What first got you into music?
My older brother first got me into music. I was about 8 or 9-years old when he introduced me to Rock bands like Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Styx, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Metallica. He was also a gigging musician playing lead guitar in a local band, so that’s when I first fell in love with the sound of the guitar. When I turned 15, my parents bought me my first guitar – a Yamaha FG830 acoustic. That’s when I started writing original songs and playing at small talent shows and coffee shops.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
I guess I come from a musical family. My family members on my mother’s side are gigging or session musicians. Both my parents love to sing and I grew up with a lot of karaoke parties at home.
Who are the artists that inspired you to make music?
It’s a mixed bag crossing musical eras and genres: Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Joan Jett and The Runaways, Third Eye Blind, Matchbox Twenty, Alanis Morissette, Dashboard Confessional, Death Cab For Cutie, Julien Baker, Tegan and Sara, and Meg & Dia. My music has been influenced by all these artists in some shape or form.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
I’d describe my music as sonically fluid, ranging from immersive slowcore ballad to soaring post-rock anthem with story-filled lyrics holding everything together.
How would you describe your creative process and how you approach?
I like recording a bunch of voice memos at spontaneous times – anything from humming melodies while I’m on a walk, to singing gibberish to get some ideas on phrasing and syllables. If I figure out a verse or a few words, I’ll write them down in my song book. Then, at a separate time, I’ll find interesting chord progressions when I’m messing around on the acoustic guitar and look through my song book to see what pre-written verses might fit the mood of the chords. After I flesh out the rest of the lyrics and foundational music composition, I hop on Ableton Live to record some demos starting with the essentials: guitar and main vocal, layer on some piano and maybe get some bass synth. If I’m feeling adventurous, I might even program some drums. When inspiration strikes, I can really get into the entire pre-production process and spend 8 to 10 hours in front of my laptop and recording gear.
Who would be your dream artists to collaborate with?
It would be my dream to collaborate with either Meg & Dia or Julien Baker.
Has your music style changed much since you first started creating music?
Yes, my music style has changed a bit. When I first started, I wrote a lot of pop-leaning love songs and whatever I thought was catchy at the time. I’ve since left the realm of sappy love songs and found my place in socio-political songwriting.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Buffy Sainte-Marie
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Question everything and open your mind to learning and unlearning. We’ve been taught many lies by so-called figures of authority who stole from others, fabricated histories, and created systems and norms that keep us from the truth.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Tying a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
I sing a lot of Westlife in the shower…”Flying Without Wings” or “Queen of My Heart”. Also, they’re my guilty pleasure second to Hanson. (I guess these bands might also count as my inspirations for making music…).
What do you get up to when you’re not making music?
I work a 9-to-5 as a digital marketing specialist when I’m not making music. Otherwise, I’m always listening to music or watching endless hours of Rupaul’s Drag Race content.
Where are the kinds of venues you have performed in?
I’ve performed at a range of places from coffee shops to college auditoriums and event/wedding banquet halls across the Greater Toronto Area, to dive bars and mid-sized indie music venues in Toronto.
What are your favourite and least favourite types of venues?
Favourite: mid-sized music venues and I don’t mind the occasional private event banquet hall. Least favourite: coffee shops (the espresso and coffee grinder machines get pretty loud).
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
I feel the Internet has made music more accessible to listeners. And it helps brand awareness for emerging musicians.
What is your favorite thing about making music?
My favourite things about making music are the process and collaborating. It’s the act of creating and making something out of nothing with other talented people, then watching it all come to life. There’s nothing like seeing my creation materialize and sharing special moments with others in between putting pen to paper to releasing songs into the world.
What is your least favorite thing about making music?
My least favourite thing about making music is how expensive it can get. For my next project, I’m gonna find out if there’s a way to do it by trading skills.
Do you follow a process or ritual before a performance to get rid of nerves or performance anxiety?
To get rid of nerves and performance anxiety, I go through my vocal exercises – they double as breathing exercises which help me calm down.