Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest album, and what themes or stories you aimed to convey through your music?

I often take inspiration from my own journal entries for my lyrics, and this was the case with “Help a Criminal”. I have always been a huge overthinker, and have struggled with anxiety for a while now. I wanted to write a song that was relatable, and that felt like an insight into what my thoughts look like. In « Help a Criminal, » I explore my inner struggles with overthinking and self-neglect. The title metaphorically represents the tendency to prioritize others over myself. It confesses to being my own harshest critic, influenced by mental health battles. The song aims to create a space where listeners feel heard, reminding them they’re not alone in their thoughts. It’s a heartfelt plea for understanding, acknowledging that sometimes, the hardest person to help is oneself.

Music often has the power to transport people to different places and times. Can you describe a moment in your life when a particular song or album had a profound impact on you?

Noah Kahan’s Stick Season truly lit a flame in me, and inspired me to write more raw and authentic music. I love what he communicated with the album, and how much soul he put into every individual song.

Many artists have rituals or routines they follow before performing or recording. Do you have any unique or quirky pre-show or pre-recording rituals that you find help you get in the zone?

I don’t have any set in stone routines that I follow before performing or recording, however, I do still get nervous, and love to use grounding techniques to help me get myself in the right headspace. One of the techniques I love to use is the 5 elements, where I look for things in my surrounding that are red, orange, or yellow to represent fire, breathe in and out 5 times for wind, drink some water and blink to acknowledge the water in my body, and feel the ground beneath my feet for air and reassurance that I am in tune with my space.

Your lyrics often tell a story or convey a message. Can you share the story behind one of your songs and the inspiration that led to its creation?

My most recent song before “Help a Criminal” is called “My own Solution”, and this song will forever have a very special place in my heart for many reasons. The song is based on toxic relationships; whether that be with yourself, with a partner, a friend, a family member, etc, and how the solution to feeling tied down by an external force is yourself. I wrote the song about my personal battle with an eating disorder, and the toxicity of the relationship. I focused on the fact that despite not always feeling like I am in control of my illness, I ultimately have the power to change and to be my own solution.

If you could curate a music festival with a lineup of your dream artists, who would be the headliners, and what would the theme of the festival be?

The theme of my festival would be tropical and “beachy”, given that the beach is my safe space. My dream headliners would be Hozier, Noah Kahan, and Beyonce, followed by Jensen McRae, The Backseat Lovers, Yebba, and James Arthur.

Music can be a powerful tool for advocacy and change. Are there any social or political causes that you’re passionate about, and how does your music play a role in promoting these issues?

Mental health has always been an issue that I am very passionate about, given my personal history with it. I am currently a psychology major, and love learning all about the brain and behavior, as well as advocating for mental health awareness. I do this in my music by being open about my struggles and giving my insight into what it’s like to live with mental illness through my lyrics.

The music industry has evolved significantly with technology. How do you see artificial intelligence and emerging technologies impacting the creation and distribution of music in the future?

I think that despite AI changing a lot of lives and impacting careers in many different fields, the music industry will always remain an industry where human creativity is necessary. I think that AI might develop the ability to come up with basic production and help come up with lyric/song ideas, however, I don’t believe that it will ever replace what humans do with music.

Many recording artists evolve over time. How do you see your musical journey changing and growing in the next decade?

I have already grown so much as an artist since the start of my music career, and believe that I will only keep growing every day. I see myself continuing to write music and becoming more confident in my writing abilities. I also see myself performing more, hopefully traveling across the country and performing my music for a wider audience, as well as meeting more artist friends and collaborating with them. I would love to release a few albums and help direct more of my music videos!