Stella Rose Gahan (yes that name means probably what you think it does) just released an ep of great music right before Christmas.
I interviewed Stella Rose right before the release of her first album, and we had a great conversation about her new work prior to release. I fell in love with her work back then, and was more bedazzled by “Hollybaby”, listen to this one, and you will know why.
Having listened to the first album ANGEL, and this new EP, I will be able to tell you, her sophomore effort is several leaps and bounds beyond what you would expect. The last time a band put out such an impressive leap of musical quality between the first and second albums was The Killers, from “Hot Fuss”, “Sam’s Town”, that is how I would grade this new work.
Stella stands on her own, her creativity is intense, as you can see in her videos, and the quality and storytelling has gone in so many directions that have you thinking deeply as you watch them and FEELING what she is trying to convey. These skills usually take a songwriter a few albums to master, but she has proven herself worthy with songs like “Drugstore Romeo” that has a Love & Rockets “Earth + Sun + Moon” meets The Cowboy Junkies. You can feel the suffering in this song, without even watching the video.
When I talked to her about the previous album, “So are you into like, Rocky Horror, and a Clockwork Orange”, and she smiled and said “All of the above”. Those themes are present in her video for “Muddled Man” which was downright freaky with an assault of industrial beats, and in your face visuals that are unsettling. That interview can be found here.
Her first album “Eyes Of Glass” delivering a wide range of sounds, and styles, I have to say my fave on that album was ANGEL.
Going back and forth between each release will stir some wonderful feelings, or make you take a different perspective on things you think are beautiful. Either way, Stella will give you some unusual beauty and intensity, and you will also go back to revisit what you thought of it all, several times.
Kudo’s Stella, we hope to see you on the road soon.
#stellarose #muddledman #eyesofglass #hollybaby