By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I’d say I’m pop at the core, but I love dipping into different genres. I don’t box myself in – I just make whatever feels right in the moment. And, of course, I can’t resist throwing in a few cheeky little lines along the way.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Honestly, my taste has been all over the place over the years. I grew up on indie/emo/alt – Paramore, Arctic Monkeys, Three Days Grace – but I’ve always loved storytellers like Ed Sheeran and Hozier. These days I’m deep in my pop-girl era: Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo… the girls always deliver. But no matter the genre, it’s the lyrics that hook me every time.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Just a Girl.”
A) The story behind “Just a Girl” is all about women being underestimated – and how that can actually be a strength. We’re hiding in plain sight, maybe even the perfect threats and I love that idea. It’s about flipping the script, women taking control and playing men for a change rather than the other way around.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think women connect to it because it’s familiar — we’ve all been underestimated or preyed on in some way. I hope it feels empowering for them. People are also loving the melody and that’s all thanks to Leve; he really took the lead on that!
Q) The video is so beautiful – that flower field was breathtaking! How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) We wanted the video to tell the story of a guy and a girl meeting, but all along she has other plans — he’s the prey. I picked Conzo as the male lead because a) I knew he’d nail the performance and b) he’s this big, muscly guy, so it’s fun to see him intimidated by me — a 4’10 woman! Christian Cole directed it and I’m so happy with how it turned out. For a first video, I’m really proud of us!
Q) You co-wrote “Just a Girl” with Leve. What was your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I met Leve that day and was just dropped off at the studio — it was a totally new experience in so many ways. He really nurtured me and took the lead, and once we got going, we smashed the song in one day. The sound is so different to anything I’ve done before, so I’m really glad I got to work with him. For me, melody and lyrics kind of appeared side by side, bit by bit, rather than needing one fully formed before the other.
Q) REYA handled production for the single, but how much of a say do you have in the production of your music?
A) I have full control if I want it, but I’m definitely not an expert, so I let Reya do her thing. Leve had already made a demo that was really close to the finished product, so she just came in and complemented what we started with. I make notes here and there, but I trust her completely!
Q) With “Just a Girl” out now, is this a prelude to a full album or EP?
A) For now, I plan to mostly keep releasing singles, but I’ll have a little EP out just after Christmas with softer, more heartfelt songs. It felt right to release those together as a package. I’d LOVE to write a full album, but I feel like I need to build a bit more demand for it first.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) I don’t actually do much live performance yet — that’s something I wanted to focus on this year, but I’ve struggled to find people to play with. Most of my live experience comes from busking, which I absolutely loved and really miss. My busking partner, Robin Ward, isn’t as available as he used to be, which is a shame because we played together for so many years around London. I have such beautiful memories from that time in my life.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) There are so many artists I’d love to collaborate with for different reasons! Obviously Taylor Swift — the queen of music. Lily Allen because she was such a strong influence for me growing up. Hozier because his lyrics blow my mind and I’d love a touch of that on one of my tracks. Honestly, I’m very open to collaboration in general — I love creating with others.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) Right now I’ve been obsessed with Sabrina Carpenter’s album Man’s Best Friend’ and Taylor Swift’s album The Life of Showgirl. They’re so fun to sing along to — perfect for the car, which is my favorite place to listen to music. They’re upbeat, but also vocally challenging, which makes singing along even more fun!
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) First of all — THANK YOU! It’s been a dream my whole life to create and release my own music, so the fact that people actually want to listen to it is such an amazing feeling. It honestly still feels so surreal.