Brooklyn-based artist Rose Rutledge, working under her Late Blooming project, invites listeners on an introspective and atmospheric journey with her self-titled debut EP. The 5-track EP blends ambient lo-fi, electro-pop, and alternative indie, with lush layers of flute, ethereal vocals, and deep sonic textures. It’s a heartfelt exploration of both nostalgia and hope, pulling from Rose’s classical training and jazz influences to create something fresh yet familiar.
The EP offers a truly distinctive listening experience that takes the listener on a journey through a series of instrumental dreamscapes. Scattered throughout the record are beautifully crafted, atmospheric interludes, led by delicate flutes and infused with an ethereal quality. These moments create a sense of weightlessness, as if the music itself is floating in a dreamlike state- layered with an underlying synth texture, weaved together in an otherworldly ambiance that is both intriguing and hypnotic.
Between the more structured tracks, preludes emerge, providing a freeform, jazzy flow that effortlessly bridges one song to the next. These floaty sections imbue the EP with a sense of spontaneity and improvisation, allowing for moments of exploration and breathing space, as if the music is inviting the listener to pause and reflect. This jazzy freedom, combined with the EP’s rich soundscapes, gives it an unpredictable and unrestrained character, making each transition feel organic and unforced.
Rutledge’s vocals are equally captivating- playful and full of character. Her voice dances between the arrangements, exuding a unique charm and personality that adds a vibrant layer to the ethereal instrumental backdrop. At times, the vocals are reminiscent of artists like Santigold and Björk, with a similar ability to bend traditional vocal norms, using tone and texture to evoke emotion and character. The delivery contrasts beautifully with the EP’s atmospheric qualities, adding a sense of dynamism and unpredictability to the record.
The EP feels like a tapestry, woven together with intricate harmonies and reflective lyricism. ‘Late Blooming’ resonates as a meditation on time- both the missed opportunities and the blooming of something new and unexpected. It defies conventional structure, instead offering a journey through varied moods and sound worlds, making it a truly one-of-a-kind artistic statement.
At its core, ‘Late Blooming’ is a celebration of life’s slow blooms, those moments that take longer to flourish but are just as beautiful when they do. Through this body of work, Rutledge has crafted a reflective and mesmerising listening experience, establishing herself as an artist with a distinct and evolving vision.
