Interview With B. Rose On The Release of ‘Homegirl’

Meet Brittany McKay aka B. Rose, a Las Vegas-based singer-songwriter known for mesmerizing crowds with her powerful voice, energy and stage presence. Enveloped by the amazing musicianship of her band consisting of young up-and-coming local artists, B. Rose has been making waves in the Las Vegas music scene for many years now.

In 2016 Brittany and her band of babes, triumphed over 15 local bands to win The Road to Life is Beautiful Battle of the Bands competition, which secured a performance on the Life is Beautiful stage, alongside Mumford & Sons, J. Cole, Major Lazer, and G-Eazy.

With the release of her upcoming album ‘Homegirl’, the young neo-soul songstress is clearly on her way to stardom. We were blessed with the opportunity to interview Ms. B. Rose where we discussed her inspiration behind the creation of this masterpiece, and her upcoming release show on July 28 at Vinyl where we’ll be filming a special ‘Meet the Band’ segment for our Artist Spotlight series.

Get to know the artist who is ready to dominate the airwaves and Billboard charts. Support!

Congrats on the upcoming release of your latest EP “Homegirl”. Tell us a little about your inspiration behind the writing process, and the significance of the name.

Thank you! I wrote Homegirl as I grew into a young adult and an aspiring artist. From high school until now, I’ve naturally become the person that throws parties, likes to entertain people and makes sure everyone is having a good time. I love doing it, but it also came with a lot of pressure and responsibility. There were times when I got comments like “B, you’re the homie.. are any of your cute friends going to be there?” Or “at your party can you hook me up with your friend”. As time went on, it started to affect my self confidence. But to this day, me being the ‘homegirl’ hasn’t changed and I have become okay with it. All the songs that fall after Homegirl were written about experiences growing into myself and being an emotional woman, a struggling artist, and pushing through the darkness in my early 20s.  

How would you describe yourself when it comes down to actually creating music and what initially inspired you to become an artist?

I would see my fathers lyrics from the 70s and 80s lying around the house and always thought “well.. I mine as well try”, and haven’t stopped since. I’m also a very sensitive person and have always needed an outlet. I write about my life and I write about what is surrounding me. When I first started writing, I literally got the first measure of my first song tattooed on my back because I was moved by how therapeutic it was for me.  

Your previous EP ‘Intentions’ was released back in 2015. How has your outlook and sound changed since then?

I have experienced a lot since 2015, and I believe that my writing has grown and evolved just like I have. In the past few years, I have learned so much more about music. In this EP, I explore a lot more with sounds and production. There are definitely some new elements in this album that come from inspiration from my current favorite artists and sounds.  

Tell us about your album release party! What do you hope fans experience at the event?

Ah! I am so happy to have booked Vinyl for this EP release party. The Noir Movement and Halsey Harkins will be performing and they are such incredible musicians. I want fans to experience something new, something soulful, and something fun. We have some surprises up our sleeve, and hope it can be a night to remember for everyone. The energy in that room is going to be filled with creativity and support, and I could not be more excited!!  

Your sound is unlike any artist currently on the radio, which I love. Do you find it challenging staying true to your musical roots rather than converting to mainstream pop music?

Thank you Rawky! It is definitely a challenge to stay true to my roots.. but I think that is just because I’m constantly listening to new music and getting inspired. I try my hardest to stay true to myself but I definitely get inspired by new sounds and sometimes even pop music. I try to stay open minded but will continue to evolve only as myself. 

Which female artists really inspire you?

Amy Winehouse will always be my number one. She was so raw and genuine with her writing AND her voice. She was/is incredible. Janis Joplin as well.. just told the damn story and sang from her heart without a care in the world. 

Currently, I am very inspired by artists like Solange, Erykah Badu, and Banks. They are all such powerful women and performers. Each of them embody the word confidence and write about the real, the dark, and the beautiful. 

If you could cut a record with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Honestly… Justin Timberlake. Every song he has ever released has been a hit in my eyes. I would love to see what he’s like in a studio setting, and he seems to have such great energy. If Pharrell was there too, it would be an actual dream. They’re both out of this world. Man. 

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music? What do you hope is the message of your songs?

My goal is to make someone feel something. If they listen and feel anything at all, I did my job. My writing is honest and I just want to tell my story. 

What does the future hold for B. Rose?

After the launch of the EP, my team will be working on expanding our fan base. Touring is definitely in the future, which is something new for us and I am incredibly excited about it! 

What’s your interpretation of a Raw Femme?

Raw Femme connects and supports creative women. The genuine love and support that Rawky shows to emerging artists is something so special that I have not seen from many people in the arts. Raw Femme is an amazing platform for women!


Visual by Gina Joy Chong

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