Lorely Rodriguez, known professionally as Empress Of, is an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer based in Los Angeles. Her debut album, Me, was released to critical acclaim in 2015.
Career
Rodriguez initially gained attention in 2012 for anonymously releasing a series of one minute-long demos prefaced only by a solid color entitled "Colorminutes". Her first 7" single, "Champagne" was released soon after on November 5, 2012 through a limited run via No Recordings. Lorely's stage name was inspired by a tarot card reading she did with a friend: "The first card he pulled out was an Empress card and I was like, 'It's me, I am Empress.' the Empress card is connected to fertility and mothering and strength. It's kind of nice to have those feelings." On April 2, 2013, her bilingual four-track EP Systems was released via Double Denim and Terrible Records in the UK and North America respectively. Since the release of her EP, she's showcased at SXSW, Iceland Airwaves and Pitchfork's Summer Music Festival and toured as a support act with the likes of Jamie Lidell, Jungle, Kimbra and Florence and the Machine. "Water Water", the first single off her debut full-length Me was released on April 14, 2015. She has also released a Spanish-language version of the track, "Agua Agua" "so that mother listens music." Rodriguez's debut album Me, which she self-produced and recorded in Mexico was released on September 11, 2015 via XL Recordings and Terrible. During 2017, Rodriguez released a standalone single, "Go to Hell" on July 12. 2017 via Terrible. She also featured on two singles for Los Angeles producers, DJDS with the Billboard-charting "Why Don't You Come On" additionally featuring El Paso R&B singer, Khalid and a cover of Lana Del Rey's Lust for Life single, "Love" released on August 29, 2017 and December 1, 2017 respectively through Loma Vista Recordings for their third studio albumBig Wave More Fire. On April 11, 2018, double single "Trust Me Baby / In Dreams" premiered on Zane Lowe's Apple Music "Beats 1" radio show and released via Terrible. The former was co-produced by Cole M.G.N. In October 2018, she was featured on Khalid's first extended play release. Rodriguez's second album, Us, was released on October 19, 2018. She supported Maggie Rogers on her fall 2019 Heard It in a Past Life tour. Her song "When I’m With Him " is featured on the soundtrack of the video gameeFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020.
Personal life
Lorely is a first-generation Honduran-American. She was raised by her mother in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Lorely's first experiences with music were listening to her father's cassette tapes of The Beatles and Pet Shop Boys. Formerly a resident of Brooklyn, NY, much of her debut album, "Me " addressed the hardships she faced while living in Brooklyn: "I hate the rats, I hate the rent, I hate all these shitty guys, I hate capitalism. I am getting cat-called in the street, just being a woman walking and I should just be able to walk down the street, you know." Lorely has a degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston. She cites Julee Cruise, Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, The Zombies, and The Beach Boys as some of her musical inspirations.
