Empress Of turns wildfire loss into rebirth on new album Dream House
Musician Lorely Rodriguez, known as Empress Of, has released her fifth studio album Dream House, written after her family home was destroyed in the 2025 California wildfires. The record is described as a tender, open-hearted meditation on rebuilding both a house and a sense of self.
Lorely Rodriguez, who performs as Empress Of, has spent the years since the early 2010s establishing herself as a restless and inventive presence in music, moving between raucous pop and softer sounds while exploring her Honduran-American heritage.
Her new fifth studio album, Dream House, was written after her family's home burned down in the 2025 California wildfires. The record centers on rebuilding that home, incorporating birdsong-laced field recordings taken during its reconstruction, while also exploring what it means to feel at home within oneself and in relationships with others.
Despite the painful loss behind it, the album sounds notably airy, free and open-hearted. Where her previous record, For Your Consideration, carried a sharper directness, Dream House settles into a warmer, more hopeful atmosphere, carried by Rodriguez's undulating synth lines and soaring vocals.
Standout tracks
The album's more energetic songs bring particular momentum: SYW, featuring Cecile Believe, reworks EDM elements to convey intense desire, while the equally yearning HandsOn combines glassy chimes with driving percussion. I Pray 4 U carries a playful joy, while Machete addresses a defiant rebirth following a breakup.
The quieter moments are equally compelling. Blue Light features Dev Hynes and explores themes of alienation, while the title track offers a sweeter sound, fulfilling Rodriguez's message that good things are on the way.
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