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: I was born in a Southern California suburb called Irvine to Iranian immigrant parents. There wasn’t really any music scene growing up in Irvine and having a career in the arts is a big no-no in the Persian community, but pursuing music as an extra curricular in school was still encouraged, so I milked those opportunities as much as I could because I thought it was all I would ever have. It wasn’t until I moved to LA for college when the idea of pursuing a career in music became more real, so I guess you could call me a late bloomer!
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I’m such a bad musician! All I do is listen to classic rock, punk and grunge. People have told me that I need to listen to more current music, but I like what I like, what can I say?
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: As a songwriter and “rocker,” Muse was my first and biggest influence, particularly their first four albums. They were the first rock band that I got into, and are the reason why I started exploring other rock artists that came before them. Most importantly, Matt Bellamy made me want to play the guitar so badly that I decided to just teach myself when I was 14, which ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘White Widow’. Is there a story behind it?
A: This sounds ridiculous, but I originally wrote the chorus of “White Widow” right after a disagreement with my college roommates as a way of metaphorically “drowning out the noise.” The lyrics of the chorus remain the same from that night, but the song quickly took a very different turn as I finished writing it out. What started as a defense for self-medication effortlessly became a cautionary tale of addiction.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Yes! My debut album, Midnight Burnout, is due for release 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’m really hoping my lyrics resonate with people. I know it doesn’t sound “artistic,” but I honestly put a lot of thought into the lyric part of my songwriting. Melodies are something that come naturally to me and I never really overthink them, so the lyrics are where I really get to express myself and write with intention.
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: There’s nothing more fulfilling than believing in yourself, and that’s exactly what I’m getting out of finally putting work into my music.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: The melodies always come first. I think I’ve written lyrics first only a handful of times, but melodies just come to me so easily. I’ll be driving in the car or cooking at home, and a new melody will just pop into my head. I’m always quick to record a voice memo so I don’t forget it, but it’s really the melody that I can’t stop singing that I decide to flesh out and write lyrics for, because if a melody is stuck in my head days later, I know it’s worth turning into a song. Of course, there’s always those melodies that I get so enthralled by the moment I hear them, that I just have to grab my guitar right then and there, and write the entire song in one sitting.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: My crippling self-doubt and holding my songs hostage.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Overcoming my self-doubt and releasing my songs.
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