Anna Rose is an up and coming artist who recently released her debut album "Nomad." TheCelebrityCafe.com's Andrea Keiter spoke with Anna about her influences, her work, and how a budding artist spends her time.

TCC: What are you up to now? Recording, performing, writing?

AR: Well, right now I just got back from the gym, ate a bunch of jalapeños, and am laying on the couch. You can say that I love jalapeños!

Other than that, I'm performing behind "Nomad," playing a lot of dates in New York City. Later in the summer I'll be playing around the northeast. I will be playing on August 13 at Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pa. I'll be on the Martin Guitar Stage. I'm very excited to play somewhere other than the city. We get to get out there and play for someone other than our friends and family.

Other than that, I'm writing right now, which is my main focus. "Nomad" has treated me so well and it was great to compile all these songs over the last few years, but I'm writing new stuff that represents me now. The majority of the songs on "Nomad" were written between ages 17 and 22. I didn't stay in one place. It was very transient.

TTC: Who were some of your biggest influences musically growing up?

AR: Some of my earliest memories are of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, just driving down the road with my dad listening to "Gimme Shelter." I also got into a lot of stuff on my own, like The Who, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, when I got more and more into the guitar which was probably around nine or 10 years old. I listened to a lot of hard music for a kid my age. I was really into Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, and Radiohead.

TTC: Who are your more current influences?

AR: A lot of what might be heard on next record is what influences me now. I'm really into Jack White. And that's anything he does. Solo, with the White Stripes, The Raconteurs. I admire him very much. I also listen to The Kills.

I still listen to the music that I played when I first got started playing guitar, too, like Delta Blue, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, old blues music.

TTC: What was it like growing up in a musical environment?

AR: To me, there were no boundaries musically. It was and still is very nurturing. I live in the city by myself, so it's comforting to come home. Actually, it's difficult and easy at the same time. There are difficult people, my family is very strong, but it's beautiful.

TTC: After being introduced to the guitar, what made you stick with it?

AR: I just loved it. I loved the shape, I loved holding it. It was basically a safety blanket to me and is now on stage. Playing the guitar was like the final piece of the puzzle that made me a performer. I always knew I was going to be in music. I'm a singer, I came out of the womb singing a Middle C. The guitar made me who I am. I'm so dedicated and I found something that gave me such joy.

TTC: What's a normal work day for you?

AR: On a day when I don't have a show, I wake up, take care of my dog, go to the gym, and come back and do internet publicity. That includes posting new videos, sending out emails, booking tour dates. I always try to write for a few hours. The days without shows usually fill up quickly. I schedule doctor appointments and personal stuff in the afternoon.

At night, I have band rehearsal or I am playing a show or go see someone else play. It's important to me to go see what other musicians who are doing well in NYC are doing.

At night I usually come home and watch a movie or read, then try to write a little more. I write a little bit everyday because so much shit comes out of our mouths.

TTC: What inspired your new album, Nomad?

AR: I was so into Springsteen's "I'm On Fire" here; a lot of classic rock; digest whatever is around you; child of "the melody man." The overall theme is the title, "Nomad". I was going between NYC and L.A. My friends and I were all dispersing across the country, which is what "Four Corners" is about. These were the first experiences I had with large emotions. I was feeling inadequate as a girl, and it's kind of like my coming-of-age record.

TTC: What is the meaning or idea behind some of the songs?

AR: "I'll Be Gone": The song was for one of my best friends that I met in college who is actually in med school now. It came to me just as I was about to leave school. We went to a party one night and when we got home I said "I wish there was a song to describe right now. 'This is shit, guys are shit, feel like shit.'" It was originally a joke song. My friends kept asking me to play it. It's my personal feelings about being emotionally intimate with someone. I'm a songwriter, I'm really sensitive. I'm too mature sometimes, I am not irresponsible. The song is joking with my insecurities. My friends tell me I should stop being so serious and write more joke songs because they are good.

"All I Have to Say": I was 18 and went to Millbrook School for high school. It's a boarding school, so I lived at my high school. I was close to all of my teachers and classmates. They were open, wonderful people. I still consider my classmates from that school to be my brothers and sisters. They become your family because you aren't living with your family. I was leaving that place and moving to California, where I didn't know anyone. I didn't know how to say goodbye. They watched me grow. I knew what I wanted to become and became that after I left the school. I truly love the people who taught me. It wasn't just learning English or science, it was life education. I grew up there.

"Gillian": This is about someone who I call my "musical soul mate" or "musical angel." Gillian was the daughter of Arlen Roth, who was my guitar teacher. She died in a car accident with her mom. It very difficult for me, I don't think I'll ever get over it. She was my close friend and loved music like I do. It was very sudden and very, very sad because she was such a young age. I never thought I could write about it and one night I woke up from a dream and wrote it from beginning to end. The song is as-is since the two minutes I wrote it. It was very divine inspiration. It's a painful topic for me, but there's an outlet for it.

TTC: What is your favorite song on the album?

AR: They all mean or represent something different to me, so I can't pick a favorite song. I can't step out of own emotions. I am very critical of other peoples records, but my own work its hard. "Gillian" is very special to me, but I rarely play it live because it's emotionally very draining to play it. On the album, Arlen [Gillian's father] played guitar on it. It's a very powerful scenario.

Some songs on "Nomad" are more to my taste now, but I've passed my expiration date for others. I co-produced the album, so it feels like a child.

TTC: What's the major difference between NYC and L.A.? Why didn't you stay in L.A.? What didn't you like?

AR: I went to California to go to college. I was playing gigs all over L.A., working my ass off. I let class work slide a little, and told parents I was dropping out of college. They were fine with it, actually wanted me to do it. They felt that my dreams were more important, and said "do what feels best for you." It was exactly what I needed.

I'll always be thankful for L.A., though. I dove right into the music scene there, but it ran its course for me. Five years was enough for me. New Yorkers pride themselves on being unique and individuals, L.A. bummed me out because they don't celebrate it as much. But there were other things I didn't expect that were amazing. I was a live artist, playing gigs, and paid a lot of dues there.

TTC: As an up-and-coming artist, do you have a good support system? Who?

AR: My family is a huge part. Emotionally, my family and friends are the best. I'm a bit insecure as a performer and musician, I work really hard, but I'm still insecure. These people believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. I'm very lucky.

It's also a blessing to have someone like Amanda, my publicist. Having someone who really believes in my music is great.

TTC: What do you think makes you different from other artists out now?

AR: I'm different because my experiences growing up taught me a lot of lessons most don't learn until they are way into their career. It affects writing and realism. I'm realistic about money and fame—if I were in it for that I would be out by now. It's not an easy profession, but I care about it more than anything else in my life. I'm in it because I love it.

My music is a little rough around the edges. They are straight performances, no Auto Tune. I approach it in a more old school way.

TTC: A lot of artists consider their music to be something different than the critics do. What kind of music do you consider yours to be?

AR: Folk/blues/rock/pop.

TTC: What do you do while not performing or songwriting?

AR: My dog is kind of my life. It's sad and pathetic. I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Joplin. People say she looks like Lady from "Lady and the Tramp". I also do volunteer work at different shelters. My godparents are veterinarians, and I crave being around animals.

I am also really into boxing. Dance, too. I danced professionally as a kid, and try to take a few classes now. I really love to shop for vintage clothing. I'm taking cooking classes right now, I love good food.

My life centers around the album right now, so if I'm not doing this, I'm getting a drink with friends. I spend a lot of time with friends.

thecelebritycafe