If you have yet to find that one song you’ll have on repeat all summer long, look no further. We got you. Well, Vancouver’s own Rozie has got you. Her “Brown Sugar” is as satisfying as can every treat in your local bakery. We talked about her go-to summer jam, beach inspirations, and more in this back and forth between a songstress from the North and a low key hermit down South.

Kendra: You’ve written and recorded before but you said this time things felt right. Does that have to do with artistic growth, personal growth, finding the right people to work with or all of the above?

Rozie: There is a delicate balance between things being “right” and your drive to succeed in this industry. Early on I sat quietly about my direction as an artist. I think my maturity level was at a point that I was influenced by my drive more than my instinct. It’s not a regret for me or a misstep, I’ve always brought all of me to every project and would never label that as a mistake. So to answer the question, yes I’d say all of the above. I think the people I am working with now, have encouraged me to rely more on my instinct and my progress, and maturity has caused me to listen more and act more boldly, which is a reflection of the product I am now producing.

Kendra: Your latest single, “Brown Sugar,” feels like the soundtrack to a modern summer day, but I want to take it back. I want to know what your go-to summer jam was when you were in high school? Is that the style we can expect when you drop more singles or is an album coming soon?

Rozie: First of all thank you, that was the exact intention of the track. It was inspired by my passion for summer. I’ve been able to spend some time in Maui and it’s changed my life. That song is really my expression of how I feel when the plane lands and I and my boyfriend are about to hit the beach for two weeks. To properly answer your question I’d say Al Green – “Love and Happiness.” That was one of my fav summer jams back in high school (and I’m not even that old! haha) but I’m an old soul and always have been. I don’t know if it perfectly falls into this category but for me, a summer jam is more about where you were and when you heard it.

As for the new singles, you can definitely expect more summer vibes! I have about 5 more tracks to release this year before I consider putting together a full album, and I can’t wait to share!

Kendra: It’s funny that you have this sound because you’re a Vancouver girl and here you are coming out with a song that sounds like it was recorded at a beach house in Malibu with Drake sitting on the porch. Were you always looking to the warmer climates when it came to inspiration?

Rozie: I wish I recorded it at a beach house in Malibu with Drake! Definitely one day. For this particular project, I was most inspired by the warm climates. Most artists write based on a feeling or a particular situation that they are going through. Whether it be a breakup or what not. When I wrote these songs, I was (and still am) in a really happy spot and wanted my music to represent that feeling and have other people feel that happiness when they listened!

Kendra: Speaking of, you always seem to be on the go in Arizona and Hawaii. What sunny locale has inspired your sound the most and is that where you tend to write more often?

Rozie: You’ve done your research! Maui was the first spot that inspired this project. My boyfriend and I wrote this project together (he produced the tracks too) and Maui was where we sparked the first idea. We wanted to write music that made people feel happy but also have a sexy soulful vibe to it. Although we have started song ideas in Maui, it’s not where we work out of most. He has a studio here in Vancouver and we usually bring our inspiration back home with us. One day we will live there though! One day.

Kendra: We’re going to talk about inspirations a bit more. Your musical ones. We’re going to play Duet, Cover, Tour with Erykah Badu, SZA and Alicia Keys. So if you had to pick one to do a duet with, one to cover and one to hit the road with, which would you pick for each?

Rozie: I love this game! Okay, duet with SZA, cover Alicia Keys, and tour with Erykah Badu.

Kendra: What’s going on with you in the coming months? More music, shows?

Rozie: The next couple months will be just releasing a bunch more music! And right now I’m also working on a live set to perform. Follow along with me on my socials to find out about any upcoming shows!