ROSÉ on Reinvention, “APT.”, and Finding Her Rhythm Again — A Candid Apple Music Conversation

The past year hasn’t just been busy for ROSÉ—it’s been transformative. Sitting down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the BLACKPINK star reflects on a whirlwind 12 months marked by creative freedom, runaway solo success, and a deeper understanding of herself as an artist.

Zane Lowe opens the conversation by pausing on just how seismic the year has been. With each BLACKPINK member stepping into solo territory, ROSÉ didn’t just branch out—she bloomed. “You and your friends all decided to do your own thing,” Lowe notes, “and did it very successfully and very individually.” For ROSÉ, that independence brought both exhilaration and awe.

“There’s so much to digest,” she admits. From performing at the Grammy Museum to hearing her own songs played on the radio, the moments in between—the rehearsals, the quiet realizations—hit the hardest. “When I’m rehearsing with my band and playing songs from the album we released a year ago, I suddenly realize: this is my job. I’m pinching myself.”

When “APT.” Took on a Life of Its Own

One of the defining chapters of that year was “APT.”, a track that didn’t just succeed—it exploded. Lowe points out that while the album was widely loved, ROSÉ barely had time to live with it before returning to group activities.

“It just grew its own arms and legs,” ROSÉ laughs. “It started walking around the world on its own.”

She likens her album to a family of 12 children, each with a different personality—some sad, some angry, some carefree. “APT.”, she jokes, is the overachiever. “It went to Harvard, law school, became a president—I’m just at home like, ‘Wait, what is my fourth child doing?’”

There was pride, of course, but also a strange distance—watching the song thrive almost without her. Still, the joy was undeniable.

Doubt, Instinct, and Trusting the Song

Despite its eventual success, releasing “APT.” wasn’t a straightforward decision. ROSÉ admits she felt torn. The song was different—quirky, unexpected, and driven by curiosity. “The first thing people ask is, ‘What does APT. mean?’” she explains. “There’s a learning curve.”

She recalls listening to the song alone in bed, hitting play, and looping it until she fell asleep. “I woke up waiting to get sick of it—and I didn’t.” Still, she wasn’t ready to let it go. She asked her collaborators to delete it from their phones, keeping it close as she slowly tested it out on friends and family.

“I wouldn’t hype it up,” she says. “I’d just play it and watch their reactions.” Again and again, people came back saying it was stuck in their heads. That was the moment it clicked. “That’s when I accepted it. I thought—okay, this could be my single.”

Living With Songs After Letting Them Go

As a first-time album creator, ROSÉ was surprised by how her relationship with her songs continued to evolve long after release. “I thought once it was out, it was done,” she says. “But it’s not.”

Revisiting tracks more than a year later, she experiences them as both artist and listener. Songs written from one emotional place now resonate in entirely new ways, healing her differently as her life changes. Even unreleased demos, rediscovered by chance, have sparked fresh waves of emotion. “I fell in love with it all over again,” she says, marveling at how music keeps growing alongside her.

Sharing the Stage With Coldplay—At Home

One of the year’s most surreal moments came when Coldplay invited ROSÉ onstage in Korea. “When does Coldplay ask you to come up and perform with them?” she says, still amused.

Chris Martin, fully prepared, had practiced the Korean lyrics—no shortcuts allowed. “He was like, ‘ROSÉ, do your thing. I’m just here to celebrate this for you.’” The crowd loved it so much they performed “APT.” twice in one night. For ROSÉ, it was her first time performing the song in Korea—and in a stadium of that scale. “I didn’t even know that was possible.”

Coming Back Together as BLACKPINK

After a year of solo independence, returning to BLACKPINK in 2025 was both exciting and mentally demanding. “Creative work needs freedom,” ROSÉ reflects. “We all went out, got inspired, and brought that back.”

She lights up talking about the group’s new era, especially “Jump.” “It feels fresh. Funky. I love this version of BLACKPINK.” Still, readjusting from solo artist to part of a massive, finely tuned machine took effort. “It’s a lot of brain work,” she admits. “You finally feel like you’re getting the hang of it—and then the tour’s ending.”

She laughs softly. “I think that’s life. You’re always just getting the hang of it.”

Where It All Began

Looking back, ROSÉ’s path to music feels almost inevitable. Long car rides in Australia, the radio always on. Discovering K-pop through her older sister’s iTunes library. Waiting hours for YouTube videos to download. Watching guitar covers and thinking, I want to be that girl.

Her father noticed, too. “‘Do something about it before you regret it,’” he told her. Soon after, at just 16, she found herself in Seoul—training, learning, growing, and eventually debuting as part of BLACKPINK.

“What a crazy life,” she says, still sounding slightly amazed.

A year of change later, ROSÉ isn’t just reflecting—she’s evolving in real time. And if this conversation proves anything, it’s that she’s only just getting started.