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Shea Rose reflects on her life and music on her new album, ‘D.T.M.A.’

Colette Greenstein
Colette Greenstein has been a contributing arts & entertainment writer for the Banner since 2009. VIEW BIO
Shea Rose reflects on her life and music on her new album, ‘D.T.M.A.’
Shea Rose from the artwork to the “Forcin’ It” single. (Photo: Photo: Joel Benjamin)

Three years in the making, the EP “D.T.M.A.” is a reflection and a celebration of Shea Rose’s journey in navigating the music industry from an emerging artist to becoming an independent, empowered singer, songwriter, and producer in her own right.

On the web

For more information on Shea Rose, her album release and more, visit www.shearose.com.

Primed to sign with a major record label in 2013, Rose felt that she was being pulled in many different directions, and decided to pull the plug on the offer. It was like putting a “nail in the coffin,” described Rose of turning down the deal, in a recent sit down with the Banner. And then she had to process that decision which took some time.

“I’m so happy that it happened. It was such a sobering awakening and failure. I’m happy that it happened here in Boston with my family and friends,” said the Berklee College of Music grad. “It was the best thing that happened — failing.”

In the three years since, Rose has been able to take the lessons that she learned from that time to define what success means to her. Quite simply, it was about having balance in her life. “I want to be healthy physically, spiritually and mentally, and have space to produce my art.”

“Dance This Mess Around,” which was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, took some time in coming to life. “I tried after the Kickstarter, and turning down the major label to release it as a project,” said Rose. “I realized about a year ago when I kept hitting a wall, that I had to tell the story about why this is so hard. I think that’s just as important as the song.”

The album, which is produced by Rose and her partner in life and in music, Simone Scazzocchio, exposes the struggles and the ups and downs of being an artist. Rose, who co-wrote five of the six songs, describes the album as “the story of her life” beginning with the first single “Do I Really Wanna Be? (A Rock Star),” — released on October 14 — which describes the inner conflict that she went through in 2013.

The second single “Forcin’ It,” which comes out this Friday (October 28) talks about the images and ideas that are placed on us by others and by ourselves. Thinking about that period in her life, Rose realizes that “it just speaks to how powerful the media is and how when you’re constantly seeing those images nobody has to do it to you. You actually can do it to yourself because you have this expectation of that’s who you’re supposed to be and that’s what you see, and so you mimic that.”

These days Rose has a new lease on life; she’s engaged and present and absolutely thrilled to share her journey through her music. The album is slated for release over the course of several months with a new track being revealed every two weeks on iTunes before becoming available on Spotify, Google Player, and other platforms.

Plus, each song has its own cover art and behind the scenes video representing a different piece of Shea’s story. “Oftentimes we get to see the package when it’s done. Everything looks incredible, beautiful and sparkly. We decided to open up and tell the story and show the process. That’s the art. That’s just as important as the music,” said Rose in explaining the unique concept behind “D.T.M.A.”

Come 2017, fans in Boston and on the East Coast will get to experience the music and the album up close when Rose hits the road in her first official tour.