By: Sammi Turano
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I am still working on describing my sound, which I think is a good thing. I said “witch-pop” once as a sort of joke, but we could go with that for now.
Q) You name people like Kate Bush and Lana Del Rey as musical influences. What is it about their music that inspires you?
A) Listening to Kate Bush makes me feel like I am running and dancing through a forest or like I am sitting by a campfire listening to a story. I love the way she uses her voice, not only is she a beautiful soprano, but she is extremely evocative with her lyricism and storytelling. I think she and Lana share this sentiment for me. My dad showed me Lana’s “Born to Die” music video when I was eight years old and it was over for me. It has always felt like she was speaking to me and it has followed me through my life. I truly was raised and grew up on her.
Q) “Cry Baby Cry” is your debut single. What is the inspiration behind the song?
A) I want people to have their own interpretation and experience with it, but for me, it is a song for my inner child. I feel like a lot of my life and upbringing brought so much catharsis. It was kind of like, burning everything down over and over, sometimes from others doing, sometimes my own, but ultimately dying and being reborn. Accepting the inner chaos, the darkness, letting it take over you and releasing it into the universe.
Q) You worked with Derek Coburn and your friend Ally Bakst on “Cry Baby Cry.” Talk to us about that experience.
A) Ally is a close friend of mine. I had actually thought about quitting music because at the time I was super frustrated and felt like I couldn’t move forward. I messaged her and asked if we could meet up and we did. It just sort of clicked and blossomed from there and she helped me put my words together in a cohesive way. She’s so, so beyond supportive and talented on her own. I am so lucky!
I actually met Derek through my friend Kris (King Woman), who was helping me find a producer to work with. He is like the most insanely talented person I’ve met in my life. Watching him bring the song to life (which sometimes would just be listening to a bunch of different distorted sounds and seeing what clicked) kind of reprogrammed this pressure I was putting on myself to be a certain way or sound a certain way. Letting the song be what it needed to be was a special way to bring it into the world. It was awesome hearing it transform from this little voice note in my phone to what it is now.
Q) “Cry Baby Cry” has some incredible lyrics like “a lullaby to your inner child.” In what ways do you hope people connect with the song and how do you think it can help others?
A) I hope it helps people connect to something bigger than themselves, whatever that may be. I think it is important to stay in touch with what you can’t see. Even if it scares you.
Q) “Cry Baby Cry” also has messages about survival and trauma. What kind of response have you been receiving from the fans to it?
A) Someone recently messaged me saying that they felt like my voice and music healed them. I think that is all I could ever want to hear.
Q) How does the video for the song play into the message behind it?
A) In so many ways. From the actual creation of the video, to the content within it. I wanted to let the song speak for itself, so being in nature around all of these massive and surreal landscapes, felt like what the song sounded to me. A sort of dream-like state, where we explore these two sides of me. Big Sur is a place where “the veil” is thin. Shooting in such a sacred space added a lot of heightened emotions that are present in me throughout the video.
Q) Your next single “Poison” is set to drop on Halloween. What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can craft lyrics?
A) Yes, I am so excited to put that one out… Regarding songwriting, I actually work in the opposite way! I grew up singing classically and my voice was always my instrument and my melody to follow. I will write poetry or lyrics before I sit down to craft the song. Sometimes it is planned, but other times it just comes to me. It’s like I black out for a second and I’ve written an entire song very quickly.
Q) After releasing “Cry Baby Cry” and “Poison,” is there an EP or full album in the works?
A) There is an EP in the works.
Q) Who are some people you would like to collaborate with in the future?
A) Aphex Twin, Weyes Blood, Men I Trust, Caroline Polachek
Q) You are a part of social media. How does it feel to be able to connect to your fans in this way?
A) It is very special to have the capacity to connect with people from all over the world, but my ultimate goal & hope is to connect with people in person through performance.
Q) What else would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
A) I am grateful for anyone who listens, and I promise this is only the beginning.