Behind the Darkness: Neeve Rose on ‘Hatchet,’ Her Vocal Process, and Bedroom Studio Alchemy

In the ever-evolving landscape of dark pop, few artists are carving out a sound as hauntingly personal and sonically daring as Neeve Rose. Blending orchestral swells with trap rhythms and flashes of metal intensity, her music creates an atmosphere where beauty and darkness coexist. With her latest single “Hatchet”, released on Halloween, Neeve takes listeners on a journey of empowerment, transformation, and raw emotion — all crafted from the solitude of her bedroom studio. We sat down with her to talk about her vocal process, production setup, and the emotional layers behind her most powerful track yet.

Unknown Artist: Thanks so much for joining us, Neeve. You’ve built such a distinctive sound — blending dark pop, orchestral touches, trap, and even metal — and your latest single “Hatchet” dropped on Halloween. I’m really excited to dive into your creative process, your vocals, and how everything came together for this release.

1. Origins & Inspiration

Unknown Artist: You wear a lot of hats as a singer, songwriter, and producer. When did you first realize you wanted to create music completely on your own terms?

Neeve Rose: I first realized that I wanted to create music when I was going through a depressive episode, and I had a playlist that understood me. Each song really made me feel less alone and understood. I wanted to provide that to others. I always wrote poems, and I would journal a lot to let my strong emotions out, but during COVID, that’s when things really got started. I had so much free time, so I thought I would learn a new skill that I could incorporate my story into. That was the best decision I have made, as it was truly life changing.

Unknown Artist: On your website, you mention that music has been a source of comfort and security since childhood. How does that early connection still influence your writing today?

Neeve Rose: That early connection influences my writing by reminding me it is okay to be raw and honest. The unfiltered emotion is what got me through such hard times, and that is so beautiful. The real feelings are what drives every lyric.

Unknown Artist: When you started “Hatchet,” what sparked the idea? Was it a lyric, a melody, or an emotion that set everything in motion?

Neeve Rose: Hatchet was honestly a spontaneous kind of project. The beat was already created by Sean, the producer, a while in advance. He sent it to me saying it was a song he created on a whim and thought it fit my style. I instantly fell in love with it and played around with some vocal ideas. The horror-driven synth melody was what really inspired me. That’s how I came up with the idea for “Hatchet.” The first lines were basically an experimental freestyle and it just worked so well. The team came together after I showed off the idea I had, and everyone pitched in with such wonderful contributions.

Unknown Artist: The title “Hatchet” is striking — it feels sharp, cathartic, maybe even symbolic. What does the word represent to you in this song?

Neeve Rose: The Hatchet in this song symbolizes power and domination. It is empowering, and I think I needed a song that instills confidence into the listener. Even though there are violent themes, it is all a metaphor for how I am going to be unapologetically me, and I will cut ties with anybody who is trying to stop me from doing so.

2. Vocal & Production Process

Unknown Artist: You create from your bedroom studio, which gives your music an intimate and raw feel. How does working in that kind of personal space affect your vocal performances?

Neeve Rose: Working in my personal space helps me create my best work. I feel comfortable, at ease, and the workflow is so much more efficient. It is also so amazing to me that I can do all of this amazing stuff from the comfort of my home studio.

Unknown Artist: Your sound blends dark pop with orchestral, trap, and metal influences. How do you approach your vocals to balance those very different styles?

Neeve Rose: I approach the vocals differently in every song, as I am very versatile. I love trying new things and pushing myself slightly for growth. That resulted in me learning opera, and fry screams which I think is so cool. I grew up listening to so much music, and I loved it all. I have a ton of metal tracks in the works with other collaborators, and I have been experimenting with a more orchestral sound for my upcoming project.

Unknown Artist: Can you walk us through your vocal chain for “Hatchet”? What’s your go-to mic setup, effects, or layering approach?

Neeve Rose: I have a Rode NT1 5th gen, and a pop filter that I record with through my UAD Volt 276. I have the vocal compressor on while I record (1 lead, 3 lead layers, harmony, 3 harmony layers, adlibs, 3 adlib layers) and then I go to Izotope’s Nectar 3. In the EQ, I high pass my vocals depending on the signal and cut the low mid resonance. I boost for some clarity in the high mids, de-ess (pretty aggressively, as my sibilance is quite harsh) and compress again to ensure the dynamics are sitting where I would like.

My creative effects are the last on some sends. My favorite reverb is by far Izotope’s Neoverb, as it makes it easy to EQ and visually view the mix of reverbs. I tend to like a lot of space in my tracks depending on genre, so there’s usually a good amount of reverb on the vocals. As for my layers, harmonies, and adlibs, there’s a bit of sidechaining involved — layers to the lead, harmonies to the leads, etc.

Unknown Artist: When recording vocals, what makes you say, “that’s the take”? Are you chasing emotion, tone, vulnerability, or something else entirely?

Neeve Rose: When I record vocals I am looking for strictly emotion. I want to be able to listen and feel. I always figure out the melody before recording, so that is not a determining factor in the takes.

Unknown Artist: When the energy turns heavier — those metal or trap moments — how do you adapt your vocal delivery? Do you train for that range or just follow the emotion of the track?

Neeve Rose: I adapt my delivery by following the emotion of the track. I channel the driving emotion, usually anger in the heavier tracks, and put myself in that headspace. I am telling a story and releasing emotion in a controlled way simultaneously.

3. Songwriting & Emotion

Unknown Artist: Your bio says your music doesn’t just speak — it resonates. How do you strike the balance between something deeply personal and something universally relatable?

Neeve Rose: I honestly don’t worry about finding universally relatable songs. If it tends to be relatable across the world, great, but I am here to tell MY story. I know my audience will find me. I know the people who relate will stay, and that is all that matters.

Unknown Artist: What emotions drive “Hatchet”? Is it healing, confrontation, transformation — or maybe all three?

Neeve Rose: I was in a confident, confrontational state of mind. The lyrics are about how I am staying true to myself, and how I am not afraid to burn bridges if someone is holding me back from blossoming.

Unknown Artist: When you write, do you usually start with a vocal melody, lyrics, or production? Was “Hatchet” created in your usual process or did it evolve differently?

Neeve Rose: I usually start with basic production. I record a few verses, maybe even a chorus over a piano melody, and then I build around it some more. Once there is a structure, I fill out the rest of the lead, the harmonies, adlibs and THEN the vocal layers. The melody and lyrics come at the same time. It is more of a freestyle where the focus is on the current emotion or inspiration, and I write full lyrics off of some vocal ideas.

Unknown Artist: Since you handle the full process — writing, singing, producing — how do you know when a song is truly finished?

Neeve Rose: I know when a song is finished when I feel the track is fully immersive, and you can really put yourself into that headspace. I will move onto the engineering side of things, and after the master is done I sit on it for a while and listen back to it on different speakers. I may go back and tweak the master, but after I am happy with the sound and translation it sits in a folder until I have a project ready to share with the world.

4. Production & Genre Fusion

Unknown Artist: How do you keep everything cohesive when mixing such distinct genres? Is there a trick you use to tie all the sonic worlds together?

Neeve Rose: When I am creating genre-meshing tracks, the mixing isn’t what is tricky. I feel like my mixing is similar across genres, as it really depends on how the elements fit in the production. Sound selection, and reference tracks help a lot. There are usually elements that I use that are similar across my songs. Trap beats, strings as pads and extra dimension, sometimes even a bold, dark and emotional piano melody, distorted instruments such as guitars, and distressed fry scream vocals, and the catchiness in the emotional delivery of a dark pop ballad.

Unknown Artist: Who are some of the producers or vocalists that have inspired your approach to merging styles?

Neeve Rose: Some of the artists that have inspired me are Deathbyromy, Ashnikko, and RIELL. They are my top influences, and even helped inspire me to start music.

Unknown Artist: What are the must-have tools in your studio setup — hardware or software — that help shape your sound?

Neeve Rose: My microphone, DAW (Studio One 7 Pro), interface and Kontakt are honestly the most important things. I don’t need all of the fancy plugins, I just prefer the neat and visual layout. As for instruments, I use Kontakt a lot. I would consider that a necessity. Like, that is the only thing I will use for instruments, as the sounds are very rich and higher quality.

Unknown Artist: Your tracks have incredible depth. How do you know when to keep layering versus when to strip things back and let the vocals breathe?

Neeve Rose: I use silence in the instrumental as a tool for impact. I use it sparingly, but it really helps increase the intimacy. The more stripped down, the more emotional. The more layered, the more power. It is a true art in the balance.

5. Performance & The Future

Unknown Artist: When you think about performing “Hatchet” live, how do you envision it? Do you plan to recreate the full production or offer a stripped-down version?

Neeve Rose: I envision performing Hatchet at a Halloween party, as that is totally the vibe I went for. I think besides Halloween it could be a cool hype up intro for my setlist. As for alternate versions, I was planning on having remixes from across genres, and having other artists give their take on it. I am looking for someone to create a metal version, as the impact would be incredible.

Unknown Artist: As someone who writes, produces, and performs, what’s the most rewarding part of the process for you?

Neeve Rose: The most rewarding part of my whole music journey is hearing someone say, or even comment anything along the lines of “this song helped me find peace.” That is THE REASON I do music. To heal with my hurt; to turn the pain into peace.

Unknown Artist: What do you hope listeners take away from “Hatchet” after hearing it for the first time?

Neeve Rose: I hope listeners decide to take a look at my project Corrupted Conformity, which is an EP of similar tracks. Dark, with more of a rap influence.

Unknown Artist: Looking forward, how do you see your sound evolving from here? Are there new directions you’re excited to explore?

Neeve Rose: I think my sound is always evolving. I think there will always be something that sets my projects apart, but the reason I do it, and the meaning behind each will never change. As far as new directions to explore, I am so excited to share my metal collaborations. I think they will open so many new doors and possibilities!

Unknown Artist: And finally — any advice you’d share with other artists recording from their bedrooms, finding confidence in their voice, and turning vulnerability into strength?

Neeve Rose: The biggest thing I can say to someone through all of this is be true to yourself, and know why you started music. I know it sounds cliché, but it is so true. So many people lose themselves by forgetting that, and it takes the humanity out of it all.

Closing

Unknown Artist: Thanks again, Neeve. This was an incredible look into your world. “Hatchet” is out now on all streaming platforms — make sure to check it out and follow Neeve Rose on Spotify and her official website: 

🔗 Spotify 🌐 neeverose.bandzoogle.com

Your sound feels cinematic and personal — we’re excited to see what’s next for you.

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