Empress Of

Lorely Rodriguez (born October 19, 1989), known professionally as Empress Of, is a Honduran-American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer based in Los Angeles, California.

She has released four studio albums: her critically acclaimed debut, '' Me'' (2015); '' Us'' (2018); '' I'm Your Empress Of'' (2020) via XL Recordings and Terrible Records; and '' For Your Consideration,'' released on March 22, 2024, by her own independent label Major Arcana and American independent label Giant Music.

Rodriguez has toured and collaborated with Dev Hynes, Jim-E Stack, Rina Sawayama, Carly Rae Jepsen, Caroline Polachek, Maggie Rogers, Amber Mark. She has performed at music festivals such as Pitchfork Music Festival, Outside Lands, Corona Capital, Primavera Sound and Capitol Hill Block Party.

Career

2011–2016: Early releases, ''Systems'' and ''Me''

After completing a sound engineering degree at Boston's Berklee College of Music in 2011, Rodriguez moved to New York City and quickly broke into the local music scene performing with Celestial Shore, a Brooklyn-based band with American musician Sam Owens. She soon left the group to focus on her own music.

In 2012, Rodriguez gained attention for anonymously releasing a series of one minute-long demos (via YouTube) prefaced only by a solid color entitled "Colorminutes". Her first 7" single, "Champagne", was released on November 5, 2012, through a limited run via No Recordings.

Rodriguez'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'", she said. "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 by Double Denim in the UK and Terrible Records in North America. She later performed at SXSW, Iceland Airwaves and Pitchfork's Summer Music Festival, and toured as a support act with Jamie Lidell, Jungle, Kimbra, and Florence and the Machine.

In 2013, Rodriguez signed to British independent label XL Recordings via a joint deal through Terrible and began to work on material for her debut album. A few weeks into writing, she decided Brooklyn's environment was hurting her effort, so she went to Mexico and worked in relative isolation. She returned to New York and finished the album the following year.

On April 14, 2015, "Water Water", the first single from her unannounced debut full-length album, was released via XL/Terrible. A Spanish version of the track, "Agua Agua", was released on June 8, 2015, via SoundCloud. The alternative version was meant as a way for Rodriguez's mother to connect and listen to her daughter's music.

On June 20, 2015, the album's second single, "Kitty Kat", was released alongside the announcement of her debut album, '' Me.'' On August 31, 2015, Rodriguez released a cover of Katy Perry's song "Hot n Cold" via SoundCloud for Rookie Magazines "Theme Song" series. Two more singles from ''Me'' were released in September: "How Do You Do It" and "Standard".' The album itself was released on September 11, 2015, via XL Recordings and Terrible.

The album met critical acclaim from mainstream critics and peaked at number five on ''Billboard''s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart upon its release. A majority of publications praised Rodriguez's intensely personal and more direct approach to her songwriting and experimental production, in contrast to the layered opaqueness of her earlier work. In the fall of 2015, Rodriguez promoted the album with tours of the UK with Awful Records artist ABRA and North America with Canadian electronic duo Purity Ring.

The video for the album's fifth single, "Icon", was released on November 16, 2015, via Urban Outfitters' "UO Video Series".

"Woman is a Word", a b-side from the album, was released on March 14, 2016. It was later added to a deluxe version of ''Me'' released as a limited edition cassette during her 2016 UK & European Tour via XL/Terrible.

2017–2019: ''Us''

After the release of ''Me'', Rodriguez moved back to Los Angeles from New York, with the goal of collaborating with musical contemporaries, while also being closer to family and reconnecting with her hometown roots.

Rodriguez released a standalone single, " Go to Hell", on July 12, 2017, via Terrible. It was co-written with former Chairlift vocalist Caroline Polachek. She also featured on two singles for Los Angeles producers, DJDS with the ''Billboard''-charting "Why Don't You Come On" featuring El Paso R&B singer, Khalid; and a cover of Lana Del Rey's '' Lust for Life'' single, "Love". These were released on August 29, 2017, and December 1, 2017, respectively, through Loma Vista Recordings for their third studio album, ''Big Wave More Fire''.

On April 11, 2018, the 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.

On August 20, 2018, Rodriguez's announced her second studio album, '' Us'', which was released on October 19, 2018, via XL/Terrible. The album's second single, "When I'm With Him", was released on August 22, 2018. The song would later be featured on the soundtrack of the video game ''eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020''.

The album's third and fourth singles, "Love For Me" and "I Don't Even Smoke Weed", were released on September 26 and October 18, 2018, respectively, prior to the album's release. She featured on the title track of Khalid's first EP, '' Suncity'', which was also released on October 19, 2018, via RCA Records.

With the release of ''Us'', Rodriguez embarked on an international headlining tour with opening support from Colombian electronic duo Salt Cathedral on the North American leg of the tour, and a string of summer music festivals including Sideways, Primavera Sound and Meow Wolf Vortex Music Festival, throughout 2019. She concluded the year featuring on Australian producer Kito's single, "Wild Girl", released on September 27, 2019, via UMG Recordings, and touring as the support act for Maggie Rogers' Heard It in a Past Life and Lizzo's Cuz I Love You Too U.S. Fall tours.

2020–2021: ''I'm Your Empress Of'' and becoming independent with ''Major Arcana''

On April 12, 2020, Rodriguez released her third studio album, '' I'm Your Empress Of'', via XL Recordings and Terrible. The album was preceded by the single "Give Me Another Chance", released and premiered March 3. 2020 via Zane Lowe's Apple Music ''Beats 1'' radio show. Due to the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, no touring or live performances could be done to promote the album.

During 2020, Rodriguez founded and announced the start of her own record label, Major Arcana, via partnering with US-based artist management company, mtheory. The announcement marked the fulfilment of her contracts with XL Recordings and Terrible Records, thus allowing all future releases to be fully independent under her own brand.

On October 27, 2020, Rodriguez released her first single via Major Arcana, "You've Got To Feel", featuring Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Amber Mark, while subsequently releasing another single, "Broken", for the soundtrack of the Amazon Prime Video series '' The Wilds'' on Nov 20, 2020.

During 2021, Rodriguez was featured on American singer/producer MNDR's single "Love in Reverse", released March 31, 2021, from her second studio album, ''Hell To Be You Baby'', via Watersound Records.

On April 30, 2021, Rodriguez announced partnering with an Ad Council-backed national campaign called "Sound It Out Together". The purpose of the campaign was to highlight youth mental health and create an outlet for adolescents of color, to express their emotions and experiences through music. With assistance from professional songwriters (Rodriguez, KAMAUU, Lauren Jauregui and Tobe Nwigwe respectively), the subjects discussed by the artists and children were turned into fully produced songs and released as a compilation EP for the campaign via Mass Appeal. Rodriguez's involvement included the single "One Breath", a collaboration with a 14-year-old girl named Marianne on their shared experience of both being first-generation Latin Americans and balancing that duality or double consciousness through daily life.

2022–present: ''Save Me'' and ''For Your Consideration''

On April 8, 2022, Rodriguez premiered "Save Me", the first single from her third EP of the same name, which was released on June 24, 2022, via her independent imprint, Major Arcana.

The announcement of the EP, produced by Rodriguez with additional production from frequent collaborator BJ Burton and Johan Lennox, was made through the release of the second single, "Dance for You", on May 25, 2022. On June 7, 2022, Rodriguez was announced as the main support for Carly Rae Jepsen's " So Nice" North American tour, which proceeded during the fall of 2022.

A remix EP of "Dance for You" was released on November 18, 2022, featuring remixes/edits of the single by Blue Hawaii, DJ Kirby, DJ Python, Nick León and Sassy 009.

In 2023, Rodriguez provided tour support as the opening act for Japanese–British singer Rina Sawayama throughout the European leg of her "Hold the Girl" World Tour during February 2023 and the remaining North American leg during the fall of 2023.

During the latter half of that tour, the two would release the collaborative single " Kiss Me" on September 25, 2023, from Rodriguez's then-unannounced fourth studio album, via Major Arcana and Giant Music respectively.

The album's second single, " Femenine", was released on December 1, 2023, with an accompanying music video directed by famed American dancer and choreographer, Ryan Heffington.

On January 23, 2024, Rodriguez announced her fourth studio album, '' For Your Consideration'', which was released on March 22, 2024, via Major Arcana and Giant Music. The album was preceded by third and fourth singles, "What's Love" featuring American indie pop group, MUNA and "Preciosa" released January 24 and March 1. 2024 respectively. Upon its release, ''For Your Consideration'' was received favourably, based on the album receiving an average score of 85 from 6 reviews on aggregator website, Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim", including being awarded as Pitchfork's "Best New Music", who described the album as her "most intricate to date".

Around this time, Rodriguez would also feature on the song, "4evA" (alongside American producer, "Kingdom") by Grenadian-British electronic musical artist, Shygirl off her fourth EP, ''Club Shy'' released February 9, 2024 via Because Music. and provide additional vocals on Austrian producer and musical artist, salute's debut album, ''TRUE MAGIC'' released July 12, 2024 via Ninja Tune on the songs, "one of those nights" and the album's lead single, "system" released February 9, 2024.

To build anticipation for ''For Your Consideration'', Rodriguez embarked on a pair of promotional in-store appearances at record stores, Rough Trade and Amoeba Music in New York and Los Angeles within the week of its release.

Promotion for the album would extend further into a series of smaller nightclub residencies in North America, at Elsewhere in New York City, The Drake Underground in Toronto and El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles during the spring of 2024.

On May 14, 2024, Rodriguez officially announced her headlining world tour with shows in North America, Mexico, UK and Europe, which proceeded throughout Fall 2024.

On July 24, 2024, American record label, Sub Pop announced a tribute album in honor of the late American singer-songwriter Margo Guryan, entitled ''Like Someone I Know: A Celebration Of Margo Guryan''. Set to be released November 8. 2024 (marking the third anniversary since Guryan's passing), the album features re-imagined covers of Guryan's first and only studio album, 1968's '' Take a Picture'' by several contemporary musical artists including Rodriguez, Clairo, Frankie Cosmos, TOPS, and Kate Bollinger. Rodriguez's cover of "Someone I Know" was released alongside the announcement as the album's lead single.

A deluxe version of ''For Your Consideration'' was announced by Rodriguez on September 5, 2024, after teasing a remix of "Femenine" by Brazilian DJ, Maffalda, featuring Brazilian singer/songwriter and model, Urias on social media the week prior. Released incrementally before the start of her 2024 North American tour, the first half of the deluxe (including four remixes by DJ's/producers, Maffalda, Umru, Von Boch and Florentino respectively) arrived September 13, 2024, with Maffalda's remix released the following day of the announcement as a single on September 6, 2024. The remaining half of the deluxe (additionally featuring the b-side, "Loud" and alternative versions of "What's Love" and Baby Boy" from the album) was released October 4, 2024.

On May 8, 2025, Rodriguez was revealed as one of the opening acts for the North American leg of New Zealand musical artist, Lorde on her upcoming Ultrasound World Tour, scheduled for Fall 2025 in support of her fourth studio album, Virgin. Alongside with Rodriguez, the tour's remaining support acts are set to include, Blood Orange, The Japanese House, Nilufer Yanya, Chanel Beads, Jim-E Stack, and Oklou. A few days following the tour announcement, "Tomas", a single by Mexican singer/songwriter, Girl Ultra featuring Rodriguez and produced by Canadian musical duo, Chromeo would be released, May 13, 2025 via Big Dada.

Musical style

Influences

Lorely's first experiences with music were listening to her father's cassette tapes of the Beatles and Pet Shop Boys. She cites Julee Cruise, Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, the Zombies, and the Beach Boys as some of her musical inspirations.

Personal life

Rodriguez is a first-generation Honduran American. She was raised by her mother, Reyna, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Her father, Adán, is one of the original pianists and founding members of the Honduran Latin music ensemble, Banda Blanca.

She is a 2007 YoungArts alumnus. She has a degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Discography

Studio albums

*'' Me'' (2015)
*'' Us'' (2018)
*'' I'm Your Empress Of'' (2020)
*'' For Your Consideration'' (2024)

Extended plays

*''Systems'' (2013)
*''Tristeza'' (2014)
*'' Save Me'' (2022)
*''Dance for You (Remixes)'' (2022)

Mixtapes

*''Colorminutes'' (2013)

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Remixes

References

External links

Official websiteSoundCloud

{{DEFAULTSORT:Of, Empress
1989 births
Living people
American people of Honduran descent
American women pop singers
American women singer-songwriters
Spanish-language singers of the United States
21st-century American women singers
21st-century American singer-songwriters