Introducing: Harlee Rosanna

With a voice like velvet and lyrics that cut to the bone, Harlee Rosanna is fast becoming one of the East Midlands’ most affecting new songwriters. Blending acoustic intimacy with flashes of electro-pop, the Lincolnshire artist has carved out a space for stories of vulnerability, resilience, and quiet strength. Her latest single “Avalanche” — already spotlighted by BBC Introducing — is another striking chapter in her unfolding narrative: melancholic, powerful, and deeply human. We caught up with Harlee to talk musical beginnings, emotional honesty, and what’s next on her journey.

Your music has been described as “beautifully melancholic” by BBC Introducing—how do you channel emotion into your songwriting without holding back too much of yourself?

When I’m writing a song, I find I lose myself in the moment and the lyrics, in a space where I can be vulnerable and honest, I guess in some ways it’s like my version of a diary , but less private! I don’t feel myself holding back when writing, I like to explore my feelings and take myself back to situations or parts within my life (past and present) where I may have experience certain feelings or situations. This helps guide the emotion in the writing.

Your single “Avalanche” carries your signature blend of emotional depth and raw storytelling—what inspired that particular track, and what does it mean to you personally?

Avalanche’ was inspired by the feeling of being stuck in relationships that slowly erodes who you are—where you give everything emotionally and mentally, and it’s still not enough. It’s about that slow collapse, like you’re being buried under the weight of someone else’s expectations or damage. Writing it was a way to process those experiences, but when I listen to it now, I feel relief. It’s a reminder of how far I’ve come, and that I’m no longer in that place, thankfully!!

You’ve gigged across Manchester, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire—are there any standout memories or unexpected moments from performing live that have stuck with you?

Thinking back, one moment that really stands out was performing at Gorilla in Manchester while I was studying songwriting at BIMM. I’d just moved there from a small village, so playing a venue like that felt surreal, usually it was pubs or small beer festivals before I moved to city life. Another really great memory was playing at Nottingham Pride. As a lesbian, being part of that community and performing in that space made me feel deeply connected too. Hockley Hustle was another great gig as a musician living in Notts as the time. It’s such a great event in Nottingham. But honestly, my favourite thing about gigging is always the people. Even if just one person connects with what I’m singing, that means everything to me.

Your sound ranges from acoustic rawness to electro-pop—how do you decide which direction to take when starting a new song?

For a few of my tracks I’ve been lucky to work with an amazing producer, Chris Guest, at Vibratone Studio in Manchester. I  bring acoustic demos to him, and from there we shaped the sound together—he really listens to the emotion I’m trying to convey and helps bring that vision to life. Some songs feel too raw to be overly produced—they need to stay stripped back to preserve the vulnerability. Others, I can hear the beat forming in my head as I’m writing, and I know they’re meant to live in a more layered space. I do always get drawn back into raw acoustic songwriting though. 

Vulnerability and resilience are key themes in your music—what do you hope listeners take away from your songs when they hear them for the first time?

I love this question—it really means a lot to me when people connect with my music, because that’s the whole reason I share it. I hope that when someone hears one of my songs for the first time, they really take in the lyrics and find something they can relate to—maybe something they didn’t even realise they needed to hear. Whether it’s comfort, release, or just the feeling that someone else understands, I want my songs to be a kind of catharsis. And I also hope they like it!