Caroline Rose (Photo by Monica Murray)
Caroline Rose recently released her new album, The Art of Forgetting, via New West Records. Now, she’s set to perform at 9:30 Club on Friday, April 14.
The Art of Forgetting is a “brave document of turmoil and heartbreak full of sumptuous arrangements and powerful lyrics” (Bandcamp). Earlier this month, Rose presented a new single and video, “Tell Me What You Want,” which chronicles conflicting feelings nearing the end of a relationship. Although the album largely deals with regret and grief, loss and change, shame and the inevitability of pain, on “Tell Me What You Want” Rose’s impish humor pops up unexpectedly: “I’m beating my head // Against the dashboard of your compact car // Just tell me what you want // Testing testing // Is this thing on? // Boy, you’re gonna hate this song // Tell me what you want.”
It showcases the kind of dark comedy with which we’ve become familiar in their catalog, fusing upbeat melodies with oft-hilariously deflating lyrics.
Caroline further elaborated on “Tell Me What You Want”: “When I listen to this I really feel for myself during that time. My head was like a cesspool of voices trying to tell me what to do. You know, the end of a relationship can be so confusing. There are all these emotions swirling around and really no handbook. You realize when all your attempts to connect with your partner aren’t working, you either have to find a way to stick it out or leave… And both options suck. This song is about being in that pickle of desperation, between trying to protect yourself and feeling the immense guilt and regret of walking away from someone you love.”
Watch the official music video for “Tell Me What You Want” by Caroline Rose on YouTube:
After a series of heartbreaking events, Caroline had no desire to make a statement, let alone make a new album. It was a time of contemplation and transformation. What transpired was what she considers a gradual union of reconnection and growth. Prompted by a difficult breakup, Caroline began a deep-dive inward, unknowingly digging up long-buried childhood experiences. All the while, Rose was getting voicemails from their grandmother “who was clearly losing her mind.”
These respective moments are pieced throughout the album, offering moments of lightness amidst an otherwise heart-rending story of a person who has forgotten and is perhaps re-learning, how to love themselves. “It got me thinking about all the different ways memory shows up throughout our lives,” Caroline said. “It can feel like a curse or be wielded as a tool.”
Caroline Rose
W/ Hammydown
9:30 Club
Friday, April 14
Doors @ 8pm
$26
All ages