Los Angeles-based producer and songwriter Rob Tirea has never been one to shy away from emotional complexity, but his latest single ‘She Wants A Nobody’ finds him at his most vulnerable and cutting yet. The third offering from his forthcoming ‘Universal Jest’ EP explores the bitter aftermath of a relationship with someone he describes as “stunningly beautiful” but “viciously sarcastic”—channeling raw heartbreak into a hypnotic blend of alternative dance and indie pop that somehow makes dancing through pain feel like poetry.
As Tirea continues building toward his July EP release, complete with an innovative live performance video featuring string arrangements, he’s proving that electronic music’s future lies not in spectacle alone, but in the courage to bare one’s emotional scars with style. We caught up with Rob to discuss transforming personal devastation into dancefloor catharsis, the intentional narrative arc of his EP rollout, and why LA’s contradictory energy continues to shape his approach to making music that’s both beautiful and absurd.
WWD: ‘She Wants A Nobody’ is your most personal track yet from the ‘Universal Jest’ EP. Can you walk us through the headspace you were in when writing this? What was the catalyst that transformed this raw emotion into a dancefloor-ready track?
I was dating this girl from San Diego who was stunningly beautiful but also viciously sarcastic, which is my ideal person to date. She ended up not wanting to continue dating, so naturally my heartbreak led me to writing this bitter anthem because I had figured she probably met someone else.
WWD: The track balances bitter lyricism with hypnotic melodies—there’s something almost cathartic about dancing through heartbreak. How do you approach crafting that sonic contradiction where the pain becomes the groove?
I suppose there’s something oddly romantic about letting your sadness strut across the dancefloor. I tend to write from that space where pain doesn’t shout—it smirks. The idea is to wrap those jagged feelings in a rhythm that seduces you. That way, you’re not just feeling sorry for yourself—you’re moving through it. It’s grief in a leather jacket.
WWD: You’ve described the subject as “stunningly beautiful” yet “viciously sarcastic.” How did those specific personality traits influence the production choices and arrangement on this track?
She was beautiful chaos with great cheekbones, and I wanted the track to sound like that. So there’s this push and pull—the pads luring you in, and then these sharp, almost smug basslines that snap you back to reality. It’s a bit like being kissed and insulted at the same time. Keeps you guessing, keeps it interesting.
WWD: This is the third single building toward your ‘Universal Jest’ EP, and there’s a clear emotional progression from ‘Give Me Love Give Me Light’ to ‘There You Are’ to now ‘She Wants A Nobody.’ How intentional was this narrative arc in your rollout strategy?
Oh, it was calculated madness. Each song peels back another layer of optimism until you’re left blinking in the absurd glow of it all. It’s like starting with a sunrise and ending with a neon sign flickering ‘closed’ over your heart. I wanted the rollout to feel like a slow unraveling because that’s what the EP is, really—a beautiful mess in chapters.
WWD: Your sound sits in this interesting space between alternative dance and indie pop that feels very LA-specific. How has the city’s creative energy shaped your approach to blending electronic production with more organic, emotional songwriting?
LA’s got this strange gravity—it pulls dreamers and cynics into the same orbit. You’ve got sun-drenched optimism rubbing elbows with existential dread, and somehow that becomes your palette. So I lean into that contradiction of warm synths with cold truths, acoustic textures ghosting under synthetic gloss. The city’s a mirage, and that illusion bleeds into everything I make.
WWD: We’re seeing electronic artists increasingly embrace vulnerability and personal storytelling. What do you think is driving this shift in the scene?
People are tired of pretending. We’ve spent years dancing to songs that say nothing, and I think now we want the rhythm to mean something. Vulnerability cuts through the noise, and it sticks. There’s strength in saying, “This hurt me, and here’s a beat to cry-dance to.” It’s less about spectacle and more about showing your scars with style.
WWD: The ‘Universal Jest’ concept revolves around life being “beautiful and absurd.” How does ‘She Wants A Nobody’ specifically embody that philosophy? What’s the “jest” in this particular story?
‘She Wants A Nobody’ is the joke you only get after the punchline lands. It’s about falling for someone who’s already decided you’re just the intermission. There’s something tragically comic in thinking you’re the leading role when you’re barely in the credits. That’s the jest—it’s love as theatre, and you’re the extra who thought he was the star.
WWD: With the full EP dropping in July and your live performance video featuring string arrangements, you’re clearly pushing beyond traditional electronic music presentation. What’s next for Rob Tirea? Are we going to see you translating this more cinematic approach to actual live shows?
Absolutely. The goal has always been to build something immersive, both sonically and visually. I’m working on a live set that incorporates visual storytelling and more organic instrumentation. I want it to feel like you’re stepping into the emotional world of the EP, not just hearing it. ‘Universal Jest’ is the beginning of that evolution.
‘She Wants A Nobody’ is available here