ARTIST BIO 

 

 

What if the greatest gift we could give is right here, right now?

For Chicago’s Blue Rose, this isn’t just an idea; it’s a way of life. Rooted in the belief that we shine brightest when we’re our most authentic, their music celebrates the here and now, highlighting the beauty and power of living each moment with intentionality and presence. Describing themselves as “new country with an old soul,” the midwestern band led by Jori Griffith and Marcus Gebauer invite their audience to embrace life as it unfolds, unfiltered and unscripted – a theme that resonates throughout their debut album, Blue Moon.

Slated to release May 30, 2025, and produced by Noam Wallenberg at Chicago's own Rax Trax Recording, Blue Moon is as much a record about seeing our own ‘bigger picture’ as it is a reflection of Blue Rose’s story. While both Jori and Marcus have been lifelong musicians, neither pursued it as their primary career; she was a mindfulness entrepreneur, and he was in finance for nearly two decades. Meeting completely by chance at a party in 2022, Jori and Marcus connected over a shared love of music. A week later, Marcus had joined Jori’s band, and a month later, they were writing original songs together. Blue Rose is now their full-time pursuit – a reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams and discover what you’re meant to do on this planet.

“The last two years have been a miracle,” Jori says. “From the serendipity of our meeting to writing and recording a full length record, we’ve done so much and grown so much - I’m awestruck.”

“Years of music and creativity had been pent up inside us, and Blue Moon is just the beginning,” Marcus adds.
Serendipity and connection are the hallmarks of Blue Rose’s very existence.

Their inspirations range from ‘60s and ‘70s classics like The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and The Eagles, to more contemporary bands like Phish, Mt. Joy, Kacey Musgraves, and Lainey Wilson, but it’s how Blue Rose infuses these influences that makes their music so special. Together with their bandmates Marty Smith, Eric Matteson, and Nicholas Zean, Jori and Marcus have cultivated a ‘Blue Rose’ sound that feels both familiar and forward-looking.

Their debut album – down to its very name – captures these core aspects of the group’s identity.

“A blue moon is this rare, beautiful, kind of magical astrological thing.” the duo explains. “About midway through writing our album, there was this blue supermoon that we all got the chance to admire - this was after we had already written our song Blue Moon. We took it as a sign, put there right in front of us – given that one of our mantras is ‘it’s there if you just look for it.’ From then on, we knew that our album would be called Blue Moon, after its title track, and that every song within the album in one way or another, fit beneath this umbrella of ‘rare and beautiful.”

Blue Rose’s songs themselves radiate joy and honesty, evoking the warmth and wonder of human connection and reflection. The band invites us all to slow down and enjoy the moment on “Slow,” a captivating tune that basks in the juxtaposition of thematic stillness and upbeat musicality. “What we gotta do tomorrow, it don’t make no difference,” Jori sings, encapsulating the value of enjoying life in the moment and soaking up summer’s softness. “This song represents many of the themes woven throughout the album,” Jori says. “It’s about going slow enough to notice the magic around us. I remember sitting in my backyard, watching the sunset, listening as the night set in. There was a bonfire. We both appreciate life’s little moments, nature, a slower pace, seasons. We share memories of the simplicity of putting on the radio, looking forward to hearing songs we love. This song was inspired by our separate but similar shared experiences in our youth and as adults, how we see and enjoy the world.”

Further highlights include the exhilarating, uplifting blues rocker “Let Me Love You,” the dreamy love song “Let's See a Band,” and the achingly intimate “Life Is Short,” a comforting song about seeing the ordinary days as the ones to live for.

“Just Like Sheryl,” one of the album’s standouts, sees Jori admiring and embodying the female artists she’s admired since she was a kid. “I wrote this song to and for my young self, my own two young daughters, and myself as a grown adult,” she shares. “It's an ode to the strong women I grew up listening to and expresses the message of speaking your mind and dreaming big – no matter what age or stage in life you find yourself in.”

“If I Had A Rose,” written by Adam Wright, recorded by Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison, was one of the first songs Blue Rose covered as a band. Their version is another definitive high point. “We loved the song, and its nod to our namesake, but thought it could use a chorus,” Jori says. “We wrote our own, as well as an instrumental section, to tie the whole song together. We’re honored to be able to share our own interpretation of this song with the blessing of Adam Wright.”

A little bit country and a little bit rock n’ roll, Blue Rose are as inspiring as they are enchanting – both on record and on stage. The band’s live shows have an especially unpredictable edge; it’s where their musical influences from the jam band scene and the classic rock world collide, spotlighting the extent of their shared musical talent. Listeners are sure to come away from their concerts feeling they’ve gone on a journey with the band and in themselves. 

 

That’s the promise of Blue Rose, a band indelibly connected to themselves and to the present, their songs rooted in life, in love, and in relishing our shared humanity.

“I want people to feel like they're home when they hear our record,” Jori smiles. “I want them to hear the meaning (encouragement, longing, love, loss, joy) in each of the songs. We're all connected, and we can honor that connectedness, that shared human experience through the stories we tell each other, pass down from generation to generation, and write about and share in the form of music – our music.”

She continues, “This record is the journey to peace, love, and fulfillment in life through our collective decades of living, losing, loving, and growing into who we want to be and how we want to show up in this world for the brief time we're here. I want people to hear the sincerity and relatable human experience within our songs.”

Just as Jori and Marcus’ chance encounter led to the adventure of a lifetime, Blue Moon is filled with life’s endless possibilities and potential. It’s the product of passion, connection, and dreams come true, and it’s an invitation to live freely in the moment.

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Written by Mitch Mosk