Who is…?
Nelle Rose is a Singer/Songwriter who was born in Mount
Vernon, NY and raised in Freehold, NJ. With her family hailing from Jamaica in
the 1980s, they instilled in her the value of education, hard work, and the
importance of obtaining a skill. At the tender age of five, under the direction
of her mother, she began her musical journey by singing in the church choir.
Influenced by the likes of Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and more, she set out
to add her name to a group of artists who march to the beat of their own drums.
She integrates mystique and raw emotions into her music and stage performances.
She plans to continue to build momentum for her livelihood, let her
authenticity capture her audiences, and follow the advice of living in the
moment. She has adopted a “now or never” mindset: living to fulfill her purpose
of touching the world with her gift.
What has contributed
to your personal growth?
My journey has been an interesting one, to say the least. I
came from a wholesome upbringing with two strict West-Indian, religious
educators as parents. They wanted nothing more than for my brother and I to
have everything that they didn’t have growing up: the American dream. We were
pushed to participate in sports, learn instruments, and become active in our
schools and churches. We both were sent to attend college at Rutgers University
and graduate with degrees. Although we were expected to obtain typical jobs,
the love of music could not seem to leave us because it is in our blood.
My older brother, Akene “The Champ” Dunkley, graduated with
a degree in Electrical Engineering and decided to pursue music full-time as a
pianist and producer. I graduated with a double major in Psychology and
Africana Studies, and dabbled in various music industry internships or
miscellaneous jobs. Somewhere along the line however, I realized that NOTHING
made me happy besides singing; it had been the only constant thing in my life. I
believe that the loss of loved ones, the failures, my parents’ divorce, and
heartbreak have made me stronger and more determined to make it.
My growth can also be contributed to my brother. He was
never a “yes man”. He always told me if a song I wrote was “whack” or if a note
I sang was “off-pitch”. The value of honesty has allowed for me to expand my
gift tremendously. It is so important to have a supportive and loyal circle
around you.
In the next 5 years
where do you see yourself going?
If I stay focused on improving my skill set, consistently
make music, and increase my fan base, I WILL BE HAPPY. I need for music to be
my full time profession. There is nothing greater than waking up in the morning
and doing what you love. It is essential for the world to know and feel my
emotion through my music.
What are the 3 images
that best describe your growth?
What message would
you like to provide those people who have hit a road block with their personal
growth?
It is never too late to chase your dreams. The world is
yours, but it is UP TO YOU to go get it. We are meant to be rejected and have failures;
nothing that we want comes easy. Life is short. Don’t be the person that says,
“I wish that I would have followed my passion”. The time is NOW.
How would you like to
be remembered?
I want to be remembered by my voice and my personality. I am
a very caring person and wear my heart on my sleeve.
What are your current
ventures?
I just released my first EP on April 1st, titled “Fool for
Love”. It is available everywhere: iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Google Play Music,
Spotify, Tidal, and more. I am currently my own manager, but I do have a strong
team, Young Kings Productions, working with me to create and dominate. Keep an
eye out for us because we aim to take the world by storm!
To monitor my journey, please follow me everywhere at
@nellerosemusic
