rockyourlyricsTell us more about your debut Ep “Snapshots”….
“Snapshots” is a collection of moments that I strung together from my family history.
Some of the songs directly relate to a personal experience of mine, and others are experiences of members of my family.
Each song is placed somewhere on a timeline and eventually leads up to me and where I am today as a person and as a songwriter.
“Snapshots” is a very personal portrayal of events that have defined who I am today.
Is there a link, lyrically speaking, between all the songs?
Yes, the connection that remains throughout every song in this EP is family. The importance of family for me is what drives me.
I am lucky enough to have the most giving parents who support me in everything I do.
My songs all relate to the strength of a family unit and understanding where you come from.
]No matter what type of family you come from, there is a history to your family.
I am fascinated by the events that led up to my existence, which is why I enjoy learning about the past to incorporate it into the future.
I don’t want to forget someone who isn’t with us anymore — I want the stories to be remembered.
How do you usually write your lyrics?
For me, there is no one way I write lyrics.
Different things inspire me to sit down and write something. I usually have a melody in my head and put lyrics to it afterword. It is very rare that in one sitting I finish a song.
I like to live with each section of a song before I add onto it, because that way I can make each section meaningful, instead of just trying to do it overall and having some parts that don’t resonate as much.
For some reason, when I write a song, what I am trying to say comes out in the exact way I want it.
I am able to convey my feelings without being harsh and critical.
With a little melody everything sounds nicer, even the things that are hard to say.
When was the last time you wrote some verses?
I write very often.
Sometimes I record them in a voice memo, or on paper, or I just write them in my head.
Two days ago I got out of the shower with inspiration for a song that I had written a part of. I sat down at the piano and I added a little bit more to it. Now, I am going to live with that part and then continue that process until the song is complete.
What does music mean to you?
Music means everything to me.
It is something I need in my life, something that I crave. Every single thing about music allows me to be my best self. It is my biggest passion in life and something I could not live without.
It is like breathing to me. I need music in my life. It represents hardships, and triumphs.
The two biggest, most important things in my life are my family and my music.
Music has never failed me and always been there for me. It is something that never fails to teach me and guide me through the twists and turns of life.
I don’t think that there is anything I could possibly say to express my love for this craft.
What inspired “Airborne”?
The inspiration behind “Airborne” is my great grandmother Mary Torregrossa.
She is 94 years old today and she is such a strong force in my life. Her husband, my great grandfather, Andrew was a paratrooper in WWII in the 101st Airborne.
He was a hero in the war and she was a hero at home.
When he died, I didn’t know how to tell my grandma what she meant to me. So I wrote “Airborne”.
I found 70 year old love letters she had kept from when he was in the war, and I didn’t want their love story to be forgotten ever.
I wanted her to understand the incredible impact that she makes on every single person she meets.
This song was to show her that he will always be with her, and that I am always there for her too.
I wanted to show the world what true love looks like, and how even though no relationship is perfect, love is the only thing you need. It’s also a testament to military families overall, who support their own soldiers every day.
I hope they hear this and feel that they are heroes too.
Do you remember the day you wrote “safe place”?
My years that I lived in Connecticut all seem like a blur to me.
I really just fell into a place where I felt stuck. Every relationship I made there fell apart and I felt hopeless.
I felt like I wanted to just run away and go home to New York. I was sitting in my living room at the piano and I was just tapping some keys.
I don’t think at the time I realized how dark the song was until I listened to it years later. It was a creation that stemmed from hurt, but made me realize the power I had to change things.
For me, writing is very therapeutic because it allows me to express myself. “Safe Place” is a snapshot in my storybook, which is why I felt it was so important for it to be on my EP.
Are you planning to be in tour soon?
I would absolutely love that. I’ve been playing at some great venues in New York City.
I am at my happiest when I am performing for others.
I would love to play wherever and whenever I can.
If I am performing I am happy.
My main goal is to do what I love, and if the time comes where a tour is the right step for me in my career, then that is what I’ll do.
What is your biggest dream?
I’m living it. This is my dream; it always has been and always will be. Music is my dream.
As I further myself in this career I think I will be able to continuously fulfill my dream.
I just want to make an impact on others for the better. I want to show people that ‘nobody is perfect and I am here for you.’
My biggest aspiration in life is to be happy, and making music has always been what makes me happy and it seems to make others happy as well, so I know it’s what I should be doing.
Photo Credit Zev Starr-Tambor
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