Laguna Beach, California-based singer, songwriter, guitar and piano player who just last month released a brand-new album. Her prior album had been done with a three-time GRAMMY-nominated producer and was released on the same record label that has artists such as Moby, Duran Duran, and Yoko Ono on its roster. She has been featured by USA Today, Rolling Stone, Billboard, American Songwriter, Harpers Bazaar, Glamour, and more. Last November she even attended the Billboard Awards, which she talks about during this interview. She also talks here about surviving a near-death experience while giving birth to her twin boys. In addition to her music, she has launched Lovendar, a lavender-based fragrance line that is a nod to the healing journey behind her album. She has more than 425 thousand streams on her top five songs on Spotify alone.
“The desert was that space for me at that time and that solace and provided me a sacred space to begin creation.”
“I usually write on guitar. My process for pretty much all my songs is I start with a guitar tune. I don't sing at all. I just start on guitar chords and then after that I play it with a beat.”
“I love writing and creating because then I feel very connected to what is around me. I feel like everything is alive.”
“I've worked with different producers in the past, Ken Coomer, obviously, from Wilco, the original drummer (for) Wilco. He did my last album.”
“Just as any insight for artists is that they should really research the people that they work with and what they want to bring out. You really need to scout the right people … just like a casting call … make sure you get that producer that you want that's gonna appeal to you with what you need to create and what you want or your vision of how you want the music to sound.”
“When I write and create at home, I'm really into feeling my instruments, but when I do a show I'm very much engaged in the audience and I'm moving a lot.”
“Toronto was my place to really get into the films that I did and then it spawned me to go back to my roots, which was my music.”
“I'm a very visual person so the cinematic element is definitely driven through my lyrics and even the vibes of the instruments of my songs definitely are cinematic, which, I really want to drive that home. I feel like the moving image is just as beautiful as the music.”
“Don't compromise the project for your ego … the goal is to make good music.”
“I think to be an artist is a unique journey. It's harder. You have to be able to take the hits from society, from the pre-conception.”
“Rocketdyne”
“Desert Soul”