Rosie Lowe – Lover, Other

English singer-songwriter Rosie Lowe is an artist who holds her work near and dear to her heart; her debut record, Control, was released in 2016, and since then, she has taken time between each of her albums to perfect and hone a sound that is uniquely hers. Now, she is nearing the release of her fourth project, Lover, Other, which is different from anything she has done before. The album was made without ties to a major label, and Lowe was able to take complete creative liberty. Compared to her sophomore record, YU, it takes a turn towards cohesive R&B, chilled electronic dance pop moments and vintage, cinematic production that fits with her eloquent storytelling like a glove. 

The opening track, Sundown, shines a light on her gospel inspirations and establishes the primarily eclectic tone for the album. Her previous releases have had a mix of alternative pop-rock and electronic R&B sounds, but this introduction shows that Lowe has graduated to an almost completely laid-back aura. Mood to Make Love is the next moment on the record, and it follows suit. Here, Lowe presents the first glimpse of the overall theme.

Lover, Other ties each and every song to a central motif both sonically and lyrically. The singer describes the many aspects of love: Mood to Make Love depicts levels of intimacy, whereas In My Head expresses the anxieties one can have when emotionally involved with one’s partner. Many circle back to the uncertainties of love, like Out of You. Eventually, Lowe conversely shows shades of certainty with tracks like the lyrically strong Walk In the Park, In the Morning, Gratitudes, This Before or Lay Me, each displaying how romance can be complicated and delicate, but does not necessarily need to be. She does provide examples of darker moments, like in There Goes the Light, Something and Don’t Go that present contradictory ideas in a thought-provoking way. 

The production coincides well with each song’s individual theme. In My Head and Bezerk, for example, could be considered the most chaotic regarding sound compared to others, which aligns with how unease and introspection can feel. Lowe shows a love for vintage sounds, as strings, horns, rattles, maracas and humming harmonies lace down-to-earth tracks such as Walk In The Park, Don’t Go, Gratitudes and the jazzy Lay Me that can either be sombre or simplistically lovely. The title track for the record encapsulates the general sound of all 15 songs with hints of gospel but also introduces a romantic, cinematic element similar to a classic Disney princess ballad to emphasise the album’s core theme. This fades into Sundown (Reprise), which creates a full-circle moment.

Overall, Lover, Other is an excellent pairing of cohesive sounds and intriguing storytelling. Many have felt the types of love Lowe describes, and the way she articulates these feelings is gracefully put. This record is the singer’s best thus far and is a shining light amongst her already solid discography.

Taryn Crowley
Image: Gabby Laurent

Lover, Other is released on 16^th August 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Rosie Lowe’s website here.

Watch the video for the single here: