Empress Of Biography
Biography
Lorely Rodriguez, professionally known as Empress Of, is a Honduran-American singer, songwriter, and record producer based in Los Angeles, California. Since 2015 to date, Empress Of has released three studio albums.
Early Start
Empress Of was born Lorely Rodriguez on October 19, 1989, in Los Angeles, California. She started her musical journey in 2011 after graduating from Boston’s Berklee College of Music, where she obtained a degree in Sound Engineering. She moved to New York City and quickly broke into the local music scene. With Sam Owens, she began performing in a Brooklyn-based band called Celestial Shore. She later left the group to focus on making her own music.
It wasn’t long before Rodriguez gained attention in 2012. She anonymously released a series of one-minute-long demos via YouTube. Her 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.”
Music Career
Rodriguez released her debut bilingual four-track EP named “Systems” on April 2nd, 2013. The EP was released via Double Denim and Terrible Records in the UK and North America, respectively. She also began touring with popular artists and performing at music events. She supported Kimbra, Florence and The Machine, and more.
Her debut full-length album “Me” was released in September 2015. The album’s lead single, “Water Water,” was first released in April. It was followed by the Spanish version “Agua Agua” “so that [her] mother listens [to her] music.” She self-produced and recorded “Me” in Mexico. The album was released via XL Recordings and Terrible. The album was critically acclaimed. In 2018, Empress Of released her second studio album, “Us,” and then in 2020, she released the third one, “I’m Your Empress Of.” In 2022, she released a new EP, “Same Me,” and supported Carly Rae Jepson on the “So Nice” North American tour.
