Our friend TRISHES is back! You should  remember her multifaceted artistry and creativity. She isn’t only known as an artist – her passion for racial justice and her background as an immigrant has led her to work on campaigns for Crooked Media and the Progressive Turnout Project, as well as performing and volunteering with the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2020.

As a musician, the Trinidadian-American has been featured on NPR, Billboard, MTV India, and VH1 India; and she has performed internationally, playing festivals like SXSW, CMW, Women’s Redrock Festival, Tune In Tel Aviv, Linda Perry’s Rock N Relief, Pyramid Yoga Festival and more. Her visual art has been part of Adidas “Nite Jogger” campaign and she has been nominated for Best Music Video at the South Asian Film Festival two years in a row, including one nomination for her directorial debut on her music video “Gaslight.” 

Her upcoming debut album “The Id” ties all of her passions together. “I believe that all societal and global conflict begins from individual internal turmoil, and that examining those inner struggles is an essential part of affecting change.”

What have you been up to since we last spoke?

Oh gosh mainly just working on my album release and the accompanying artwork!

How did you bounce back from Covid year and how did it change your creativity? 

I don’t know if Covid really changed my creativity to be honest. But it definitely changed me. I think I’m a lot softer now, gentler. Although I’m sure a lot of people would still say I’m pretty blunt. I have a lot more patience now. I’m more mindful. I value spending time with my parents more. I’m a little better at detaching my happiness from external factors. But only a little.

What is the story behind your newest release?

Instant gratification is essentially the musical soliloquy of the Id. It’s a tantrum, everything this primal self wants to say and do. Through the album I talk about how suppressed fear and shame can manifest into violence and bigotry and hatred – it’s a little more intellectualized. Instant Gratification is more just emotion and chaos.

Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?

FKA Twigs is brilliant and I’m so inspired by everything she does.

What’s the record or artist that made you realize you wanted to be an artist?

I’m not really sure! It’s something I’ve wanted since before I can remember. I was putting on shows for my family as far back as I can remember. I think the artist that made me see the kind of artist I wanted to be was Regina Spektor – particularly a song called “Oedipus” that I don’t think you can find anywhere but YouTube now.

What inspired this new release sonically?

To me each construct of self is expressed by a level of minimalism – both in arrangement and in harmonic progression. To me the Id is the most minimalist and rhythmically driven.

What’s your favorite tune of yours?

I don’t think I could pick a favorite song, but my favorite record is probably Big Sunglasses.

Where are some things you really want to accomplish as an artist?

I really just want to be in a position where me and my music and art can help the movements I believe in in some way.

Favorite lyric you ever wrote?

“My mind is like an MC Escher house
I’m running down the stairs and I can’t get out.”

Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?

Every other week for 5 minutes until my best friend calls me back.