Hometown and homebase: Venice Beach and Eagle Rock, Los Angeles

Did you always know you wanted to be a musician?

I was always singing as a kid and started taking guitar lessons when I was six. I wrote my first song at age seven. It was called “A Kid Alone in the House” and was inspired by the movie “Home Alone,” (laughs). My eureka moment in music happened when I discovered David Bowie at 14. It was the first time that I really lost my mind over a musician. I wanted to make other people feel what I felt when I listened to his music.

What's your songwriting process?

It usually starts with a couple of lines that I sing into Voice Memos on my phone. I come up with random little ideas throughout the day and then come back to them later and turn them into songs. Other times I write the music first and improvise over it to see what the song wants to be about.

What’s the biggest thing that influences your songwriting?

My songwriting style is very introspective. I mostly write about my own brain, relationships, and observations of my surroundings. For the past few years, songwriting has been a kind of tool to help me cheer myself on. I write a lot of songs about fighting against self-doubt. I hope that other people find strength in the songs as much as I do.

Who are your musical heroes?

Bjork, Kate Bush, and Fiona Apple are my big three. Each of them have such unique voices (both literally and creatively). And they each manage to balance raw vulnerability with impressive musical chops and challenging musical ideas. These are all things that I strive to emulate.

How does being a native Angeleno influence your songwriting?

Growing up in a city with such easy access to the arts definitely helped me push the boundaries of what I aim to create.

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