What’s your story as an artist?
I drew my first album cover when I was 8 years old. Discovered my parents’ cassette tape recorder and it was game over. When I first saw people’s eyes light up seeing live music, I knew I wanted to spread that kind of joy and be on stage. When my mom would turn up the radio because one of her favorite songs came on and she’d sing all the words, I wanted to write that kind of song so that I could bring someone out there; that kind of experience and connection to the universe that music seems to have uniquely (at least in my experience).
But even when you’re that sure of what you want to do with your life, it comes with its challenges, moments of self doubt, and it can be a brutally dramatic ride. One of my early “breaks” was catching the ear of Glenn Frey – he invited me and two other students from my songwriting class to band up and open for The Eagles. He brought us backstage when they played MSG, listened to all of our songs and gave incredible feedback, helping me become a stronger songwriter. I remember I had just gotten my first ever radio interview right before putting out my song “Brooklyn Nights” and I heard the news that Glenn had passed. And it was just shattering. And I know that his family members and people who knew him even better were mourning the loss in a much deeper way, but it really hurt.
I had just lost a mentor and a guide, I immediately started thinking of all the times I should have reached out but didn’t because I still couldn’t believe how generous he was with his time. I had crazy imposter syndrome, and I mean, he was Glenn Freaking Frey! But he always made time for us. And I just wish the world had had a bit more time with him.
Fast-forward past a ton of humbling experiences trying to make it in music, working three jobs to pay rent and for studio time, sleeping in my car after a show on the road because I couldn’t afford a hotel, crashing down to reality basically, but the dream was still alive. I felt like I didn’t have direction in a lot of ways, but I was still at open mics and playing acoustic sets in the city every week. Learning how to get whole bars who didn’t know my name to sing along to original songs instead of covers.
And in that extremely humbling “have to check my bank account before I buy groceries” moment in my life, I met the most incredible person who, spoiler alert, just said yes when I asked her to marry me. Brianna had also just gone from a high point in her career as a ballet dancer, but was transitioning to musical theater and going on audition after audition, many times not even getting seen because hundreds of people would show up and no matter how early she got there, there was a huge line ahead.
So to a certain extent, we had both had a glimpse of what our dreams could look like and were back starting from ground zero.
She helped give my life purpose again, I started being motivated enough to begin releasing my music, learning how to produce, and write more. Eventually I wrote and released a song called “Billy Joel” because Brianna’s favorite song is “Vienna” and when I met her family for the first time, part of what brought us together was when they asked if I knew any Billy Joel. So I went and sat at the piano and we had an amazing sing along late into the night. Well, Billy heard my song, and he shared it, writing to me privately as well. Not only that, but he got it added to the SiriusXM Billy Joel station so I got to hear my music on the radio once more.
And then COVID turned from two weeks into two years. But I wasn’t going to let something else knock me back down to a place of despair with no direction. So I wrote. And I did live streams every week for 6 months as I workshopped my songs. And now I’ve got most of the ones we’ve picked for my upcoming album done. I dropped the first one on October 8th, called “Cooler” and the music video turned out so incredibly well. It stars my now-fiancée (she also has had an incredible parallel path leading her to perform in the Broadway musicals Anastasia and An American in Paris…and most recently she acted and danced as one of the Jets in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story which is coming out in December). And I am so excited for what will come next.
What do you want your music to communicate?
I write songs for the dreamers and feelers of the world. I used to write a lot from a state of despair and those songs were really deep and I still do share some of those emotions in songs that I write now but I’ve been finding that it can be really powerful to write different kinds of songs that aren’t always rooted in sadness.
I think we’re in a really interesting time where a lot of Gatekeepers and industries of the dreamers are no longer really there, they’re not really in the way. This can be both a great thing and overwhelming at times when it comes to knowing what to post on social media which platforms to use in order to try to get eyes on your passion, your small business, your endeavors. What I want to communicate is that no dream is too big or unattainable, and that along the emotional rollercoaster that it can be in order to pursue those dreams, You Are Not Alone.
What are some sources of inspiration for your storytelling?
I pull heavily from personal experiences and relationships but I also have been writing a lot from perspectives of friends and family members who are maybe going through a difficult time but don’t have this vehicle to express how they’re feeling. For example I’ve been happily in a relationship for 5 years but I still pull from previous heartbreaks to write songs. That said, I get a lot of inspiration when a friend of mine is going through a difficult time, a difficult break up. And as I’m there for them listening, consoling them through this, I’m also listening out for song titles. I don’t even mean to, it just happens.
What’s in my personal relationships though I’ve found some beautiful everyday moments that are worth highlighting more than maybe we usually hear. So many songs are about that heartbreak or about just feeling good but not about the inner dialogue that we have with ourselves of whether or not people like us, and not even romantically. There are tons of songs asking someone to marry them but very few asking if somebody wants to move in, which is a big step in relationships. So I like to capture some of these, maybe mundane smaller moments that don’t get as much attention because I think they’re worth it.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
So many. I think there are a lot of artists who have transcended even the concept of only being an artist, which is really cool. I love to see people who have created such an incredible community around their music because I truly believe that music is the greatest uniter that exists in the world. There’s not a person in the world who can resist smiling, dancing and singing along to Uptown Funk when it comes on.
I love how Bruno Mars brings so much artistry into his live performances. I love that he is now going beyond his individual artistry and collaborating with Anderson Paak through Silk Sonic. I love watching the careers of people like Ryan Tedder as well, for example. Someone who has not only had a really accomplished career as an artist, but also as a writer and producer for other artists. And that’s something that I really would love to do as well. I can’t release every single song that I write myself.
There are honestly too many to name. And many of the artists that I’m inspired by on a daily basis aren’t necessarily household names. They’re friends of mine who are all pushing and fighting for their dreams the same way that I am. But you’ll know who they are one day.
What’s the record or artist that made you realize you wanted to be an artist?
There are tons of records and artists that have influenced my own writing/production/sound. But honestly, the drive to become an artist or to really follow music as a career came from when I was playing violin with my orchestra in high school and I was deciding between going to Johns Hopkins to study engineering or NYU to study music. We were performing the orchestral suites for West Side Story and I basically started crying on stage. It was so beautiful. I couldn’t imagine not writing, not being on a stage, not sharing music with the world. I’d been writing songs since I was ten, but that was one of the first moments of clarity where I realized I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
First dates, insecurities, worrying we might say the wrong thing and lose our chance at true love. We’ve all been there. “Cooler” is a song about those nerves and the internal dialog I have whenever I meet someone new. Wishing to be cooler, hoping to get a second chance if I messed up this first one. It’s a really fun song with a hook that takes the listener into a whole new world. I wrote it with my close friends Jenson, Sarah, and Bhav and we had such an incredible time pulling this song together. I hope it gives someone the confidence they need to boldly be themselves and recognize they’re already “cooler” the way they are.
What inspires your sound?
Emotional, dramatic, unabashed dreaming. I’ve always loved Top-40 because it can communicate with so many people. But then trying to balance the idea of not being too inspired by others or too commercial that it sounds done before.
What’s your favorite tune of yours?
Impossible to say – I wouldn’t be able to pick one! But, for now, I am really excited about my latest song, Cooler, because I had such an amazing time recording it, producing it, and producing the music video for it. And then I’m sure that when my next one comes out that will be my favorite then.
Where are some things you really want to accomplish as an artist?
Headline a stadium show accompanied by the youth orchestra I played in growing up (AYP). Taking my mom to the GRAMMYs. Headline MSG. Write songs that positively change people’s lives. Collaborate with some of my favorite artists. Get inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Favorite lyric you ever wrote?
That’s like trying to pick a favorite kid. One of my favorites that comes to mind immediately is from a song I haven’t released. The line is, “I had to break my hands to stop writing songs for you.” Wrote that line years and years ago. But I keep writing new ones that I think could take the title. We’ll have to see.
Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?
Yes and no. There are little moments of despair that can come in pretty frequently. There are amazing moments of validation that keep me going. But honestly, the thoughts about giving up are usually rooted in my depression. Or contribute to it. And when I’m real with myself, I know that I can’t give up. Giving up would be final. Giving up would ruin me.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
My dad told me to try my best to fall in love with someone truly kind. To find someone who would be a teammate for life. And I did. I’m so lucky in that, which makes it so much easier to handle the difficulties of chasing these dreams in music.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
Probably NFTs and the metaverse. Maybe that will take more time to develop, but all the live music performances we’ve been seeing in the gaming community…it’s just going to continue to evolve. We’re going more and more virtual. I’m not sure if I love that, because I love the energy of performing in front of people more than anything else, but I think it’ll be important for musicians to add another hat. We’re already songwriters, producers, video producers, graphic designers, website builders, talent agents, and more. Well, now we’ll have to add more tech roles to the team. Which is so often a team of one at the beginning.
