“I’m having a social disease summer.”
What are your NYC essentials?
Fiction Bar: I love that spot because they’ve let me host music video premieres and parties. I also DJ there sometimes- I just love Fiction Bar in general.
duckduck: I love my neighborhood bar. It’s called duckduck!
Goodwill Bins in Queens: I’m honestly not the biggest fan of thrifting in New York because I think it’s ultimately kind of overpriced, but I like the Goodwill bins in Queens.
How did “Green Saturn” come about?
“Green Saturn” is my first real folk song. It came from self-reflecting on my childhood and growing up. It’s personal, open, and honest – which makes for the best folk songs.”
Why Green Saturn?
I was pulling a lot of imagery from growing up, and the song ended up full of those visuals. I was thinking about my dad’s car – it’s was a dark green Saturn, and it felt special. That car held a lot of memories because I got driven everywhere in it while growing up.
What’s it like putting something so personal out into the world?
I sat back down and I was like, damn, this is actually really personal, and people in my family are going to hear it – so there’s definetly some nerves when it comes to releasing music. But at the time when I wrote that song, I needed the catharsis of saying those things and processing my emotions.
What were some of your inspirations for “Green Saturn”?
I am a big Hovdy fan, they’re one of my favorite bands. One of the members lived in Waco, TX, and they’re from Austin, which isn’t far from where I’m from, so I’ve always felt really connected to their songwriting, storytelling and sound.
I was also heavily inspired by my collaborator, Noah Pope, he’s a songwriter of his own and has an insane solo project – so I knew I had to make this song with him; I couldn’t make it with anyone else. It was truly the perfect blend.
What was the recording process for “Green Saturn” like?
It was quite interesting. I wrote it at home, alone, and then we started it working on it when he was living in Bed-Stuy – we made the first demos in his apartment.
It was just one mic next to a window on a super trafficky street.
Months later, we continued the song after he got his own studio in Brooklyn, and it was really nice – we went back and retracked some stuff. It was the two of us and my friend Mia Lorelei, who sang harmonies on the track.
What’s nostalgic to you about summer?
I definitely was someone who had family on both coasts, so I went to the beach a lot growing up. I’m thinking of trying to hit Rockaway Beach in New York this summer.
I feel like since I’m from Texas, I grew up with one of those woven basket material hats – so I brought with me. I’m planning to sit out on the beach and have some popsicles. I figure that’s going to be really nostalgic.
What’s in for the summer?
Hanging out in my neighborhood, chilled red wine, and Addison Rae