Photos by Katie Nolan and stylist by Kelly Johnson
“I started working on music about ten years ago and it’s been a grind. I started completely on my own in Albion, NY. A town of about 4,000 people and was mixing, writing, recording and producing on my own for a long time until I met some great people that helped me allocate my time more efficiently so I could focus on the song writing and melody aspect. That being said Mike Miller, a pioneer in music engineering and his fiance Candace Kendall found my music and took me under their wing and eventually signed me to their label ASTRE. OO GIRL is the first single of a 12 song album I’m working on with them.”
What is your story behind the single?
I made OO GIRL when I was fresh out of a real toxic relationship. OO GIRL is about a guy who’s head over heels for a girl he knows is not good for him but is so blinded by her that it doesn’t matter. He’s willing to suffer any pain she dishes out just for one night with her.
Why this title?
Truthfully, there’s no deep meaning behind it. I knew it was the beginning of the chorus, so I decided to use that as the folder name when I originally made the song in Pro Tools; from there, the name stuck.
What inspired your musical style and sound?
Originally I started singing in a choir and doing musicals. I think this is what gave me such a strong connection to harmonies in my songs. I also have a deep love for bands like the Beatles, Nirvana, and the rap group Naughty by Nature because that’s the music I grew up on, so there have always been underlying tones of them in my music. Currently I’m a bit all over the place with inspirations in the music industry, which is why I try to blend every aspect into what I’m making. I really want to make original music that sounds like me.
What’s the main message behind your music?
My main message varies from song to song, but overall it’d be that every single one of us is going through different emotions on a day-to-day basis. Music is my diary to write about those and show people we’re all in this together. We’re perfectly imperfect. Every day is a new roller coaster, and you can hear that in the way my moods and tones and even melodies shift song to song.
How do your lyrics, themes and storytelling develop?
Years and years of music and experiences. Lyrics have always been a focal point for me because, honestly, in the beginning of my music journey, it was not my strong suit. I’ve worked with a ton of talented writers over the years that opened my mind to different ways of writing. This almost goes back to my message in music too; there are only so many stories to tell as musicians. A majority of musicians are telling the same stories, but it’s our job to tell it to listeners in a way that they’ve never heard it and in a way that is most relatable to the listener. On top of all that, I really want people to feel like they know exactly how I felt in the moment of my songwriting session, which to me is more of a tell-all.
What are the main themes of your visual storytelling when you come up with your visuals?
This is one of the most important parts to me. I love to be hands-on with music videos and promotional videos. I think giving your music visual life can really give a deeper look into what the artist was feeling and what the artist really wants to portray as the vibe. Music is universal, which means it can be interpreted by the listener in whichever way they want, but visuals are not. Visuals are the artist’s chance to show how they perceive their work.
How does this track fit in with your previous releases?
It doesn’t, which is what I am proud of. All of my music out currently is drastically different from each other, and personally I think artists shouldn’t be hesitant to do that. A lot of times artists get caught up in chasing a “sound,” but your sound is who you are. Your sound is how you’re feeling, and that changes every minute of every day.
What were some genres, records or artists that brought you up artistically?
The Beatles: you won’t find a song of theirs that I don’t know. Their songwriting and melodies were ahead of their time, hence why they’re still so popular today. Naughty by nature was a huge inspiration in my writing and word schemes. They had such an intricate way of writing, and it can translate well to the way I like to write. Nirvana was such an inspiration in the way Kurt was so willing to let himself out there. He was so raw with his emotions and wasn’t scared to show people his flaws. I want to be able to incorporate all I’ve learned from the bands/groups into my music to make something that sounds like me.
What inspired the production and sonic aspect of this track?
I work with an amazing producer, Tyler Lindsey. We wanted to make a track that was truly original and easy to move to. We knew the lyrics could be dark, but we wanted an upbeat production to contrast with that to make something truly unique.
What are your plans for 2025?
In early 2025, in January, I’m going to be releasing the music video for OO GIRL, so keep an eye out for that. I’ll have one more single releasing after that and then a full album. Most importantly, I just want to make more cool shit that I’m proud of. If my music can help one person escape reality for a bit, then I’m stoked.
