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NEW ALBUM

333 DELUXE

Interview by

Allie King

Photography Maya Fuhr

Creative Director Deborah Ferguson

Jumpsuit: Jean Paul Gaultier from Tab Vintage, Heels and sunglasses: Windowsen, Gloves: Handsome Stockholm

You moved to LA with your family when you were very young, and worked several acting jobs. What was it about music that made you know that it was what you wanted to do?

With acting, you are always playing a character and using someone else’s story to communicate your message. With music, I feel it is much more personal. With music, I can be my own creative director, songwriter, or storyteller from my perspective directly. Oftentimes artists are considered to be full embodiments of their creative expression.

Blazer and skirt: Karen Heshi, Heels: Windowsen, Eye wear : Gentle Monster, Ring: Lilian Shalom

In 2019 you left your label and assembled an entirely new team of people around you. What was your favorite part about creating and dropping an album without a label?

The creative freedom really gave me the space to build confidence in myself … and really lean into my instincts about everything. It feels really good and much more fulfilling to me in that regard. When your art isn’t fully coming from your perspective, or you are making compromises, it doesn’t feel the same and the audience can tell.

Least favorite, or hardest part?

The hardest part about being independent is that it’s much harder to create space for yourself when you aren’t a part of the “machine”. There are a lot of systems in place for artists at record labels only to thrive. I want to help inspire younger artists to not fall victim to that pressure and to take the risk to build their own business.

Top: Vivienne Westwood at Tab Vintage, Pants: Windowsen, Sunglasses: Anna-Karin Karlsson, Ring: On Aura Tout Vu, Heels: Larroudé

Now that you are able to look back and reflect on that process, what did you learn and how will you, if at all, do it differently moving forward?

I think my time at a record label was very valuable in a lot of ways, and moving forward I’m still not sure that I want to take that route again. I don’t know. If the right situation comes along I would be open to singing to a label again but I would make sure there were things in place contractually about maintaining creative control and also being in control of my timelines in terms of releases. We’ll see what the future holds.

Jumpsuit: Karen Heshi, Boots: Le Silla

“Songs for You” was described as songs for the fan. It was obviously a successful album critically, but how was the reception from fans?

My fans love “Songs for You!” It represents a really special turning point in my career and life as it was the first project I released independently.

Who are some of your favorite artists to make music with?

I love working with Kaytranada. We always have an amazing and easy-going vibe in the studio. I also really love collaborating with my close friends or family members like my two brothers.

COVID-19 changed the way the world worked. How have you adjusted your career? Creatively, do you see a difference from before we faced the pandemic?

For a long time I wasn’t playing live shows or traveling, which was a huge lifestyle change for me. Eventually, shows came back and I was lucky enough to go on tour successfully this year which was an amazing experience after such a long hiatus. The time at home allowed me to go deeper into the creative process which is part of the reason why I think my last couple of projects have been so interesting and thorough creatively. I hope to keep that same energy and attention to detail moving forward for sure.

In this industry, we are seeing a lot of artists move away from full-length albums and focusing more on singles. You have 5 great full-length albums and have mentioned that you pay close attention to the sequencing of the songs on your albums.

I definitely see myself as more of an albums-based artist than singles. I don’t think singles often times allow you to get deep enough into my world or my concept. I’m also a really huge fan of listening to albums in full.

Top, shorts and boots: Windowsen

In your newest album “333,” we get to see a side of you that we haven’t experienced in your other 4 albums. Can you talk me through your experience freely exploring your artistry and music since your last album “Songs For You?”

“333” was really inspired by being at home during the slow, melancholy pandemic and wanting to create a project that felt hopeful, energized, fresh, excited. I was excited as usual to experiment with different sounds and create a new sonic experience for my listeners.

Do you think you have found yourself turning back to a similar sound you had when you started in the industry with your earliest music?

No, not necessarily. But I think the music that has always inspired me still does so it makes sense that similar ideas, concepts, sounds would show up in my work.

What parts of yourself do you think you highlighted more within “333” than you have with your previous work?

I think I am always experimenting with new and fresh production, sounds, instrumentation, vocal performance, as well as lyrics. “333” is both vulnerable and empowered, and also really delves into both the concepts of nature, spirituality, tech, reality, and virtual realities.

Dress: Karen Heshi, Heels: Windowsen, Ring: Lilian Shalom

“Naturally” is your lead release off the extended record, including a music video that watches as a crazed-western film. What was your motivation to lead with this song and video? What does it say about where your art is headed next?

The song is about lust while the music video is about the dark side of lust. I liked the idea of flipping the sweet lyrics into something that felt crazed or delusional which represents how quickly dynamics can change in relationships. The music video was heavily inspired by horror films as I’m a huge fan of the genre and, as usual, was looking to create something visually different than I ever have before. I love being unexpected.

Dress: Christopher Kane, Heels : Windowsen, Sunglasses: Dior at Tab Vintage, Ring: Lilian Shalom

As we look forward, what are your goals for live shows? Which song on this album are you most looking forward to performing live?

I hope to perform more shows internationally again. I miss my fans in Europe, South America, Asia … I really hope we can make it all work safely soon. Luckily, I have a few festivals coming up this summer. So I’m really looking forward to those. I can’t wait to perform “X” live again … It was a fan favorite on tour.