Recommended tracks: “Roomful of People,” “Joanna,” “I’m Scared”
Artists you may like: Gracie Abrams, Sasha Alex Sloan, Sara Kays
Boston-born and LA-based singer-songwriter Rosie Darling tells the story of life through her heartfelt new EP, Roomful Of People. Serving as an emotional escape, the project allows her to fully embrace her feelings and wear her heart on her sleeve. Produced by Justin Gammella (FINNEAS, Ashe), the EP features magnetic new singles, “It Is What It Is” and “I’m Scared.”
The title track, “Roomful of People,” moves the record forward with emotional depth, featuring a heartfelt duet with Jake Scott as they sing through the pain of a breakup. Throughout the EP, Rosie continues to explore a range of emotional challenges, including the complexities of long-term friendships and the insecurities that arise while growing into a new version of yourself.
Recognized for her emotionally raw and introspective style, her music weaves together elements of pop, indie, and alternative, delving into themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Many of us can relate to these subjects, which helps create her loyal fanbase. She received recognition with her 2021 debut EP Coping with the title-track cracking the Top 20 of the Spotify Global Viral Chart.
The EP’s opening song, “This Is Me Letting You Go”, begins with a dreamy guitar strum. The single dives into the emotions that come along with moving on from somebody, and accepting the end of something that doesn’t work anymore. The song starts with a slow, melancholic vibe, but moves into a progressive build-up, signaling her freedom and disassociation from a person who wasn’t right for her.
Following that single is “Joanna,” a track that shifts the focus from romantic relationships to the challenges of long-term friendships. The song carries a sense of nostalgia as Rosie longs for simpler times before life and growing up got in the way. Its chorus is both spry and sentimental, celebrating the lasting bond she shares with Joanna. As Rosie puts it, “People say that nothing lasts forever, but we’ve already stood the test of time.”
“Roomful of People” takes a slower approach opening with a beautiful guitar riff. This single explores the nuances faced post-breakup, when you’re trying to move on from somebody, but you can’t. This single is sung with Jake Scott, creating an elegant duet looking at both sides of a breakup. Their harmonies paint both sides of the heartache, capturing the quiet desperation of holding onto something that’s long expired out of fear of being alone. The warm guitar tone of the song clashes beautifully with the cold and bitter feeling of false hope.
“Smoke and Mirrors” and “It Is What It Is” both center on reclaiming personal strength and setting boundaries within a relationship. “Smoke and Mirrors” reflects the emotional toll of a toxic dynamic, where constant efforts to please someone never seem to be enough. As the track builds, Rosie begins to reclaim her sense of self, confronting the antagonist and stepping into her power. In “It Is What It Is,” she strips away the rose-colored glasses, realizing it’s easier to accept a failing relationship for what it truly is rather than clinging to what it could be. The song’s layered production mirrors the emotional complexity of letting go of illusions and embracing the truth.
The EP concludes with “I’m Scared.” Light guitar plucks carry the beginning of the song, and it’s raw and vulnerable while Rosie sings about the feelings of being trapped in adulthood. The song speaks on the changes and insecurities that come with growing into a more evolved version of yourself. The song shifts from light guitar and gives way to a powerful piano medley, symbolizing the often uncertain, yet necessary, journey of growth.
With Roomful Of People, Rosie Darling delivers a vulnerable, emotionally rich body of work that captures the quiet complexities of love, loss, friendship, and personal growth. Each track feels intentional, blending delicate instrumentation with heartfelt lyricism to create a deeply relatable journey. Through her introspective storytelling and signature blend of pop, indie, and alternative influences, Rosie invites listeners to not only hear her evolution, but to feel their own. This EP solidifies her voice as one that resonates with honesty, depth, and quiet strength.
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