Following on with our review of her new single, ‘Know You Like I Do‘, we caught up with Rose Wade and found out what makes her tick.
What inspired you to record ‘Know You Like I Do’?
What struck me about “Know You Like I Do” was how it begins with something so ordinary — someone laughing on the phone — and lets that moment unravel everything underneath. The song doesn’t dramatize heartbreak; it reveals it quietly, the way real heartbreak often happens. I was inspired by how honest it is about loving someone who isn’t giving that love back. I felt I could bring real emotional clarity to it.
The song deals with betrayal and heartbreak. What drew you to its story?
I was drawn to the tension between beauty and damage. The production is luminous and cinematic, but the lyrics are full of buried secrets, emotional manipulation, and the kind of betrayal that doesn’t shout — it erodes. That contrast felt powerful to me. I’ve seen relationships where the outside world only knows the “saint” version of someone, and the person closest to them carries the truth. That dynamic is at the heart of the song, and it resonated deeply.
What does the song’s message mean to you personally?
For me, the message is about clarity. There’s a moment in the song – “They’re feeling sorry only knowing half the truth” – where heartbreak becomes understanding. It’s painful, but it’s also freeing. Personally, I connect with that shift from confusion to recognition. It’s the moment you stop trying to make someone into who you hoped they were and finally see them as they are.
You’ve sung everything from classical music to theatre. How has that experience shaped your voice?
Classical training gave me discipline, breath control, and a deep respect for technique. Theatre taught me how to inhabit a story and carry emotion through a line. Session work taught me adaptability and precision. All of that comes together in my contemporary singing. I can lean into warmth and clarity without losing the structure underneath. This song needed both – the polish to carry those sweeping lines and the emotional directness to make the hurt feel lived in.
What was it like bringing this song to life with the writers and producers?
It was incredibly collaborative. Dan Voss Jr. and Aaron Zepeda wrote the song. Jody Cortez and Daniel Whitfield created a graceful and expansive arrangement and co-produced with Dan Voss; I should mention Michael Parnell for additional musical work. And, of course, our engineer and mixer, Tom Weir from Studio City Sound, brought out every detail of the track. In the studio, there were moments where the lyric hit harder than I expected – especially the bridge. Capturing that shift from wounded uncertainty to recognition in real time was one of the most meaningful parts of the process.
The music has a beautiful, cinematic sound, even though the lyrics are painful. How did you approach that contrast?
I approached it by staying honest and centered. The production is sweeping and beautiful, but the story is intimate and bruised. I didn’t want to oversell the pain or lean into melodrama. Instead, I let the contrast do the work — letting the vocal stay warm and controlled while the lyric reveals the hurt underneath. That tension is what gives the song its pull.
What was it like filming a video that keeps the focus on you and your performance?
It was both vulnerable and empowering. Dan Voss Jr. and Michelle Voss Ortez wanted the video to feel like an extension of the song – simple, intimate, and focused. Jacob Hauenstein, our DP and editor, captured that beautifully. Without a big narrative or distractions, it was just me, the camera, and the truth of the lyric. It required a lot of emotional presence, but that’s exactly what the song calls for.
You hope the song helps people who’ve been through similar experiences. What do you want them to take away from it?
I want them to feel understood. When you’re in a relationship where you’re giving everything and getting very little back, it can feel isolating. This song is about the moment you finally see the situation clearly. If someone hears themselves in that journey, I hope it reminds them that clarity is the first step toward moving beyond it.
What kind of music or roles would you like to explore next?
I want to keep exploring material that pushes me emotionally and vocally — songs that blend dramatic production with intimate storytelling. I’m also open to roles or collaborations that let me use both my classical technique and my contemporary voice. Anything that challenges me and lets me inhabit a story in a new way is exciting.
Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with your listeners?
Yes, my gratitude. This is my first solo release, and having people connect with it means everything. “Know You Like I Do” opened a new chapter for me, and I’m excited to keep growing, experimenting, and sharing more music. Thank you for listening and for letting this song become part of your own story.
Watch the music video for ‘Know You Like I Do’ below, and find out more about Rose Wade and her music online on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
