FIREROSE on Authentic Songwriting, Trusting Your Instincts, and Navigating the Music Industry

As a part of our series about rising music stars, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing FIREROSE.

FIREROSE, a Sydney, Australia-born and raised, Los Angeles, California-based singer/songwriter has always written songs to process her deepest emotions. “I always believed that my purpose on earth was fulfilled by music,” says FIREROSE, “and helping people up with a song I wrote gives everything so much meaning. I write from a place in my soul that’s unexplainable and I’m incredibly grateful for this gift that allows me to touch people so profoundly.”

FIREROSE‘s hit single, “New Day (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus),” recently charted in the Top 40 on Hot A/C, and she releases her new track and music video for “All Figured Out” on May 6. Coming off a powerful breakthrough year with “New Day,” a genre-crossing hit collaboration with Cyrus, FIREROSE, now releases her fresh, piano ballad “All Figured Out,” the first track of her brand new material coming this year. Written and performed by FIREROSE, “All Figured Out” was produced by legendary songwriter Alan O’ Day (“Undercover Angel,” “Angie Baby” “Rock and Roll Heaven”), the single was mastered by Grammy® Award winner Joe LaPorta, and FIREROSE is the first artist signed to Billy Ray Cyrus’ award winning publishing company, Sunnageronimo (BMI “Publisher of the Year,” 2020).

FIREROSE’s earlier solo tracks, “Fragile Handling” and “Way Out,” whose videos each have over 1M views, laid the groundwork for the success of “New Day,” which FIREROSE originally wrote to lift herself out of one of the darkest periods of her life. Rolling Stone called “New Day” a “Trippy, atmospheric ballad about revitalization and rebirth.” The song reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot AC chart (#33), #19 on both the Billboard AC and #18 Mediabase AC charts, and was a duet and co-write with Cyrus, produced by FIREROSE, Cyrus and Pedro Calloni. The video has eclipsed 2.2M YouTube views. FIREROSE has also performed with Cyrus live at the Grand Ole Opry and on Live with Kelly and Ryan; and has been featured in media outlets from Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, CNN, iHeartRadio, The Today Show Australia, and many more.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

Thanks for having me! I grew up in Sydney, Australia, in a family of classical musicians. I began writing songs to process my emotions as soon as I could speak. I wrote melodies and lyrics and sang them into my little plastic cassette recorder long before I knew I’d one day get to turn that passion for songwriting into my career.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

At the time, I honestly thought everyone just came home from school and wrote songs to express their pain, joy, fears and hope. It was something that came so naturally to me, it didn’t occur to me until I was eight years old when my class took a field trip to a recording studio, that it may not be so common. The studio engineer asked if anyone had a song they’d like to try recording, and I volunteered. When he then asked me: “I haven’t heard that song before, which artist sings it?” I remember being embarrassed, explaining I had actually written it. I guess that was a pivotal moment in understanding my songwriting as a unique gift.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Being invited to play The Grand Ole Opry last year was probably one of the most interesting and amazing nights of my life. Getting to meet so many iconic artists like Crystal Gayle and Rhonda Vincent backstage was extremely wonderful. When Crystal said to me, “I loved your performance on Live with Kelly and Ryan — I watched it with my husband on TV yesterday,” that was certainly a major pinch myself moment! I couldn’t believe I was in the company of, nevermind being recognized artistically by, such talent.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I still make mistakes to this day! Learning from them is the best way to grow. Creating music is always an organic process for me and never linear. I do remember performing at The Viper Room, one of the many gigs I did there years ago, and calling my set some ridiculous name. I guess as a solo artist it can take some time to get comfortable finding out who we really are, and being confident enough to say “this is me, this is my music, and I’m not hiding behind anything.”

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

One of my brand new co-written and performed songs with Billy Ray Cyrus is in a major movie coming out this year. I can’t wait for fans to hear it! I’m really proud of this one and so excited to go on the adventure of being part of the soundtrack of this special film. More to be announced .

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

Diversity in the industry is absolutely essential. Our world is beautifully diverse, and without question, that must be represented in the art we create. Culture is reflective of where we are as a global community, and the music, films and television we consume need to reflect the unlimited diverseness of who we all are. It’s the multilayered representation of our exquisite tapestry of nationalities, beliefs, ethnicities, gender identities and cultures that makes entertainment’s role so important.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1) Always trust your instincts. I really can’t emphasize this one enough. Learning to trust yourself is paramount. I’ve been in professional situations where I’ve felt pressured to do something that doesn’t feel right to my soul. Maybe that’s the hard way I learned this important lesson, as doing the opposite just feels terrible. I discovered the only way to be authentic as an artist is by always putting my values and integrity first no matter what.

2) Don’t compare yourself to anyone else, we’re all completely different and that’s beautiful. One of the first songs I ever wrote as a kid had the lyrics: “Because every person’s different in their own way…oh that difference which I love…” I sometimes recall in wonderment how my child self already knew that wisdom.

3) Believe people’s actions over their words. People can tell you anything, but they will always show you with their actions who they really are. Especially in our industry, there are unfortunately a lot of people who will say whatever they think will get them what they want. False promises and lack of character are all too familiar in the world of entertainment. On the other hand, there are many utterly brilliant, smart, extremely talented, hard-working people in it too! You just have to become discerning and take people on what they actually do, not who they project to you on first meeting them who they say they are.

4) Setbacks can often be blessings in disguise. This is one of the hardest ones to accept at the moment, but with a little perspective and time, it becomes easier to see the undeniable pattern. If it’s meant to be, all things end up working together in God’s timing to make it happen.

5) Creativity is a journey not a destination. Sounds cliche, but I tell you what, some of the most powerful lessons have become a cliche for the very reason they’re fact! My friends often remind me of this beautiful truth, especially when I begin taking myself too seriously. It’s vital to be able to laugh, when things go wrong when expectations don’t meet reality and also when things are going brilliantly! A good laugh with people who have your back, always makes a challenging day better.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

Take time everyday for self-care, which of course looks different for everybody. For me, it includes time with my loved ones, in nature and with my amazing puppy. I also have a daily spiritual practice that keeps me grounded and connected. We can’t be our best selves as artists if we aren’t taking care of ourselves as humans first. Balancing our time between work and the many other important things in life is crucial. Also, be kind and forgiving toward yourself and others, as it’s progress not perfection that matters.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

If I could inspire a movement, it would be shining a light on the movement that I already see graciously happening in the world today; one of compassion, honesty, kindness, consciousness and love. The world can never have too much of these values in action. Certainly some of the current emphasis of our society leans uncomfortably toward greed and materialism. That stands to serve ultimately no one, as endless accumulation of wealth does not in fact bring lasting happiness or peace.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Alan O’Day, the legendary hit songwriter, was both a friend and mentor to me in the early years of me starting out my career in the U.S. Not only did he believe in me as an artist, but he was one of the most kind-hearted, genuine and positive people I’ve been blessed to know. Without him, I don’t imagine I would have developed the inner confidence I gratefully have today, that my voice is indeed valuable. Before he passed on and became one of my guardian angels, he used to always tell me, “Your songs are going to inspire people and change the world!” At the time I was just struggling to pay my rent, so you can imagine how extraordinarily much hearing that from him meant to me.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

I’d have to say the Serenity Prayer is one of the greatest life lessons I know. Asking for the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Every. Single. Day. There’s no challenge I face that it doesn’t shed a little clarity on. My Grandma had an artwork of it on her wall when I was a kid — she was extremely wise. It didn’t occur to me till many years later just how profound it is. The wisdom of knowing what I can control, and what I must let go of is fundamental. As there’s so much in this life we can’t, finding the courage to fight for the things that we can when something really matters, well that’s how I got to where I am here today. So it’s that ongoing dance we hopefully get better at with time if we stay really honest with ourselves.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

It has been a dream of mine for a long time to meet Sia. She is one of the most inspirational artists I know. She also happens to be Australian but lives in the U.S. now, I think! If I could have breakfast or lunch with her one day, I imagine my 14-year-old self would feel like life had come full circle. Her music has been a driving force for me, helping get me through some of the darkest times. I would be utterly honored for the chance to thank her in person.

How can our readers follow you online?

You can find me on Instagram @firerose https://www.instagram.com/firerose/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FIREROSEmusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hUvYMF6MBxiZVXjiglBPX?si=iyCCd5acQgCBuBT-uy-ggQ

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/firerose/1423455468

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firerosemusic

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!