ROREY Yearns to Heal and Surrender to the Process in New Single, ‘Soho Grand’

nov 8, 2024

24-year-old bedroom pop artist ROREY was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2021, and she's been on a journey of healing and self-discovery ever since.

During that period, she wrote six of the eight songs set to appear on her upcoming EP, Dysphoria, working through her mental health journey via the cathartic process of making music. One of those songs was "Soho Grand," a song exploring the question of whether things would get better. It's a vulnerable reflection on the nonlinear nature of healing and learning that it does, indeed, get better. We were entranced from the first listen and had the pleasure of chatting with ROREY about the song and capturing her experiences in the interview below.

The Story Behind 'Soho Grand'

ROREY: I had written on notepad "tell me does it get better" while staying at the Soho Grand in March 2021. When I got back to L.A., I texted my producer and was like, "I need to write this song idea I have." I really wanted to know if it would get better, and so into the song went my inner monologue.

What 'Soho Grand' Means

ROREY: Healing isn't linear; for me, it took years of commitment and surrender. To anyone who listens looking for relief, I'd encourage you to lean into the uncertainty. Trust the process—it's worth it.

Also read about: Levent Geiger Yearns to Hear Those 3 Little Words With New Single, 'Love Me'

ROREY's Favorite Lyric

ROREY: "All my doors are open."

I think "all my doors are open" can be interpreted many different ways. It was a moment of surrender. Like okay, I want to get better, but how? For me, I had all of this life ahead of me and had no idea which path to take. Nothing was clear to me, but I knew I had to choose somewhere to start. It was overwhelming to know and accept that.

ROREY leaning on amp for Soho Grand by Matt Weiberger

(Photo credit: Matt Weiberger)

On 'Soho Grand' and Her Dysphoria EP

ROREY: The whole EP intimately tells my story navigating the throes of a manic episode. I was in such a dark miserable palace, and "Soho Grand" was the first song that captured my desire to get better, even though I didn't know how or where to start the desire was there for the first time in six months.

Also read about: AVATARI Embraces His Own Mortality in Powerful New Track 'My Skin'

What's Next

ROREY: Honestly, investing in my individuality, and who I want to show up in the world as. So much of my music tends to be about my interpersonal relationships, like most artists, and this EP is solely about my experience of the world around me. It's an intimate exploration of my psyche. Now that I'm not in a relationship or dealing with relational drama or attached to someone in a romantic context, I can't wait to write about myself again.