LACES – worship

By starrymag | October 28, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I consider it alternative adult pop with cinematic elements. I’m big on the TV/Film watching and that definitely comes out in my music.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I have always been a song fan and less of a band fan, so I follow impressive songwriters. What I’m inspired by doesn’t always come out in the music I write. I think Noah Gunderson is a genius, Fiona Apple is always boss, and Roy Orbison has my heart.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “worship.” 

A) When I wrote “worship,” it started out as an experiment to see if I can still write alone. Quarantine forced this creative isolation after I got so used to being in a collaborative environment. I forgot I still had the tools and a story that I was capable of exploring on my own. Our longest relationship is with ourselves, but we often get lost in someone else’s narrative. I’ve always been drawn to the darker side of love. In the past, I’ve fallen so in love that I can barely see where I end and they begin. It’s beyond love – it’s passion, obsession, lust and it’s like the story has already been written, but — ultimately the song is about falling in love with a narcissist. Narcissists mirror you, so in the end, you’ve only fallen in love with yourself.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I believe listeners connect to the lyrics they feel reflect their own stories and lives. I think most of us are in love with love.

Q) Your music has a deep honesty and intensity to it. How do you shake off a long day of baring yourself in the studio?

A) Thank you so much! I think I run off intensity all day – ha! Nah, I am a pretty goofy person and can find humor in most things. I am addicted to working and living as authentically as possible, so I never want to shake off my vulnerability. That being said when it feels like too much – there is always wine and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Q) Your upcoming song, “they say,” is a collab with FLAVIA, BELLSAINT and Amanda Brown. How did the three of you unite for this single?

A) When I wrote this song, it felt heavy to carry on my own. It’s a song about standing together, so it felt natural to ask my good friends to hold that space with me. I feel grateful they said yes.

Q) You are so brave for speaking up about your sexual assault. How did you finally find the strength to talk about this trauma?

A) I am not sure if I am brave; it’s simply a chapter in the book of my life. I think as someone who is dedicated to being honest, it wouldn’t make sense to not be candid about what I’ve gone through. Silence can lead to more violence and isolation. If my story makes others feel less alone, then it was words worth speaking.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) Well, with a pandemic there isn’t much performing happening, unfortunately. I’ve always loved playing Rockwood Music Hall in NYC, that space has always felt like home. It’s where I could always go to see my friends and have a safe space to share.

Q) What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) The process changes each time. If I am writing for film/tv vs if I am writing to express and emote. A good song writes itself and you can barely remember how it happened.

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I oversee each piece of music I create, but I like to leave room for my producers to also share and create their vision. I am a bit of a control freak though – I know exactly how I want my music to sound. I am lucky the creators I work with are as invested as I am to guiding the track to its fullest potential.

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) We will see…

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Noah Gunderson is the ultimate or Dan Layus.

Q) You were quite young when you entered the music business. What advice would you give to new entrants into that environment?

A) Move at your own pace and find a mentor who can guide and protect you. It’s hard to go at it alone.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) I am listening to Grimes’ song “Delete Forever” over and over again. It feels like the perfect 90s meets 2020 vibe and I am living for it!

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I actually don’t enjoy social media, but if you are a creator there’s no better way to connect and communicate directly to listeners. I think it’s something that feels like a requirement though. I do miss the days where you could release something and isolate. I guess I’m a hermit that way – ha!

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you and don’t be afraid to step into yourself and embrace the person you are and are becoming. You are loveable and loved.

 

Listen to “worship”

Listen to “they say”