Biography
A rising star as a singer-songwriter and producer, Carissa Summer Rose is making her mark with a unique blend of musical influences and empowering lyrics. Though only 22 years old, her prodigious talents and relentless drive have already carried her far.
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Carissa’s immense musical promise was evident from a very young age. She fondly recalls singing along to artists like Shania Twain, The Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra as a child. Carissa also developed a passion for acting during her youth. A memorable early milestone was belting “The Circle of Life” from The Lion King to strangers while perched on her father’s shoulders after seeing the Broadway musical.
Though she felt immense pressure to succeed academically growing up, music was always Carissa’s refuge. While school often made her feel inadequate, songwriting brought out her authentic self and made her feel safe. After hitting a breaking point in high school, Carissa realized she had to fully commit to her musical passion.
At just 17 years old, the remarkably driven musician uprooted her life and made the solo move from Boston to LA to pursue a career in music. The initial culture shock gave way to tremendous personal growth. Carissa honed her craft at the Los Angeles College of Music and immediately got to work gigging and networking extensively around the competitive industry.
Though she dealt with rampant sexism and inequality along the way, it only strengthened her resolve and feminist ideals. Carissa aims to inspire fans while pushing society to become more inclusive and fairer towards women.
One of the peaks of her young performance career was at a fundraiser music festival which she organized for UNICEF of Ukraine during the spring of 2022. Carissa states, “I was performing a few of my songs, and strangers were singing my lyrics back to me, which is always a surreal feeling.”
Carissa views her discography as different chapters in her continual journey of growth, both personal and artistic. Her sound fuses pop, rock, R&B, punk, and a multitude of other genres to pack an emotional punch, while her vulnerable lyrics promote themes of self-love, female empowerment, equality, and inner strength.
Early momentum is building rapidly for the artist. Her first album, “It Started in the City of Roses,” was a triumph. The record encapsulated the hard lessons from her tumultuous teen years. Meanwhile, her latest single “Blacktop” and its lighthearted music video have rapidly expanded her fanbase.
Despite her early accomplishments, Carissa stresses patience and humility, constantly striving to improve her songwriting and musicianship. Now signed to Starpower Management, Carissa is hard at work on her sophomore album. Her new music aims to showcase her evolution as both a person and artist. While her debut focused on overcoming hardship through self-love and introspection, her next chapter tackles more mature themes like feminism and reflections on American society.
Her music touches people deeply. After the UNICEF performance, Carissa states, “A girl came up to me and told me that she was just getting out of an abusive relationship, and that my music empowered her to feel like she was going to be ok on her own. It’s that kind of real, deep connection with fans that makes performing so magical.”
Carissa promises her upcoming record, which she hints will be sonically adventurous, will uphold the hallmarks of her work — raw emotionality, infectious melodies, and refined production. Given her prodigious talents, relentless drive, and commitment to her vision, there is no doubt Carissa Summer Rose will ignite hearts in need with the tremendous gift she has been given.