TT17 Blooms With Emotion on His Latest Track “Red Roses”

Los Angeles-based Pop/Rap artist TT17 is wearing his heart on his sleeve in his brand new single, Red Roses—a passionate and poetic ode to everlasting love that proves vulnerability is still the most powerful weapon in music.

At just 21 years old, TT17—born Travis Thompson—has already built a reputation for blending real-life struggles and emotional depth into every bar and melody. Whether he’s unpacking heartbreak, trauma, or triumph, TT17 has found a loyal fanbase that connects with his honesty. With over 1.5 million total streams and standout tracks like 7 Years and Heartbreak Hotel, he’s not just telling stories—he’s healing people with them.

Red Roses is no exception. This track finds TT17 in a different space: no longer heartbroken but hopeful. The song centers around his unwavering love for a special girl, represented by the repeated, symbolic gesture of bringing her red roses—an emblem of affection, loyalty, and everyday romance. As he passionately delivers, “I don’t ever want to ever go another day when I don’t bring you red roses,” we witness a softer, more sentimental side of the artist—one who’s not afraid to love loudly.

There’s a striking moment of reflection and commitment in the lines, “I wanted this forever, but I never planned it; but I have it, and I love it, and I’m never letting go.” It’s the kind of lyric that feels plucked from a late-night text or a vulnerable journal entry—personal yet universal, just like the best of TT17’s work.

Visually, Red Roses comes with a cinematic music video that fans are already calling a "masterpiece." Filmed in the same hotel room as his fan-favorite Heartbreak Hotel, the setting acts as a callback to his past—a nod to the heartbreak he once sang about, now transformed into a backdrop for love and emotional growth. It’s more than just nostalgia—it’s a full-circle moment that mirrors his personal evolution.

“If you truly love someone, show them. Give them red roses without reason. Show them your love and affection even when times are hard. That separates true love from anything else.”

Red Roses is more than a love song—it’s a reminder that love is in the details, in the effort, and in the everyday actions that speak louder than words. With this release, TT17 proves he’s not just an artist who knows how to express pain—he’s also one who can honor joy, loyalty, and growth.

Whether you’re falling in love or simply want to believe in it again, Red Roses is a track that will leave you pressing replay—and maybe reaching for a bouquet of your own.

"Red Roses" feels like a turning point from heartbreak to healing. How did your emotional or personal growth influence the creation of this track?

Thank you, guys, for having me back for another interview! ‘Red Roses’ was most definitely a turning point from heartbreak to healing. The whole song is a journey of my confusion of what true love is, and finally understanding it after a while. My emotional and personal growth definitely influenced the creation of this whole project, whether that is maturing into who I am today, letting go of things that aren’t a big deal in the end, or realizing what is truly important to me in life, I feel as if I learned these throughout the journey of ‘Red Roses.’ I initially recorded the track in December of 2023 but kept pushing it off to release because I wanted to wait until I was ready to show the world my emotional vulnerability through the song.

You chose to film the music video in the same hotel room as "Heartbreak Hotel." What does that setting represent to you now, and how did it feel returning there with a different mindset?

It’s actually an insane story behind the filming location of this video. Originally, I had it set to be at the Santa Monica Pier and an Air BNB in El Segundo, CA, but it was going to end up being over my budget. So, the director (Daniel Zaragoza) and I came up with the plan to shoot the video outside of the ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ and recreate some of the iconic scenes from the music video, such as me walking into the hotel and in the hallway, the grass scene, and the pool scene. I thought to myself, “It would be insanely nostalgic for everyone if we shot the video in a hotel room.” So, I booked one for the next day (1/5/2025) and scrambled to get my whole team ready to shoot on such short notice. The next day, my girlfriend/main actress (Anika Ball) and I arrived and checked in to the hotel. The front desk lady gave us a certain room number, and I asked if, by chance, we could get room 408, the actual room that we shot ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ in. Luckily, it was available, and we got it. I can’t even describe the feeling I got being back in that room. A heartbroken kid at 19 with no recognition of his name turned into a 21-year-old man walking with his girlfriend and millions of streams to his name.

You've mentioned the importance of showing love through actions, like giving red roses without reason. Where did that philosophy come from, and how has it shaped your relationships?

I’m a big believer in showing your love through actions, such as bringing your significant other flowers or anything you know they like. It’s a sign of respect and love for your partner. I consider this my first true relationship, and I am still learning how to love and how to be the best man I can be to her, but a big thing for me is showing it through gifts and symbols (and fully directed music videos!)

Your music has always connected deeply with listeners who've faced adversity. What message do you hope fans struggling with love or vulnerability take from this new chapter in your sound?

I truly hope that any of my supporters can always feel comfortable enough to reach out to me if they struggle with adversity because I truly do feel like a lot of people watching me firsthand struggle a lot and find true happiness within themselves. Anyone can do it. When it comes to love, let it come to you. Don’t force it; otherwise, it won’t be true love. God has a plan for everyone, and everything will work out just how it’s supposed to!

With seven albums and millions of streams under your belt, how do you continue to challenge yourself creatively while staying true to the raw honesty your fans love you for?

It’s crazy to me that when we worked on our first interview, I barely had 100,000 streams to my name. Now, I have over 1,500,000. I try not to get too caught up in the numbers, but sometimes, it is very cool to look back on how far I’ve come. I continue to challenge myself creatively by always wanting to do better than my last song/project. That was my goal with ‘Red Roses’. I wanted to one-up ‘Heartbreak Hotel.' I’m not too sure if I did, as I love both projects so much. I’ll leave that decision up to everyone who watched both. As for staying true to myself and always keeping raw honesty, I will never change. I will never change the people who made this life and the credentials that I have possible. I love each and every person who has been a part of this journey, and I will never stop working towards more.