Hey, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What have you been up to over the past year in this big old mess?
Glad to chat with you too! The past year has just been nonstop finishing the record and rolling it out, which has been cool, but I’m definitely running low. Album releases take a lot!
I’m very interested in how you started your adventure with music, and did you know from the beginning that this is what you wanted to do?
I first started songwriting at around 13 or 14 years old, and pretty instantly felt that this was what I wanted, I was really drawn to it. I downloaded my first DAW to my laptop at 15, so that started my journey into recording and mixing, and that’s also when I started playing in bands and recording things I was making. I was doing a lot of experimenting and just pushing buttons and seeing what would happen. Nowadays, making music feels second nature to me — it’s how I process stuff, I can’t not do it.
Congrats on the release of ‘Kicking The Cat’, the album sounds great. What was the inspiration behind it?
Thank you, I’m glad you like it. I can’t pinpoint one source of inspiration, really, but it’s a personal record, so a lot of it came from sitting with and processing memories and experiences. I wanted to make something the listener could live in for a bit, if that makes sense, and something vulnerable. I also wanted to see what would happen if I made an album entirely by myself – I wrote, performed, recorded, and mixed everything. The end result isn’t perfect, but I think it’s interesting.
What’s your favorite track on the album and why? What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
I really love playing the last song, “Habits (the best in people),” live, so I think that one is one of my favorites at the moment. In terms of growing as an artist, that’s tricky to answer, there are so many different things you have to keep in mind as an indie creator. I put a lot into the music with this project, so right now I’m more focused on the technical side of things, like, how can I sustain myself off of my art? Music is, unfortunately, a business, so there’s so much I’m constantly learning about how to navigate it. At the end of the day though, the music is the most important thing to me, and finding the ability to live off my art while remaining true to myself, my values, and my ears is what I’m after. And continuing to reach people that feel similarly is cool.
What should we expect from your next releases in terms of style and sound? How different are they going to be compared to your previous works?
I’ve actually already started my next album which is unlike me. Kicking the Cat took 3 years, but this next one’s coming quick which is nice, I just feel in-stride with my creative process right now. In terms of sound or genre, it’s kind of all over the place at the moment, but I’m trying to write most of the songs on guitar. KTC was mostly written on keys, so I wanted to try something different. I’ll figure out more of the palette as I keep going.
Where are you based? Can you tell us how the music scene there has inspired your sound at all?
I’m living in Chicago, and I’ve been here for 3 years now. The scene here is one of the best — it’s hard working and community-driven. It has definitely inspired me to work harder as a musician, and not be afraid to reach out to other artists.
If you could perform at any venue in the world, where would it be and why?
I don’t really have a specific worldly venue in mind, but there are still a lot of places here in Chicago I really want to play shows at — Empty Bottle, Sleeping Village, cool dens like that.
Can we expect a new EP or an album from you in the near future?
I’ve got a lot of music in the bank that I would love to start releasing as EP’s and such, but I’m going to give KTC the time it deserves to breathe a bit before I drop new stuff. In terms of the next album, who knows, it will be ready when it’s ready.
Finally, have you got anything to share regarding upcoming gigs, and what have you got planned for the rest of 2022?
I’ve got a few shows in Chicago planned this winter, and I’m working on planning an album tour for the spring! Along with that, I’m dropping music videos, album cassettes, and some other things. Right now, the main goal is just to get more people listening to the record, and playing more shows.
