By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I would describe my style as alternative pop, with a touch of country and indie. Modern, yet with authentic and vintage influences.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) I have so many, but let’s stick to these: P!nk, Fleetwood Mac, Kaleo and James Bay. Throw them in a blender and you get me.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Call Out Your Name.”
A) My goal was to write anything but a single. I just wanted to express how I felt. No pressure, just lots of guitars and blues. I think you can really hear that; It’s like an ode to the blues, in a therapeutic kind of way.
Q) I have to ask, how did come to work with the iconic Pete Townshend on the single?
A) Last summer, I wrote the demo for “Call Out Your Name” with Jan Schröder in just a few hours. I fell in love with it instantly, but something was missing. And then, right at that moment, Pete Townshend started following me, like some kind of sign. That’s when I knew I had to ask him to play on it. He started following me after my viral mashup of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” and Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know?”
Q You must be receiving tons of fan feedback to the track. What are some remarks that have stood out to you?
A) What sticks with me the most is that a whole new group of people started listening to my music: fans of The Who, true music lovers, people who are more likely to put on a vinyl than click on Spotify. I still get kind messages from them every day. That’s the most beautiful thing.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) Fun fact: I edited the entire video myself. If you watch the video, you’ll notice it starts out completely in black and white. As it progresses, more and more colors start to appear. I felt that transition fit the song perfectly. Through the use of tones, the raw simplicity of just playing guitar in beautiful, authentic locations and the symbolism of being tied to a rope (not being able to move forward in a relationship), I think I managed to capture the essence of the song visually. And no…Pete wasn’t there for the shoot. But I did add a few fun hints. I won’t explain them though, you have to check it out yourself. 😉
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I hum along without worrying too much about the lyrics. They just naturally fill the room. It always starts with a chord, a melody or a riff. That’s my foundation. Most of the time I’m at the piano. People mostly know me as a guitarist, but the piano is my secret weapon when it comes to songwriting.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) A lot! I even produced three songs from my new album entirely by myself. I really like having control over it because that way, you can show exactly who you are and stay involved in every detail.
Q) Your album This is How the Future Sounds is out now. What are some of your favorite songs that hold a special place in your heart off of it?
A) Of course, “Call Out Your Name,” but we’ve talked enough about that one. “Somewhere In Between” is my little gem. It moves me, time and time again. It’s like a hand reaching out for those who need it.
Q) Which of the tracks on the album challenged you the most either melodically or creatively?
A) I think for now, “Higher.” I didn’t really know which direction to take it, but I knew I wanted to produce it myself. I didn’t want it to sound too much like “Somewhere In Between,” so after a lot of experimenting and trying different directions, I chose a piano intro that evolves into a modern beat and ends with a killer guitar solo.
Q) Is there an emotion or message you really hope lingers with audiences that put This is How the Future Sounds on repeat?
A) I hope people will feel heard and understood. Each song has its own meaning, but the core message is about believing in yourself and your goals and knowing it’s okay if your path takes a different direction. That’s the most important thing to me, and what I hope to achieve.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) It doesn’t matter to me where I play or how many people are there as long as they feel inspired and excited for a beautiful show. And I hope there are many more to come.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I’m currently listening to Marc Scibilia’s song “More to This.” What a beautiful song. It touched my soul immediately. I’ve been following him for a while now on social media and I love his mashup videos. He’s kind of like an inspiration to me!
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you so much for supporting me every single day. It truly means the world and I could not have done this without you. This is how OUR future sounds!