Tell us about:

Your latest single you have released: 

My latest single is called “5 to 9”. I wrote it as an anthem for the overworked and underpaid to scream along to on their commute. There are countless “5 to 9” videos online: people grinding after their day job just do it all again come morning. “5 to 9” challenges listeners to say “f*** that!” and put themselves first.

Your favourite lyric in this song: 

“All I want is a little bit of freedom. Time, cash, more than just enough to break even.” In addition to being the first lyric of the song, it was the first one that I came up with and it really resonated with my angst. The delivery/rhythm that I sang it also felt really good at the time. So much so that it inspired me to finish the rest of it!

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

My favourite song on this upcoming EP would be “5 to 9”. It’s the hardest I’ve ever worked on a track, both song writing and production-wise. It features a bunch of my friends singing and playing on it, and the gang vocals session was one of the most fun sessions I’ve ever done. The message of the song really resonates with me as a struggling/working artist.

Your favourite song to play live: 

An old record of mine called “Just In Time!” is a really fun one to do live. I was really inspired by The Strokes growing up and this was kind of an ode to them. It always brings the energy up at my shows.

The song that was the longest to write and why? 

My song “The Critic In Me” was such a long journey to write. I did about 5 different rewrites before I was satisfied. Writing about self-criticism is not an easy task to do when you’re criticizing yourself while doing it! And it’s a very raw topic that I felt obligated to narrate as honestly as I could. I ended up enlisting the help of one of the most talented writers I know, Claire Hudson (aka Clara Kay) – she helped me translate my honesty even further and make each lyric hit as hard as they could.

Your most emotional track: 

My most emotional track would have to be “The Fallout”. I wrote it for one of my Song writing assignments at Berklee College of Music and am really proud of it!

Dream collaboration: 

Chris Martin would be an absolute dream. Coldplay has been my longest Songwriting/Production influence on me, so I’d get to work with my hero.

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

I always have some butterflies in my stomach before any gig. But it’s mostly good excitement – getting to see people let go of their worries and be moved by my music is such a gift, no matter how big the crowd is.

The hardest track to play live: 

The hardest song of mine to play live would have to be “The Critic In Me” – it’s in a weird tuning so that transition before always takes a little longer than I’d like. And the bridge part of the song is in my higher vocal range, so it takes more effort than most of my songs.

Essential items you always take on tour with you? 

Water, my guitar, a journal and pencil, and my Lumix G7 Camera to document it!

Describe your fans in three words: 

Free-spirited, sentimental, self-aware.

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

“Not Strong Enough” by Bongenius. Makes me wanna scream, cry, and wanna drag race through the canyons.

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

After “5 to 9” releases, I will be coming out with an EP called “Stranger At Best” this Spring. It’s my proudest work to date!

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