Autumn Rowe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | AFTR PRTY |
| Born | (1981-05-25)May 25, 1981 (age 44) New York City, U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Steller Songs, Stargate Productions, EMI UK, Star Roc/Roc Nation/Sony, Ultra Records, Sony ATV |
| Website | www |
Autumn Rowe (born May 25, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter, TV personality, DJ, and activist from New York, NY. In 2010, she helped write the song "Happiness" byAlexis Jordan, with producersStargate andDeadmau5, whichFIFA named the official song of the2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.[1] In 2015, Rowe signed an artist deal with Ultra Records,[2] and in 2018, she began performing publicly as the DJ, dubbed AFTR PRTY.[3] In early 2020, she wrote and performed vocals on thedrum and bass song "Good To Me", by British DJFriction.[4] In 2020, Rowe began to use her platform for activism and co-wrote the song "We Are" withJon Batiste, which was used on the "Mask Up America" campaign.[3]
Rowe was born at theBeth Israel Hospital inManhattan, New York (Lower East Side) to an interracial couple. She is of mixed African-American and Eastern European Jewish heritage.[5]
Rowe grew up onProspect Avenue inMott Haven.[6] She was enrolled in the gifted and talented program atJunior High School 149.[6] While a student, Rowe performed in four different choirs, performing on stage atRadio City Music Hall after school, called "British Rock Symphony".[2] As Rowe states, "the singing definitely came before the songwriting. I didn't know I could write songs at first. I was always into writing poems and short stories, but it took me a while to figure out I could write songs."[2]
At age 16, Rowe had an internship atIsland Records. She decided she preferred creating music over working with labels.[6]
Rowe's first co-writing credit came when she signed a development deal with producerSwizz Beatz who played one of her original songs to British soul artistEstelle. Estelle decided to rewrite parts of the song for her own project, keeping Rowe's hooks and writing new verses around it. This was Rowe's first experience of co-writing with an artist.[7]
In 2009, Rowe signed with B-Room/Water Music Publishing, which led her to a joint publishing deal with Steller Songs/Stargate Productions/EMI UK.[8] In 2010, Rowe wrote the song "Rockstar" for NL pop singerEva Simons, which Rowe cites as being the beginning for her when it came to writing for a major label artist.[7] She was a writer for "Happiness" byAlexis Jordan, the song later becoming theFIFA Women's World Cup theme in 2011.[1] During an interview, Rowe stated, "Alexis Jordan's 'Happiness' is really significant, because it was my first hit and gave me my break in the industry."[2] Rowe also helped write Jordan's second and third singles from her debut album, namely, "Good Girl", and "Hush Hush".
In 2011, Rowe co-wrote the pop single "Hello" with duoKarmin,Stargate andClaude Kelly. Rowe also collaborated with British artistCher Lloyd on the multi-platinum single "Swagger Jagger". In the same year, Rowe metThe X Factor winnerAlexandra Burke and began working on her album. Rowe also began writing withLeona Lewis and worked with her on her 2011 single "Collide" withAvicii, which peaked at number 4 on theUK Singles Chart. Rowe also was a writer for her 2013 single "Your Hallelujah".[9] In 2013, Rowe was a writer for the track "Don't Wanna Dance Alone" from theFifth Harmony debut EP,Better Together.
Over the next few years, Rowe collaborated with many artists, includingThe Knocks,Alex Newell,Lindsey Stirling,RuthAnne,Dua Lipa,Pitbull,The Saturdays,Pink,Kacy Hill andLindsey Stirling. In 2014, Rowe wrote "Sexy Love" withCutfather andWayne Hector in a writing camp inCopenhagen. The song was later recorded byKylie Minogue and featured on her album,Kiss Me Once.[4] In the same year, Rowe co-wrote "Superbad" withJesse McCartney for his album,In Technicolor. Continuing her collaborations withAmerica's Got Talent contestantGrace Vaderwaal, Rowe co-wrote her singles: "Gossip Girl", "Light the Sky", and "Clay". In 2017, Rowe collaborated withLeona Lewis on thePitbull single, "Only Ones To Know".[9]
Rowe was a writer for the song "Love's Just a Feeling" from Lindsey Stirling's albumBrave Enough.[10] She wrote and performed on "Give A Little" by American pop band The Hot Damns. Rowe was also a writer for "Salt" byAva Max, from Max's debut albumHeaven & Hell.[11]
In 2020, Rowe revealed she had been collaborating with longtime friend,Jon Batiste, on his single "We Are". It was used for the official ''Mask Up America'' campaign.[4] Rowe cites the song as being "very special" to her. In November 2020, Rowe collaborated with producer Future Cut on the song "Why Don't You Love Me" which had been recorded byDua Lipa andFKA Twigs and was teased on Lipa's live stream entitled "Studio 2054".[citation needed]
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In 2003, Rowe formed a band called "Rowe Band", with herself as the lead singer.[citation needed] In 2005, the band worked with Swizz Beats, who mentored her, which led to a collaboration in 2007 with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony where Rowe sang on "Candy Paint" produced by Swizz Beatz.[citation needed]
In 2006, Rowe released the EP Sunshine, whose title song was later used in the soundtrack for the 2011 indie filmMy Last Day Without You.[citation needed] In 2012, Rowe performed with French rapperDisiz on the song Best Day, which was released viaDef Jam Records in France.[citation needed]
In 2015, Rowe signed an artist deal withUltra Records,[2] releasing her debut single, "If I Don't Have You". The song charted at 10 on the Deep House EDM Chart.[12] In 2018, Rowe began performing publicly as the DJ AFTR PRTY.[3]
In 2012. Rowe became vocal coach on Fox'sThe X Factor USA, where she coached and wrote for acts such as Fifth Harmony,Beatrice Miller andCarly Rose Sonenclar. From 2013 to 2017, Rowe was a vocal coach forNBC'sAmerica's Got Talent. In seasons8-12, she was the only vocal coach on the show. During these seasons, she worked with winnersDarci Lynne andGrace VanderWaal.[3]
Stepping away from vocal coaching on televised talent shows, Rowe was invited to judge on various songwriting competitions, including theMusic Is the Universal Cure Song competition and theASCAP Peggy Lee Songwriter Competition.[13]
As a coach and advocate for artists and songwriters, Rowe took the position of co-director for the Coronavirus Songwriter Emergency Relief Fund in 2020, offering grants to support songwriters through the pandemic.[14]
As a half-Black/Jewish songwriter, Rowe later began to use her social platform for activism, with a primary focus on the fight against racism and antisemitism, tellingBBC Newsbeat in June 2020; "The fact is I am a black person, I can also be a Jewish person, I can also be a woman and a vegan, but no matter what, you can't take away from me that I'm a black person and you cannot take away my experience." In the same article, Rowe calls upon her fellow industry colleagues to play their role in the fight against all kinds of racism, stating; "as artists and writers, we have a way to communicate to the entire world – we have the platform of music – it's a universal language." Around the same time, Rowe joined songwriterJocelyn Alice to create a webshow called The Conversation, a show which discusses the personal experiences of racism within friendships and also the music industry.[15]
Rowe grew up listening to DJs through her bedroom window in the southside of Bronx. "There was always music around me," Rowe expressed. Her prized possession was her mother's music collection, which she would listen to daily.[6]
Rowe has citedStevie Wonder,Michael Jackson,Mariah Carey,Massive Attack,Everything but the Girl,Kanye West,Hozier,Muse andTLC as her inspirations.[2][6] She described her musical taste as being diverse.[6] Rowe stated that she enjoys "emotive lyrics and music that makes you feel something whether it's in the club or in your heart."[2]
Rowe married Even Stenvold Tysse in Norway, Europe in 2019 and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.[4] Outside of music, Rowe is a fan of animals, cooking andvintage clothes. Rowe says, "I have to go to the zoo in every country I'm in, I enjoy cooking and finding vintage clothing gems in random shops. I would really love to meet a sloth if that matters at all."[2]
All credits adapted fromDiscogs.com.[16] andSpotify
