Blur’s guitarist Graham Coxon and former Pipettes singer Rose Elinor Dougall have formed not only an electrifying musical partnership but a deep personal relationship. But how did they meet? Who is Rose Dougall? From their initial meeting to the formation of their band, The WAEVE, and welcoming their daughter, Coxon and Dougall’s journey is as much about love and family as it is about music.
Here’s a look at their love story & relationship timeline.
2004: Graham attends a gig by The Pipettes
The pair met for the first time at a gig in 2004 by The Pipettes which Graham Coxon decided to attend. Graham Coxon reportedly "needed a night out" and the pair had a brief chat at the bar after the show. The pair lost contact and did not meet each other afterwards for a long time.
December 2020: A Fateful Meeting
Graham Coxon and Rose Dougall reconnected at a charity gig in London’s Jazz Café organised by their friend in late 2020, and this casual meeting quickly turned into a creative spark. Dougall, known for her work with The Pipettes and as a solo artist, suggested they try writing music together casually.
For Coxon, who had recently relocated from LA to London and was navigating a world paused by COVID-19, the timing felt perfect. He described it as a “state of flux,” which Dougall’s suggestion offered a way out of. Their shared love for experimental music and art-rock influences set the stage for a unique partnership, both musically and personally.
Early 2021: The Birth of The WAEVE
Coxon and Dougall’s collaboration quickly transformed into something greater. They formed The WAEVE, a project where the two could explore new sounds and blend their musical influences. Their chemistry was immediate, and it didn’t take long before their creative relationship deepened into a romance.
Through long hours of songwriting and recording, they discovered an emotional connection that enriched both their music and their lives.
2023: Debut Album and Growing Together
Their self-titled debut album, The WAEVE, was released in early 2023 to critical acclaim. The record was a mix of dreamlike soundscapes and experimental arrangements, blending beauty with underlying tension. The combination of Dougall’s haunting vocals, Coxon’s signature guitar, and surprising elements like saxophone and modular synths, created a unique, immersive experience for listeners. Fans and critics noted that the record felt intensely personal, almost like a glimpse into the budding relationship between Coxon and Dougall.
Dougall later reflected that making the album felt like “getting to know each other” through music. What began as a simple suggestion to write together became a journey of mutual discovery, and the two found themselves falling in love over the course of creating their first record.
August 2022: Welcoming Their Daughter, Eliza May
In August 2022, Coxon and Dougall welcomed their daughter, Eliza May. The arrival of Eliza May added a new layer to their partnership and profoundly impacted their music. Suddenly, their creative world expanded to include the joys and challenges of parenthood.
Coxon and Dougall’s experiences as new parents soon found their way into their songwriting, especially as they began working on their second album, City Lights.
September 2024: The Release of City Lights
Just over a year after their debut, Coxon and Dougall released City Lights in September 2024. The album is a bold evolution of The WAEVE’s sound, marked by art-rock intensity and themes of family and self-reflection.
The songs capture the complexities of parenthood, love, and life’s ups and downs, making City Lights a deeply personal album. The couple described the album as a way of “confronting the constraints of domestic life” and channeling that urgency into their music.
Tracks like “Song For Eliza May” are directly inspired by their daughter, while others, like “Simple Days” and “You Saw,” reflect their journey as a couple and as parents. The album showcases a more aggressive, assured sound compared to their debut, reflecting both their evolving partnership and the challenges of balancing creativity with family life.
October 2024: Taking City Lights on Tour
To celebrate the release of City Lights, The WAEVE announced a series of intimate shows at Rough Trade locations in Liverpool, Nottingham, and Bristol.
They also planned their biggest headline show to date at London’s Village Underground on October 29. Before that, they joined Elbow on tour and performed at several festivals, sharing their new music with fans across the UK.
A Relationship Built on Love, Creativity, and Exploration
For Coxon and Dougall, The WAEVE represents more than just a band—it’s a testament to their shared journey as partners, parents, and musicians. From the first spark of collaboration in 2020 to the release of City Lights in 2024, their relationship has grown in harmony with their music.
As they look forward to future projects and the ongoing adventure of parenthood, Coxon and Dougall’s story remains a compelling mix of romance, creativity, and exploration. For fans of both Blur and Dougall’s earlier work, The WAEVE is not just a new musical chapter—it’s the embodiment of a love that grew through music and became something extraordinary.
