How did you get your start in music?
I got into music at a young age doing musicals and being in
my school choir. I went to a flea market with my family when I
was in seventh grade and found the dingiest 20 dollar guitar that
I knew I needed. I bought it and from then I started writing
songs and teaching myself guitar. Once I hit junior year I got to
be in a class that focused on recording music so I started taking
myself more seriously with songwriting. I wrote and recorded an
EP that I put out senior year and it’s still funny to go back and
listen to what I did then verses what I’m doing now. I went to
Belmont University in Nashville to study music. Graduated in
2023 and now still doing all the things here in Nashville.
Where are you from and has it influenced your
music at all?
I am from outside of Chicago (about a 30 minute train ride
to the city) in a suburb called Elmhurst IL. I feel like I get a lot
of inspiration from that suburb when it comes to my writing. I’m
grateful for my family and how I was raised but was brought up
in the Catholic Church where a lot of things were rejected and
heavily judged. Being so close to such a diverse place (Chicago)
it is wild to see the differences being from a not so diverse town.
Growing up being closeted throughout high school thinking I
would never really find peace within that part of myself comes
up a lot in my writing and storytelling.
Tell us the story behind your new song?
My upcoming song “Confession” is all about that part of
me that was raised catholic and very normalized to weird
standards within that community. Learning about how wrong it
was to be queer in that space made me believe that was not ever
an option to explore so when being called gay by people around
me I was honestly just confused as a kid. I knew by high school
I needed to take a step back from that church but didn’t fully get
the opportunity to step back until I went off to college. Now
having years spent reflecting and deconstructing fixed ideas in
my head I have had such an easier time learning about myself
and others.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a Saturday?
My favorite things to do on a Saturday are... sit outside,
listen to good music, drink coffee, hang with friends honestly
soak in having nothing to do.
What artists influence your sound?
Artist that influence my sound include.. Adrianne Lenker,
Clairo, Madi Diaz, Briston Maroney, Joni Mitchell, Julien
Baker, Flyte
Do you have any pre show rituals?
Not really lol !! I just am usually excited to play!
What is one album that changed your life?
The most recent album that changed my life would
probably be the new Adrianne Lenker Album “Bright Future”. I
just am in awe of the songwriting and intentionality behind the
production. The honesty that Adrianne puts into those songs is
unlike other songwriting. It feels so personal and universal and
that is my favorite combo in songwriting. I just love songs that
linger throughout my days and pretty much every song on this
album sticks around with me.
What are you looking forward to most in the
new year?
The thing I’m looking forward to right now is honestly just
rolling out my EP I’m sitting on. Other than that just focusing
back in on writing and taking care of myself!
Listen HERE
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