What’s been happening recently?
I’ve been keeping myself busy working on new music and doing a lot of meditation and working on self-development – especially through this Covid crisis. I’ve had to really put focus on the positives. Social media can be extremely negative and draining at times, so I’ve tried to limit my use.
Your new track ‘ü wnt me‘ is out now, what influenced the sound and song writing?
I was in a relationship a few years ago with someone high up in the music industry. I truly loved him but after a while, I could see he was more invested in his money and fame and less of being in the ‘relationship’.
Where and when did you record/produce?
I’ve actually built a studio in my house so I’m doing most of my recordings here now.
Please tell us about your life growing up and how the process comes through in your music:
I lost my dad when I was 7. It was traumatic for me because I watched him die. Going through trauma at such a young age really does shape a person.
Trauma doesn’t define me though… and realising that has taken me close to 10 years – with a lot of self-growth and therapy work.
I was bullied quite badly growing up, then because of that I felt like I needed protection, so I began hanging around the wrong people.
When I was 16 that was the start of many of my close friends dying from drug overdoses through to car accidents.
I feel like all these experiences have really changed my perception about life.
I’m closer to God more than anything now and know that life is too short to worry about small issues when we should be focused on being present and living in the moment. These experiences have given me feelings that sometimes I can’t express verbally so it’s easier to write about and heal that way.
How do you use music to express your feelings and emotions and does this process have a therapeutic affect?
For sure. Song writing is a therapy in itself. I believe that’s with anything creative though. You see pain or happiness through paintings, photography, dance etc.
I believe anything expressive can be a healing process.
How did you learn to write music and how has your song writing developed over time?
With anything, over time you become better at it. Song writing was something I kind of just fell into – it was never really my intention to write music. I grew up playing violin and classical music… producing, singing and songwriting never really crossed my mind until I went to university and met my friend Mitch (who’s the lead singer in the band Chase Atlantic). We wrote my first song ‘Gone For The Night’. That was the beginning of my song writing journey.
There are general formulas. The way I write now is singing melodies first and then putting lyrics over the melodies. Everyday I’m learning something new. Everyday I’m growing as an artist and gaining more knowledge. There’s still a lot I don’t know.
Trauma is something that you have had to face and deal with, how is the process developing for you and how does your music assist in the process?
The only way to heal is to face your trauma and actively seek out.
I follow ‘the.holistic.psychologist’ on Instagram – her posts are about consciously creating a new version of yourself with exercises to practice. Being in the present moment, being aware of your current feelings (why you do and behave in certain ways/coping mechanisms) and different strategies you can use in order to become the best version of yourself. My music is therapy – it allows me to express myself the way I’m feeling at the time. People say that if you write down what’s on your mind, it helps in managing your emotions and is good for your mental health – so song writing is essentially journaling to me.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Atm I’m listening to Lil Uzi, Night Lovell, PlayBoi Carti, DaBaby & RoddyRicch.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?
Writing more music. Have a few collaborations in progress too.
Hopefully next year I can look at touring again after this pandemic calms down.
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