Life and Work with Hazel Rose

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hazel Rose.

Hazel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a lyricist and singer/songwriter from the Bay Area and have always worked in the expressive arts and youth justice realms alongside recording and performing. Starting as a teenager, I was a part of a Hip Hop group called 40Love, where we had the chance to perform around the country and open up for artists like Dead Prez and MC Lyte, and collaborate with artists like Bassnectar. My work as a teaching artist has always informed my own artistic expression, and through the years I have taught creative writing through various organizations such as Youth Speaks, SF Jazz, Get Lit, The Mindful Life Project, and currently WriteGirl/ Bold Ink Writers and the Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network. After experiencing heartbreaks and life learning, I relocated to L.A. as a solo artist and began to foster my own sound, as well as explore other avenues to my creativity such as my new vlog and exploring editing and producing video as well as events and work within the cannabis industry. My new single “Trippy” is out now on all platforms, followed by “Destiny” in the coming months, and I look forward to continuing to create and perform in this beautiful city.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have been afforded many privileges that other womxn and marginalized folks are not always given, such as resources, support, and a platform for my work. I am highly aware of this and determined to continue my own personal work breaking down white supremacy in my own life and to utilize my platform with integrity, which is a constant critical journey where I need to be open to feedback and learning. With that said, I have faced different circumstances in the music industry in particular where manipulation on multiple levels takes place, which is why I would tell other womxn to always trust their own insight and intuition and to learn as many skills in their craft as possible so as not to have to be dependent on others, especially on men.  I would also offer the advice to practice your craft as much as possible, as a recent music mentor Dot told me “write for the trash can.” Write and create often, and only take the best of the best of your work to the sharing stage.

Please tell us about your work.
I am proud of my unique sound and message, which stems out of my upbringing in San Francisco, being raised by hippy vibes and the influence of a Pagan Goddess Mother, as well as Nichiren Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism with the SGI, or Value Creation Society. These influences give me the value system of recognizing the infinite potential in every being, and the receptivity of the universe. I hope that with my music I can penetrate the subtle realms and inspire healing, love, and transformative moments. My sound spans from electronica and hip hop, to stripped down, soulful lo-fi guitar and voice. I want to keep exploring.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I am so happy to see so many incredible womxn of color artists in the forefront of music, from Tierra Whack, to H.E.R., to Leikeli47, Lizzo, SZA and so many others. I think we need to continue to each create from a place that is unique to our voice, and continue to push to radicalize the mainstream conversation and uplift historically underrepresented voices to the forefront, by listening to and following leadership from our queer and trans communities, undocumented communities and black and indigenous communities. Our leadership in this country needs to continue to shift so that we can have any hope to protect the precious balance of our earth and the protection of our young people coming into this world.

Contact Info:

• Website: hazelrosemusic.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misshazelrose/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hazel.rose/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/miss_haze

Image Credit:
Tina Jo, Quiet Wisdom

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