New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Broken Heart" by Amanda Rose Riley


By Bob Makin

originally published: 05/27/2022


The lyric video for “Broken Heart,” the title track of North Jersey singer-songwriter Amanda Rose Riley’s forthcoming LP, premieres at New Jersey Stage as the Makin Waves Song of the Week. PHOTO BY NICOLE ELIZABETH RILEY 

Prolific North Jersey singer-songwriter Amanda Rose Riley is set to release her fifth studio album in as many years on June 3. 

“Broken Heart,” the title track single, is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. 

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Broken Heart” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on May 27 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you also can tune in any time at The Penguin's archives or at Mixcloud

With five albums, plus a live collection to her credit in the midst of a two-year pandemic, obviously Amanda Rose doesn’t believe in waiting to pursue a dream. She’s the type of artist to record albums in her bedroom when she can’t afford a studio, to follow a strict weekly live streaming schedule for two years running, and to bring a guitar with her on every trip she takes just in case there’s an open mic or other opportunity. 




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



“Broken Heart” is one of seven unapologetically intense songs about unrequited love featured on the forthcoming album.

“This was definitely the track that I was most proud of right off the bat,” Amanda Rose said. “It’s simple in a lot of ways because it doesn’t involve too many different lyrics or chords, but I tried to make it interesting and varied in structure and what limited production I was working with -– just vocals and acoustic guitar.”

Amanda Rose said she writes constantly and has taken on multiple songwriting challenges, such as a song a week for a year or 50 songs in 90 days.

Her forthcoming LP took her in a different musical direction, she said. 

“I write a lot of songs about my relationship with music and following my dreams, because that takes up a lot of my time and emotions,” she said. “‘Broken Heart,’ on the other hand, is a collection of unapologetically intense songs about unrequited love. There are so many relationship and break-up albums out there but not as many about unrequited love. There seems to be a cultural belief that unrequited love isn’t ‘real’ love, and we shouldn’t feel too strongly about it, we don’t need to talk about it, we don’t need to care for people going through it the way we would for someone who’s gone through a break-up. That if you like someone who doesn’t like you back, you should just get over it. That you can’t truly have feelings for someone until you’re in a relationship with them. That’s simply not true. You can have very intense romantic feelings toward someone who doesn’t like you back, particularly if it’s someone you know pretty well. No emotional experiences should be viewed as more valid than others.”

 

Amanda Rose’s hard work and determination have led to such opportunities as performing with The Bouncing Souls at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park and with her favorite artist, Frank Turner, on multiple occasions. 

Coming up, she will perform May 28, Daddy Matty’s, Madison; June 1, Virtual “Broken Heart” album play through and weekly live stream, Facebook & Instagram; June 3, “Broken Heart” virtual listening party;  June 4, Passaic County Book Festival, Weasel Brook Park, Clifton; June 10, The Fine Grind, Little Falls; June 12 and July 24, Wayne Museum, Wayne; June 18, Boonton Farmers Market, Boonton; June 24, Sushi Cafe, West Caldwell; July 8,Seven Tribesmen Brewery, Wayne; July 29, The Fine Grind, Little Falls, and July 30, Great Divide Campground, Newton. 




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



For more info, visit amandaroseriley.com.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at makinwaves64@yahoo.com



New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

EVENT PREVIEWS

City

City Winery NYC presents Sly and the Vine: A Funkadelic Tasting Experience with Vernon Reid of Living Colour

(NEW YORK, NY) -- City Winery NYC presents Sly and the Vine: A Funkadelic Tasting Experience with Vernon Reid of Living Colour on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 7:00pm. Join them for an immersive 8-glass wine tasting perfectly paired with the revolutionary sounds of Sly & The Family Stone—featuring special guest Vernon Reid, legendary guitarist and founder of Living Colour. Get ready for a one-of-a-kind night where rhythm meets the vine.



Shemekia

Shemekia Copeland to Perform Free Concert in Atlantic City

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland will give a free performance as part of Tony Mart's Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk concert series at the Kennedy Plaza in Atlantic City on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. Showtime is 7:00pm.



State

State Theatre New Jersey presents Straight No Chaser - SUMMER: The 90's

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Straight No Chaser – SUMMER: The 90's Part 2 on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 7:30pm. Featuring their twist on 90s classics like Lisa Loeb's "Stay (I Missed You)," "Everybody" by Backstreet Boys, "Linger" from The Cranberries, and Santana's "Maria Maria," Straight No Chaser brings audiences of all ages back to a simpler time, one unafraid of bright neons, loud prints, and cool boy bands.
 



A

A Chat with Jasper Smith of Straight No Chaser Which Brings its "Summer: The '90s Part 2" Tour to STNJ on July 16

Straight No Chaser is bringing its Summer: The '90s Part 2 Tour to State Theatre New Jersey on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The nine-member a cappella group originated in 1996 at Indiana University in Bloomington and has gone on to sell three million albums, earn two gold records, and amass over 1 billion streams on Pandora.



Hoboken's

Hoboken's Sinatra Park to Host Concert by Freedy Johnson and Karyn Kuhl and the Gang

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Local events organizer, Geri Fallo, who retired last year, is inviting you to celebrate with her, as she embraces new and exciting endeavors. Come enjoy a free evening of music in Hoboken's Sinatra Park (525 Sinatra Drive) on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The evening is presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, The Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs, and Geri Fallo. The event is free, and music starts at 6:30pm. Come early for the best seating.



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Indigenous

Indigenous

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - SUMMER: The 90's Part 2

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Bria

Bria Skonberg

Thursday, July 17, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

KC

KC and the Sunshine Band

Thursday, July 17, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

The

The Hit Men: The Ultimate Rock Concert

Thursday, July 17, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music