Rose Gray has today shared brand new track “Angel of Satisfaction“, which is available now on Play It Again Sam. It’s the British star’s second taste of new solo material to follow widely-acclaimed latest single “Free“, as well as appearances this summer ranging from a collaboration with TSHA to performing at Glastonbury with Shygirl.
“Angel of Satisfaction” combines pounding house, art-pop and gothic camp in a tale of those late nights which feel haunted and thrillingly hedonistic in equal measure. Written alongside Justin Tranter (Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa), “Angel of Satisfaction” – says Rose – “plays on the idea of temptation, being blessed, and is loosely based on a dream where an angel visited me with a warning about fame and fortune. ‘Angel of Satisfaction’ is a bit tongue-in-cheek – the idea of whoring for the glory – but it’s also about the darkness in the industry: I’ve felt on the outskirts of this world but have found myself at parties, looking around the room and thinking “is this it? Is this everything you wanted?”
Confessions – and the occasional crisis – on the dancefloor are quickly becoming Rose Gray’s calling-card. A born club-kid (quite literally: her birthday is New Year’s Eve), the Walthamstow-based artist, songwriter and DJ has hustled behind-the-scenes with roles ranging from the cloakroom girl to roleplaying illnesses for medical students. It’s an unorthodox journey which has always had its eyes on where dance culture meets pop maximalism: Rose’s early releases – the Dancing Drinking Talking mixtape, plus the Higher Than The Sun and Synchronicity EPs – captured London living as its daily grinds fade into those transformative, no-regrets late nights. They were met with widespread acclaim, sold-out headline shows, support across BBC Radio 1, and were followed by collaborations with the likes of Clipz and DJ Kungs (not to mention supporting and writing for Melanie C).
“Angel of Satisfaction” sees Rose Gray surveying that next level of her career, but on her own unapologetic terms. It’s a philosophy and sun-kissed aesthetic (think Kylie’s “Slow” meets Sexy Beast) that was introduced by first single, “Free”: an anthem about living life at a higher frequency, produced by Zhone (Troye Sivan’s “Rush”) and ultimately valuing those things in life that have no material cost. Currently wrapping up her debut album, Rose Gray grounds everyday storytelling with euphoric club escapism – the ‘Angel’ and devil on your shoulder, with no one to truly satisfy but yourself.