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TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM: Nadia Rose

FROM PROCESSING betting slips at Ladbrokes to dominating a Glastonbury stage, the ascension of Nadia Rose is a timeless story of a city girl who took a gamble to see her big dreams realised.

And if her fan base’s co-sign’s and growing audience is any indication – it’s paying off.

Rose is understandably fatigued when we speak, having performed at the iconic annual festival Glastonbury only to return to London for a second performance followed by preparation for visuals for her upcoming project.

“I got in at 6am but Glastonbury was crazy,” she recalls.

“It was my first experience. I’ve never been or performed so to actually get there and to be able to take part in it was crazy, the vibe was just right. Everyone’s just come out to have a good time so it was special.

She went on: “It’s quite overwhelming. Sometimes I don’t feel like it’s really registered that it’s all happening but it doesn’t put me off. I’m only in this to grow and I believe I have a brighter and better future so, so far, so good.”

Hailing from Croydon, south London, the 23-year-old rapper has been tipped by music insiders as one of the artist's to watch and recently cemented her professional status by inking her first deal with Sony.

Even with a major label, Rose is quick to assure fans that it’s business as usual.

“Just the machinery behind me is bigger,” she says.

The explosive performer, who credits the Spice Girls as one of her influences, is easily distinguished in a line-up of her peers by her baby face and trademark hair, often styled in two bunches.

On the surface, Rose is what Baby Spice would look like if she was a blend of Jamaica, Ghana and south London, until she opens her mouth and let’s rip her lyrical arsenal.

Anyone who’s seen the newcomer take the stage will concur that her winning quality is her performance ability and unwavering confidence.

“Some of it is probably natural, I got it from my mum,” Rose says of her stage presence, but aside from her natural capacity to dominate the stage, the rapper credits the blueprint laid out by her musical influences.

She explains: “I grew up listening to a lot of hip-hop and everyone who does hip hop believes in what they do. I couldn’t imagine listening to Eminem, Missy Elliot or an artist like Snoop and question their bars or their confidence or that Busta Rhymes is lazy and I just wanted to make sure that I could replicate that same level of self-belief.

“Every time I write a bar I’ve got to make sure that I believe in that one singular bar so when I go to perform it – it’s true. It comes from the start; I have to be believing in what I’m producing because if I don’t its evident when I come to share it you know what I mean?”

Born to a Ghanaian mother and Jamaican father, pursuing her musical talent was delayed by her commitment to be a dutiful university student while balancing part time work at a bookmaker.

“It was something I was sitting on for some time and it was on my head, I tried to talk to my parents about it but I felt like no one was really getting it so I just carried on and I was just like I will just keep doing this [university and work], making everyone else happy.”

It wasn’t long before Rose reached her breaking point and felt compelled to make a drastic change.

“It got to a point where I was literally in a dark place because I knew I wasn’t doing what I was meant to be doing. I didn’t feel right within myself,” she shares.

Quitting university and her job was only possible with the support of her immediate circle of friends who encouraged the performer to pursue her passion.

Rose says her parents had always been supportive of her creative talents, even going to the extent of enrolling her with stage coaches at the Brits school renowned for producing top talent including singers Adele, Marsha Ambrosius and the late Amy Winehouse.

“I think it got to a point where it started coming like a plan B to them, so it was kind of like ‘focus on this and this and then if…’

She playfully switching into the lovable and lecturing accent that any child of African immigrants would be familiar with.

“But for me I couldn’t do that, there was no plan B, so when we finally had the discussion I was just completely open with them, I cried, it was proper emotional. They took it in and they said ‘do what you have to do’ and they’re really proud right now.”

With a growing catalogue of memorable tracks including Station, Boom, and Skwod - Rose’s position in the flourishing British rap industry was marked by the clarion call for her to deliver American rapper Azealia Banks a robust serving of humble pie.

Commenting on Banks’ criticisms, which described the British rap and grime scene as a “disgrace”, Rose admits she felt a responsibility to fly the flag.

“It touched me,” she said.

“I didn’t know how she was saying those things when UK music is popping. I was like, ‘all right cool. Let me ride’. But it wasn’t just me – a lot of artist came through because that’s what we’re about, family”

Rose’s due success follows in the same trend of talented acts from the Thornton Heath area, which include rap duo Krept & Konan, Section Boyz and Rose’s cousin, MOBO Award-winning rapper, Stormzy.

Commenting on the unprecedented achievements of her fellow ‘Thornton Heathers’ over the last year, she jokes about the many theories floating around including the suggesting that the musical talent is courtesy of the food served at the local chicken shop Morley’s.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Nadia with her cousin Stormzy when they were children

Rose said: “There’s a few theories, I couldn’t say for sure. I just know that everyone from the ends has always been passionate. It’s never been a plan B thing for any of us. Even as far back as when we were in school just barring you could see there was a difference.

She adds: “The aggression is different; the hunger has always been there. It’s showing now. But more than anything, it’s like a family – everyone was always cussing us about how [Thornton Heath] ain’t in London, so we all just kind of got together and created this big, strong knitted family.”

Though her infectious sound may be delivered as rap, Rose’s wide range of influences suggest an artist who is as studious about her craft as she is musically-gifted.

Refusing to be defined by solely a ‘female’ rap act – the young performer is keen to work with another rising star who she sees as her equal, north London rapper Little Simz.

“I feel like Simz is just in her own lane,” explains Rose, who reached out to the 22-year-old on Twitter suggesting that the pair “give the people what they’re asking for”.

Rose continues: “I don’t feel like her lane merges with anyone else’s. She knows what she wants to do and she does it just like me. I think us coming together, we both have different flavours but there are elements that once we bring together would be explosive.”

Another major collaboration that fans are eager to see is a family link up between Rose and Stormzy.

“We just kind of decided that we’re going to wait for the right thing, putting that piece of work or a project is definitely in the pipeline but would make more sense to do it a little further down the line,” she said.

Looking ahead, the Station rapper, who recently made her Wireless Festival debut on the main stage, expressed gratitude and optimism about what the future holds.

“So far so good, I’m really happy with where things are heading at the minute – I know life doesn’t work like that and there’s due to be hiccups but all of this right now is so good and the energy is right. I’m hopeful for better days to come, I can’t really speak on the future but I’m working hard for it.”

Nadia Rose’s latest single Skwod is available for download on iTunes and Spotify. You can keep up with her journey on Twitter @Nadiarosemusic