Songs in College Hall: Rosie H Sullivan

By Ellie Crosbie

Hearing Aid writer, Ellie Crosbie, interviews Rosie H Sullivan ahead of her performance this Saturday night in St. Andrews, supported by St. Andrews’ very own, Sage Purdon, whose interview you can read here

…

Rosie H Sullivan is one of the brightest young talents that the Scottish music industry has to offer. 

Growing up on the remote Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, music and nature were the two binding forces in Sullivan’s childhood. With a musical diet ranging from Joni Mitchell to Genesis and stunning landscapes from which to draw inspiration, the now 21 year old was already writing music before her teens. Sullivan’s break came in 2021 with the release of debut single ‘So It Is’ - a gorgeously simplistic song released in demo form that has since gone on to pass 600,000 streams on Spotify. Since then, she’s only gone from strength to strength, releasing two EPs and enjoying two highly successful tours in the last year.

Ahead of her first performance of 2024 in St Andrews this weekend, I spoke with Rosie about her musical goals, her songwriting process, the Scottish music scene and what fans can expect from her upcoming gig: 

…

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Hearing Aid: Having spent your formative years in both the Isle of Lewis and rural Aberdeenshire, the influence of nature, landscapes, and seascapes from your childhood surroundings is very evident in your music. How do you think the unique environment of growing up in the Outer Hebrides (and also northern Scotland) has shaped your musical style?

Rosie Sullivan: I think it has in a lot of ways shaped me as a person, but also definitely shaped my music. I think growing up somewhere like that, you have a very big traditional folk music scene, and that had quite a big impact on me when I was younger. It’s quite different to what I do now, but a lot of the time, I kind of see that folkiness coming through in glimmers of my music. It’s quite nice to see that the influence is still there.

HA: Are there particular artists or songs from your early years that you believe have left a lasting imprint on your songwriting?

RS: Oh, I don't know. I mean, when I was younger I used to listen to a lot of Joni Mitchell with my dad and I think that comes through in my music quite a lot - I absolutely love her. She's definitely had a big impact on who I am and what I do with my music. Even on how I play, when it comes to playing in different open tunings. She's quite a prominent female figure in the music industry and very inspirational for me.

HA: Where does your talent for music come from? Is it in your family?

RS: Neither my mum nor my dad are musical, but my auntie on my dad's side is a musician.  When I was younger, I completely looked up to her and used to always want to sing like her. She plays guitar as well, and when I was 12 I got my first guitar and I wanted to be able to play like she did. She was almost my first reason for getting one.

HA: Moving from a remote island or area to a big city like Edinburgh, where you are now based, is a significant transition. How did this change impact your creative process/artistic growth?

RS: I think to be honest it did have a big impact on me and I wrote a lot of songs about that kind of change. We left the island and as you say and we moved to rural Aberdeenshire, which was a big change in itself. [Moving to Edinburgh] was an even bigger change, trying to get used to the ways of the city compared with rural life. But I always say that change is so important for us, and we wouldn’t get anywhere without it. As difficult as experiencing it can be, there are a lot of good things that can come from change, and I think a lot of my songs are about that relationship. 

HA: Your music is deeply personal and emotive – on your latest EP, you speak a lot about your relationship with change (and occasionally your fear of it) as well as your experience managing big shifts in life. How do you navigate the line between vulnerability and the need to share your authentic experiences through your songs?

RS: It’s definitely a difficult balance, and I think I’m still probably learning how to do that! My process is I’ll listen to other songs and think about how much they give away, but every song is different. Sometimes I’ll write a song that is completely transparent, and other times I’ll be more metaphorical in my writing and use imagery that dances around [the feeling] a little bit and leaves it open to the listener’s interpretation. 

HA: Are you ever fearful of revealing too much of your innermost thoughts and feelings when you’re in the process of songwriting?

RS: Yeah, it’s definitely scary - sometimes there are obvious subjects that I’ll think ‘I should maybe keep that for myself.’ But I’ve always been quite an open person anyway so I’m quite happy sharing my story and songwriting is my outlet for that. I have lots of songs that I’ve written that I’ve done nothing with that I’ve just written for myself and that I’ll never show anyone. There was one I wrote last year that had someone’s name in it and I thought ‘I’ll maybe not use that one!’ 

HA: You shot the music video for your song ‘Chapters’ here in St Andrews last July/August. What was that experience like and why did you choose St Andrews as the backdrop for that video?

RS: I’d only actually been to St Andrews once or twice before but I just really loved it. I love the sea and that’s a constant theme in my songwriting. I love nature, it’s a part of who I am. An idyllic little seaside town like St Andrews is so beautiful and there’s a lot of history to it, but it’s also somewhere that’s experienced a lot of change. St Andrews has lots of really lovely cobblestone streets and that imagery appears in lots of my songs anyway so it just tied it all together, along with the seaside and the pier. 

HA: What can fans expect from your show? Will there be the opportunity for you to showcase any new material?

RS: Well I’m bringing my band with me which is very exciting. I’ll be doing some songs from both of my EPs but I’ll also be doing a cover which we’ll get people singing along to! We’re bringing merch and some vinyls along too so there will be lots available for everyone, and there’s also a VIP ticket option available for anyone who’s interested.

HA: Looking back at 2023, you’ve had a very successful year with the release of two EP’s (123° East, In My Nature) as well as two tours. What were some of the most memorable moments or milestones in your musical journey last year?

RS: There were a few that were absolutely amazing - I think being able to do two tours in one year was amazing and every single night of those shows was so surreal. I left the stage feeling amazing. Starting the year with a tour and ending with one was really lovely, and when I came off stage on the final night of my tour in November I was so emotional that I started crying. Definitely tears of happiness though!

Releasing two EPs was also incredible, and a real ‘pinch me’ moment was when I got my vinyls delivered in the post and I got to unwrap them and hold something physical in my hands that was mine. It was very cool.

HA: Do you enjoy the gigging aspect of music as much as you do the songwriting?

RS: They definitely both go hand in hand, and you can experience ups and downs with both of them. But they come as a package, and for me, I can’t have one without the other really. I think I’d feel a bit lost. I’ve spoken to other songwriters about this before, and when you write a song, you aren’t writing it really for anyone else. You do it for yourself first and foremost. The fact that [those songs] connect with other people is mind-boggling so being able to go out and play them live with people who are into it is very cool. 

HA: As an emerging Scottish artist, how do you perceive the current health and vibrancy of the music scene in Scotland?

RS: Since I was young, or even since I started songwriting, I’ve always been very immersed in [music] and I feel very lucky to have had that experience. My parents were always really supportive, and I got a lot of support from Creative Scotland when I was younger. I think now, being an artist from Scotland is amazing because there is such a vibrant music scene here, and there is such a good support network here which I feel very lucky to be a part of. Today I’ve been working on a song with another Scottish artist, Ross, from a band called Fatherson, so it’s really nice that everyone helps and supports each other.

HA: 2024 is set to be a big one for you as you are due to play your biggest ever shows at Celtic Connections in Glasgow (January 26th) as well as opening the main stage at Belladrum Festival in July. What else can your fans expect from you this year in terms of new music, projects, or performances?

RS: Hopefully some more music will be out later in the year, I'm writing loads at the moment and trying to get back into the creative flow. But at the moment I have lots of upcoming gigs to keep me occupied.

HA: Where does your inspiration come from? Is it spontaneous and you need to write your ideas straight away, or do you have to sit down and craft a song from whatever you’ve experienced recently?

RS: There’s definitely different ways that my songs come to me, there are times when inspiration will suddenly come and take over and it’s super easy. But there are also other times you have to sit down and really work at something to produce it. It fluctuates. No two [songs] are the same, sometimes I’ll have an idea for a melody so I’ll sit down and work on it, and other times things will pour out and I’ll go ‘Oh, that was quick!’

HA: Finally, are there specific goals or milestones you've set for yourself for the upcoming year?

RS: I think really I just want to keep doing what I’m doing, and enjoying every part of the process. Growing the [number of people] who I connect with would be nice, and every show last year showed me that. It’s slowly but surely getting there, and to have people singing my songs back to me is really lovely. So I want to keep that going. 

…

You can catch Rosie’s show ‘Songs in College Hall’ on Saturday 20th January in St Andrews by grabbing a ticket here.