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 Atlantic City, New Jersey, and I was surrounded by music when I was growing up. My aunt inspired me to play music at an early age. She plays guitar and keyboards in a David Bowie tribute band called Candy Volcano, and she introduced me to her Post-Punk record collection when I was a young lad. I’ve always been drawn to music.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: I had guitar and voice lessons when I was younger, but I’m primarily self-taught.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and The Velvet Underground
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Isolation’. Is there a story behind it?
A: I first heard this song during the initial wave of the pandemic. I had just moved to a new city and didn’t know a soul. On top of that, I was going through a breakup at the same time, when it was impossible to meet people since we were all cooped up. When I first heard “Isolation,” the dreamy synths made me feel like I was flying over oceans, and Iggy’s voice grabbed ahold of me and pulled me up from a deep underworld. I don’t usually do covers, but this song in particular resonated with me in an essential way. It’s amazing how music can be there for you when you most need it and how therapeutic it can be.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Yes, I’ve got an EP and an album on the way.
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: Making music is a form of therapy for me. I only put stuff out that really moves me emotionally, and I hope it does the same for other people. I care a lot about words and storytelling; my songs are personal to me, but they are intended to be open to interpretation.
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 experience creative fulfillment at every step of the process. But of course the best part—the most rewarding part—is receiving feedback from the people who enjoy it.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: My process is pretty much stream of consciousness. I free-write in the morning, and I keep a journal. I’m constantly writing, and I have lots of sketches and bits of songs. I’ll use the voice memo app on my phone to record melodies a cappella as I’m going through the day. Since I do my own production, I typically write the song, then imagine what my favorite artists would do in a scenario. It’s like creative fan fiction.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: Losing people close to me. My music is built out of a relentless pursuit of the sublime, the beautiful, and the joyful, and my optimism is what keeps me going despite the loss and heartbreak that I’ve faced in the past.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Something that’s always been really enlivening to me is to see the audience’s energy and positive reaction to the music that I’m playing on stage. Also, the feedback that I’ve been getting from the music that I’ve been releasing lately has been overwhelmingly positive.
