The aspiring alt pop artist from a small town outside of Los Angeles has been fighting off boredom and anxiety through songwriting since she recorded and self-released her first breakup song in middle school (no doubt making lunch period extra awkward for all involved the next day), and she hasn’t looked back since. “Lonely Chapstick” is preceded by the Metric/Emily Haines flavored “Savior Complex” and “Twisted Saint”, with its echoes of Goldfrapp and Bat For Lashes. “Loney Chapstick” is a collaboration with producer Adam Castilla (The Colourist) and was mastered by John Greenham (Billie Eilish, Girl in Red, Gracie Abrams).

What’s the inspiration behind Lonely Chapstick?

Lonely Chapstick was the first single I wrote off my new EP. It started out as a light-hearted observation that I always have chapstick on me, and I’m clearly addicted to it. We used my addiction to chapstick as a metaphor throughout the song to tell a real-life story of a secret but thrilling relationship. I’m a very independent person, and sometimes to a fault, ‘Lonely Chapstick’ is about the fear of letting someone get close to you because you’re scared it might take away from who you are, or ultimately you could end up getting hurt.

What do chapstick and relationships have in common within this analogy?

When I started writing my new EP, I spent so much time around people that they inevitably began to notice things I never picked up on, like my chapstick obsession. I wrote this song about the thin line between co-dependency and avoidant attachment, but my writing style tends to gravitate towards more energetic and upbeat music. Despite this, I still love to find ways to talk about heavier subjects and one of those ways is through metaphors, like a lonely chapstick. 

How was it starring in horror shows and theater as a child?

I honestly loved it and thought it was the coolest thing ever. It was so random, but for some reason, the whole horror show thing just clicked, and I went for it. It’s definitely a staple of who I am today, and I love carrying little parts of it into my music.

What’s the main message in this EP?

My new EP brought me back to my 12-year-old self. It’s honest, daring, and just me. I was also able to dive into what really makes me. And all the little quirks and my favorite obsessions at the moment, or whatever it may be—for example, chapstick. I love chapstick. I don’t go anywhere without at least 3 of them in my bag. Something so random as being obsessed with chapstick helped me write a song about the insane feeling of being obsessed with a crush who doesn’t feel as strongly about you and just wants to run from it. 

What artist introduced you to the art of writing songs?

I started writing music on a keyboard when I was 11. I had gotten to do vocal warmups for Les Misérables. To this day, I still write music on that keyboard and refuse to get rid of it. Lyrically, I love the way Blondie, Dolly Parton, Paramore, and Avril Lavigne write. I’ve always been such a huge fan of theirs, and I carry that into my music. 

Tell us about your sense of style and aesthetics. What inspires those?

I write and create what I feel in that given moment, and I feel like my personal style follows that. I’m big into suites, blazers, and anything that you can quickly throw on but still looks edgy and put together. Most of the time, you’ll see me in darker colors, but I’m trying to work on that, haha. 

What’s coming next for you?

I’m so excited about the new music that’s coming out. I’ve put so much of myself into my upcoming EP, the music videos, vinyls, merch, and more. I’m definitely going to be playing more shows; I can’t wait to perform my new EP live. Nothing beats seeing and hearing a body of work that you’ve dedicated so much of yourself to finally being released.