Live Review: Mina Rose presents culture-fuelled mixer with debut 'Lemons and Limes'

MINA ROSE introduces herself with a unique musical mashup of styles new and old in her sassy single debut, 'Lemons and Limes'.

The South Londoner has experienced a magnitude of creative and ethnic diversities stemming from the culture-clash of music and sounds that surrounded her early years. After being exposed to legions of societal and aesthetic styles through family, friends and neighbours, Rose began to translate her own experiences of London's melting pot of culture into her own works. The paradoxes of present day city-living, especially in London, are a conscious reflection of history and hierarchy which stem the young artist’s musical curiosities and explorations.

‘Lemons and Limes' offers an open view into this unique world, exhibiting an edgy and vibrant compound of trip-hop, dub and vivid contemporary pop. Taking in the day-to-day landscape from her local streets, avenues, and tower blocks to form the background of her work, Mina Rose endeavours to shift the focus away from the things that we don’t have in life and instead appreciate the wealth and beauty of what already surrounds us.

Amongst wider influences ranging from Outkast to Gil Scott Heron and Gorillaz to Lily Allen,  'Lemon & Limes' was particularly inspired by reggae artist Smiley Culture, who reflected his observations of a lack of change in the relationships between the police and the youth.

Mina Rose explains:

"Lemons and Limes is about feeling that we are moving away from the inclusion that Smiley Culture was talking about in tracks like 'Cockney Translation'. I feel that there are forgotten people and creations that have come from the heart of London that people are now unaware of which can remind us of the beauty of a multicultural society."

'Lemons and Limes' opens with liquified electronic tones, classic sample beats and warbling synth pads, with Mina Rose’s spoken verse and candid chorus cutting through the intricate instrument layers to keep the tune grounded. Shishco Bob (who also comes from Mina's block) makes a cameo in this track, serving as a reiteration of both artists' creative integrity and musical vision.

Mina Rose is currently juggling her musical interests along with her studies in Visual Arts and Design, but if this tune is anything to go by, this girl knows where she's going and is a new neighbour that we definitely want to get to know!

Words byFREYA DINESEN

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