Empress Of Processes Wildfire Loss and Reclaims Identity on 'Dream House'

Lorely Rodriguez, who records as Empress Of, lost her family’s Altadena home during the 2025 Eaton fires. She turned to songwriting to work through the grief, and the material grew into her fifth album, Dream House. The record features production and vocals from Cecile Believe and a collaboration with Dev Hynes, plus recordings of her mother’s voice.

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Lorely Rodriguez records as Empress Of. During the 2025 Eaton fires, her Altadena family home was destroyed after her mother and brothers evacuated. Her brothers confirmed the loss by photograph. Rodriguez initially expected only a small release, but the songs became Dream House, her fifth album. Cecile Believe produced much of it and appears on “SYW”; Dev Hynes joins “Blue Light,” a standout. Her mother’s voice, taken from interviews and conversations, threads through the record as the family’s new home is constructed.

The title track grew from Rodriguez thinking about her mother and a trip-hop, dreamlike sound inspired by Saint Etienne. After writing many sad songs, she wanted to capture hope and warmth. The cover shows her entering her family’s completed house, a visual counterpart to her mother building her own dream home while Rodriguez built the album. (Maybe total words? Let's count. First para: Lorely(1) Rodriguez2 records3 as4 Empress5 Of6. During7 the8 2025 9 Eaton10 fires11, her12 Altadena13 family14 home15 was16 destroyed17 after18 her19 mother20 and21 brothers22 evacuated23. Her24 brothers25 confirmed26 the27 loss28 by29 photograph30. Rodriguez31 initially32 expected33 only34 a35 small36 release37, but38 the39 songs40 became41 Dream42 House43, her44 fifth45 album46. Cecile47 Believe48 produced49 much50 of51 it52 and53 appears54 on55 “SYW”56; Dev57 Hynes58 joins59 “Blue60 Light,”61 a62 standout63. Her64 mother’s65 voice66, taken67 from68 interviews69 an