Mulubinba/Newcastle based singer songwriter Angela Rose has today released her new single ‘Nepotism Baby’; a brooding alt-pop track that channels Rose’s frustrations with the opportunities afforded to those born lucky.
Making a name for herself over the last few years with her country-tinged indie pop sound - Angela’s striking vocal presence and knack for creating elegant, heartfelt melodies have garnered her praise from fans and all corners of the music industry alike. ‘Nepotism Baby’ see’s Angela flex those talents to their full potential - with a commanding performance and irresistible hooks throughout. The track was written during a time of reflection, wishing she had the resources that other artists are given due to family wealth and influence.
“I wrote "Nepotism Baby" during a moment of frustration with the financial pressures of being an independent artist in a tough industry. I found myself envying those ‘nepo babies’ who seem to live out their dreams effortlessly thanks to their family’s privilege and connections. For me, a "nepotism baby" is someone who gets special treatment or opportunities because their family is influential.
In writing this song, I imagined what it would be like to have that kind of freedom for just a day—how it would feel to create music without limits, to be immersed in writing and recording every day. One of my favourite lines, "having bigger dreams wouldn't be a disease," reflects how I felt burdened by my ambitions at the time. I believe many people can relate to this feeling.”
ANGELA ROSE
Angela worked with renowned producer Pete Covington (Thelma Plum, Annie Hamilton, Em George) at the Golden Retriever studios in Marrickville for both mixing and mastering on the track. The production here is flawless; with a dynamic, slick sound that creates the perfect sonic mood for Angela’s vocals, elevating them to a whole new level.
“Working with Pete Covington on this song was great. I had co-written with Pete for my song ‘Say So’, but this is the first track of mine Pete has produced. I needed a producer who really grasped the song's unique vibe and appreciated its quirky nature, and Pete was perfect for the job. From the first listen of my phone demo, he was on board and effortlessly brought the track to life. Pete pushed me to explore new creative directions and contributed brilliant ideas like recording a whistle and also the sing out at the end, making the track better than what I could have hoped.” ANGELA ROSE
The track is accompanied by a stunning music video created by videographer Bailey Watts (BOYSODA, Matthew Ifield) featuring Angla with a beautiful vintage Volkswagen living out her ‘nepo baby’ dreams.
“For the Music Video, I teamed up with Bailey Watts from Bones Collective. We aimed to show this contrast by having me dress up as a stereotypical nepotism baby in a glamorous fur coat while filming in everyday, gritty locations around Newcastle. The highlight of the shoot was definitely using a classic 70’s Volkswagen Passat.”
ANGELA ROSE
Angela has been making waves on the live circuit over the last few years, supporting the likes of Adam Newling, Angus & Julia Stone, Gretta Ray, Mia Wray, Dulcie & many more. She was recently hand-picked by Angus & Julia Stone for the Wild Turkey Music 101 Mentorship Program, and previously won the triple J Unearthed x NIDA Music Video Competition (for 2023 single ‘Late Bloomer’) - with strong radio support from the likes of triple J, Unearthed, Double J and ABC Country.