Lucy Rose Tells Us What Inspired ‘Something’s Changing’ and Her Unique Tour Experience Through Latin America

Zack Hillman

London-based folk singer Lucy Rose might be known for her gentle voice and effortless compositions, but she’s actually been quite adventurous lately. After returning from her couch surfing tour of eight Latin American countries, she cut her new album “Something’s Changing” in a little over two weeks. That’s a lot of ground to cover, but she told Entertainment Voice all about her trip across the pond, the new album and her upcoming U.S. tour – apparently, she’s looking for a place to crash.

Tell us about your new album “Something’s Changing.” What feels different this time around? 

So much feels different this time. My whole mindset is completely different about what’s important when making and releasing music. I feel like the pressure is completely off. I’ve made something so true to myself and I know who I’ve made this record for. I think there will be a certain type of person that will find something in this record and I’m just excited for them to hear it. I’m loving playing all the songs live, never felt so comfortable in my own skin in my life. Playing music has never felt so good!

The album was inspired by your tour of Latin America. You organized the tour yourself, and told fans that if they booked a gig for you, you’d stay with them. What inspired you to make such a bold leap?

Well, I already knew that my husband Will and I wanted to go traveling, and we had both set our sights on South America. I realized that I would be in some of those cities and towns that certain fans had been asking me to come to for years, so I felt really bad that I would be there and not playing music. I tried to get gigs booked there through my booking agent and promoters and kept hitting a brick wall. So I decided to ask my fans for help, if they could find me somewhere to play and let me stay with them, then I would come visit their town. Suddenly our traveling trip became an eight-week tour of Latin America playing a show nearly every night. It never felt like a bold leap, but just an idea where I could see the world, meet fans and play music all at the same time.

Your husband Will is also your tour manager. What’s that like when the two of you are on the road together?

Ha ha, well we were together before we started working together. But I guess it’s hard spending so much time apart when I got on tour and when he’s working with a different artist. It really felt like a no-brainer that we should tour together and share the experiences. It makes everything so much better and touring has nothing negative to connect to it anymore because I’m not constantly missing someone.

You wrote the song “No Good at All” right before you left for South America, At the time you were reconsidering your career in music. Did the trip change your outlook on music at all?

Completely, it’s so simple really that I just need to make music for those fans that I have, to keep them company and stop worrying about the big picture. The industry is built so that unless you are that year’s biggest band you are made to feel like you failed and you’re unsuccessful. This trip taught me how stupid all that was. It is really hard to think that when you’re in it, but every time now I have a lapse in confidence I think about those fans I stayed with and their connection to my music and all my worries disappear.

The album came together very quickly after you returned from the tour. 17 days, right? Why such a fast turnaround? Were you just “feeling it?”

Before I went into record the album, I had been playing the songs for about six months. They were really well-rehearsed, which meant I could record the album like I wanted to, which was more live than my previous two. Because that’s how we recorded it just meant it didn’t take as long. I didn’t want to lay up lots of sounds. I wanted it to sound like a band playing in a room together, which is what it was.

There’s also a short film about the tour that accompanies the album. Whose idea was it to film your experiences?

About three days before we left, I was telling some friends about the trip and what we were doing and they just said ‘you have to film this.’ It was only then when I thought, ‘yeah maybe we should film the experience.’ So we bought a camera, Will had a crash course learning about filming and that was that.

You backpacked through Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico. Not that you should pick favorites, but which country left the biggest impression on you?

That is virtually impossible, honestly I can’t. I think firstly I hate nationalism and believing that one country is better than another. But honestly each country was amazing, had something so unique about it that made it special. The thing that ties all those places together is the people. The people were incredible in every place we went to.

You have some unique merchandise. Are you still selling your signature “Builder Grey” tea? And, what gave you the idea to sell tea to your fans in the first place?

Well firstly, I absolutely love tea. My parents drink Earl Grey and my sisters and I drink English breakfast, so I started mixing the two blends in a pot and, boom, that’s where it all began. I tried to find another company that made this blend because I kept having to use two tea bags every time I wanted a cup of tea, which felt pretty wasteful. I couldn’t find one so I decided to make the blend myself and now people riot if I don’t have any on merch at gigs.

You were featured on the track “Anziety” from Logic’s most recent album “Everybody.” This is your second collaboration with him. How did you two get connected?

I’m a huge fan of Bobby and his work and went to see him play years ago at a small club in London. He found out I came to the gig and started following me on twitter (literally best day ever) and then asked me to write a chorus on a song on his second record. I wrote something, sent it back and next thing I know he flew me to LA to work on his next record. I’ve never met anyone so generous and kind who believes so much in music.

Finally, anything you’d like to say directly to fans before you kick off the U.S. leg of your tour?

Well the big question is will anyone let me stay in their houses on this tour… because I’m looking?

“Something’s Changing“ is available on Apple Music July 14.