Maggie Rose Have A Seat LP (Blue Marble Vinyl)

The third album from Maggie Rose, Have a Seat is the work of a phenomenally gifted artist finally showing the full extent of her power. After years of honing her chops and making her name as a force-of-nature vocalist, the Nashville-based singer/songwriter has dreamed up her own unbridled collision of rock-and-roll, soul, folk, funk and R&B: a fittingly eclectic sound for a musician whose live experience includes opening for Heart and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, touring as direct support for Kelly Clarkson, and sharing the Cayamo Cruise bill with Emmylou Harris and Jason Isbell - all in 2019 alone. Centered on the stunning vocal command she's revealed in taking the stage at The Grand Ole Opry over 80 times, "Have a Seat" finds Rose approaching her music with more confidence and clarity of vision than ever, ultimately sharing a selection of songs both timeless and urgent.

Have a Seat continues the free-flowing sonic exploration that Rose first began on her powerhouse 2018 album Change the Whole Thing. "I had the idea of recording at FAME in the back of my mind throughout the entire writing process for this project," says Rose, who first visited the studio upon performing as part of the Muscle Shoals to Music Row program in late 2018. "I took a lot of inspiration from those Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett records that came out of that very room, playing up my R&B sensibilities more than ever and really tapping into my soul and its connection with this music."

Like any great soul singer, Rose beautifully captures the tensions of the current moment, gently presenting her pensive social commentary while providing some much-needed reprieve from the everyday chaos. "These songs were written during a contentious time, and there are undertones to the lyrics influenced by the state of our world politics and the politics of the music industry," she says. "The title 'Have a Seat' is responsive, meant to communicate a sense of placing an emphasis on inclusivity - 'Here, sit down. Let's try talking to each other.' What I realized in the whole process of making the record is that one of the most loving things we can do is listen and make others feel heard - giving people the space to speak their mind and be themselves. However, there is also an intended meaning with the album's title that points to the power in occupying the seat that is designated for you. I am claiming a seat that I believe is rightfully mine and want others to do the same."