Rose of Memphis: Origin Story

Welcome! It is with a sparkling spirit I share with you, a little insight to my mind. Rose of Memphis was born as an instagram handle for a page I made, just to get away from the attention and expectations I felt of my main page @zen_desire. It started off as Velvet Cowgurl, & almost became Sushi in My Car. The notion came to me in a dark moment, actually: I was thinking about how hard it’s been to live in Memphis. Let me not underscore the beauty of our city, but acknowledge the challenges I’ve experienced here. And I thought, I feel like something beautiful that came out of something hard. To quote Drake, from the concrete who knew that a flower would grow? (Fireworks, Thank Me Later).

That being said, Memphis has made me in ways I never expected. I have something of a southern accent now, which I love. I can’t jook yet, but that’s in the works. And as an artist, a human being, and foreigner to the state of Tennessee, the spirit of the Grind City has coalesced into my own. I used to want to escape because I didn’t know better. Now Memphis will be a part of me forever.

Rose of Memphis is a line of poetry. I couldn’t think of a better phrase to capture what I’m trying to do here. It inspires me to create so many branches. I’m starting this as a blog, but my prayer & intention is for it to grow into something much more. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, you sweet human. Cheers.