rockyourlyricsHow do you usually write the lyrics of your songs?
Usually I’m processing something – a conversation, a movie, an interaction, a book I’m reading. Writing for me is naming things. The process of articulation / making sense of something. I’ll find a chord progression that feels interesting or has life to it, then I’ll just start singing things until something grips me and I’ll go from there.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing in songwriting?
Not judging yourself too soon. I can waste a lot of time not writing because I want something to be perfect really quickly.
Are you ever scared of revealing aspects of your personal life/experience to strangers through your music?
Somehow I’m not. I think vulnerability and honesty are amazing tools to connect us with other people. I also experience the most catharsis when the lyrics / sentiment of the song accurately reflect how I’m feeling or the experience I went through.
What is the best lyric that you ever wrote (the most meaningful for you)?
That’s a really tough question. It changes a lot – I think it’s whatever feels most alive to me, which usually ends up being my newer material. Right now I’m really proud of the chorus of “Silver.” “Breathing smoke second hand / filling, my lungs expand within / leaving you on my clothes / covered in the haze you blow / silver lining.”
What inspired “Into The Moon,” off your upcoming debut album ?
My producer and I co-wrote that in the studio. It was one of those songs that we felt like we were discovering rather than writing. We wrote it in about 30 minutes, which was crazy. It felt like the song fell right into our laps. We just started singing phrases around this image of someone you love waking up in bed with the light from the window on their face.
Do you remember the day you wrote “Confetti”?
Yes, I do. I remember exactly where I was! It actually started out as a folk song, that I transformed with the help of some friends into a pop song.
What are your plans for the last months of 2018?
Playing a few shows – Nashville, Austin and Chicago! Hopefully making more plans to tour the record in winter / spring.
To conclude the interview a short Q/A session, please answer the first thing that comes to your mind:
- Define in one word your latest song “It’s Too Late”: Birds (we recorded birds chirping outside.)
- The best show you ever played: I did a house show a year ago that was pretty sweet.
- The one thing that you must have backstage: Water and maybe something to help take the edge off (maybe some wine??)
- The soundtrack of your childhood: Dixie Chicks – Wide Open Spaces!
- Your favorite song lyrically speaking, but not written by you: Anais Mitchell – Shepherd.
- Last question is “unusual”, we want to know your best relationship advice: AAP – always assume platonic. You can waste a lot of time trying to figure out if someone likes you or avoiding people because you think they like you. But people need to learn to be explicit and step out and say how they feel. You aren’t responsible for trying to read people between the lines all the time. Be direct! 🙂
Follow