Blouse, suit and necklace: CHANEL
Interview by Sydney Nash.
Was there a moment where you first realized you could be or wanted to be a musician?
I’ve honestly wanted this forever. I will play music until I die, even if I never get paid another dime. On the other hand, the realization that I could be a musician took longer! I didn’t truly know I could actually do it until I put out ”Sleep Talking!”
Blouse, suit and necklace: CHANEL
Tell me about the first song you ever wrote.
It was called “Your Love,” and I was 11. It’s super dark and romantic and sad – I don’t know where that came from. The first line was, “I crashed a ship in the sea of love just to see what was up above.”
You grew up in Los Angeles, which no doubt gave you great insight into the industry. How did this environment impact your direction as a musician, and how much does the idea of place influence your music?
Growing up in Los Angeles, I was able to see and learn firsthand a great deal of things. It really helped me get a sense of not necessarily who I am today, but it showed me who I didn’t want to become. I think there’s a lot of emotions young people deal with growing up. From the ups and downs of it all, I learned who I truly was and that reflects in my writing and music today.
Though music isn’t your only endeavour, it seems to be your main passion. What about music draws you in specifically?
Music has been my passion since I was little. It’s still so cool to me that I can use just my thoughts and my voice to make art. Singing has always come natural to me since a young age. I never ever stopped harmonizing, and learning how to write opened my mind up to this beautiful type of therapy when I figured out how to really tune into/express my emotions via song.
Who are your professional role models?
Music wise: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Bridgers, Lana Del Rey, Bowie, I could go on…
You first full-length album comes out this year. What kind of headspace have you been in recently in the process of writing new music? Are there any specific themes that you’ve been exploring?
My head has been ALL over the place. It’s crazy to think of the career I’m building for myself and how exciting it all is. Some days, I’ll write a song that gets me so amped up, but I’d be lying if I said it’s all rainbows and butterflies. I like to write songs from raw experiences and those aren’t always good ones. Nevertheless, I can’t wait to share my innermost feelings with the world through my first album.
Dress and sandals: CHANEL
Your newest song “God Must Be Doing Cocaine” is a bit of a departure from your other work and grapples with a lot of heavy topics. Is this song an indication of what we can expect from your new music? How do you see your own work evolving?
It is an indication of what to expect in the sense of honesty and realness. Everything I write is very personal to me and feels very vulnerable, and as I’ve grown a little older and experienced a little more, my writing has grown with me. There will obviously be some light songs in there (as I am a genuinely happy person right now), but there will also be hard to listen to, darker lyrics! I think as a writer you’re supposed to live a lot and write about what you see and what happens to you/around you.
In what moments do you find your most creativity? Do you have any recent examples where you were struck with inspiration?
I’m my most creative either alone with a piano/guitar or surrounded by musicians in a studio. It all really depends on how I feel when I wake up that morning. I was in the studio yesterday and had such a cool conversation with my producer about how I want to live my life to the fullest and experiment and push boundaries while I’m still young – and then settle down and stop the madness when I get married and have children. We wrote a whole song about it! Sometimes all it takes is a good conversation.
On the flipside, what are some of your methods you use when you’re experiencing a creative block?
If I’m working with other people I’ll either tell them a story about myself (even if I’ve written a song about the same story before) and get their take on it. It’s inspiring to get different perspectives of my own experiences.
Blouse, pants, and sandals: CHANEL
You turn 20 this year. What’s been one of your favorite memories from the last decade, and what are you looking forward to most in this new one?
That’s a hard question! I have too many answers to narrow it down. I’m a baby, so my whole “adult-ish” life has been in this decade. Everything from learning, to writing, to touring for months… I look back at the last decade and feel so grateful and happy and proud of myself for every little thing I’ve accomplished! I think it’s very important to recognize your wins, even the small ones.
Quick Qs:
You’re not performing or recording. Where can we find you?
In bed watching Netflix and eating Dominos. I swear no one loves doing nothing more than me (especially after tour or a session).
Night out or night in?
Night in! I’d rather be in bed by 8pm then go out lol.
Dress, earrings, and bag: CHANEL
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
In college! Studying creative writing or music theory or criminal law (I’m obsessed with SVU). Even if being a musician wasn’t my job, I would still always do it!
What was the last picture you liked on Instagram?
The last thing I liked on Instagram was a video of Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globes speech – GENIUS.
Dress and earrings: CHANEL
Where would you rather be: recording studio or onstage?
This is a hard question to answer because they are two completely different experiences! As of now, I want to be in the studio because I need to finish my album but maaaaannnn do I love touring..
Next vacation spot?
Oooo, I am in need for some R&R on a beach, maybe Anguilla.
Favorite meal in LA?
CPK – I get the kids caesar salad with goldfish, kids cheese pizza, kids barbecue chicken pizza, and the kids ice cream sundae.
What show are you currently binge-ing?
Breaking Bad.
Next hair color?
Either lavender or like, icy white.
Dress and earrings: CHANEL
Photography: Allegra Messina
Creative Director & Fashion Editor: Deborah Ferguson
Director: Sebastian Kriz
Interview: Sydney Nash
Web Layout: Allie King
Makeup: Loren Canby @ SWA-Agency using Retrouve 
Eye Cream
Hair: Clariss Rubenstein @ SWA-Agency
Manicure: Thuy Nguyen using CHANEL @ SWA-Agency
