What inspired you to begin a career in music?
I was really young when I decided I wanted to make music my life. When I was about 7 years old I started learning guitar, then piano, then drums, then singing! I never really wanted to learn other people’s songs, I always wanted my teachers to teach me how to make my own songs. At the time I was really into Green Day, that’s the only band I can remember listening to at that age! And the rest, as they say, is history!
What differs you and your sound from other upcoming artists in the music industry?
I think what makes my sound different than other artists is the fact that I’m not scared to experiment with different sounds and styles. I love taking inspiration from genres like rock, hip hop, pop and alternative music and combing them into my own tracks. Artists like Grandson, Twenty One Pilots and Imagine Dragons are massive influences for me because they combine big, anthemic sounds with other genres while retaining commercial appeal.
Your latest release ‘Underdogs’ is out July 23rd. Can you please describe the creative process and explain the meaning behind the single?
Yes! I’m super excited to release this song! It was a really fun song to make. It all started with the guitar riff that weaves throughout the track. Then when I added the drumbeat it gave it a slight hip-hop vibe, which inspired the vocals in the verses. For the chorus, I knew it had to be big. So the edgy vocals combined with a big bass sound and synthesisers did the trick! Lyrically, I was really inspired by the events happening in the world right now. Mainly by the Black Lives Matter protests and other political turmoil. It got me thinking about oppression and how the majority of the world population are not represented fairly. This is how I got the idea to call the song ‘Underdogs’, a bit like a homage to those who’s voices aren’t heard.
Everyone experiences good days and bad days, as a musician, when you have a bad day, what motivates you to keep moving and look ahead to the future?
Very true, there are many bad days! As a musician, you are essentially working for yourself. So it’s very easy to loose confidence in your work and get demotivated. Sometimes I just need to take a day off and not even think about music. It helps me reset my brain and then I feel fresh the next day to tackle more work. Or sometimes I listen to some old ideas I was working on and see if I can get inspired that way. But I’ve learned its never good to force yourself to write music. It has to come naturally, then the song will sound authentic.
In your own opinion, what is the most meaningful song you wrote? What makes you say that one?
Wow this is a tough question! I think my song ‘Override’ off my debut EP ‘On The Edge Of Change’ has some of the most meaningful lyrics to me. Its about feeling lost in life, loosing confidence in yourself and trying to get back on track. We all have bad days where we doubt ourselves and our abilities, and the lyrics to ‘Override’ reflect this really well. I think its a song that many people can relate to.
Throughout your musical career, have you experienced any ‘wow’ moments? Those moments that you stop to reflect and can’t believe you are where you are?
To be honest, every time I’m working on a new track in the studio I get ‘wow’ moments! My favourite part about being a musician is being in the studio and watching a new idea come together. Its so satisfying and I get so excited about it! However, one of the biggest ‘wow’ moments for me was playing at the Cheshire Oaks Christmas Lights Gig in 2017. It was the biggest crowds I’ve every played to, probably about 3000 people. As soon as I stepped on stage I literally said ‘wow….’. But thats when I realised I prefer playing to a large audience than a small one. I think its because its difficult to see their faces when there are many people, which makes me less nervous.
What personal advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue this career?
To someone thinking of starting a career in music, I would say be prepared to put in a lot of time and energy. Success doesn’t happen overnight. But if you love what you do and you’re authentic about it, then you will enjoy every moment. And when people see that you are passionate and serious about your art, thats when you will start to see the rewards.
What does the foreseeable future hold for you as an artist?
The whole coronavirus pandemic has really slowed down progress for musicians. So there won’t be any gigs for a long time. But I will just keep writing, recording and releasing new music as much as possible! I am also planning some music videos for my new songs, so that’s something to look forward to! I am also doing mini gigs from my home, streaming to instagram and YouTube to keep my audience engaged. Its important not to slow down just because the world is slowing down. You can still make art and share it with your fans 🙂
‘Underdogs’ is available now via all major platforms.
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