Artist Glimpse: Emma Della Rossa
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Photo: Richard Wintle.
Songwriter, flutist, and producer Emma Della Rossa creates music that feels like a quiet conversation in a crowded room. Blending indie-pop sensibilities with the folk-rooted intimacy of artists like Lizzy McAlpine, Emma’s work is defined by a commitment to authentic storytelling. As she prepares to release her FACTOR-funded EP, Handle with Care, we sat down to discuss the craft behind the curtain.
Rob Aguiar: You are deeply embedded in the music scene as an artist, mentor, and host of the Bedroom Studios Podcast. How has your ongoing work with other artists’ creative journeys influenced the way you approach your own songwriting?
Emma Della Rossa: I am constantly inspired by the talent in Toronto and have grown so much as an artist and entrepreneur through connecting with other musicians. My podcast was built on the belief that there is so much to learn from the people around us. It is easy to feel alone in your journey pursuing a career in music and hearing other people’s stories makes the whole process less isolating. In an industry that makes it very difficult for musicians to find the resources and advice they need to grow their careers, it was very important for me to share what I've learned and elevate artists' stories on my platform so that anyone can have access to and benefit from it.
Photo: Richard Wintle.
RA: You’ve written that your music "unravels what you thought was healed, and heals what you didn’t know was broken." With your upcoming EP, Handle with Care, acting as a new chapter for you, could you share a specific lyric from this project that embodies that theme of healing?
EDR: I recently released the first single off my EP, Handle With Care. One of my favorite lyrics from that song, Garden, is “all the thorns and the weeds that brought you to your knees bloom into clover and rose”. When you’re planting a garden you are literally brought to your knees as you kneel down to work with the soil. It can sometimes feel futile when you are covered in dirt putting so much faith in this tiny little seed. It takes time and patience, but it’s important not to give up hope because you never know when you’re going to bloom. I wrote this song as a message to my younger self, my current self, and anyone who might be waiting for the seeds to grow.
RA: As a self-producing artist, you navigate the technical and the emotional simultaneously. When you’re in the studio, how do you balance the precision of your classical training with the need for raw, unfiltered vulnerability?
EDR: I’ve always experienced and created music in an intuitive way and heavily lean on my ear and my intuition when I am producing and writing. When I was studying classical flute in my undergrad, what impacted my creative practice most wasn’t necessarily learning the names of chords, but being exposed to different styles of music and absorbing different ways of composing and performing. The way the music feels as a listener is really important to me in my creative practice. That drives my curiosity when I write with other artists and I love going down the rabbit hole with people to explore ideas and possibilities.
RA: You founded the Toronto Music Gals Network to support gender-diverse musicians. Looking at the current landscape for independent artists in Canada, what is the biggest challenge you are currently helping your community overcome?
EDR: When I was entering the industry I struggled to meet people and find genuine, supportive connections. Through eventually meeting other women in the industry I found that we had a lot of shared experiences, and sadly many shared negative experiences. I realized the root of many of those experiences stemmed from a lack of support system and feeling disempowered. Since starting Toronto Music Gals Network a year and a half ago, it has quickly grown into a supportive, inclusive, wholesome community where we encourage each other, lift as we climb, and freely share resources. The goal has always been to facilitate a safe space where our members can pursue their goals feeling more confident in any space in the music industry, knowing they have a whole community supporting them and cheering them on. I organize in-person events in the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa throughout the year to bring our community together.
RA: You spend a lot of time working alongside other artists to help shape their sound. If you could clear your calendar for a dream collaboration with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you hope to learn from that experience?
EDR: There’s so many to choose from I don’t know if I could list just one! Recently I've been listening to the artist Asha Banks and I absolutely love her songwriting and sound. Novo Amor has been a big inspiration for me, especially when it comes to stacking harmonies. I am also super inspired by Maisie Peters’ lyricism. I always learn so much from being in the room with creative people, and enjoy immersing myself in people’s songwriting process.
RA: With Handle with Care arriving soon, what is one "future milestone" or specific goal you are setting for this project that you haven't shared publicly yet?
EDR: I am very excited to be playing a live show on July 14th at Burdock Music Hall, celebrating the release of my new song Garden! I will be playing a set of all original music with my band and am honored to be featuring artists I have collaborated with this past year. It will be a celebration of songwriting and community among our flower family!
Whether she is building communities or layering vocals in her home studio, Emma Della Rossa treats every project with the same level of intention. Handle with Care promises to be more than just an EP; it is a space for reflection. We look forward to hearing these stories unfold.
