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Hugo: Loyle Carners’ 3rd Studio Album is a Musical Magnifying Glass

 What Loyle Carner did with ‘hugo’ was an unprecedented stroke of genius, but a stroke of genius nonetheless

Born and raised in South London, Carner used ‘hugo to enhance not only his old sound but his societal commentary. His typical jazz-influenced sound has dug its heels into the majority of the album’s tracks, but with a speed and intensity that we haven’t yet heard from Carner. With singles and first tracks “Hate” and “Georgetown” setting the tone for the album as something that is not only deeply personal but inquisitive; a man that is clearly angry with the view of society his magnifying glass has shown him. 

‘hugo’, Carner’s third studio album, takes on the role of exploring identity with issues of race and family co-existing at the forefront, ignited by the more recent birth of his son. To which Carner has dedicated a song, ‘Homerton’. The song represents a self-discussion that sees him come to terms with the mistakes he has made as a father, as well as taking on a new understanding and forgiveness towards his own father, having seen him make similar mistakes. “Sometimes, the parents need their kids more than the kids need the parents”. It is a track that emulates the start of a journey of reconciliation, with himself and the man that came before him.

Whilst ‘Homerton’ starts the journey of forgiveness, ‘HGU’ finishes it. The track takes on another introspective approach and sees Loyle finish the album with a clear message; in what is a short story of the forgiveness he has recently experienced towards his father for the mistakes he made, Carner forgives himself. It is a much bigger message than what it may initially seem and is a message that a lot of people will be able to relate to, especially with such an unmistakably sincere and urgent quality of production. Carner does not only want us to listen to his words, but to carry them with us in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of ourselves and, perhaps, our familial relationships. 

Hugo Loyle Carner
© Christopher Currence

These sharp and insistent tracks do not stop at exploring his identity as a father, but also his identity as a mixed-race man. The most notable of which is “Georgetown”, a track featuring and born out of Afro-Guyanese poet John Agard and his well-known poem “Half-Caste”. Both explore the metaphor of a piano, and how its black and white keys are necessary to constitute a full instrument. It is a metaphor that highlights Loyle’s eventual self-acceptance of his mixed-race identity, as well as suggesting a reassuring self-love for his heritage. A piano is full and whole with its black and white keys, and so is he. It is a necessary and loving message but is not one that ends there. Tracks such as “Plastic” and “Blood On My Nikes” create a running commentary on societies handling of race-related issues. Particularly, the desensitising the media has created towards the violence young, black and mixed-race men experience in London, whilst the world continues to spin with its focus on shiny, ‘plastic’ things to take away from the real issues at hand.

And finally, Loyle, of course, does not shy away from exploring how his father’s identity as a black man played a role in impacting their relationship. We return to “HGU” to delve into such a connection; the opening lyrics “I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you” provide finality to a complicated relationship between father and son; forgiveness. But we’re not left with just that, we are shown an understanding that could come from self-introspection. Carner illustrates a notion that those with difficult upbringings may all hope to understand, “Hurt people hurt people.” But he takes it one step further, “Especially the ones who weren’t equal/the burnt treacle.” The black man, the men who were not equal to their white counterparts and by that logic were left waking up on the wrong side of the bed every day by society’s standards. Simply, it is harder to be black in contemporary Britain. We have not yet reached equality, and that kind of pain trickles through generations and relationships. It appears Carner, through his own battle with his identity, has discovered and come to terms with this notion in regard to his own father/son relationship. 

hugo‘ is a hugely successful album that takes a magnifying glass to society, to fatherhood, and most importantly, to how these affect Carner as an individual. It is a captivating, soulful album in both production and lyricism, and one that we should pay thanks to merely for its existence. Loyle Carner does not shy away from anything, perhaps in hope that, eventually, no one else will either.

 

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Eurovision Song Contest 2023: Liverpool Beats Glasgow to Host

It was a close call, but Liverpool won the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 bid after playing upon its rich musical legacy

Last Friday, the Eurovision fanbase went into meltdown at the announcement that Liverpool will be the next host of the Eurovision Song Contest. There was strong competition from Glasgow, Scotland, who put in a solid bid, but it wasn’t enough to snatch the event.

Eurovision Song Contest
Reactions to the news (Sky News)

In the run-up to the announcement, each city needed to put in a bid. The city teams needed to catch the eyes of the jury, who in this case was the BBC and the Eurovision Broadcasting Union. Liverpool snuck in their mid at the very last minute, with an impressive and powerful video highlighting their cultural achievements throughout history. It also touched upon Liverpool’s open-minded and welcoming spirit.

The BBC’s Director General, Tim Davie, was quick to make a statement: “Congratulations to Liverpool. They will be an amazing host for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Liverpool is such an exciting, warm and vibrant city. It’s the undisputed capital of pop music and is celebrating the 65th anniversary of its twinning with the Ukrainian city of Odesa. I know the people of Liverpool will welcome Europe – and the rest of the world – with open arms, and in partnership, we will create something truly special.”

Now that we know the host city, we also received some much-needed detail on the week-long event itself. Graham Norton announced that the competition will take place at the M&S Bank Arena during the second week of May – which is unexpectingly early, considering the late announcement. The Semi Final 1 will take place on the 9th May 2023, Semi Final 2 on the 11th May, and the glitzy Grand Final will be broadcast on the 13th May. For the first time in decades, all three shows will be broadcast on BBC’s main channel, BBC One and the iPlayer.

The Eurovision Song Contests Executive Supervisor, Martin Österdahl, is delighted with the announcement, and shares his confidence in the BBC’s hosting skills: “Liverpool is the ideal place to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.” He continued: “The city is synonymous with music and Liverpool Arena exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a global event of this scale. We have been very impressed with the passion the city has shown in embracing the Contest and their inclusive ideas for placing last year’s winners, Ukraine, front and centre when thousands of fans visit next May.”

The arena (Sky News)

The last contest was held in 2022, in Turin, Italy, after rock-and-roll sensations, Maneskin snatched the crown a year earlier. But in Italy, Ukraine were triumphant thanks to Kalush Orchestra, who won the hearts of the viewers. However, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, organisers had huge safety concerns, which ultimately meant that the UK will host in Ukraine’s honour. Although controversial, it remains the right thing to do – especially considering Brit, Sam Ryder, came a close second with the pop banger, Space Man.

Since the announcement was made, fans have been scrambling on travel websites in an attempt to get hotels and flight tickets in Liverpool. In hours, hotels were fully booked and some smaller B&Bs and AirB&Bs have raised their prices to over £20,000 – in some extreme cases. However, the city council are discussing plans for a huge camping field to become available, as well as a cruise ship, in the hope that more fans are able to secure affordable accommodation. Tickets for the Song Contest itself are not available at the moment. But, traditionally, they are released online shortly after the host city is announced. Although, be mindful that demand is high, so it’s best to keep an eagle eye on official ticket sites.

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Lizzo’s The Special Tour Hits Europe and “It’s About Damn Time”

Lizzo is on her way to Europe, and she’s bringing her iconic flute to The Special Tour

Since solidifying herself as one of the main pop girls, Lizzo has been notoriously America-focused. But finally, Lizzo is giving her European fans what they want, after announcing a mammoth 15-date tour, titled, The Special Tour 2023, which will finish in the iconic o2 arena in London.

Lizzo
Lizzo on tour (Rolling Stone)

“IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME THE SPECIAL TOUR CAME TO THE UK AND EUROPE! YALL BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE,” says Lizzo to her adoring fans on Twitter. British fans will have ample opportunity to catch the Truth Hurts singer on one of the dates, which includes six UK cities; Machester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Dublin, and of course, London. Tickets go on sale this week.

Lizzo first broke out onto the music scene in 2017, with the old-school-inspired track, Juice. The track was championed by BBC radio and helped propel Lizzo to the dizzy heights of fame. But it wasn’t the single that got everyone’s attention, as the follow-up. Truth Hurts overtook Juice and became Lizzo’s first breakout hit. Since then, Truth Hurts has racked up an impressive 800 million stream count and Spotify and has even won a Grammy for Best Solo Performance.

Part of Lizzo’s appeal is her humble relatability. Before her commercial success, Lizzo was working hard to find her USP and her audience. In 2013, Lizzo released Lizzobangers, and in 2015, Big Grrrl Small World – but to little success. Lizzo was struggling to finalise what kind of artist she wanted to be. “The big Black girls were always the belters, and I’ve always been afraid of being put into that box,” says Lizzo, discussing stereotyping in the industry. “That’s how we were tokenised.” But as Lizzo started to embrace herself, her sound and her unique quirks, she began to get attention for all the right reasons.

Now, Lizzo is an inspiration for many fans who are struggling with body confidence issues in the context of a vain and superficial world. In an interview with People Magazine and Glamour, Lizzo recalls, “I was body negative for a long time.” She continues, “to continue to live in this body and survive in this body and be happy and actually enjoy life, I need to find a way to like myself.” With this positive mindset, Lizzo hopes to share her love and talent with a European audience. And for that reason alone, it’s not one to be missed. Tickets go on sale this week.

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Rina Sawayama: The British-Japanese Singer-Songwriter Fighting for LGBT+ Rights

A defiant Rina Sawayama continues the fight for racial and LGBT+ equality

Rina Sawayama, who is openly bisexual and pansexual, recently performed at Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival to tens of thousands of adoring fans. But, in between sets, the 32-year-old music artist delivered a heartfelt message about LGBT+ rights in a country that is well beyond the curve. 

Rina Sawayama
Rina (DIY Magazine)

“Let’s fight together,” says a triumphant Rina, regarding the Japanese government’s poor record n LGBT+ rights. “I’m bisexual,” said Rina, “but if I try to have a same-sex marriage here, I can’t. It’s not allowed in Japan.” Currently, Japan has no national legislation protecting LGBT people from discrimination. And, in recent studies, Japan comes second from last in the ranking of developed nations in respect of LGBT+ rights. Despite progressive rulings and movements in parliament and society, Japan’s constitution is firm in denying same-sex marriage. 

“This is something really embarrassing,” says a passionate Rina, hoping that it might gain momentum. “Something that would accept me and my friends, my chosen family, a fair law. Do you think we should have equal rights? If you think we should, please with us, for us, please keep on fighting. LGBT people are human beings. LGBT people are Japanese. Love is love. Family is family. Let’s fight together,” she continued. 

Rina has been a consistent advocate for the queer community and has recently been championed by none other than Elton John. The pair, who are both now pals, released a song last year titled, Chosen Family, which is a gut-wrenching ballad dissecting the difficulties some queer people face when coming out to their families. 

Rina has also been vocal in expressing her pride in having Japanese heritage. Her single, STFU from her debut album, Sawayama, touched upon the micro-aggressive discrimination that Asian people face in Western society, which has been grossly perpetuated by COVID-19 conspiracy theories. 

Rina Sawayama
Rina (Dork Magazine)

Just last year, Rina also hit back at the Brit Awards, after they snubbed her from being nominated for a Brit or the Mercury Prize. “It was just heartbreaking,” she told BBC News. “I think a lot of immigrants feel this way – where they assimilate and they become part of the British culture… and to be told that we’re not even eligible to be nominated is very othering.” Because of Rina’s sheer bravery and determination, the Brit Awards decided to overturn the rules, meaning that artists don’t need to have official citizenship to be nominated, they just need to be born there.

In just a few years, Rina has proved to be more than just a generic pop star. Her critically acclaimed albums and EP have helped draw attention across the world and have helped her land gigs on US talk shows and major festivals. Rina is a pop star waiting to go mainstream, and fans are sure that she will take her activism with her. 

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Featured LGBTQ Music

Is Harry Styles Queer-Baiting?

Harry Styles Causes A Stir With Comments on Sexuality

Harry Styles hit headlines once again this week after commenting on his sexuality for Rolling Stones Magazine. The 28-year-old pop star covered the legendary magazine in his classic 70s-inspired gender-fluid fashion. The interview itself is probably Harry’s most honest interview, commenting on his relationship with Olivia Wilde, life, happiness and even the prospect of having children. But it was Harry’s comments on sexuality that caused a stir. 

Harry Styles Filming Mr Policeman
Harry filming Mr Policeman (Vanity Teen)

“I think everyone, including myself, has your own journey with figuring out sexuality and getting more comfortable with it,” says Harry to Rolling Stone. But sceptics were quick to label Harry as ‘queer baiting’ as the singer has never been seen in public dating a man. To which Harry said that he doesn’t think he’s “publicly been with anyone.” Regardless of wherever Harry has openly dated a man or not, it’s not for us to comment on someone’s own sexuality; it is a very personal and individual process. 

Harry is currently promoting a gay movie called My Policeman – due out in October. This fact has led people to be sceptical of the timing of the comments, due to the ongoing press circuit ahead of the release. For some, Harry’s comments are reminiscent of many celebrities who have teased their sexuality during promotional campaigns, such as Milk lead actor James Franco who said he’s gay “up to the point of intercourse.”

Harry Styles
Harry’s Rolling Stone Shoot (Rolling Stones)

The main quote that caused outrage referred to Harry’s take on gay sex, in which he said, ”So much of gay sex in film is two guys going at it, and it kind of removes the tenderness from it.” Harry then continued to elaborate on how he and the director, Michael Grandage wanted to show “tender and loving and sensitive scenes.” The problem with this comment is that it assumes that gay sex is one thing when of course, it isn’t. Gay sex can be tender, and affectionate, but it can also be rough. Gay sex doesn’t need to be on a bed of roses with Ed Sheeran playing in the background for it to be tender.

Others on Twitter also feel that there are plenty of examples of gay sex being portrayed in a tender way. “If he digested queer media he would know that that wasn’t true and I feel like he would’ve said something smarter,” said one account. “Anyone who engages with queer movie, fan fiction, [and] books knows that there’s a tonne of tenderness in a lot of gay male romances and I think he’s going to need to start doing better. I think he needs to do a little bit better,” said another. “We love you [Harry] but you gotta level up here. Watch some cool shit. read some fan-fiction.”

But, what’s the problem with queer baiting? Well, the LGBTQIA+ community has long suffered persecution. Being queer often meant hiding your identity from society, in fear of imprisonment, losing your job, being an outcast from your family and even being chemically castrated. For centuries, queer culture has existed underground and had to be hidden from society. But now, queer culture is in fashion. It’s now “cool” to be queer, and like many other minority communities, the culture is now being appropriated – often for commercial profit. Therefore, when a white, successful, handsome male comes along, like Harry Styles, scepticism is inevitable. 

Harry Styles for Rolling Stone
“The new King of Pop?” (Rolling Stone)

Having an opinion in 2022 is difficult. Whatever angle celebrities decide to discuss, it’s bound to antagonise someone. Harry is undoubtedly the world’s biggest pop star at the moment. His gender-fluid fashion and confidence in being open about his feelings are an inspiration to many. Harry, and any other person for that matter, should not be criticised for expressing their sexuality. It is not for us to assume whether someone is telling the truth or not. But, when it comes to making comments on behalf of a community that are one-sided, a backlash is needed to address the balance in discourse.

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Shakira Could Face Eight Years In Prison For Tax Fraud

‘Beautiful Liar’ singer Shakira could turn out to be just that

It’s remarkable to think that one of the planet’s most successful singers could possibly go to prison for eight years for tax fraud. But, no matter who you are, everyone (supposedly) is answerable to the law. Could the 45-year-old Colombian-born singer consider get her comeuppance? Or will her fame, popularity and wealth get her off the hook?

Shakira
Shakira on the red carpet (Sky News)

For over a decade Shakira has been one of the most influential Spanish-speaking popstars. Commercially successful hits such as the World Cup anthem, Waka Waka and Hips Don’t Lie helped the singer – who was born in Barranquillato become a household name in the English-speaking world, too. Her relationship with tennis superstar, Rafael Nadal also contributed to her high level of fame. In 2020, Shakira reached the upper echelons of fame when she headlined America’s Super Bowl, alongside Jennifer Lopez, performing in front of hundreds of millions of viewers from across the United States and the world. But for now, these accolades don’t matter, as Sharkia’s career and reputation are on the line.

Shakira faces eight years and two months in prison for failing to pay 14.5 million euros in taxes between 2012 and 2014. On top of jail time, Spanish prosecutors are asking for 24.5 million dollars in fines, with additional interest. Spanish law takes tax evasion very seriously, and even if Shakira does get away with serving time, it’s likely that she will have to pay some hefty fines.

But Sharkia’s PR team hit back at Spanish authorities: “Shakira and her team consider that this case constitutes a total violation of her rights,” said the statement, “since she has always shown impeccable behaviour, as a person and taxpayer, and total willingness to resolve any disagreement from the beginning, even before the criminal proceeding.”

Shakira
Sharkia (ABC News)

A representative of Shakira and her legal team mentioned in a statement to Good Morning America that, “Shakira has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer, and faithfully following the counsel of PriceWaterhouse Coopers, a prestigious and globally recognized tax firm.” In a clear attempt to crisis manage Shakira’s reputation, the statement continued: “Unfortunately, the Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case. Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process.”

Shakira and her team are insisting that no laws were broken, due to Shakira living in the Bahamas during the period of 2012 to 2014. Meaning that she did not live in Spain, and therefore did not need to pay tax. But, Spanish authorities are determined to take the case to court, and Shakira will have to defend herself to a jury.

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Running Up That Hill: Kate Bush Reaches Global Spotify Number 1

Strange Things are happening

Thanks to TikTok and the Netflix smash hit horror series Stranger Things, Kate Bush’s Running Up the Hill is currently the most played song on the planet. But, as Gen Z are starting to jump on the Kate Bush bandwagon, many original fans are seizing the opportunity to bring more of her material a new lease of life.

Kate Bush Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush from American Songwriter

Running Up the Hill was written by Kate as the first single for the album, Hounds of Love. The track, which was released over 38 years ago, touches upon the emotional differences between men and women and how a “deal with god,” would allow a swapping of places and thus, a greater understanding of one another. Kate’s adventurous and far-fetched use of lyrics has always been one of her strong points. This quirkiness meant that her music was a perfect fit for the outlandish series Stranger Things, in which, the entirety of the track was used for one of its main scenes.

Astonishingly, Kate, who is notoriously shy, made a rare public announcement, “You might’ve heard that the first part of the fantastic, gripping new series of  Stranger Things has recently been released on Netflix. It features the song, Running Up That Hill,  which is being given a whole new lease of life by the young fans who love the show – I love it too! Because of this, Running Up That Hill is charting around the world and has entered the UK chart at No. 8. It’s all really exciting! Thanks very much to everyone who has supported the song. I wait with bated breath for the rest of the series in July.”

The statement shocked fans of Stranger Things and new fans of Kate Bush – mainly because they (kind of hilariously) thought she was dead. One Twitter user shared, “I wish Kate Bush was alive to see all the love and praise she is getting…so tragic we only appreciate artists when they are gone.”

Now, Running Up the Hill is topping the charts in most countries around the world, beating the likes of Harry Styles, Bad Bunny and Camilla Cabello. Let’s hope that Kate’s other material gets through to her new audience of young fans. Could another tour or album be on the horizon?

Whatever your opinion on Tik Tok, it has an incredible ability to shine a light on smaller artists and quality music that never had its time in the spotlight. Although Kate Bush’s music – mostly in the UK – has a legendary status, its reach across the pond hadn’t really taken off. Running Up the Hill is a masterpiece of pop and lyricism and it very much deserves its 5 minutes of fame.

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Tom Grennan is Currently Recovering After an Attack in a Bar

Bedford singer Tom Grennan is recovering at hospital after being robbed and left with a ruptured ear and torn eardrum outside a bar in Manhattan

John Dawkins, music manager for Tom Grennan at Various Artists Management, said in a recent tweet, “Tom is currently being assessed by doctors for his injuries, including a ruptured ear, torn eardrum and issue with his previously fractured jaw. Despite this, Tom is in good spirits but needs to temporarily recuperate while doctors assess his ability to continue with his touring.” And, despite this, the notoriously upbeat musician remains positive throughout his recovery. 

His management also thanked the fans for their support and understanding, as letting fans down is a major concern of Tom’s. Although he is in good spirits after the robbery, his recovery has prompted the upcoming Washington show to be postponed. 

Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum include hearing loss that can be partial or complete in the affected ear. Thankfully, most ruptured eardrums heal after three months, so the chances are that Grennan won’t lose hearing in the affected ear.

Tom Grennan Press Image
Tom Grennan Press Image

Ever since his 2017 breakout hit single, Tom Grennan has been in three Top 10 Singles, his first Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart with Evering Road, a debut at the top with 17,000 chart sales, two BRIT Award nominations, and an Ivor Novello Award nomination alongside Ella Henderson with their 2021 single ‘Let’s Go Home Together.’ As of writing, Grennan has over one billion online streams.

Tom Grennan hails from Bedford and is based in London. He was the guest vocalist on Chase & Status’ “All Goes Wrong,” featured as Hottest Record on Anime Mac’s BBC Radio 1. He came from an Irish family and was shortlisted for the MTV Brand New Award. 

His first UK top 10 hit was “Little Bit of Love,” peaking at number 7 and earning a Silver certification by BPI.

Grennan has also been vocal about the effects of therapy on his mental health and other mental health struggles in past interviews. Most importantly, his interview in March 2022 urged others to seek NHS help for mental health concerns and was open about his hard times even while being a celebrity. He was one of a select number of celebrities that appeared in an NHS England film inspired by the Beatles’ track, Help.

Hopefully, Grennan can recover successfully from this incident and return to his tour.

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GRAE: In Conversation

“I find social media can be quite hard when you’re an artist. We don’t always identify as content creators,” GRAE on making music in the social media age

GRAE is the Toronto-based singer leading the way for Gen Z alt-pop artists. And, after releasing her aptly-named debut single, ‘New Girl’ just three years ago, she’s ready to drop an album.

Due for release on April 15th, GRAE’s debut record ‘Whiplash’ will swirl through ‘80s new wave, dream-pop and alternative sounds, taking time to question love and succumb to the reality that we all have to grow up eventually. And, on ‘Whiplash’, those coming of age themes are nowhere as apparent as on new single ‘Boxes’.

Released today (March 30th), ‘Boxes’ errs on the rockier side, showing GRAE in a grown-up and self-assured light. Speaking of the single, GRAE says, “The idea for ‘Boxes’ came about when I looked around my room one day and realized I wanted to tear down all the posters I’ve had on my walls since I can remember. That was a significant moment because I always thought I’d be that girl wearing a band t-shirt with posters covering her walls forever. But I needed a change. I thought about how I’m ‘not that kid anymore,’ and I wanted to mature in my style and ‘grow up.’ I felt super nostalgic as I went through my band T’s and started clearing out my space. I decided to write about the process of coming to terms with what it means to be an ‘adult,’ and the result of that is ‘Boxes.'”

To mark the release of ‘Boxes’ and gear up for GRAE’s first full-length project, the ‘Slow Down’ singer sat down with Chapter Z to about everything from TikTok to letting go of love.

GRAE Press Shot
GRAE © Gemma Warren

In Conversation With GRAE

Hi GRAE – thanks for taking the time to speak with us today!

Hey, thank you for having me! Happy to be speaking with you! 

Let’s start right back at the beginning. Can you tell us how you started out in music? Where did your love for songwriting come from?

I’ve had an interest in music my whole life. My Dad bought me my first guitar from a pawn shop when I was around the age of ten; I started writing songs in this journal I had, I’d perform at school assemblies, talent shows, anywhere I could. When asked what I wanted to ‘be’ when I grew up, I’d say a singer. I had a lot of motivation and was determined to make it happen. Initially, I gained my love of songwriting from artists like Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones, but an artist by the name of Rodriguez inspired me greatly. I noticed his song lyrics were like poetry, and I began to write songs inspired by that; I appreciate the imagery in his lyrics and how they tell a story. 

Fast Forward to now, and you’ve recently released the single ‘Forget You’, which is lifted from your upcoming debut album ‘Whiplash’. Can you give us the lowdown on the Track?

‘Forget You’ was written about this relationship/person I romanticized. I thought I’d never get over them but realized I had to in order to move on with my life and get back to a healthy place mentally. Writing the song was my goodbye to that person and time in my life. It helped me get out the emotions I needed to and was very therapeutic to write. 

And, how does ‘Forget You’ compare sonically and thematically to the rest of ‘Whiplash’?

‘Forget You’ is one of the more emotional tracks on the album. Most of the songs are about relationships I was in and confused about; ‘Forget You’ ties in with that theme and flows well with the rest of the songs.

Today (March 30th), you’re releasing ‘Boxes’, which is the next single from the record. It’s the first song on ‘Whiplash’. Why did you decide to have this track kick the album off?

‘Boxes’ is my favourite track off the album. It stands out from the rest of the songs and is the one I’m most excited to have out there. It’s about letting go of the past and coming to terms with growing up. I love how it sounds. It captures the more ‘rock’ sound I’m influenced by, which is cool. Since it sounds different from what people are used to hearing from me, having it start the album is a surprise. I have to keep things interesting, you know? haha. 

When people hear Whiplash for the first time, how do you hope it makes them feel? What emotions do you want to evoke?

Good question! The album, primarily, is about relationships. There’s likely a song for any listener, whether they are in love; or going through a breakup. They can probably find whatever they’re looking for while listening to ‘Whiplash.’ I hope it generates whatever emotional response is appropriate for them! 

Nowadays, you have quite a sizeable social media presence, particularly on TikTok. How do you view social media as a Gen Z music artist?

In all honesty, I find social media can be quite hard when you’re an artist. We don’t always identify as content creators. I’m a singer, musician, performer, writer, but when it comes to Tiktok, Instagram, etc. creating content for these apps isn’t necessarily my strong suit. I’ve only been making music professionally for the past three years, two of which have been during the pandemic. So with that being said, social media has helped me significantly to get my music out there in a way I never would’ve been able to.

Although some days I don’t feel I’m the best at making content and may not feel up to it, I have been grateful enough to build a following of people who genuinely enjoy, appreciate and listen to the art I create, which is all I could ask for really. It can bring many life-changing opportunities, especially for an independent artist like myself, so I try to use it to my advantage and see the good in it. 

This is your very first full-length project. How are you feeling about the release? Is it a careful balance between excitement and nerves?

I’m excited. Honestly, it’s all the good vibes over here. I’m proud of this music and can’t wait for it to be out. Since I was that ten-year-old girl writing songs in her journal, I’ve wanted to create an album. It’s a dream come true! 

What else can your fans expect from you in 2022?

Shows shows and more shows! I want to perform this album as much as I possibly can!