1. Can you tell us about a pivotal moment in your life when you realized music was your calling?
There was never a moment. It was more of a process as I have always loved singing and songwriting. As a lifelong creative, my love for music has definitely grown alongside me. I’ve truly grown to love making music as a form of self-expression and a method of connecting with others through shared feelings and experiences. I also love performing live. I think live music is such a magical thing because every show is different and a special experience that you share only with those who were there that night. Being able to make eye contact and see the faces of people who connect with my music is the coolest thing ever.
2. Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?
Sonically, I’m so inspired by every artist I listen to. Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of Jeff Buckley, The Smiths, Clairo, Maisie Peters, Conan Gray, and Childish Gambino. In terms of writing lyrics, I’m obviously inspired by my own life, but I’m also often inspired by my friends and their lives! I love telling stories that I can draw from real experiences but shaped into a unique song.
3. How has your music evolved from when you first started to where you are now?
I like to say that my music has grown with me. I’m only 19 so my music taste is changing as is my life experience, which, in turn, means my music is ever-evolving. I love experimenting with different genres, and I think each song I create helps me better understand who I am as an artist and what kind of music I want to make going forward. Since my debut album, I think I’ve definitely improved as a songwriter in terms of being able to convey what I want to convey, but I’ve also changed as a person, meaning the themes I sing about have as well.
4. Can you walk us through your creative process when writing a new song?
My songwriting process really depends on the song! Sometimes I’ll be sitting with my guitar for hours, ruminating over chord progressions and lyrics I can match to them. Other times, I get a melody and lyric idea while I’m walking outside or hanging out with friends.
friends and have to awkwardly pull out my phone to record a voice memo before I forget.
I also work with co writers and producers so sometimes I’ll come to a writing session with
a fully formed idea that just needs instrumentation and sometimes I’ll show up with a
three-word phrase I think would be interesting for a song and we work it out together.
Each songwriting process is unique!
- Do you start with lyrics, melodies, or a concept when creating a new track?
My ideas almost always start off as a lyric attached to a melody. Sometimes this melody
is isolated, and I work with a collaborator to build the music around it and sometimes I
build the melody off a chord progression. - How do you handle creative blocks or moments when inspiration is hard to find?
So far, I haven’t experienced much of that! I often find myself having too many ideas so I
keep recording voice notes so I don’t lose track of my creative moments. You can’t force
creativity so taking a breather and walking away from the process probably works best.
What do you want listeners to feel or take away from your music?
I always hope people can relate to my music. If my words and melodies can ease people’s
pains and bring them hope that’s more than rewarding to me. I hope that listeners feel a
little less alone after listening to my releases.
Specific Work & Collaborations
- What’s the story behind your latest single?
“Right Past Me” is definitely a pretty vulnerable track, a lot more vulnerable than my
previous releases, and I’m super proud of how the lyrics tell a pretty intricate, detailed
story. It definitely builds upon the theme of growing up and apart from certain people I
talked about in the “Nostalgia Haunts Me” EP, but focuses more on the self-reflection
behind realizing your own mistakes as opposed to cutting off people who hurt you. - If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and
why?
I’m a huge fan of Lorde – she’s an incredible songwriter and I’d love to work with her
and experience her creative process!
Performance & Fans
- What has been your most memorable performance so far?
My experience performing at The Troubadour was so magical – that venue has so much
history and the sound system was amazing. It definitely taught me a lot about engaging a
big crowd. On such a large stage, it’s so important to move around so that everyone in the
audience feels the performer’s energy so that show definitely taught me how to expand
the energy of the show to the entirety of such a large room. - How do you connect with your audience during live shows or through your music
I love making eye contact with everyone in the audience, especially when I see people are
singing along! It’s crazy because my songs are so personal when I write them but, once
they’re out in the world and I’m performing them, it feels like they’re a part of something
bigger than myself. It’s so magical and I’m so grateful I get to play shows and share my
music with others!
- What do you think is the most rewarding aspect of being a music artist?
Performing live is my favorite thing ever. I think live music is such a magical thing
because every show is different and a special experience that you share only with those
who were there that night. Being able to make eye contact and see the faces of people
who connect with my music is the coolest thing ever and I hope I get to play so many
more shows!
Challenges & Growth
- What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your music career, and
how did you overcome them?
I’ve had my fair share of challenges for sure and one of them is a writer’s block. But, I
like to remind myself that this is normal for every creative and focus on other aspects of
my music career, such as preparing for and playing live shows. - How do you balance staying true to your artistry while adapting to trends in the
music industry?
A lot of experimentation! In the studio, my producers and I play around with a ton of
different sounds, making tweaks and changes to see what sounds the best. I also love
working with new people – it helps bring a fresh perspective that my usual collaborators
and I might not have thought of! In the end, it’s really just a lot of time put in to each
song to make sure it perfectly encapsulates the emotion it’s meant to represent.
- Is there a particular song or project that pushed you outside your comfort zone
creatively?
My debut album “Between The Lines” and my EP “Nostalgia Haunts Me” definitely
pushed me out of my comfort zone since they both represented a huge commitment in
terms of time and creativity .
Personal Reflections - What message or legacy do you want to leave behind with your music?
I write my music to share feelings and experiences and if my music helps listeners who are
going through hard times, I feel fulfilled. To be able to connect with others through my
songs is amazing. I want my audience to know that they are not alone in what they go
through. - Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next 5 years?
Hopefully I will be touring! My goal is definitely to grow as an artist, finish college in a
meantime and devote my entire time to my music career. - How do you stay motivated and passionate about creating new music?
I actually love creating music so much that I need to remind myself at times that I am
also a college student! I always block out separate time in my schedule to dedicate to
working on my music, doing homework, socializing, and self-care. Being a full-time
college student while maintaining a music career can get overwhelming at times, but I
always try to make sure I’m still keeping up my gym schedule, getting enough sleep, and
spending time with my friends. If I don’t take care of myself, I won’t have the energy to
make all the music I want to make!
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