Rising UK DJ, producer, and singer Eliza Rose has offered a deeply personal glimpse into the tracks that have defined her life and career. In a candid 'Honest Playlist' feature, she traces her musical evolution from a clandestine childhood CD purchase to the anthems that fuel her sets and inspire her own productions.
From Nan's Change to 'Bad Girl Energy'
Rose's journey into music ownership began with a minor act of rebellion. She used leftover change from a shopping trip for her nan in Dalston to buy Aaliyah's 'Rock the Boat' for £1.99 in HMV. "I felt so grownup," she admits, noting her Jamaican father's certain disapproval. Her most-streamed track, however, is Roots Manuva's 'Witness (1 Hope)', which she describes as an "island track that suits any occasion." She credits it with providing a vital "bad girl energy" and an adrenaline boost during runs.
Musical Influences and Secret Guilty Pleasures
The artist openly credits Tom Tom Club's 'Genius of Love' as a fundamental influence on her signature sound and her forthcoming material. "They had a real influence on my sound," Rose states, aligning with her love for funky, electronic dance music. Yet, she also harbours a secret fondness for dancehall tracks with problematic lyrics, like Notch's 'Nuttin Nuh Go So', a genre her father once questioned her about. For karaoke, her unwavering go-to is Amy Winehouse's 'You Know I'm No Good', an anthem from her days at Stoke Newington School, which she praises for its arts funding.
From Bougie Picks to Funeral Finales
Rose enjoys the "bougie" credibility of naming Billie Holiday's 'I'm a Fool to Want You' as a favourite, a singer who introduced her to non-commercial music while working in a record shop at 15. Her actual favourite, however, is Voltage's 'Wifey Riddim', a grime love ballad that transports her back to being a "little rude girl" at 15. For more intimate moments, she recommends the soothing 'Let's Straighten It Out' by John L Watson as the perfect make-up song. And for her final curtain call? She'd choose Irma Thomas's 'Time Is on My Side' for a light-hearted exit. For parties, she confidently plays her own track, 'BOTA (Baddest of Them All)', which has soundtracked major nights out and even weddings.
Eliza Rose's latest release, a collaboration with Oppidan titled 'Too Slow (All Night)', is out now.
