Can you share the story behind the creation of “Bandit” and what initially drew you to this song?
“Bandit” was written by Amanda Couture and The Renaissance (Dan Botch and Garrett Ward) a few weeks before they sent the demo. They sent me the song, wondering what my thoughts were; I immediately fell in love. Amanda made a fantastic demo of “Bandit” that was hard to get out of my head – I knew this song was special to me. We used the demo for guidance during production. As soon as I heard it, we started planning production. During production, I sent some references from artists such as Noah Cyrus.
How did the collaboration with Amanda Couture and The Renaissance come about, and what was it like working with them on “Bandit”?
My producers are great at connecting with other artists and are open to working with many different types of artists. They are both songwriters and like to co-write with other people. On one of their co-writes with Amanda, an artist they had written with before, “Bandit” came out of it. The whole team on this song is fantastic. I was so grateful to be an artist on this song and felt super honoured to be a part of it. The Renaissance are the real deal, I can’t wait to make more music with them; every time we create together, it feels authentic and fun!
The production of “Bandit” highlights your heartfelt vocals and layered harmonies. Can you describe the recording process and how you achieved this sound?
Recording with the Renaissance is always such a good time. I love creating and working with them. A lot of the magic happens naturally in the room, while others happen by preparing. Before coming into the studio, I was listening to some artists like Noah Cyrus, who put a lot of emotions into their music, and I knew a lot would come down to vocal delivery and the use of harmonies. A lot of influence also came from Amanda’s demo; we all loved what she was offering the song and felt that there was so much beauty already there. We were intentional with where we placed the harmonies and when and where I would switch from a chest voice, mid-range and to head voice. This song is very dynamic, which is one of the many reasons I love it.
The steel guitar plays a significant role in the track. Why was it important to include this instrument, and how do you feel it enhances the song?
I love steel guitar. It brings parts of the song that some people might have missed to life. Steel guitar also adds country elements to the music, complementing the vocal melody and harmonies well.
The music video for “Bandit” was directed by Max Chadwick. Can you talk about the vision behind the video and how it complements the song’s theme?
While creating the music video for “Bandit,” we kept the idea of simplicity in mind. I wanted the main focus to be on me while filming so the viewer could see how I connected to the song. I kept envisioning myself being free in various landscapes while singing. Max did a great job captivating so many memorable moments. Before filming, we discussed this. I also sent him a bunch of references from other artists, including the colour, texture, angles, time of day, and different landscapes. I believe the song is great on its own; it needed more of a visualizer, which we accomplished while shooting the video.
You mentioned that “Bandit” is about wanting and desire expressed in a cheeky and fun style. How do you convey these emotions through your performance in both the song and the video?
I used many expressions in the video. There wasn’t much acting, as this is typically how I sing live. I love connecting with the music while singing; for me, it is getting into the song through body language, facial expression, and vocal delivery and knowing when to sing softer or pour more depth into the lyrics and melody by opening up more while singing.
With over 75K Spotify streams and placements on major editorial playlists, how do you feel about the reception “Bandit” has received so far?
Whenever I release a song, I never know how or who it is going to resonate with, and I am so happy to see how people are connecting with it; watching “Bandit” get picked up by editorial playlists is such an incredible feeling and means the world to independent artists as it helps us reach a bigger audience, it has also been surreal to hear the feedback from my friends and family. They have been supporting me for so long. Having them love my music is the best feeling in the world. When “Bandit” came out, I instantly got messages from my friends saying how much they loved the song, which was such a fantastic feeling.
What was your reaction when you first heard the demo of “Bandit,” and how did that initial impression influence your approach to recording it?
When I first heard the demo, I fell in love with how Amanda conveyed this message of want and desire. I could listen to the emotions in her voice and storytelling. I wanted to capture all the special moments in the song like she did.
Can you discuss the lyrical storytelling in “Bandit” and how it captures the essence of romance and desire?
The song is creative in portraying someone as a “Bandit” who wants to love someone so badly that they will steal them away like a bandit in some old western-type movie would. The first verse in the song does a great job of setting this theme up:
“I’d pay the bail I’d do the time
I’d light the match I’d start fire
Find me standin’ at the scene of the crime
I’d do anything to make you mine”.
Cheeky lines like this help catch the essence of romance, desire and the characteristics of a bandit!
“Bandit” follows your successful single “What if I.” How do you see these two songs connecting or differing in terms of theme and musical style?
“Bandit” is more of a mid-tempo mysterious and haunting ballad, while “What if I” is an upbeat, optimistic and energetic song. However, the overall themes are very different, with “Bandit” being more about desire and “What if I” about chasing down all the “what ifs’ in life. Both songs share similarities about wanting something or someone.
How has your journey, including overcoming the challenges of your accident and surgery, influenced your music and the way you approach new projects like “Bandit”?
Life is precious, like music. Each time I start a new project or sit down and write, I capture a special moment of me in time. The accident taught me that life is fragile, but we don’t need to be afraid. Life is short, but I learned to go after things despite fear. Even though there were moments when the accident changed how I looked and felt about myself, I found this confidence in myself that was not there before. My experience also taught me to be open up and try new things. I started to get comfortable with being uncomfortable! These feelings have helped me navigate the struggles of learning new things, such as songwriting and creating with others.
What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from “Bandit,” and how do you want it to impact their perception of love and romance?
Love and romance are always challenging, and they take time and effort. This song is about having fun while waiting in the unknown. The theme of want and desire is something many can relate to. Why not have fun with these feelings? “Bandit” is a cheeky song about all things romance, want and desire – we all have a little bandit in us!
