Gena Rose - DenHolm GAZZETTE

FOOLISHLY IN LOVE w/ GENA ROSE BRUCE

words—MORGAN RUDOLPH
images—MAXIMUM PERSON

@genarosebruce
www.genarosebruce.com

“Well are we just planting flowers by the freeway, painting our motel room?”—Melbourne based singer-songwriter Gena Rose Bruce’s siren-song’s lure you into the depths of love and despair with a distinguishable raw diaphanous sound bookended by the likes Mazzy Star and Elliot Smith.

Recently saying “I do”, we explore Gena’s closest relationships, treasured love songs and appreciation for honest songwriting:

GAZZETTE – Was there ever a penny-drop moment calling yourself a musician?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – Honestly no, it was always so clear to me how much I loved music and wanted to create my own. I was writing songs when I was 6 years old, I recently went through all my diaries from childhood and they are all just filled with lyrics – songs about who I was crushing on. These days I’m sometimes hesitant to refer to myself as a musician, as I was never classically trained – however I think this is just an insecurity I need to work on.

GAZZETTE – Can you recall your introduction to music? Did this shape your taste?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – My parents were always big music lovers, around the house I remember growing up listening to music like the Sex Pistols, The Clash and Bruce Springsteen. Triple R was the only radio station allowed on in the car ( I hated it at the time, but now I am grateful) – So I think this has definitely shaped my taste and appreciation for honest songwriting with emotional and raw singing.

GAZZETTE – You’re also into gardening, where did you acquire your green thumb?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – I think it was from my grandparents as everyone else in my family are serial plant killers. I remember spending a lot of time in the veggie patch with my grandpa.

GAZZETTE – Did you have any band posters on your wall growing up?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – Yes, and I would rotate them – I remember being allowed to buy one magazine a month and my choice would be based on what posters were in that issue – I had a lot of Britney Spears posters!

GAZZETTE – When and where do the lyrics come from?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – Reading is a good one, I’m often inspired by poetry. I also find deep and meaningful conversations with friends spark lyrics. When people are feeling so emotional it’s amazing how these poetic sentences can just come out of one’s mouth – so raw and heartfelt.

GAZZETTE – When was the last time you willingly stepped out of your comfort zone?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – Today I was over at my friend’s house and there was a dead possum in her driveway, she was not able to move it herself so I did it for her – I’m not great with dead things but I pretended I was to help her.

GAZZETTE – Who directed the Foolishly In Love video clip? What was it like on set?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – Alex Badham and Ryan Downey. – It was ery fun on set, we are all great friends so there were a lot of laughs and silliness on set.

GAZZETTE – Foolishly In Love is co-written with American songwriter Bill Callahan. How and when did you first connect?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – During the pandemic I was lucky enough to be put in touch with Bill to try some co writing – It was all via email, we never actually spoke on the phone or zoomed, it felt pretty old school sending letters only.

GAZZETTE – You recently tied the knot, congratulations. How did you meet and was it love at first sight?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – Thankyou!! We met many moons ago via a mutual friend who sadly we have lost touch with now but we thank them everyday. It was love at first sight actually, no games, we both were straight to the point – it was perfect!

GAZZETTE – What was your wedding song? Why did you choose it?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – We didn’t have one – it was not a traditional wedding, we didn’t walk down the aisle or anything. Though we did think about it and we had difficulty agreeing on one so maybe that’s why we didn’t end up doing it haha.

GAZZETTE – How does handling a disagreement with a co-writer differ from butting heads with your newlywed husband?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – It’s much slower getting to the point with a coworker, you have to be very polite and professional with your language. Whereas with my partner and I, we are both pretty vocal and don’t hold back on how we feel, we kind of blow up but then it’s over/resolved within the hour.

GAZZETTE – Tell me about your connection to Logan’s Beach, Warrnambool.

GENA ROSE BRUCE – My grandparents had a house in Warrnambool, so I’ve spent many summers there. Logans beach is very close to my heart as I have had many walks with special people there throughout my life.

“no games, we both were straight to the point. it was perfect. it was…

LOVE AT
FIRST SIGHT!”

GAZZETTE – Talk us through your collaboration with Japanese artist Ayane Yamazaki.

GENA ROSE BRUCE – Ayane reached out to me and asked if she could record The Way You Make Love in Japanese for her EP. I then listened to her music and fell in love with her song Kitchen song, so I said yes but only If I could record a version of Kitchen song.

GAZZETTE – What’s the recipe for a good love song?

GENA ROSE BRUCE – Honesty and a bit of exaggeration.

GAZZETTE – Please curate a playlist of your favourite 10-15 love songs

GENA ROSE BRUCE –

1. Love is a Hurtin’ Thing, Gloria Ann Taylor

2. Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye, Bettye Swann

3. Like Someone In Love, Björk

4. Anyone Knows What Love Is (Will Understand), Irma Thomas

5. Until You Came Into My Life, Ann Peebles

6. Lovin’ You, Minnie Riperton

7. Grow Old With Me, John Lennon

8. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (I Love You Baby), Ms. Lauryn Hill