What are the inspirations behind your music?
I write a lot about growing up Mormon and having a big family. I’m fortunate to have had a pretty unique life experience. I feel like some weird stuff has happened in my life, and it’s fun to talk about it.
What is your songwriting process like?
Usually, I start with either a melody or a cool guitar part and build it from the ground up.
What’s your favorite lyric you’ve ever written?
I like my funny lyrics the best. In Keeping Score, I wrote: “If I got a dime for not giving a fuck / I think I’d have nothing to lose.” I’m talking about how, when you’re a girl, you’re not rewarded the way guys are for being chill. You’re expected to be really chill, but it’s actually really hard. So if I was like that, I’d have nothing to lose-and I’d probably be famous (but I’m not).
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve been told this multiple times in my life, but it’s always a good reminder: I need to stay dialed into the music. It’s all about the music-don’t let myself get ahead of it. My music reflects where I’m at; I stand where my music stands. Even tonight, I ended up cutting a song from my set because I just wasn’t feeling great about playing it. I thought, You know what? I should’ve practiced more if I wanted to play it. So I decided to accept where I’m at and stay true to myself by not forcing it. Making tough calls like that always serves me well.
How do you want your music to resonate with your audience?
I want my music to feel like part of something bigger. I want to highlight big ideas and help people feel more understood and connected to something meaningful.
How did the remix for your song “Ritual” come about?
My best friend Ben, who produced most of the songs on my EP, wanted to make a remix. Ritual is the only song he didn’t really work on that much, so we decided to do something crazy, and I let him do whatever he wanted. It turned out really crazy and hyperpop-he’s awesome.
Can you tell us about how “Forever” came together and why you chose to include on the deluxe version instead of the main EP?
My friends Brandon Shoop, Ben, and I produced that song together, and it’s one of my favorites on the EP. I thought about putting it on the main EP, but I decided I wanted it to be a surprise deluxe track. It ended up being one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.
Your song “Pulpit” is a stand-out track. What is it about?s
“Pulpit” is a song about living in Provo, Utah, and no longer believing in the Mormon Church and looking around the world with fresh eyes. It’s really about that moment of realization.
There’s a strong tension between self-doubt and hope in “Keeping Score.” Was that duality something you set out to capture, or did it just come naturally?
It just came naturally. I was feeling that when I wrote it, and honestly, I wrote it pretty recently. I feel like I had a really hard end to last year. I was at a point in my life where this could go either way. I swung hopeful, for sure.
Track #2, “Swimmer”: What concept made you go “How interesting?”
I was basically writing it about the feeling of someone not understanding you-telling you something you already know without even bothering to ask if you knew it.
The 3rd verse of “Just For Now” is another standout of your EP. What’s the story behind it?
I wrote this during a time in my life when I felt really stuck and heavy. I felt like I was weighing everyone around me down. I was unmoving, like a rock at the bottom of a river, while everyone else was flowing past me. It was a really hard feeling. In “Just For Now,” I’m talking about being with someone just to have someone, and questioning whether or not that’s ethical. I realized I needed to cut my losses, move on from all those bad feelings, and just stop.
How was going to BYU?
Going to BYU was really hard for me. I left the Church while I was still attending, and that was a really tough experience. But I’m so grateful for my friends and family, they were incredibly supportive and stayed close to me through it all.
How has the transition from moving to LA from Utah been?
Moving to LA from Utah was really hard at first, but now LA feels like home. All my best friends are there. I miss Utah-the mountains and the homies but I think I’m where I’m supposed to be.
When did you realize you wanted to become a musician?
It was around the time I finished my second song, I decided to go for it and try doing the whole artist thing. Before that, I was thinking of going into law or marketing.
What would you tell your younger self?
I would tell my younger self that practice makes perfect. The times in my life when I’ve seen the most growth or really improved at music have been when I was practicing consistently and staying disciplined. So I’d tell my younger self to keep the grind going and keep working on my instruments and musicianship.
How was your first headline tour?
My headline tour was so fun. I was tour-managing and managing myself at the time, so it required a lot from me and really pushed me, but the shows were so special and amazing. My favorite shows on the tour were probably New York or DC, just because I had never really played there before-so it was really special to meet those fans.
What was your favorite meal you had on tour?
My favorite meal on tour has to be getting a pizza pie at Pie Shop in DC.
What’s your pre-show routine?
I usually practice right up until I go on, and I take deep breaths to try not to feel super anxious. I tend to get pretty bad pre-show nerves sometimes. August Ponthier posted about this, but I feel like I’ve gotten better at accepting that I’m going to have nerves, and just letting it happen has helped a lot.
You’re playing Kilby Block Party, what can fans expect from your performance?
It’s going to be insane. Playing Kilby Block Party has been a dream of mine for a very long time, and I’m doing it with a band that I started playing shows with in college. It’s a full-circle moment.
You have your own newsletter, why is it so important to connect with your fans?
I LOVE my newsletter. I really value a tight, cool community, and I want my project to represent a group of people who love and support each other-where everyone’s a homie. My newsletter is one of the only ways I can directly connect with my fans in a sincere way.
What music do you grew up listening to and how does it influence your sound today?
I feel like half the hooks I write can be traced back in some way to a Killers song. I’m like, “Wait, I think Brandon Flowers already wrote that.” I listened to so much of The Killers growing up.
What artists inspire you?
Samia, Maggie Rogers, and Sabrina Carpenter. I’m a pop girlie-I love the pop girlie moments happening right now. I have so many amazing peers that I love, like Sarah and The Sundays. Kaytlin Numbers and Ethan’s Room are incredible writers.
What are some up-and-coming artists that should be on everyone’s radar?
Kaytlin Numbers, Ethan’s Room, Sydney Ross Mitchell, Grace Enger, Bebe Stockwell.