Rhythm Cafe MKE
Collection 4 - Meet the Artist - ILA Rose
Season 2025 Episode 40 | 3m 40sVideo has Closed Captions
A Wisconsin folk-pop artist turns emotion into melody with her heartfelt song “Class Crush.”
From Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, this folk-pop artist blends heartfelt storytelling, warm vocals, and self-taught guitar in her song “Class Crush.” Inspired by personal growth and emotion, she transforms her experiences into music that connects and heals.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Rhythm Cafe MKE is a local public television program presented by MILWAUKEE PBS
Rhythm Cafe MKE
Collection 4 - Meet the Artist - ILA Rose
Season 2025 Episode 40 | 3m 40sVideo has Closed Captions
From Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, this folk-pop artist blends heartfelt storytelling, warm vocals, and self-taught guitar in her song “Class Crush.” Inspired by personal growth and emotion, she transforms her experiences into music that connects and heals.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(wind blowing) - I am from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
I grew up surrounded by music.
My brother's a drummer.
My dad's a guitarist.
My grandmother played piano all the time, so everybody was doing music.
♪ Those brown eyes give me the taste of something ♪ ♪ They may be the reason I make it to graduation ♪ ♪ Class crush ♪ I was a theater kid so I did a lot of vocal lessons growing up.
I definitely think some of that musical theater influence has come in there at some times.
I love the drama of it all.
♪ When the wings take flight ♪ ♪ You don't know where they land ♪ ♪ Fill the room with colors of delight ♪ ♪ And that's how they always get the upper hand ♪ So when it comes to guitar, I'm self-taught basically.
I just did that learning all my favorite songs.
And then eventually I asked my dad about theory and (chuckles) that's a work in progress.
(laughs) So it was during COVID, I just had this freak health crisis situation.
So my therapist was like, "Hey, try music," and thank God (laughs) 'cause it's super helpful to put all my thoughts and feelings into music.
My dad's a musician, and he saw me posting TikToks of all my songs and he was like, "Are you kidding me?
You learned this.
(laughs) You learned how to play guitar and are writing songs.
And I had no idea."
And he was like, "Come on home.
We'll have my friend record your music."
So I was trying to figure out how to start writing to put all my thoughts onto the paper, and I had no idea where to start.
I loved Adele.
I went to her first album, and I was like, "Okay, how does she even do this?"
And I looked at the song structure for "Daydreamer."
So started writing songs, quickly became my favorite hobby.
♪ If this classroom was the whole world ♪ ♪ Would you put your arm around me ♪ ♪ Would I be your girl ♪ ♪ 14 weeks till I get a degree ♪ ♪ Would you make it less unbearable by looking at me ♪ I call it folk pop.
I usually find that from song to song, I'm definitely pulling on some idea, like for "Class Crush" wanted it to be sort of a daydream.
"Milkweed" I was thinking, how sad can I get?
(laughs) But I also liked that dissonance too.
♪ I was milkweed ♪ ♪ Three feet high ♪ ♪ I gave my love, he took the bite ♪ I want people to feel a sense of connection while listening to my songs.
Whether that be to their own experiences or just knowing that somebody else has also gone through it too.
Definitely a sort of catharsis through the songs as well.
A lot of the songs go through a range of emotions.
Definitely doesn't mean one thing, which leaves a lot of creativity for the listener on their part.
So definitely looking to collaborate and see how my sound changes when I add more people into the mix.
I wanna put out more and more music for sure.
♪ Make this class one I cannot miss ♪ ♪ If you're there, I'll have perfect attendance ♪ ♪ Class crush ♪
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