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The following is an edited article care of ‘The Metro Gnome’ – an online resource promoting live music:

The Metro Gnome: Why do you live in Yass? Do you have family in Yass?

Lee-Ann Rose: No. Yass, really, if you look at the map, is perfect. You’re 2+ hours from Sydney, 40 mins from Canberra, 3 1/2 – 4 hours from Melbourne, 14 or so from Adelaide, and 12 – 13 hours from Brisbane. It’s like the perfect little spot for travelling. I bought a home there. It was cheap. It’s in the country – on the Hume Highway. I bought it about 4 years ago. I was going to fix it all up. I wanted a studio – that was my dream. But the house had too much renovating. So I had to get out.

TMG: Can you write and record at your home now?

LR: Yes – I’ve got my own little studio at home. That’s my passion. I do love performing, I do. But I do like to write. To have someone else playing my songs that’s the goal. Writing and recording.

TMG: Why do you think that the writing inspires you more that performing?

LR: I don’t know. It’s more of an achievement. For me. It would be such an achievement to have other people singing one of your own songs. To have so many people around the world – or even the country – and I’m not even looking for the pat on the back. Just to have people walking down the street and singing my songs – that would be the ultimate.

TMG: Are you a professional muso? Is that all you do?

LR: Yeah, pretty much.

TMG: How do you get the money to invest in the album?

LR: That’s the reason it has taken so long – because I haven’t had money. That little cheap house that I bought…. I bought it at the right time and now the prices have gone up. I sold the house for way, way above what I bought it for….

TMG: That’ll help you to fund the musicians?

LR: Yeah… well, that has never been the problem. Getting the right musicians has never been the problem. Having the right producer – that’s the biggie.

TMG: How did you pick a producer?

LR: Well, he’s an old friend. I’ve known Bill (Chambers) for many, many years. And we’ve worked together many times.

TMG: What do you think about the exposure your kids get to music – what they get through school?

LR: There should be more of it – lots more of it. My girls, well, obviously they’re around it all the time. Because I’ve got my own studio, my oldest is like, “Mummy record me, please!” She’s been singing on stage now – and she’s got it going on. At the same time, I don’t want her to do it because it’s what I do. I want to make sure it’s really her passion. And I think it is, but I don’t want to get too excited about that yet….

TMG: Not to be a pageant mother?

LR: Exactly. I act a bit dumb towards it. In actual fact I’m probably non-supportive – I’m a bit cold towards it.

TMG: Make her drive it forward….

LR: Basically, yeah. She’ll have to do the hard yakka. But at the same time, I did say to her, “If that’s your dream, if that’s your goal, darling – and if you still want to do it when you’re 18…. You’re not playing in pubs, kid.” I’ll help her any way I can. So she doesn’t end up on a path – gig after gig after gig. I just don’t want my daughter in that scene.

TMG: Knowing that The Metro Gnome is all about taking the next step, are there other messages that you’d offer to other musicians?

LR: Don’t waste time. Don’t do what I’ve done. Advice? Get in there, boots and all, and shake the trees big time. Don’t wait. I wish I’d done that 10 years ago.

The full article can be seen here.