ROSÉ’s Road to No. 1: From Beyoncé to Bruno Mars “APT.” Friendship | Billboard Cover

Never in a million years would I have thought that this would happen. To be nominated for a Grammy, it means a lot that APT is the one that is being celebrated so much. I'm really, really grateful and I'm a bit like shook. I don't even know what to say. We were radio people. My dad would have the radio on all the time. Because Australia, like LA, everything's far away. Everything's 30 minutes away so we'd always have the radio on. And so I grew up listening to all of that. Britney Spears was on the radio all the time. Madonna was on the radio. I think I was definitely influenced by a lot of pop. I love pop music. When I grew up, YouTube was where I started to listen and watch all these musicians. Naturally, the very beginning of me starting to sing and play instruments was after I watched Dreamgirls. I remember watching Beyonce sing Listen and being like, oh my god, I really want to be able to sing that. And I printed it on the chords on paper and I would play it and sing at the top of my lungs. Simultaneously, my sister, because we are Korean, she was very interested in our culture. She had been consuming a lot of Korean music and musicians and that's when K-pop was around as well. That's how I got to absorb that. I think it all just was a mixture of things, as I am and as I have always been. In this day and age, I feel like social media and all these platforms have given everyone such a good opportunity to fulfil so much of their dreams and I'm a result of that and I'm really, really grateful. History of first Korean K-pop artist, that means a lot to me because growing up, there wasn't many people like me. I was the minority, especially on television and in the music industry. I remember even then, I was like, I want to do music, obviously. Somewhere in me said I want to do music, but I didn't even know that was a possibility. Yes, my dad encouraged me to take an audition for this K-pop group and I did and that's what led me here. I think as I started to prepare my solo album on my own, away from the group also, it was a lot of challenges and a lot of things that I was determined to learn about. Things that I was never really curious about before. The question of what do you want to do? What makes you happy even? And I had been in a studio for the first time and been a part of the creation of a song and felt like that really fulfilled me more than anything else. To really focus on that core feeling and then build on that. It was a good opportunity for me to kind of meet new people in this industry in which I was also very privileged and grateful to be able to meet so many people. And I'm really glad that I took my time and I had enough people around me to suggest for me to slow down. Yes, that is very different to, I think, how I was brought up. And again, that was its own privilege. I got to focus on music and my craft. Whereas this instance, I had to learn about the details of my job whilst learning about everything else. And it was a lot to learn in a year and it was a bit overwhelming, but I'm so grateful that it happened. Amy was in the first session that I was a part of and it was really organic because I was in a studio and I had gone through something really interesting the night before. And I walked in really, really anxious. Because I was like, by the way guys, I've never been a part of a proper session like this before. I really want to learn about this. We started talking and they were like, anything dramatic happened to you? And I was like, oh actually, but this has nothing to do with, it's not even about a relationship or anything. So I was like, I don't think it's really interesting. And they were like, no, just talk about it, what's up? And then I was like, I've been going through this thing and I was crying all night and I was really, really frustrated. And I started talking and I remember I just started crying and I got really vulnerable. And they were all like, oh my God, Percy, I'm so sorry you're going through this. And I remember Amy was like, we should write a song about this. And that was the first day I believed that anything could be made into a beautiful song as long as it's real emotions and real stories and you've got good intentions. And so that day proved to me that studio means vulnerability, it means honesty. She's been great. And we've had so many sessions where we just talk about life and we've been each other's therapists. Coming off the album, I was still so inspired. I remember I was like, one more, can I just keep going? Don't stop me, I'm so excited. And near the end of it, I made a few things that I've also saved because I love them so much for the next chapter. I feel like nothing is as you plan it to be. And I think I was in the studio for a bit. Right now, I've been realising that I need to live as well my life because my first album came from living a full life of 27 years. And so in order to be inspired to write anything else, I've noticed I just need to take my time and breathe a bit. As I say that, I think I have a few sessions planned this week. But I am curious, so I will go in and then, you know, if the universe says not yet, then okay. But then if they say I'm ready, then amazing. So it's always like, I think I always just have to pray and see what happens. But don't be too disappointed if it's not time yet. I think being away did inspire me in so many different ways, just creatively and musically. And I think I was really curious and excited to see how that would play a part with the group. And also I was excited to see what the other members have brought. It has been really fun and I'm really, really happy with how it jumped. I remember that video shoot was so much fun as well and different. And I feel like at this point, it's just nice to kind of experiment new things with the girls and the group and to learn not to be afraid to try new things. The girl power? Oh, that feels amazing. I mean, I'm all for it. It's a big celebration. I love it. And I feel like we're all very comfortable. Nothing feels weird or forced. And I feel really welcomed and I feel like a lot has changed in the past few years. I'm really, really grateful for everything and how the internet has brought people together and how everybody's celebrating each other. I met Bruno, oh my God, the best friend I could ask for in so many ways. He's just been a really good mentor to me and a really good friend. He guides me in a lot of things. At the beginning, he really helped me inspire me, not just even with APT, but with the album. I had little questions and things that I couldn't figure out. And I remember he would just throw these small things and it would help. He was a big cheerleader for me on the side at one point at a very crucial moment. Because I think we met around July-ish to start working on APT. And so it was at a very important moment when I was wrapping everything up. He was a good sounding board, just a really good friend to chat to. I had the biggest fight with Bruno right before the music video shoot. But we made up on set, so it was alright. I don't think he even remembers. He's like, what did you fight about? I'm like, you don't remember. He wasn't anything really serious. Because we'd been preparing everything. Like, you know, concepts from day one. He had such a vision for everything. And at first it was really hard to understand. He would be inspired by a lot of things that I had done in the past. And I would ask him so many questions and he'd send me so many videos. And he'd be like, Rosie, this is it. And I think as he was sharing, the shape would, you know, kind of like, it would form. And so there was just like a lot of communication. And sometimes, like, I'd be annoyed. Because some things aren't just, they're not solid. I think they were just like being created along the way. And so, like any sibling, you know, there's like a moment you're like, oh my God, you're so annoying. It happened, yeah. But then we met. We're very professional. And oh my God, it was the best day of my life. It was so much fun. So if you watch the video, it's like, it looks fun, right? I'm not joking. I was laughing the whole day. I think I was like, I'm going to get abs. If I'm smiling in any scene, I'm actually laughing the whole time. I'm like, you know, it was really funny. It's just like a funny day. The hair, the question was asked about the hair. All these ideas were like really created very specifically and detailed along the way. And amongst so many conversations was, you know, he captured a picture on my Instagram. I had bought a curling iron. And I just started to like curl my own hair. And I remember posting a selfie with that. And he was like, see Rosie, this is like, this seems like the girl. This is like a cool look. And at first it was like, it's just a selfie. We're like, this is where you're getting inspiration from? That's so random. I just wanted to get into his brain. I wanted to know what his vision was as well. I'm just like drawn to it. I knew that the live stream was coming up. Like I was out with friends that night. And then I came home. And then I like washed up and I was so excited to sleep. And I got in my PJs. And then I looked at the time. I was like, that's 10 minutes from now. My sister called, like FaceTimes me. And I'm like, oh my God, she's like, it's happening. And then everything just happened in like five minutes. And then I really thought about it and thought, if I didn't watch that, I would have missed a very big moment in my life. Then I slept. And when I woke up, I had like a ton of texts on my phone. And I think that's when it really hit. I felt like my birthday. And then I got on a plane and I'm here. So I'm still processing everything. Would I have thought that this would happen? To be nominated for a Grammy. But I think most importantly, I feel like the song that is being celebrated and being nominated for the Grammy contains so much of my culture in it. It proves to me also that culture is loved. Different cultures is being accepted, regardless of ages, different backgrounds and cultures. Everyone has been enjoying it so much. And I've been watching that. And it's really just blown my mind away. And so it means so much to myself, my younger self who grew up feeling like that would not be a possibility.