Tell us about:

Your latest single you have released:

“Saccharine” is the most upbeat Teen Idle single to be released to date. It’s a paradox in a way since this is at its core a breakup song. But there’s definitely happy elements involved, like finding yourself again after a relationship ends, which is why the song is so dancy. It’s really a celebration of coming back into your body after feeling weighed down and very much not yourself in a relationship. The bassline and drums help this song be the powerful anthem that I think it is. This was one of my favorite songs to make and I’d say one of my most intricate compositions.

Your first single and how you felt when it was released:

Wow, I have to say I was at a very different place in my life when “Dreaming” came out in 2019. This is really the song that started it all for me and made me interested in continuing to pursue Teen Idle as a project. I knew the song was strong but I didn’t know the opportunities it would open up for me. I’m not sure exactly what it was, maybe a combination of a slow-burning nostalgic song and me doing some promotional things right, but this song caught on to an international audience pretty quickly and then created all these opportunities for me. Although I’m not really interested in the writing in the same sonic style as this song anymore, I’m always grateful to this song for coming out one day when I was playing guitar in my NYC apartment.

Your favourite song that you have created that is an album track:

It’s hard for me to pick favorites! I’ve sat with this album for so long that I think my favorites are irrelevant and ever-changing and I’m more interested to hear what the listener’s favorites are. But I will say that “Saccharine”, “Dance Inc.” and “Winter” were very early favorites of mine. “Winter” is so heartfelt that it really still makes me cry if it catches me at the right time.

Your favourite song to play live:

It’s a tie between “Burning”, my older song, and off the new record “Things You Say” has been the closing song of every set. But once more of the new stuff is in the set, I know “Saccharine” and “Dance Inc.” will be fun as heck to play.

The song that was the longest to write and why?

Hmm, I think on this album it had to be “Norway.” It didn’t take super long but definitely longer than any of the others. For this one especially I continued to refine the lyrics for a while. And the whole outro part was never in the original demo so that came about in the production process. Part of the reason it took a second was because I wanted it to be as different from the original demo as possible.

Your most emotional track:

For an entirely emotional record this is almost impossible to answer, and I think different songs will be varying levels of emotional to someone depending on what they’re sensitive to, but I’d definitely say the opening and closing tracks on this record set a good emotional threshold. Yeah, they’re literally all emotional songs, but if you also pay attention to the lyrics of “Every Night” they are pretty heart-wrenching.

The best lyric you have ever written:

I will humbly say, “If God herself gave you a diamond, I don’t think you’d be satisfied.”

Describe the feeling you get when you walk on stage to do a show:

The hours before the show I’m always a little jittery, not in a terrified or stage fright way, but I think my body just presents adrenaline that way so I’ve come to understand it more. But when I actually step on stage it’s pretty euphoric and I feel very much myself and in my element.

The hardest track to play live:

For some reason “Birthday Cake” has proven to be a challenge, just getting the intricate arrangement right without using tracks. But I think now that we’re going to use backing tracks for most shows, it’ll be easier. Part of the problem was also that the song is in a different guitar tuning and it would be annoying to tune during the show, but I think I’m going to have two separate guitars at future shows.

Essential items you always take on tour with you?

Well, I’ve only been on one mini tour in California with my other band. But I need to bring my hair products with me because my hair is very curly and specific. I’d also bring an exercise band to keep up with my stretches. And a back pillow for the car because for some reason I have so many shoulder and neck problems at 26! This was not the rock ‘n’ roll answer but it’s the real answer.

Describe your fans in three words: 

Unique, generous, fun

A song by another artist or band you wish you had written: 

The song “Back to A” by the Swedish band Club 8. I feel like this is the most underrated obscure pop gem ever. I honestly even tried to track down the producers.

What we can look forward to from your band this year:

Well, for starters, the new record ‘Nonfiction’ will be out on September 29! That’s a big darn achievement in itself because the album has technically been in the works since 2019. There will be an album release show on October 1 in Asbury Park, NJ and hopefully later this year or early next year I can do a mini weekender tour to support the album. The focus will really be on this album. I put so much blood, sweat, and tears into the record that I want it to get its due promotional cycle and focus.