Hometown: Anaheim, CA 

How would you describe your music to people who had never heard it before? For someone who has never been to one of your shows, what can they expect from you as a performer?

The first time I described my music I was in an elevator. I was hurrying to exit and blurted out to the new friend/stranger “it’s like lonely with a beat.” I would say that still — or like maybe feeling both devastated and dance-y. Contradictions.

Who are some of your musical influences? What aspects of their music drew you to them and in what ways did they inspire you?

My first influences stem from the folk realm. I'm a big fan of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and even Bon Iver (the 2007 version), etc. Their writing is superb and as a songwriter I’m really challenged by such artists. I can draw inspiration from most genres though — the merging of hip-hop and pop that comes from Drake, the harmonies and ethereal indie vibes from Local Natives, the classical arrangements that are doused in the sexiness of Rhye. Oh, then there’s Frank Ocean and Bon Iver who well, I feel I don’t really have to explain (ha). There’s so much. 

From what else do you draw inspiration for your music?

I really enjoy visuals, from art to film. I used to work in editorial so I find things like typography and color palettes really inspiring.   

Can you explain how you chose your stage name?

It’s been a nickname growing up. I figured I keep it simple. And I like the various definition for the word itself too. 

What was that defining moment when you knew you were meant to create music and how did you go about it?

That’s a really good question and I think it was a multitude of defining moments to be honest. Sometimes I wish it was a simple and dramatic memory like saying it was when I was young and there was a hairbrush in the kitchen sink I picked up and sang into. But to be honest, a lot of the moments happened during the creation of my EP. I think being able to write songs and communicate them to a producer and have a product come out and having moments of listening to the songs developed and finished was a really rad season of life for me. One moment was definitely driving in my car listening to the mixes for the first time then like screaming like a fool that it was actually happening, that I get to make music and soon share it with everyone and not just my producer and like my mom. 

How did the your unique sound come about?

A combination of trusting my gut, always listening to new and old music constantly, and doing things that make me feel uncomfortable while doing what feels ultimately natural too. I don’t know — not prescribing to fitting in a specific genre-box but just staying in your pocket. I learned a lot this last year and this is all new to me. I'm doing what I like and trusting it.  

What's the songwriting process like for you?

It’s a lot of things. Therapeutic. Exciting. Impressionable. A confessional. And it really depends on the environment where I’m writing too. If I’m in the studio, it’s one thing, since I’ll get inspired by the track and just start writing how it makes me feel. If I’m home it’s almost an intentional and forced writing and if I’m driving around, the writing comes usually out of nowhere and into my head so I’ll record it in my phone as quickly as possible and revisit it when I’m not operating a vehicle. The processes vary. It’s sometimes really easy and really fun and other times it’s really frustrating...and really fun.

Tell us about your most recent music project.

My EP Low would be my most recent project and I spent around two years getting it ready for ears to hear. I wrote most of it in 2014 and when we released it August of 2016, it was surreal and really exciting. I would have to say, to sum up what it meant to me while writing it is the theme of contradictions and tension. It’s the idea of knowing better, but refusing to do better. The idea of choosing otherwise, the idea of fighting against your better judgement, because… why not?

Tell us about one of the your favorite/most memorable performances.

I went on tour for the first time fall of 2016 and I was overall just blown away by anyone who knew my songs. One girl brought her whole family to my show in San Francisco (P.S. — one of my favorite shows to date) and it was her birthday and I literally met her whole family and my heart was nonstop melting. 

What’s in store for 2017?

New music, new music, new music. And maybe some singing outside of the U.S. A lot will be happening and I am SO excited.  

How do you go about handling fan outreach?

I love reading all of the comments, dms and tweets I get but don’t always respond because I’m probably crying — it literally feels like a dream to get to do music as a career. 

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