13 OctOber 23-29, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | Light, Healing, Purpose Elena Rose’s debut blends pop, afrobeat, and tropical soul. BY MÓNICA MENDOZA V enezuelan-American singer‐ songwriter Elena Rose emerges from behind the scenes to claim her moment. With her debut al- bum Bendito Verano (“Blessed Summer”), she makes a powerful declaration: you can find light amid darkness, and music can be a vessel of transformation. From her beginnings writing hits for global superstars like J.Lo, Becky G, Chris- tina Aguilera, and more, to commanding her own narrative as a solo artist, Rose has al- ways operated at the intersection of art and intention. Now, after eyes on Europe and Latin America, a campaign with Adidas, and the promise of a U.S. tour, she steps boldly into her own orbit. Long before the world knew her face, Rose was already touching millions through her pen. She lent her songwriting talent to hits by Daddy Yankee, Rauw Alejandro, Selena Go- mez, Jennifer Lopez, and others. Her deep understanding of storytelling and melody made her a go-to voice in Latin pop. In 2020, she released her first single as an artist, Sandunga, signaling a shift from behind the scenes to center stage. Since then, she’s steadily grown: by 2024, she counted over 9.5 million monthly Spotify listeners and had shared stages with stars like Alejandro Sanz and Karol G. Her EP En Las Nubes served as a bridge — inviting listeners into her world, lay- ing the emotional groundwork for what was to come. She was born in Miami to Venezuelan par- ents, and spent her childhood between Puerto Rico and Venezuela before moving to the U.S. permanently at 19. That migratory arc — of leaving home, longing, reinvention — anchors much of her emotional landscape. Among her most notable solo moments is “Caracas en el 2000”, with Danny Ocean and Jerry Di, which resonated across 19 coun- tries, hit #1 on radio in Venezuela, and be- came an anthem for displaced Venezuelans yearning for memory and belonging. Then came “Me Lo Merezco”, a song born from personal revelation and vulnerability, which exploded into a self-empowerment phenomenon. Though Me Lo Merezco doesn’t appear on Bendito Verano, its spirit — freedom, authenticity, reclamation — is wo- ven through the entire record. With Bendito Verano, Rose doesn’t merely release music, she extends an invitation. The album is a sonic journey across twelve tracks, each one a fragment of her emotional atlas: “Mantra,” “Allelujah,” and “Roulin (ft. Ela- dio)” are some examples. In conversation with New Times, she de- scribes it as leaving the sanctuary of the En Las Nubes EP and stepping into another world, holding her listeners by the hand. In her words: “a walk into vulnerability, but also into collective strength.” Sonically, the album blends pop, afrobeat, tropical inflections, wind elements, and per- cussion. Rose says the afro rhythm feels like home: “a music that makes me feel very free and also connects me to my roots.” The atmo- spheric layers — winds, horns, tropical tex- tures — are meant to evoke a “sky that sounds,” a summer in the heavens. In “Cosita Linda,” she and her collabora- tors first converse about life before pen meets page; in “La de Dios” or “Gangsta Angel,” you feel her reach- ing for transcen- dence. The album opens with a short “Mantra,” repeated as affirmation, echoing her per- sonal ritual: “yo soy, yo soy, yo soy…” It’s more than branding —it’s her internal compass made song. Working with Young Miko and Justin Quiles (among others), Rose says she priori- tized creative resonance, not strategy. The collaborators needed to “vibrate at the same frequency.” The process was intuitive: when she felt things were right she followed it. She insisted on building a team — writers, producers, directors — who would co-create, not merely serve, the vision. She wanted peo- ple who would lift the ideas, not dilute them. The journey of “Me Lo Merezco” is as re- vealing as the song itself. Rose shares that the track emerged from a therapy session: she told her therapist, “I deserve it. I deserve to be happy. I deserve to feel good.” That dia- logue sparked a creative awakening. She re- corded an early version, shared it on social media, and watched it grow via word-of- mouth and emotional resonance. “That song became my compass. It flowed so naturally that when people responded to it, it gave direction to the project. I wanted Bendito Verano to carry that same essence: authentic, fearless, connected,” Rose shares. Her hope is that people can think, “Okay, this is Elena. I remember that feeling.” More than a hit, she wants legacy. Leaving Venezuela was more than geo- graphical; it was an emotional redefinition. She says she doesn’t miss anything — because she feels she was prepared for this. The in- dustry lessons, the behind-the-scenes knowl- edge, the quiet patience, it was all part of a divine shaping. She confesses that facing a million eyes isn’t easy. But when you know who you are, when purpose is any guide, the illusions fall away. She leans into cycles: times to stride forward boldly, times to retreat inward to regroup, al- ways listening to the nudge of intuition. One of her most moving stories: touring in Madrid, a Venezuelan fan waited two hours outside a restaurant just to see her walk out. He arrived sweaty, exhausted, after work. The embrace they shared, she says, reminded her of the diaspora’s devotion — the unseen emotional currency behind every concert, ev- ery stream, every lyric. From sold-out European dates to Adidas collaborations to headlining a U.S. tour with Live Nation, Rose is entering her moment with intention. She didn’t stumble into this; she built it. Yet she still visits the past: sometimes she returns to the version of herself who just wrote and stayed private. She senses she doesn’t lose that chapter in becoming public, but uses it as the foundation. Her goal isn’t fame, it’s purpose. Propelled by faith, she sees herself as an instrument, an offering. If this moment carries her somewhere new, she goes willingly, because she believes God has been preparing her for exactly this. When asked, What does freedom sound like in Bendito Verano? she smiles: “tropical air, wind, sun, open roads.” She imagines clos- ing her eyes and hearing the ocean in between the drums, letting gratitude fill the space. Even in Miami, she seeks home. On days when she wants Venezuela, she heads to Doral, buys arepas, and walks familiar streets. She laughs: “In every city, I find Venezuela.” That fan in Madrid told her, “I waited be- cause I wanted your hug.” She sees him, sees us, all of us seeking solace in connection. To Rose, Bendito Verano is more than mu- sic. It’s breath. It’s an inheritance. It’s an invi- tation: to heal, to stand, to walk the light, hand in hand. The album will be released on October 23 and will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and all ma- jor streaming platforms. Elena Rose. 8 p.m. Friday, November 28, at Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason The- atre, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-7300; fillmoremb.com. Tickets cost $44-$201 via livenation.com. [email protected] ▼ Music Long before the world knew her face, Elena was already touching millions through her pen. Photo by Mariah Julia ON DAYS WHEN SHE WANTS VENEZUELA, SHE HEADS TO DORAL, BUYS AREPAS, AND WALKS FAMILIAR STREETS.
