By: Alejandra Gil M.
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) Southern inspired, soul filled, deeply emotional.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Ruthie Foster, Fink
Q) You released “More In Common (Live From The Blueroom Studios).” What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) All of my songs start as journaled thoughts or a conversation. I tend to start with a few lyrics written before I reach for my instrument. With this particular song, my cowriter (Simon Gugala) and I divided and conquered. Simon was playing around with guitar chords while I found the melody and lyrics.
Q) This version was recorded live at The Blueroom Studios in Nashville, was co-produced and engineered by GRAMMY-winning engineer Charles Yingling (Willie Nelson, Megan Moroney). What was it like working with them?
A) I absolutely love working with Charles and Dianna Maher. Charles is always so easy to work with, and The Blueroom Studios is always supportive of creating a space that is welcome to amplifying music that connects, empowers and tells a deeper story. Charles, like me, really likes to focus on capturing the emotion of the moment rather than the most perfect performance.
Q) “More in Common” originally appeared on your 2020 LP, Listen, along with other titles like “Try,” “Too Much,” “Fear” and a personal favorite “Fallen People.” Your lyrics are beautiful. Is there a song from the LP that challenged you the most emotionally?
A) “My Own Grave” was my most challenging song to write, by far. It was a song that I knew I needed to write, but I kept putting it off because I wasn’t ready to delve into the grief quite yet. I was asked to participate in the Acoustic Guitar Project in 2017, I believe, and something told me that was the time to wrestle with the song. It took me one afternoon of lots of tears, lots of tissues and lots of pauses to sob uncontrollably to finish the song. And it took me even longer to be able to perform it live on stage without breaking down. That experience truly showed me that writing the song can be more powerful than even performing it.
Q) The song was released in honor of Juneteenth. One of the things about music is how relevant, and how its message can stay as important through time, especially how the world is at the moment. I know it can’t be just one thing but, what do you hope people take away from it?
A) The biggest thing that I hope people take away from “More in Common” is to remember to look beyond the obvious differences we have with people, and to find a common thread instead. That might require you to flex your compassion muscle a bit and put yourself, emotionally, in their shoes. We have normalized communicating, socializing and witnessing chaos in the world through our tiny screens that we have forgotten our humanity. We (as a collective) must choose to be tender and seek ways to play a part in connection rather than separation.
Q) Do you have a favorite song from your releases and what makes it such a standout for you personally?
A) My favorite song that I’ve released was my very first single from Legacy titled “Comin’ Out Swingin.’” Not only did I write this song with my brother, Kelvin Armstrong, but it also features him singing as well. I’ve written many songs with my brother and have asked him to sing background vocals on a project, but this is the first time he has been featured. Beyond the sibling collab, this is also a favorite because we wrote it for our cousin, Crystal Cotton, who is the epitome of strength and perseverance.
Q) What does it mean to you to be gaining more recognition from your music?
A) Any recognition my music receives means that people are being led towards deeper conversations. I didn’t engross myself in music for the recognition, more so to share the stories of everyday people that I’ve met in my years as a music therapist. If people are hearing the music, then maybe they’re feeling seen as well.
Q) You are currently touring and have some more upcoming dates. What do you love most about playing live?
A) I love watching an audience have a collective “aha” moment with a particular lyric. I love encouraging them to not only sing together with strangers, but to listen in.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) Mavis Staples.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why?
A) Honestly, I’m listening to my friends’ music mainly these days. I love to hear what my friends are creating when they’re not on tour. It’s my way of catching up with them and hearing how they may have processed a conversation we had a couple years ago over coffee or dinner. This is only a few friends with new music coming, but I’m really excited for Rissi Palmer, Mary Bragg and Jess Nolan’s full projects to be released!
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and your music?
A) I would say thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for every listen, every spin, every radio request, every ticket bought and every merch item purchased. You have helped to keep the mission going. I like to think of songs as seeds, and the thought of my music inspiring other songs, conversations, art work or acts of good deeds really makes me feel immense gratitude.