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Filmmaker, writer and singer channels literary greats in sophomore set.

Having worked in TV and film as a writer and producer (credits include 2013's Fruitvale Station), the imagery of singer-songwriter Haroula Rose's sophomore set Here The Blue River (out March 25 on Thirty Tigers) was a departure from contemporary influences. Instead, it was inspired by literary greats such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Pablo Neruda and Bonnie Jo Campbell. Rose—who describes her music as "folky"—also developed a more sophisticated sound on this album, moving away from the raw acoustic songs of her debut. Not only does Rose pay tribute to her literary muses in Here the Blue River, she also sings about the ebb and flow of life while accompanied by a banjo, a double bass, clarinet and percussion. Before Haroula Rose embarks on her tour with David Wax Museum and Darlingside this spring, she premieres the lovely “This Old House” on Myspace. Listen above, and read below as we chat with the singer-songwriter about the song, album and her musical journey. 

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Homebase: Los Angeles, CA

Is Haroula Rose your real name? It's lovely.

Haroula Rose Spyropoulos is my full name!

Where is it from?

Very Greek. Haroula means "little joy" in Greek. My parents named me that because I think I may have been sort of a surprise for them.

You're a musician, filmmaker and writer. How did your creative journey start?

My journey started when I was young, I was always into music and loved films. I got into theater growing up, and bands, choirs, a capella groups, everything I could. Then after college, I was living abroad and met some really inspiring people who were doing exactly what they wanted and I realized I had to go for it. I went to film school for a time, and have made some short films that I wrote and directed or acted in. I've also produced a couple films but mostly I write, which can be solitary. It's all interrelated in that when you're on set directing, and working with people, it's very collaborative in finding the truth of the moment. When you're onstage performing you're in the truth of that moment, because there is nowhere else to be.

So why is your sophomore album called Here The Blue River?

It's a line from a Ralph Waldo Emerson poem that I think encompasses all of our trajectories of birth, life, and death.

You've said that your album was also inspired by "The Book of Questions" by Pablo Neruda, and "Once Upon A River" by Bonnie Jo Campbell. What about these writers struck you enough to write your own songs?

I've always loved to read, and inspiration can come from all kinds of places in your life - experience, dreams, books, people - so some of the references on here happened to be literary ones. I'm also making Bonnie Jo's book into a film and we are in early stages of pre-production on that. The song "Moon and Waves" is a whole lot of questions, in a poetic imagery kind of way like Neruda's book.

Who are your musical influences?

So many. I love Crosby, Still and Nash, Neil Young, Judee Sill, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, Colin Blunstone, Fleetwood Mac, Beck, Antony and the Johnsons, Bobbie Gentry, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Richard and Linda Thompson....

What is the song “This Old House” about? What inspired it?

"This Old House" is told from the perspective of someone at the end of a relationship, or even more broadly, at the end of a life, knowing that those dreams for the future will no longer be.

The video for it is totally raw. Can you talk about the making of that piece?

The video was shot in New York at my friend Julian West's apartment in Chelsea. He is a director and we both are drawn to the things are totally raw, flawed, and interesting that way. He had this idea to make it this particular way, and I just went with it because I trust him with my life.

Talk about the first time you realized you wanted to sing and perform for others.

I have always loved singing. My family is all into music, my older sister and brother would turn me onto stuff growing up, my parents would have Greek music playing on the record player and everywhere else on this radio that was hooked up to some antenna across the continents... My mom has a beautiful voice and I just always knew I could sing and I enjoyed the way it made me feel. As for performing for others, I still get queasy every time I have to get on stage.

What's your songwriting process like?

I generally sit with a guitar and play around with melodies musically, then the lyrics come after. At least that's the way it feels most genuine.

What's the first song you ever wrote?

The first song I ever wrote and completed was "Someday," which is the title and song of the first EP. I knew I was ready to record and commit to this piece of my life when I felt proud of that song and wanted to share it in a bigger way. "Someday" is about people having dreams for their lives, wanting more...

Your IMDB page is way busier than any other folk singer I've ever met. What's your favorite TV show at the moment?

I have been hugely into Transparent, bingeing on season 2.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#comeover

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