Rosie Lowe Expresses Creative Freedom On Third Album 'Love, Other'

Rosie Lowe taken by Abiella Aland

Rosie Lowe gently pushes you out, leaving you adrift in her immersive and free-thinking electronic R&B world, which, beautifully takes shape in her highly anticipated third studio album, Lover, Other.

Nostalgic in parts but also gorgeously new Lover, Other cannot be boxed. Over fifteen tracks the project quite simply is an artful exploration of Rosie’s interiority.

There is no method or fixed structure, rather in the essence of jazz, improvisation is central to the album as time passes.

It’s stunning to witness it unfold note by note as Rosie slips between a chasm, taking us through the complexity of her emotions and thoughts as we witness her at different moods and stages within her life.

The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer begins the project with a transparent plea on ‘Sundown’ hoping for the best for a loved one before seamlessly moving into the slowed-down ‘Mood To Make Love’.

Experimenting with elements of electronica ‘In My Head’ and ‘Berzerk’ are moments where the artist relishes in her creative freedom. Choosing a selection of unexpected sounds and chaotic drum patterns to groove and move to. Breakbeats are also something that is teased on the addicting ‘Something’.

There is a return to a softer sound, ‘There goes the light’ is s delightfully sung offering that flirts between soul and jazz as she sings “My love wrote me a sonnet, when we were lovers, told me a secret, all of his drama, I said I’ll keep it, tell him I’m sorry”.

A deep feeling jazz piano arrangement helps create the intimate ‘Walk in the Park’, reminding the listener of watching their favourite romance film, which is further empathised by the strings.

Rosie expresses her desire for a love interest to stay on the synth-heavy ‘Don’t Go’ before doubling back to advocate for her own space on ‘In the Morning’ sampling the vocals of gospel musician Pastor T.L. Barrett.

‘Out of You’ is one of the most pleasant listening experiences of the album due to its immaculate production. Rain falls in your ear, the hum of the sax, and the sigh of the horn eases the tension felt. It’s a moment of pure honest expression.

Coming out of the vulnerability of ‘Out of You’ ‘Gratitudes’  is Rosie remembering to be grateful for the simplicity of life.

Whilst ‘This Before’ has a bit more of a demure sound to it. Shy even, she opens up to inform her love interest the depth of her feelings as she sings “baby treats me right, when I’m in the mood, coffee in the bedroom never comes to soon.”

Nearing the end of the project, ‘Lay With Me’ paints an authentic image of the ordinariness of spending time with someone you love. The title track ‘Love, Other’ is an enchanting string arrangement that reflects the moods of the project. Finishing with ‘Sundown (reprise), it’s fitting to end where we began.

You can not only hear the influence of Rosie Lowe through the vocals on this. Every word, every element of production, and recording on it, the Devon-born, Deptford-based artist has had a hand.

It’s why the project is such an intimate listening experience. By this, I mean that by the end you feel somewhat closer to Lowe, you’ve been inside her mind and lived there for approximately 38 minutes.

Authentic and organic that reflects the immaculate detail that has been put into this body of work. You can close your eyes and be transported to Spain, Sri Lanka or her home town of Devon through the Zoom mic used to capture her surroundings when recording.

Released via Blue Flowers, this project follows her debut album Control, released in 2016 and 2019’s sophomore album YU.

Lowe will perform a sold-out at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts on September 26th.

Listen here