What can you tell us about the track "Feel Like This"? What was your inspiration? Thoughts behind the music video?
Feel Like This is a track I wrote to process an experience of emotional confusion; it's about a quick connection I made with someone who I both admired and wished I could be more like. It was a strange mix of feelings, that fine line between enamorment and envy. It was a combination of feelings I don't usually get, so the way I worked it out was writing this soulful pop track. I wanted something slow and heartfelt that captured my feelings of longing and a little touch of sadness. The music video was a quick little looped clip I filmed in a park in LA. I was shooting several quick videos with an awesome director, Grey, and they all have this cinematic feel to them. Though it's closer to a lyric video, I feel it showcases the emotions of the song quite well.
How has moving to New York City up in the Upper West influenced your style of music?
I moved so long ago, it's hard to remember, ha. But I think it's the culmination of sounds in the city, everything from pop to rock to gospel, R&B, it's all here. You hear music in venues and in the streets, people busking or just blasting songs out their speakers. Stuff subconsciously gets into my head and finds its way into my songwriting. I go to a lot of R&B shows, so I think that might be the main influence. But it's not only the sounds, often it's the experiences I have in the city that become the stories behind the songs.
When did you realize this was the life for you?
When I was 15, I started songwriting and couldn't stop. I found something so therapeutic about being able to let these melody and lyric ideas out of my mind and into the world. It was when I came to NYC and met other artists that I realized that this is a real thing that could be possible. So I kept writing and recording with the aim that at least some of my music could connect with other people. That's what it's about to me, creating something that helps me relate my life to others and ideally helps others in turn.
Who are you often compared to? why? How do you distinguish yourself from those artists?
I have had references to Sade which dang, I wish that was even a sliver of! I think I get that comparison due to my style or music and softer vocals. Their music is so incredible, so it made my day to have had that comparison a few times. I haven't gotten too many other comparisons, but I'm definitely sure there are other similar artists out there. How I distinguish myself is in my writing-- I try to not get too influenced by what's popular and share what is my personal story to tell. I also think I have a certain sound to my music that carries through my work that is distinctly my own.
What can we expect to see/hear from you in the future as far as new projects?
Definitely more singles! I have a bunch of tracks lined up with visuals, some of which have the same soulful flavor or Feel Like This and others that experiment with more upbeat dance and even alternative sounds. Hopefully at some point I'll have a larger project to share, but these singles will hopefully build to that.
Any shoutouts?
Gotta shoutout everyone whose helped shaped my sound and those who encourage me to keep going! Many people to name ;)
