By: Karen Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) Currently, ethereal folk pop!
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Lana Del Rey, Florence + The Machine, Bon Iver, The Lumineers, and so many more.
Q) “Cigarette” is a great follow up to “Tallahassee.” Where did the concept for “Cigarette” come from?
A) Thank you so much! I was in a different stage of life than all my friends; people were leaving for college, going through breakups, getting into these new relationships and experiencing a whole other side of being young. In many ways, I felt so ahead of them. I was already working and touring, but I was also falling behind. I hadn’t experienced anything romantic or rebellious. I was so angsty about what I was missing out on, which is a pretty common theme in my music; so that’s really what “Cigarette” is. I felt that I didn’t belong at the party, but I still wanted to be there.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) The idea of “trying my first ever cigarette” was more of a metaphor than anything; watching your friends move away and watching your life start to change. I think that’s an easy feeling to connect with.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) We shot the music video at this professional pool hall in Burbank. I had this sort of grunge, teenage vision in my head, while still being a little sparkly. That felt like the song to me. My good friend Jesse DeFlorio directed it. We always shoot on film and the whole thing felt like an 80s movie to me. I think it has that “it all went wrong” energy.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I honestly don’t rely on a process anymore. Sometimes I sit down at the piano and play until something stands out. I like to bring my guitar outside. Other times, I will have written a few lines that I can’t shake. It’s all a little unexpected, which I’ve grown to love.
Q) Sam Nicolosi handled production on “Cigarette,” but how much of a say do you have in the production of your music?
A) I’m a total control freak. Sam is such a wonderful musician, which makes the whole experience so much easier. He really listens to me and I really listen to him.
Q) Your EP Life’s a Bitch is out now. Clearly there is a theme to it! What are some of your personal favorite songs off this EP?
A) “Tallahassee” is very special to me. It’s so incredibly specific and I’m honestly proud of myself for going there. I used to spend a lot of time in Tallahassee. My life has changed a lot in the last year and I was grieving some relationships. The title track is another favorite of mine. As soon as I wrote that song down on my whiteboard, I knew it was going to be the theme.
Q) Which song(s) on the EP are you enjoying performing at live shows?
A) “Cigarette” is my show closer. I really love singing that one. I think it works really well at that point in the set and everyone’s ready for it. “Tallahassee” is also a huge moment. It’s the only song we do acoustic and my band sings most of it with me.
Q) What do you think it is about the tracks on Life’s a Bitch that will make listeners put this EP on repeat?
A) For me, Life’s a Bitch covers a lot of ground. I hope it does the same for the people that listen to it. This project fully embodies the last two years of my life. It sort of lives in my typical sonic world, with new folk elements, but it’s a massive lyrical departure for me. Everything is a little sarcastic and it’s a completely different take on my stories.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) There have been some particularly special shows that I think of often: Kansas City, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Clearwater (my hometown!), Nashville, New York. Too many to count.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) Lana Del Rey. My forever answer.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I’m back on my Lorde obsession. Melodrama all day, every day.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) I truly feel so connected to everyone I’ve gotten to meet through my music and these past few tours. I am grateful and mindblown every single day.