Rose Melberg


Rose Melberg is a musician and songwriter from Sacramento, California, currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has performed and recorded both as a solo artist and as a member of Tiger Trap, The Softies, Go Sailor, Gaze, Gigi, Imaginary Pants, Brave Irene, Knife Pleats and Olivia's World.

Career

1990s bands - Tiger Trap, The Softies, Go Sailor, Gaze

Melberg was raised by working musicians and following her appearance right out of high school at the International Pop Underground Convention in Olympia, Washington, in August 1991, she had almost instant success with the all-female band Tiger Trap. The short-lived band garnered a cult following in indie-pop circles.
In 1994 she began writing music with Jen Sbragia under the name The Softies. During their initial run, the band released three albums between 1995 and 2000.
That same year she formed Go Sailor with former Crimpshrine member Paul Curran on bass, and Henry's Dress member Amy Linton on drums. They released three 7" EPs, followed by an album compiling their recorded output, before disbanding in 1996.
In 1997 the Vancouver-based Gaze started releasing music, with Melberg on drums. Full-length album Mitsumeru followed on K Records in 1998. Then a second, Shake The Pounce in 1999, which was recorded by Calvin Johnson at Dub Narcotic Studios.

Late '90s to 2000s - Solo career

She released her first solo album, Portola, in 1998. It contained a mix of single sides, studio demos, and home recordings, with songs split evenly between original material and covers of other artists.
In 2002, she gave birth to a son and lived with her husband and family in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. She returned to the pop world in 2006 with her second solo album, Cast Away the Clouds. Melberg toured briefly for the album, including a spot opening for Belle and Sebastian.
Her third solo album, Homemade Ship, was released on K Records in 2009. The track "Old Days" was featured as Song Of The Day by NPR Music.

2010s - Go Sailor reform, Brave Irene, Imaginary Pants, PUPS, Knife Pleats, Olivia's World

In the early 2010s Go Sailor reformed for some live shows, starting with Slumberland Records' 20th anniversary shows in 2010, followed by the 2011 edition of NYC Popfest.
As of 2011, Melberg was a part of two groups, Brave Irene and Imaginary Pants. Brave Irene was a five-piece band; with Melberg on guitar and vocals, Caitlin Gilroy on keyboards, guitar, tambourine, and vocals, Jessica Wilkin on organ, Amanda Pezzutto on bass and vocals, and Laura Hatfield on drums. The group recorded its self-titled debut with producer John Collins at JC/DC Studios, which was released in 2011 on Slumberland Records to positive reviews.
In 2013 she was a member of the band PUPS, who released a split tape with Movieland on Green Burrito Records.
She was the singer and guitarist of Vancouver-based band Knife Pleats, who in 2015 released the album Hat Bark Beach. The other members of the band were Kaity McWhinney and Tracey Vath of Love Cuts and drummer Gregor Phillips.
The band Olivia's World, featuring Melberg on drums along with Lica Rezende and Joe Saxby, released its debut EP in 2019.

2020s - Bratmobile, The Softies reunion

In 2023 Melberg started playing guitar for the reformed riot grrrl band Bratmobile.
The Softies released a new album in 2024, The Bed I Made.

Discography

Solo recordings

Albums

  • Portola
  • Cast Away The Clouds
  • Homemade Ship
  • September, a covers album on cassette
  • Live in San Francisco - split cassette release with Tony Molina; side A is Rose solo

    Singles/compilation appearances

  • "My Day," on the compilation International Pop Underground Convention
  • "Cupid" - 7-inch split single with Magpies, b/w "I Want a Love I Can See"
  • "The Time Has Come" - digital single; and bonus track on UK LP release of Cast Away The Clouds
  • Each New Day b/w Autumn
  • "This Will Be Our Year," originally by The Zombies - with Kathy Elzey, Rose's mom
  • "Our Days In Kansas," on the compilation Wish I'd Kept A Scrapbook: A Tribute to Tullycraft
  • "Distant Ships" - single-sided 7"
  • "Please," a cover of The Smiths' "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want", on the compilation Carry On Rioting
  • "A Life That's Good" on ''Live at the Bluebird: A Nashville Covers Compilation''

    [Tiger Trap]

  • "Words and Smiles" split 7-inch with Bratmobile
  • "Supercrush" b/w "You and Me"/"Hiding"
  • Tiger Trap
  • Sour Grass EP
  • "Baby Blue," from Julep
  • "Hiding," from the International Hip Swing compilation
  • "Supreme Nothing," from the Stars Kill Rock compilation

    [Go Sailor]

  • Fine Day for Sailing 7-inch EP
  • Long Distance 7-inch EP
  • Don't Go 7-inch EP
  • Go Sailor : Compiles the three 7-inch EPs plus two compilation tracks

    [The Softies]

  • It's Love
  • Loveseat 7-inch EP
  • The Softies 7-inch EP
  • The Softies
  • "The Best Days" b/w "As Skittish as Me"/"Stranger"
  • Winter Pageant
  • Holiday in Rhode Island
  • ''The Bed I Made''

    Gaze">Gaze (band)">Gaze

  • Mitsumeru
  • So Sad 7-inch EP
  • ''Shake the Pounce''

    Brave Irene

  • ''Brave Irene''

    Tally Ho!

  • ''I Never Will Marry''

    PUPS

  • PUPS
  • Month Long Sleep 7-inch EP

    Imaginary Pants

  • Imaginary Pants
  • Channels b/w Seacliff 7-inch EP
  • Kites At Night EP

    Knife Pleats

  • ''Hat Bark Beach''

    Olivia's World

  • ''Olivia's World''

    As producer

  • Lisa Prank, ''Perfect Love Song''

    Live collaborations

  • "The Biggest Lie"

    Collaborations

  • Rose Melberg & Dustin Reske – "The Love We Could Have Had" on 4-band Split
  • The Potatomen – "All My Yesterdays" – vocals on 3 tracks
  • The Smugglers – "Rosie" – from Rosie
  • Rose Melberg & Gregory Webster – "Merry Christmas ", originally by Ramones
  • The Bright Ideas – All Is Calm, All Is Bright! – vocals on "When You Think About Christmas Time"
  • Rose Melberg & Nick Krgovich – "The Mental Beast Christmas Compilation" – "Coldest Night of the Year", originally by Vashti Bunyan
  • Gigi – Maintenant – vocals on "Alone at the Pier"
  • Blanket Truth – "Urban Wildlife" – vocals on "Friendly Haunted Mansion", "Bubble Up"
  • Jay Arner – "Bad Friend b/w Black Horse" – drums