Performers: Shea Rose
Aspiring recording artist and singer-songwriter Shea Rose is a Boston native and Professional Music major graduate from Berklee College of Music. She describes her sound and style as the female Lenny Kravitz meets Lauryn Hill with a splash of Betty Davis.
In her article “Raw Rocking Soul”, performer Magazine writer Noelle Janka describes her as, “Equal parts soul, hip-hop and rock ‘n’ roll,” and says that Shea’s stage presence calls to mind the raw energy of Rage Against the Machine’s Zach de la Rocha.
Shea, a vocalist who started rapping about a year ago, was recently hand picked by Queen Latifah and CoverGirl as a winner of the CoverGirl Queen Collection “Ignite Your Persona” talent search. Latifah also dubbed her as “America’s Next Female Rapper” and the story has been featured in issues of Ebony, Essence, People, Intouch Magazine and more.
Shea’s blend of singing and rapping caught the eye of her Berklee professor, world-renowned drummer, composer, and producer, Terri Lyne Carrington. Her rap infused remake of Nona Hendryx’s “Transformation”, entitled “Sisters On The Rise (Transformation) is a bonus track on Terri’s 2011 CD release, “The Mosaic Project”. The Mosaic Project produced and performed by Terri Lyne features, Dianne Reeves, Nona Hendryx, Cassandra Wilson, Esperanza Spalding, Patrice Rushen, Sheila E., and Gretchen Parlato.
In 2009 Shea opened for Berklee’s groundbreaking concert, “Women in Rock” sharing the stage with some of the most prestigious African American women in Rock music including Cindy Blackman, Meshell Ndegeocello, Joyce Kennedy and Nona Hendryx. Her singles, “Free Love” and “Light Fades” are featured on Berklee’s Heavy Rotation Records (HRR) Dorm Sessions 6 CD.
Shea released her EP entitled, “Rock’n Rose” in the spring of 2010 and was subsequently nominated for a New England Urban Music Award in the R&B female category that year. Her latest mixtape “Little Warrior” was released in August of 2011.
In addition to singing Shea is a model and television personality. She was a featured model for Puma’s 2010 summer collection campaign, “Summer Lovin’” and she is also the face of the Berklee College of Music’s weekly events video web series, “What’s Happening At Berklee”.
Shea performs steadily with her own band while volunteering her time speaking, teaching and mentoring youth. She calls her dedication to music for social change, “My Angel Wears A Fro”.
Photo by Marcus Smith.
