Where are you currently based?
I am currently based in Winchester, where I grew up, but I’m hoping to move to London this year to be closer to my music and live the city life!
How did you first start playing music?
I only started playing music when I was 12 years old. My Mum started having piano lessons at the time, and so brought in an old creaky piano into the house. One day I randomly sat at the piano and started playing around! My parents decided to get me lessons and the rest is history!
What’s been happening recently?
Recently, a lot of releasing, writing and recording! My favourite 3.
Your latest single ‘Best Friend Heartbreak’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I’m so excited that ‘Best Friend Heartbreak’ is out! The production and songwriting feel very ‘me’ which I just love. It’s been fun to get really emotional with this one.
The lyrics, although they took me 2 years to actually get off my chest, on the day of writing, poured out of me! There was a lot of built up emotion that I needed to release, and I think you can hear that in the song. The song is about losing close friends, and how painful it is when you feel so distant from them. I’m sure a lot of people can relate! The song was produced by Charlie Thomas (Callum Scott, London Grammar), who started building the track whilst I was writing. I love how the reverb and delay swells, and how powerful the drums are etc. So I guess the production was mostly influenced by the emotion and ‘oomph’ of the lyrics!
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
‘Best Friend Heartbreak’ was written last summer, and produced and mixed at the lovely Konk Studios in London by Charlie, as mentioned before. We recorded in Studio 1, which is such a cool late 70’s studio, with a gorgeous grand piano. Joe Mutton, who played most of the instrumentation on the track, I also wrote the song with. I have a lot of love for Charlie and Joe! The song wouldn’t be the same without them.
You played at Glastonbury last year, please tell us about this experience:
Glastonbury was INSANE. I had never been before, so not only got the pleasure of playing 2 sets, but was also free to explore and enjoy so much incredible music. There’s no other festival like it! It is honestly still so surreal that I was invited to play. I was ecstatic to be on stage; I remember I could see the peak of the pyramid stage from where I was playing, and just savoured every moment! I made some really cool friends too who also played, which helped as I went alone, and definitely useful when they helped me carry my keyboard through the mud!
Your forthcoming EP ‘When It Was Chaotic’ is on the way, please tell us about the songwriting process and a little about what we can expect:
Yesssss, my second EP! What I love about this EP is that it’s a collection of 5 songs, that are each based on completely individual topics– e.g. love, mental health, and friendships. I wrote the songs over the past 2 years, which makes the project feel like a coming-of-age moment. My biggest hope with this EP is that people feel as though they can relate to the songs. Coming your way on the 17th of March!
How has your support from BBC Radio 1 assisted you on your musical path?
Having my first play on Radio 1 with my song ‘Slow Motion’ was just incredible. It has been a dream of mine since I started writing music, and I’m so over the moon that it happened! It really helped my exposure, definitely, but also gave me confidence that what I am writing and releasing is worthy of national radio! That confidence has been more valuable than anything.
You’ve worked with amazing creatives including Ed Sheeran producer Will Hicks, how was this experience and how do you usually come to collaborate with other creatives?
I am so fortunate to have collaborated which such cool producers and writers since I started my music journey! They have all individually helped shape my sound and who I am as an artist. I look back at 16 year old music me, when I first started, and can’t believe how much I’ve grown! Most of the time I write with producers and writers first, and then we go on to produce and release the songs we collaborated on.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
At the moment, I am listening to a lot of SZA (her recent album is so good!), KAWALA, Bombay Bicycle Club, Gracie Abrams, Fletcher and JP Saxe. So a bit of a mix really!
What’s planned for 2023?
2023 will consist of a lot more writing and recording after I release ‘When It Was Chaotic’ EP in March, building up for my debut album, that will hopefully release later in the year! I’m excited to get out on stage with my band more too. Oh, and a lot of filming TikTok’s I suspect!
Favourite food and place to hangout?
At the moment my favourite place to eat and chill out with friends is The Stable. Incredible pizza and endless cider, you just can’t go wrong!
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