Baby Rose makes healing music for the aimless and heartbroken. The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and producer's uniquely rich voice naturally lends itself to her powerful, smoke-lled ballads lamenting lost loves and broken futures. "I make music to help myself get through things,"  she says. The piercing honesty and vulnerability she brings to her lyrics in turn helps others process their feelings and a place of healing. For Rose, it’s a journey that’s still ongoing. "If I'm going to leave anything behind, it's going to be getting people back to themselves," she says. "As I get back to myself, it’s a constant reset: Remember who you are, remember who you want to be."

Growing up in Washington DC, the artist born Jasmine Rose Wilson realized the power of her voice by reading aloud original poems at family gatherings. Despite being bullied for her lower vocal register throughout her childhood and teen years, she ultimately found comfort in songwriting and singing while playing her piano, inspired by the likes of Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and Janis Joplin -strong women who also possessed unique voices.

Charity Ward knew from a young age that she was meant to touch people’s lives through music. The 30-year-old singer-songwriter — who’s known simply as Charity and delivers a fusion of R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop — has performed ever since she was a little girl.

She grew up on Detroit’s west side, singing in the choir of her ordained father’s church and with his nursing home ministry with her three older sisters. After learning to play guitar at age 13, Charity began covering songs by Stevie Wonder and India Arie, and would soon turn her own poetry into songs about navigating puberty, relationships, and morality. Her first album, Tender Headed, debuted last February. The 14-track collection culminates years of life lessons and a journey to self, exploring themes of culture, religion, marriage, and independence. Here, she shares her favorite fellow musicians, what goes into her own look and home, and an important message on Black hair that she communicates through her own fiery curls.