Life sometimes makes us swear to ourselves that we’d never do something again. For some, it’s a rollercoaster that they had a particularly bad experience on. For others, it’s a class they took. We make a promise to not put ourselves through that pain again, but in ROSIE and Caleb Hearn’s collaborative single “Break A Promise”, they’re all about breaking that solemn swear for the sake of a second chance. Decorated in soft guitar strings and melodic, twinning vocals, this duet acknowledges the unexpected nature of relationships, and how we break every rule we made since the last breakup so that this one might succeed. It’s that previous heartbreak that holds us back, but also spurs us to chase it– because even though it might have failed once, this new person might be worth all of it.
The soundscape in “Break A Promise” will bring up memories for anyone who’s tried to convince themselves to overcome their self-made relationship rules. It’s warm, soft, and inviting; beginning with a guitar and some whistling, which set the stage for ROSIE’s incoming vocals, the track knows the exact atmosphere it’s honing in on. It is reminiscent of late nights and intimacy, and for many listeners it will speak directly to their own experiences with this exact situation. I love how ROSIE and Hearn’s vocals mingle together. They each get their own verse and chorus, attempting to convince themselves that they need to break their promise to themselves, but the song’s end brings their duet into full fruition. There’s something magical happening between their voices, and it’s easy to imagine a pair of almost-lovers admitting to themselves that their self-honesty is going to be worth it. Combine that with the songwriting, “Break A Promise” really makes its zenith feel big and towering, this thing that is larger than the song’s lovers. ROSIE and Hearn sing, “If I’m honest for you / I’d break a promise”, and I feel like that one line captures the exact message that the song is conveying, which is: I’ve been through this before, but you’re worth it. “Break A Promise” is romantic yet tentative, like learning how to love someone again and hoping that it'll be worth it in the end.
New York native and singer-songwriter, ROSIE is an artist whose works are a musical study into heartbreak, love, and authenticity. It was her breakout single “Never the 1” that first garnered her the attention of Arista Records who quickly signed with her. She’s captured the attention of various celebrities like FINNEAS, Olivia Rodrigo, Charlie Puth, Olivia O’Brien, and Celine Dion– the last of which ROSIE co-wrote “Love Again” with her for a SONY film. Since her debut single in 2018 “Crash and Burn”, ROSIE has gone on to release a variety of successful singles, a 2021 debut album entitled “20mg of Happiness”, and a 2023 debut EP entitled “5 Songs for Healing”. “Break A Promise” is the sixth track on her second EP “What Scares Me The Most” and is her reunion collaboration with Caleb Hearn. Caleb Hearn is a Nashville-based and North Carolina-born singer-songwriter whose musical journey began in 2019 with his debut single “Air”. His debut album, “Left on McKinney”, released in 2024 and confronts vulnerability, addressing personal struggles while combining them with folk-pop sounds. “Break A Promise” is Hearn and ROSIE’s most recent release together, so those of you who enjoyed their duet should definitely check out their last collaboration “Little Bit Better” as well as both of their discographies!
Written By Alexa Leung
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