Inspiration

I first realized my passion for music at the age of 17. I started out playing the saxophone in jazz band, but after switching to guitar, I became obsessed with songwriting, singing, and later, music production. My parents were both music enthusiasts, with my mom being a fan of pop, funk, and disco music, and my dad favoring country and rock. Their musical tastes influenced my own and played a role in shaping the type of music I create today. I grew up surrounded by music, and my father’s great singing voice and my mother’s love of dancing, especially to Michael Jackson, further fueled my love for the art.

Musical Style And Influences

As a young artist, I started out as a guitar-based singer-songwriter, focusing on guitar play, storytelling, and vocal texture. My early songwriting influences included John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Mumford and Sons, and Jack Johnson. However, over time, my style evolved and changed as I worked with different songwriters and producers in the music industry, including during my time with Sony in my 20s. My sound has shifted with the changing tides of pop music, and I believe that my music career started with a style more aligned with my father’s musical tastes, but has since shifted more towards my mother’s preferences.

First Rockstar Moment

My first rockstar moment occurred when I watched my friends perform Green Day songs at a school talent show in seventh grade. I was struck by their performance and knew at that moment that I wanted to pursue music for the rest of my life.

Pushing Creative Boundaries

My songwriting and inspiration tend to come in cycles. I often get caught up in other aspects of my life, such as new relationships, living situations, and friend groups. However, when these situations change and eventually fade away, I often find myself in deep, introspective, and reflective mindsets, which is when I tend to write the majority of my music. These phases can last for months or even years at times.

As an artist who has been making music for a long time, it’s difficult to pinpoint just a few specific influences. I’ve had many idols who have influenced and transformed my music throughout the years. Currently, I’m a huge fan of Galimatias, his production nuance and attention to detail. While trying to emulate his style, I’ve stumbled upon new sounds of my own, as often happens with artists. Post Malone has also been a major influence over the past decade, but my roots remain in the singer-songwriter world. Although I now program and produce a lot of my music using electronic means, my melodic intuition and affinity for storytelling are still rooted in those older influences.