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: Hi there! I’m from Fishers, Indiana – a bit north of Indianapolis. I’ve pretty much always wanted a career in music! I’ve been performing my whole life. I started dancing when I was 3 and did that for about 15 years. Vocal lessons started around 8 or 9 years old and I adored singing on stage. I wrote my first song at about 10 and fell in love with the creativity and process. Over the years, that love and passion has just kept growing.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I listen to a lot of pop radio so most well known artists are on my go to playlists – Lizzo, Doja Cat, Post Malone, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift to name a few. I also recently saw Anna Vaus perform at a friend’s birthday party and absolutely loved her! She’s definitely someone to check out!
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: My first artist love was Selena Gomez. She was actually my first concert! I’ve also always loved the storytelling and lyric writing of Taylor Swift. She’s someone I continue to study on every level of my career. One of my favorite artists right now is Ariana Grande and she’s definitely been a big influence for me over the years!!
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Lock U Up’. Is there a story behind it?
A: There is! So this song actually means a lot to me to finally release. It was written during a relatively recent unhealthy past relationship I had been in that really messed me up for awhile. I had a lot of insecurity, doubt, and anxiety throughout it and it was the first time I had ever experienced something that traumatic. I wrote ‘Lock U Up’ towards the beginning of the relationship when things were still relatively good. I wasn’t fully aware of my worth at the time so I felt like I was making things up, that my feelings weren’t valid, I was just paranoid and clingy. I was in a constant state of anxiety because of him but was so happy that I was the one he “chose”. In the beginning, it was absolutely perfect and I wanted to keep it for as long as I could. I was terrified of it all crashing down on me. That’s pretty much the headspace I was in when I wrote this song.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or an album from you in the near future?
A: I hope so!! I’m focusing on putting out a good handful of singles for right now, but I definitely have ideas in mind for both an EP and an album! I’m thinking sometime next year to do something a bit bigger so keep your eyes peeled!
Q: What is the message of your music?
A: I’ve always said one of my biggest goals with my music and career is to make people feel happy and seen. Music is such a good way to reach out and let each other know that we don’t have to go through things by ourselves. We are not the only ones to feel what we do. As I’ve grown, I’ve had so many moments where music has helped me realize that while I may be alone in this moment, I am constantly surrounded by so many others that understand. I want people to feel understood and safe with my music.
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: A key element I’d like to resonate is while the songs may be catchy, they still have lots of meaning to them. Like I said before, I want people to feel happy when they listen to my music and the melodies are instrumental in making that happen. At the same time, I want the lyrics to reflect my life and myself, while also possibly giving identity to those listening to it. Not every song is going to be deep, but it can always find a way to touch us. As for my sound, I’m definitely pop! I’m trying to experiment with R&B elements a little bit but it’s still new to me. Like any artist, I’m constantly growing and finding new ways to express myself. But overall, I’d say my sound is warm, bold, strong, and empowering.
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 think as I’ve grown, it’s gotten more and more fulfilling. The more you practice something, the better you get. I’ve had to consciously work at my writing and music to finally start getting it to a place that I’m confident and proud of showing the world! I think I’ll always expect more as I continue along, but that just comes with growing as an artist and pushing your boundaries in your craft.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Typically, I come up with a melody and words, and kind of shape the song around that. I’ve also written to pre-made beats before but most of my work comes a capella and straight from my head! It can take me anywhere from an evening to a few weeks to figure out a song, depending on my creativity levels with it. I’ve written multiple songs in a night before so when the juices flow, they flow! I can also have the music in my head when making a song, as well. I’ll take my ideas to my engineer and bounce back and forth until we create something we love.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I graduated college in 2021 so that’s been an exciting, yet terrifying experience. It’s been difficult trying to navigate the working world while also pursuing my music career. I’ve had to seriously consider if this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, or if I want to focus on a different, more stable career path. On one hand, I need to work regularly to survive right now, but my passions lie with singing and songwriting. It’s scary to officially be in the “real world” for so many reasons and for someone who is nefarious for overthinking, it can be very overwhelming! But it also means I have the opportunity to start focusing, to really go for it, and see where it can take me.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Well, continuing off the last question, I feel like I’ve reached a turning point where I’m getting serious about my music. Lately I’ve felt a shift with my career and my attitude towards it, so that feels significant to me. I’ve also won multiple songwriting awards, which I’m very proud of! I genuinely love making music, but the validation can definitely help with motivation!
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