Singer-songwriter Rosa Linn found her way onto the TV screens of millions around Europe in May, when she found herself in the final of The Eurovision Song Contest with the now runaway hit, “SNAP”. The instantly endearing folk-pop anthem’s journey to international ears didn’t end with this year’s contest, however, rather on the contrary, in August she signed a record deal with major US label Columbia.

Despite having only shared two singles so far, Linn has accumulated a phenomenal 24 million monthly Spotify listeners, making her the 124th most popular act in the world on the streaming service. Rarely does a track has such long-lasting momentum, however, with 100 million Spotify streams on “SNAP” to date, the end of its run of success would appear to be far from sight.

“I wrote “SNAP” at 4 am, at home in Vanadzor, in my bedroom,” she says of the track. “I was on an emotional rollercoaster. I was heartbroken, scared, and confused. I wasn’t doing well mentally. I was quite literally at a snapping point. And that’s how the concept of the song came to me. I just tried to get myself out of that mental and emotional state while writing the song. It was very therapeutic.”

Amidst a rollercoaster day for Linn, we caught up about all things “SNAP”, why she’d love to win an Oscar, and the global stardom her sights are set on…

Hi Rosa! How is your day today? Where are we speaking to you from right now?
Hey, hey! My day today was a huge mixed bag; thanks for asking. I got a DM from Kygo this morning saying he loved “SNAP” and my voice, and on the same day, I was able to be in the studio with him to jam. How is that possible? I’m currently in Los Angeles working on my upcoming album and doing promo and press for “SNAP”, but all the while I’m getting bad news from back home in Armenia. I’m deeply worried about the attacks on my country and all of my loved ones at home.

Apart from this interview, what else do you hope to tick off your to-do list before the day is up?
Oof, honestly, especially after a songwriting session, where the creative and energy output is so much, I’ll just be craving some alone time so I can mentally, emotionally, and physically recharge.

Massive congratulations on “SNAP”! Can you tell us about the message behind the track?
Thank you! I wrote “SNAP” at 4 am, at home in Vanadzor, in my bedroom. I was on an emotional rollercoaster. I was heartbroken, scared, and confused. I wasn’t doing well mentally. I was quite literally at a snapping point. And that’s how the concept of the song came to me. I just tried to get myself out of that mental and emotional state while writing the song. It was very therapeutic.

The track’s already taken you on an amazing journey to the Eurovision contest final in Turin! When you wrote it, did you ever imagine where it would lead?
I come from a small town called Vanadzor in Armenia. I didn’t have any resources, connections or money when I started making music. The life that I have and am living now was unimaginable. I never thought that “SNAP” would get me to where I am, in such a short amount of time. But I am a big dreamer and a good manifester. I always knew that one day the universe would reward all the hard work and dedication I put into my music.

Now as you prepare to release it as a single, where do you hope it will go next?
Where do I hope “SNAP” will go next? I hope that it continues to break barriers, baby! It just passed 100 million streams on Spotify and it would be incredible to go over 300 million. It’s continuing to climb the charts in the US, Germany and UK — breaking the top 10 in those markets would be a dream come true.

You’ve recently signed with Columbia Records, a US label, which is somewhat unchartered territory for Armenian artists. How do you feel to be flying the flag abroad?
I have and always will be a patriot. I hope to be a good ambassador and a good role model and inspire other young creators in Armenia. Although it is a lot of pressure to be one of the few Armenian artists known globally. I’m just honestly going to do my best, every day. I’m going to create great art; talk about meaningful and important topics; use my platform for good, and give back as much as I possibly can.

Now you do have the backing of a company like Columbia, has it influenced your creative process at all?
Resources and people believing in you are never a bad thing! Before “SNAP” was a hit, I used to write alone in my bedroom or over Zoom. Every day felt like Groundhog’s Day. Now, as you can imagine, things are completely different. I get to be in the studio with the best producers and songwriters that push me to new levels of creativity and productivity. That then, in turn, pushes me to work harder to match their abilities.

What would be your ultimate dream to achieve with your work?
I have always dreamt of winning a Grammy one day. But more than that, I want to win an Oscar for “Best Original Song.” Movie soundtracks are my absolute favourite and they hugely influence the writing process of my pop songs.

What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?
I know this may be cheesy, but it’s the truth–I’m trying to live every day one day at a time. I’m trying my best to be super present, to make sure that I appreciate and take in everything that is happening around me because it is all so mind-blowing. Rumour has it that I’ll be playing some Jingle Balls this year, it would be insane to sing at Maddison Square Garden in December. Fingers crossed for that.