Rose Cousins Bravado LP

JUNO award winner Rose Cousins is interested in the juxtaposition of things. Her new album, Bravado, peers behind the kinds of doors we tend to leave closed (for better or worse, or both). It is the sound of a heart trying to open. It is a bold swagger, a vulnerable facade. Bravado is a record for those who struggle with loneliness and those wishing they had more time alone. It's for those attempting to make their hearts go in more than one direction and those trying to make it go in just one. It's for those who present a version of themselves to the world that doesn't quite match how they feel inside. It's for those who feel misunderstood or unseen. It's for those who have a hard time saying what they feel, who hide or can't let themselves off the hook. It's for those asking, "is this it?" and questioning if the character they play in the movie of their lives is authentic or just a role they've accepted. It's for those who have a hard time asking for help and for those desperate for and terrified of change.

The record is flanked by two distinct renditions of the same song, "The Benefits of Being Alone/ The Reprise", reinforcing the record's examination of emotional duality. The record starts in bravado's swagger then drops us into "The Fraud" which wrestles with the desire to stay hidden and be seen. "The Time Being (Impending Mortality Awareness Society)", reminds and invites us to pay attention to what's most important, to be present. The album lifts to its highest level of hope and most pop production in "The Return (Love Comes Back)", solidifying Cousins' collaborative nature by recruiting an international choir of friends to join in at the end. "The Lullaby (My Oldest Love)" written with Tim Baker (Hey Rosetta), touches the desperate need for affirmation, "The Benediction", a yearning for acceptance.

For Cousins, this chapter is a personal and professional metamorphosis. She is in the producer chair, applying her years of experience, trusting her own ear and pulling thoughtfully from her network of talented colleagues.

Cousins' last project, Natural Conclusion, received much acclaim, including a Grammy nomination, a JUNO nomination for Songwriter of the Year, and 3 wins at the East Coast Music Awards. Rose's songs have appeared on Grey's Anatomy, Supergirl, Reign, Nashville and others. She has shared stages with heroic songwriters such as Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jann Arden & Ron Sexsmith. Bravado will be released worldwide February 21, 2020 on Outside Music.