Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: For sure! I was born in Langley BC, into a household where there was always music playing. Although they didn’t play instruments or make music, both my parents were music lovers, and it was a big part of my life growing up. My brother and I started violin lessons when I was 4 years old, and he was 6, and that was really what started it for me. Being a musician became part of my identity, and as I kept learning new instruments and started writing songs, it became clear to me that this is what I wanted to do as a career
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: Some artists I’ve really been into recently are Blake Rose, Mimi Webb, and Jamie Miller.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: Some of my first influences were actually country artists, because that’s mostly what we listened to when I was growing up. Brad Paisley was a big one for me. Then it was Andrew Allen, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, and now some of my strongest influences are Jon Bellion, and JP Saxe.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘That Was Then, This Is Now’. Is there a story behind it?
A: There’s definitely a story behind the writing of this song. I had been working with Andrew Allen, one of the co-writers of TWTTIN, and I had heard some of Olivia’s stuff through him. I thought she was super talented, but I’d never actually met or written with her before. I was on my way to the Okanagan to write with Andrew, and suggested we get together with Olivia! But… It was in the middle of the pandemic and Olivia ended up having to join the session on Zoom. She ended up sending me her vocals over the internet, so we never actually met in person until almost two years later when we filmed the music video for this song!
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Actually in the very near future! This song is one of the singles from my upcoming Album, dropping this summer!
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I want all my songs to be story driven. As much as I love catchy melodies and crazy production, my top priority is always to say something with real meaning, and everything else is there to support that.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: I mean I can’t say I wouldn’t want billions of streams or to be touring stadiums right now, but honestly, when my fans message me to tell me that one of my songs brought them joy, or helped them to understand something in their life, that’s the reason I do what I do.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: It can vary, but usually I start with the title of the song and work backwards from there, from the chorus to the pre, and then the verses. I’ll often write to just acoustic guitar so that I know the song itself can stand on its own, and then I’ll move into production that I feel supports the story. After that I mix and master the song myself as well.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I think watching the numbers is one of the most destructive things for my mental health. Especially because my streams and followers were so much higher when I was on the Disney Channel/Family Channel show Backstage back in 2016/2017. Watching the numbers fall was really tough, and I had to do some work to separate my self worth, and the worth of my music from that.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: I think being 22 years old, and already having experienced a record deal, releasing over 40 songs, producing an album for one of my childhood idols, and knowing so firmly what I want for my life are all huge wins. I sometimes forget how much time I have left to accomplish the things I’ve yet to accomplish, and I forget to look at all the things I already have.
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