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’m from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. Moved out to Denver 8 years ago. I remember watching movies as a child and being drawn to the music playing behind the scenes. For example, when John Cusack held up the boombox while it played In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel in Say Anything was life changing for me. It was then that I knew I wanted to make music.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: I’m self taught. But I practiced a ton.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Our Violet Room’?
A: lyrically , Dylan, Cash and Jackson Brown. Musically early U2, early Coldplay, Sufjan Stevens and Bon Iver. Score wise, Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman. My band name comes from a bed and breakfast I stay in in Astoria Oregon , my fav place in the world. The room is called the Violet Room. I just added Our to the front for Our Violet Room.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘Ode To Tim And Danny’. Is there a story behind it?
A: I just released my debut full length album Not Where I Thought I’d Be this last Sept 2nd. The also released a Halloween, Danny Elfman inspired ep Ode To Tim And Danny this past October 28th.
Q: What is the message of your music?
A: This last album was about romance, love, hope, despair, marriage, relationships, divorce, and mental health. So, my message is anything and everything in life that makes us feel.
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 think what resonates with the listeners is the thoughtful lyrics mixed with a beautiful soundscape of less is more arraignments. It’s my mix of a folk type base with a movie score type feel. It’s a dream of mine to score movies and I look at each song as a mini score.
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’ve been lucky to have had a great response to my music. It’s been on TV, Movies and radio, that said, I do hope more people will hear it. I want to be for others what my heroes have been for me. The soundtrack to my life.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: I usually come up with the piano or guitar parts first, then I add a melody and the final step is adding lyrics and writing all the string arrangements.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: It takes a lot of money to do what I do. It’s been hard to continue to fund my projects. But I believe in my art and things seem to finally be moving, but yes, the cost and time it takes to make an album is more than you’d guess.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: If you take away the two years the world shut down for covid I’ve only been doing music for 2 1/2 years. In that time I’ve toured the world and had my songs on TV shows and movies. That’s already more than I had ever hoped would happen, especially in that time frame. I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve received. And I hope to keep growing.
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