Page 55 - Demo

MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 76 55MOSTMAGAZINEMOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 75Exclusive Interview YOUR MUSIC HAS SUCH A RICH EMOTIONAL DEPTH. HOW DO YOU CHANNEL YOUR FEELINGS INTO YOUR SONGWRITING? I think emotions naturally find their way into my music because I feel things deeply. Songwriting is like capturing a moment in time%u2014I don%u2019t overthink it. If I%u2019m sad, frustrated, in love, or just over it, that energy comes out in melodies and lyrics before I even realize what I%u2019m saying. Sometimes, I process my emotions through music before I can even put them into words in real life. YOU%u2019VE BEEN COMPARED TO SOME OF THE MOST TIMELESS VOICES IN R&B, YET YOUR SOUND IS DISTINCTLY YOUR OWN. WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCES, AND HOW HAVE THEY SHAPED YOUR STYLE? I grew up loving powerhouse vocalists%u2014Etta James, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, and Barbra Streisand. But I%u2019ve also always been drawn to old soul and great songwriters%u2014Patsy Cline, Otis Redding, Frank Sinatra, Julie London, and Ray Charles. I think my style falls somewhere between these worlds: sultry and intimate with honest songwriting, while still having moments of vocal strength. Beyond R&B, I pull inspiration from jazz, soul, and even a little alternative%u2014if it makes me feel something, it finds its way into my music. YOUR VISUALS ARE JUST AS STRIKING AS YOUR MUSIC. HOW IMPORTANT IS AESTHETICS IN YOUR ARTISTRY, AND WHAT INSPIRES YOUR VISUAL DIRECTION? Thank you! Aesthetics are a huge part of my music. A song has a mood, a texture, a color%u2014and I want people to see the music as much as they hear it. I%u2019ve DIY%u2019d almost every visual so far, using the same little digital camera. And while it%u2019s been scrappy, I%u2019ve loved every step of the journey. It%u2019s my way of showing people how I experience the music through my own eyes. I pull a lot of inspiration from old film, dreamy editorial photography, and even the way light hits a room at a certain time of day.