Xpress Magazine Review, Eye4 music Abi Rose - A Rose Without Thorns – Leah Blakendale Listening to Abi Rose’s songs, it would be easy to assume that this is a girl Who takes her music very seriously. With passionate, sensual and sometimes satirical lyrics, the young singer songwriter is reminiscent of Joss Stone, Norah Jones and even the late great James Brown. Her lyrics touch a lot on chivalry and are all very emotional, while her music is a mixture of “funk, soul, a bit rock, and a little jazz.” Rose’s soon to be released EP, Bittersweet, reflects this style of song writing. It is both raw and refined, with a brazen sense of emotion, direction and soul. In the face of such music, I am unsure how to approach Abi Rose. However, although her music is serious and provocative, Rose herself is sweet and down to earth. “Whenever I write a song it’s from the depth of my emotion”, Rose explains. She talks with a buzzing livliness, marked occasionally by a shyness that gives her a very appealing genuine air. Moving excitedly from her love of skateboarding, to her years in Melbourne” finding her songwriting style” and the release of her first EP, the singer-songwriter has an attitude that is refreshing to encounter. It is clear that while she takes music and song writing seriously, Rose herself is easy going and passionate – a real pleasure to talk to. It is this combination of “sensual yet sophisticated” music and her bright, lively personality, that make Abi Rose and artist to take considerable notice of. In an industry in which it is very easy to take ones self too seriously, Abi Rose’s mature yet energetic personality is a breath of fresh air. “Bittersweet”, marks a new level of sophistication for Abi in itself – both in production and songwriting. Featuring previously unreleased tracks, this varied compilation of sounds varies from sweet to edgy, but always soulful. The lyrical content of this album is a varies as the music content. Touching on traditional notions of chauvinism, with a decidedly feminist approach, this issues Abi Rose explores are not as conventional as they may first appear - another example of surprising maturity for a musician so early in theiry career. Although she relocated to Melbourne for four years, Abi Rose grew up in Perth, and it was here she began her musical career at a very young age. She speaks of how her love for songwriting surfaced when she was 12 years old and with some pride about how she was “kicked out of recorder class whe she was nine”, and instead given a drum kit so that she would be able to harness some of her intense, creative energy! This introduction to percussion at such an early age would plant the seed for a life long fascination and obsession with rhythm, evident in the funk based music she writes today. Abi Rose’s own motto, “exist inside the rhythm”, is testament to the role percussion plays within her music. Abi Rose is now intent to conquer the international stage with plans to relocate to London in April 2010, the young artist will continue to perform and write and create a name for herself in a new city.