for the beach, it’s just for the commute. I think there is something for everyone and every moment – but it definitely works on a holiday!
Pop music right now – especially British pop music – is having a big moment. I’m curious where you feel like your music, and this album, fit into that bigger picture of pop music today.
Rose Gray: I’m very excited by pop music – where it’s heading and what’s happening. I definitely feel those open arms for what I’m doing right now. I didn’t necessarily feel it like two years ago, not from fans and stuff but from the industry.
Obviously thank you Brat summer for opening the door for people who didn’t expect industrial sounds with a female pop vocal. Madonna did it. Bjork did it. Maybe even Sade did it on more electronic stuff, and now Charli – there’s something happening where club music has become pop music. But rather than a DJ at the forefront, we’re seeing a female lead. Everyone is loving that mix of music.
You mentioned earlier that you’ve had this album ready for a few years. Does that sound resonating now play into the calculus of releasing the album now?
Rose Gray: No, honestly not at all. Not really – it honestly just kept getting pushed back with making changes, making sure the right mixes were happening and also album campaigns you do need a nice lead up for them. Ideally you have about six months of the album mix mastered.
I mean, some artists have it ready a year before so you can really go in on the marketing and stuff. It wasn’t at all because of Charli that I moved it back at all, but I feel like it kinda worked. It’s worked bringing it out in January – I feel like people are ready to have a bit of fun again.
There’s something happening where club music has become pop music.
We don’t often see debuts that feel this big and this high production in the pop world because of how hard it is to make music like that, requiring a lot of budget and collaborators. What was your experience putting out such a high production pop record as your debut?
Rose Gray: It’s really interesting hearing you say that, because for where I am in my career, even some of the people that I’ve worked with on the record – it sort of feels like it’s a big record. Maximalist, and bold. Not necessarily what someone’s debut album sounds like. I was very, very lucky to find amazing collaborators who wanted to work with me even though I wasn’t having big hits. They just really liked what I was doing and I loved what they were doing. Justin Tranter, we work so well together, and they became such a huge part of my album, and really helped me connect with brilliant producers.
The album is full of brilliant collaborators. There was a feeling – because I’m on an indie label – of, like, people wanted the music to come out. So they were making it and putting in the hours and not necessarily charging what they would usually charge. They were like, “We just want you to make this record and we want to be on it.” I feel really lucky that I’ve got these wizards on my album.
Last question, I’ve seen your name pop up in a lot of “artists to watch” lists, including Atwood Magazine’s 2025 artists to watch. And Vogue UK asked, “Is Rose Gray the Next Big British Pop Star?” I’m curious what it’s like to be a part of music’s ‘what next’?
Rose Gray: Some of those questions, they’re scary. But they’re interesting. They’re like, “Is she the next big pop star?” It’s exciting to be on those lists – I felt for so long like an underdog. I didn’t feel sorry for myself, because I know that music is just hard. The music game is so hard. But I felt my potential was a bit held back. It is really great to be in those conversations now, to have people taking my project seriously.
Honestly, I don’t necessarily care that much about that, but for me it’s about getting fans. I love it. That is the best feeling – feeling like people are listening. I am a Capricorn, so I’m always looking ahead, I’m climbing the mountain constantly. I’ve got a lot more left in me, and this is my debut, but I already can’t wait for my second album.
I’m just getting started. I’m excited for what I’m going to do next, and have the support now.
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You can stream Rose Gray’s debut album ‘Louder, Please’ on all major platforms, or catch her on tour across Europe February 18th at Berghain in Berlin, February 20th at Badaboum in Paris, February 21st at Botanique in Brussels, February 22nd at Paradiso in Amsterdam, March 19th at YES in Manchester, March 20th at Colour Factory in London, and March 22nd at Komedia in Brighton.
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:: stream/purchase Louder, Please here ::
:: connect with Rose Gray here ::
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