Naja Rosa doesn't need sequins or a rapping guest star. With her husky, seasoned voice and dusty, 60's Californian rock, she can do without a "Nipple-gate" or aimless tabloid fodder. Coming from a legacy of rock badass-ness (her parents formed the 60's soul-rock group, The Savage Rose), this Danish-born New York City-transplant makes music that rattles, wails and captivates.
Fresh off a stint at Copenhagen Fashion Week, the young rocker with an old soul gave us some time to interrogate her.
Who are your musical inspirations?
It's very hard for me to narrow it down, since I grew up with everything: classical, gypsy music, folk, soul, world, rock n' roll and so on. [Plus] I grew up in a family of musicians.
But some of my favorites are definitely: The Doors, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Jose Feliciano, Otis Redding, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, The Rolling Stones, Lhasa De Sela, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and my parents group The Savage Rose, then there's traveling and people I meet. Influences never end...
Describe your album in 140 characters or less.
Songs from my life traveling on the road with music. Bluesy Rock & Roll with lots of stories. Listen to the music :)
What are the five essential things you would need to have on a desert island?
A piano, water, white wine, a lover and a boat.
If there was a biopic of your life, who would play you?
Juliette Lewis or my sister, Billie.
Your music sounds trippy (in a good way). What were you on when you were recording it?
I was in a room full of beautiful musicians. That's enough of a drug.
Who would you most like to duet with?
Mick Jagger, Jim Morrisson, Muddy Waters or my mom.
What is your stripper name (first street you lived on + name of first pet, in no particular order)?
The first street I lived on was a lil' bumpy road in Copenhagen, called Pumpehusvej. Now it's called "Thomas Koppel's Allé" ("Thomas Koppel's street") - named after my father.
My first pet... was Toesen, who was a little, tiny Shetland pony. She lived at the end of our street at the old mechanics; in between car wrecks, burning rubber, and oil. Then my sister kidnapped her and we broke into some abandoned buildings, also on the street, and started a child's Collective, with ponies, rabbits and goats. The children ran the place.
So [my name] would be Toesen Pumpehusvej. Very Danish and original, no? And to top it off it means "Girly Pump House!"
What’s your favorite thing to wear?
Colors, platforms, vintage
If you had to choose, who would you spend twenty-four hours in a locked room with: [Ex-Alaskan Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate] Sarah Palin or [Public Enemy rapper and T.V. personality] Flava Flave?
It may be fun with Flava Flave. We could have a freestyle battle or two. It would be tough in a locked room with Sarah Palin for twenty-four hours. I mean, what kind of conversation can you have with this woman? I would have to tell her a couple of truths or two.
What’s your favorite song off your album and why?
All the songs off the album are my favorite:) They each have their own story and significance, but "Mountain Of Love" I wrote after my father died. It definitely brings me to a special place.
What’s your secret plan for success (we promise not to tell)?
Well if it was a secret, I would never tell you right? I work all the time... and I live life with open eyes and mind! I take chances and I jump on travels. I compose, write songs and sing everywhere I can, including on trains, at parties 'till 7a.m. with whiskey in my hand, and then at big concert stages all over the world. I love to sing, and I mean everything I sing. Now where's my piano?
Labels: Naja Rosa