Can you tell us about the origins of your musical journey? What initially inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did you get started?
My musical journey truly feels like it started when I was born. I grew up in a musical family, my father was a jazz musician and my mother is a creative person in general. In terms of a career, it started about 3 or 4 years ago. I was living in LA at the time pursuing acting and it just didn’t work nor did it feel right for me, and I have always been a big fan of music– it was my first love. I knew then it was time for me to pivot, so I came back to NYC and followed it through and I’m so glad I did. I’ve been pretty consistent since and it’s been a wonderful ride.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your unique sound? Can you share a specific instance where one of these influences had a significant impact on your music?

This is always one of those questions that get me because it’s so hard; there are so many! To name a few, Nile Rodgers, Timbaland, Kendrick Lamar, Tinashe, Kaytranada, the list goes on. There are so many different artists that influence me in so many ways. Beyoncé is an incredible performer and I am a huge fan of her work ethic. Michael Jackson is the goat and he has always had a profound impact on me from my youth. I would sing a lot of his songs when we’d drive on road trips and really loved his intonations and the falsetto he’d use – specifically in his song ‘Don’t Stop til You Get Enough.’ I’m also a big fan of newer artists such as Doja Cat, Pop Smoke, SZA, etc. I think David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Grace Jones, George Clinton/Funkadelic, and even Madonna have also influenced me in ways of their artistry as well. I really enjoy theatrics as well as conceptual music, and I think afro-futurism has had a profound impact on me as well. I feel as though my music really encapsulates those themes and as a performer I love giving people a show. Solange is an incredible artist, Erykah Badu… the list goes on.

Touring can be an incredible experience. Could you share a memorable tour anecdote that stands out to you, whether it was a challenging moment or an unforgettable performance?

I haven’t gone on a proper tour just yet– it is absolutely one of my biggest desires so I’m sure it will happen soon. Once I do, though, I will absolutely let you know!

Many musicians have a pre-show ritual to get into the right mindset before hitting the stage. Do you have any special rituals or routines that you follow before a performance, and if so, what’s the story behind them?

I think for me, the main thing I do is just get into the zone. There’s a hyperfocus that I get right before hitting the stage. Whenever I have a performance I always make sure to be extra on top of working out and getting cardio in leading up to it because the adrenaline runs when I’m on stage and it helps me get into shape. I’m mostly just excited before I perform. I also don’t like to drink too much or at all if I’m performing either, and within an hour before I’m on stage I will not drink or smoke! My voice needs to be as clear and open as possible. After, however, it’s on and poppin.

Collaborations can be a powerful creative force. Could you tell us about a memorable collaboration you’ve had with another artist and how it influenced your music or expanded your artistic horizons?

Collabs are my favorite! I love to create with other artists. My friend SHUAH is a very talented multi-hyphenate, they’re extraordinarily creative and are more hyperpop than I usually am, but they’ll take tons of noise or different sounds and put them together and it comes out really beautifully. I think they’ve really allowed me to push the boundaries and limits to a song and not feel like I’m doing the absolute most, even if I am. We wrote my song Cycles together and a few others and I feel like had they not been on the track it would not have hit the same way.

Over the course of your career, you’ve likely encountered various challenges. Can you share a particularly difficult moment you faced in your musical journey and how you overcame it?

When I first started I felt like it was really hard to put my music out there and promote the music. I remember there were a lot of different avenues I tried to explore in terms of trying to get numbers, listeners etc. I fell for a lot of things that at the moment felt right to do, and some have turned out to be a move that wasn’t the best. I also remember applying for grants to create my last project, Odyssey, and could not secure the funding– but I decided to not let that stop me and I financed the entire thing myself just through hard work. I think those moves were important for me to make though, because I just wouldn’t have learned as much or known as much of what I needed to do/how I needed to go about business.

Your latest album has received critical acclaim. Could you take us through the creative process behind it, from conception to completion, and the overarching themes or messages you aimed to convey?

Thank you! That means a lot. I really do love the process of creating a project. It really starts from nothing. My previous project, Inertia, left me so hungry for wanting to make something new. Odyssey went through a lot of iterations, a lot of different styles and beats. I created a lot of music during that time, and I do like to say this project was the start of the journey for me. Conceptually, the goal was to take the listener through a unique audio experience into, essentially, an alternate universe. I wanted people to feel like they could escape, or just experience something new. I also felt it was important for me to have a project that really summed up a new time in my life. There are a lot of themes that go into it, love, trauma, psychosis, breaking cycles, but also the bittersweetness of taking the road less traveling, starting an artistic journey. The album itself took about two years to create in total. I started it late in 2020/early 2021, with my song Out the Box originally being the song I wanted to lead the project with, but it ended up being entirely different. I went through a lot of changes during this time and I think I needed something to be authentic to that. I do feel like I’ve accomplished what I wanted to with the project though, and that makes me very happy.

Touring can be both exhilarating and exhausting. How do you balance life on the road with your personal life and creative process? Any tips for aspiring musicians who are just starting their touring journey?

I haven’t toured just yet, but I will say my father toured often and I have been on the road as a child. Personally I loved being on the go and I can’t wait for when that happens for me (I hate being in one place) but there’s a lot of variables to it! I think that as long as you map out where you’re going, be sure to have people you trust and enjoy being on the go with, it’ll make it all a lot more enjoyable.

Every artist has goals and dreams for their musical career. What are some of your long-term goals or aspirations, both in terms of your artistry and your impact on the music industry?

Well, for one, touring for sure. Long term I’d love to continue to make music and have a loyal, consistent fan base, and to make music that not only is good but also touches people and makes them think. Relatability is important in general. I was actually speaking to a friend recently about how there are albums and music that have saved people’s lives. I don’t know what I would do if someone told me that, but that to me is my ultimate goal, to make music that gets people through the toughest of times. I know that making music gets me through those times too.

The music industry has undergone significant changes in recent years. How do you see the future of music evolving, and what role do you envision yourself playing in this ever-changing landscape?

I think the type of artists that will be listened to will change. I see a lot of genre-bending (myself included) which is great because a lot of artists do not like to stick to one sound. You can’t grow by staying the same. I see myself being an artist that people will listen to and appreciate the risks I took artistically. I also see myself being an artist that continues to push more genre-pushing/thought-provoking music and I definitely feel like that will be more of the norm at some point. I hope that more people feel like they can make the music they want without having to be in a box, and I hope that people feel like I have been able to help them do that.