Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
In 2018 I lost my daughter Cecelia Moon to sudden and unexplained natural causes. She was almost two. That’s when everything changed. Including my perspective. I began prioritizing things like being in the moment and cleansing myself of any negativity in me. I sadly became an expert in knowing how precious each moment is and I am determined to be the best version of myself because I know how lucky I am to be here. I also realized that people with unimaginable lives usually have interesting perspectives so I decided to bring them to the center of conversation and learn about what happened and how it changed the course of their life.
What is the favorite song you wrote and why?
I wrote an instrumental called “The Unknown” to the story of Caitriona Balfe who stars in the hit tv show Outlander. It has 4 parts that weave in and out of the story of her life. I find the tune to be quite peaceful and it touches on some of my Celtic roots which I haven’t done before.
Who are your all time musical icons?
Bonnie Raitt. Johnny Cash. David Bowie. Morrissey. Leonard Cohen. Bob Dylan.
What are some things to do to keep your inspiration alive?
I try not to overwork or overthink. I like to wait until I get the impulse to create. I basically set my intention then wait. I also don’t like to “finish” things because usually that’s when I fuck it up.
Who are you binge listening to these days?
Durand Jones & The Indications
Favorite movie or TV show?
Hard to pick a fave but Taxi Driver, Snake Eyes, Goodfellas are definitely up there.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about.
My latest release is the soundtrack to my guests lives. I think sometimes music can help us understand things that words can’t so I’ve been creating with that as my mantra.
Do you have any peculiar pre or post show rituals?
No but that’s a good idea.
What’s the future looking like for you?
I’m going to play more shows for sure. Hopefully I’ll continue to meet people with unimaginable lives. I love talking to them and scoring their stories.
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
My guests are my inspiration. I try to imagine what their band would sound like (if they had one). I put a bpm counter on their voice and that’s usually how I get the tempo down and then I play along to their story and react to the drama.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?
After a show a couple came up to me and said they were having trouble conceiving so they decided to put one of my songs on and get it on. They firmly believe my song “flee or fight” helped her get pregnant.
What do you think is the best way to make it as an artist nowadays?
Make great art. Run your brand like it’s a business. Identify your target market. Make a marketing plan. Stay on bran. Grind hard on ALL social media. Only fans could be a great marketing tool.
What would you change in the music and entertainment industry especially after this past year?
I think labels are becoming a thing of the past. I’d speed that up. I’d love to see more tools for artist development. I’d definitely increase royalty rates across streaming platforms. It’s very hard to generate meaningful revenue via streaming.
