What inspired you to pursue music?
I’ve honestly never been able to do anything else, and I’ve tried! My love of music started when I was really little. My grandfather wasn’t a trained musician but had an encyclopedic mind for songs and lyrics. He definitely passed that on to me and sparked the interest and passion. I picked up the trombone when I was 10 (later the guitar, ukulele, etc) and was absolutely hooked.
Can you tell us a little bit about you?
Yes! I was born and raised in Merion, PA, just outside of Philadelphia. I picked up the trombone when I was 10 and fell in love! I went to college planning to be an orchestral trombone player but when I got to NYU the vast number of arts opportunities drew my attention in a ton of different directions. My freshman year, a friend asked me to write music for his student film and it really clicked. I loved helping to tell a story through music. I’ve been writing music for film ever since and that love for musical storytelling translated directly into songwriting.
What artists do you look up to right now?
I am really all over the place in terms of who I’m listening to – there is just too much to love. In terms of current artists, I’m into the Fleet Foxes, Maggie Rogers, John Mayer and Steamboats. I think they’re all doing really cool things that borrow from a multitude of genres. I’ve been on a real 70s kick recently, and can’t stop listening to “Chicago”. I’ve also been getting into some older country music from Glen Campbell and country duets like Tammy Wynette and George Jones. You may not know if from listening to my EP but I also forever look up to my queen, Beyonce!
You are gearing up for the release of your new EP! Can you tell us about what this EP means to you?
This EP is very much a snapshot of the time in which I wrote it. I wrote these 6 songs over the course of about 2 years and they capture what it felt like for me to be an early 20-something. There was an inherent anxiety I found that accompanied this time in my life and I think that’s somewhat universal. I can tell you that this EP is profoundly true and personal and that all the stories you hear on it really happened. It was therapeutic in a way for me to put them into song, to make something good out of things that were not so at the time.
What do you hope your supporters will think of the new EP?
I hope people can connect with both the vagaries and specifics of the EP. We all have different experiences but there are universal lessons in what we go through.
I also hope listeners will connect with the music and like the sound and the storytelling!
Any fun moments while creating the EP?
The whole creation of the EP was fun and very DIY. I really wanted to record these songs but didn’t have a big budget to work with so my amazing producer, Dylan McKinstry and I decided the best way to go about it would be to record in his house. Dylan lives in a house with 10 musicians and we basically just recorded the whole thing with his roommates. The process gave us a lot of time to experiment and come up with the sound. There are some really cool and funny elements on the album; like I think we used bowls and mugs from his kitchen on the song “Haven’t Found It” – they sounded great so we went with it! We recorded the vocals at my apartment and my dog was really well-behaved for almost the whole day but she did get a bit restless at some point and was whining, which I think also made it onto the EP. I should give her a featured credit, she’s a star.
What song are you most excited to release from this new EP?
I think I’m most excited to release the title track “Haven’t Found It”. Instrumentally and vocally it’s definitely the kind of song I like to listen to – inspired by folk artists like CSNY and The Eagles. I hope people can connect to the message of the song, of feeling lost and taking time but ultimately knowing that you have everything you need to be ok already in your heart and soul.
What song are you most excited to perform from this EP?
I’m most excited to perform “Not Today”. My amazingly talented friend Tiger Darrow sings lead on it and I just get to sit back and play trombone. It’s definitely where I feel most comfortable and Tiger absolutely slays.
What does it feel like to perform your own music live in front of your supporters?
It feels incredibly vulnerable for me! This is the first time I have ever written my own story into music and beyond that – I rarely sing live. I think of myself as a behind the scenes musician so to step into the spotlight is really new and strange for me but I am so excited to cultivate performance as part of my art and connect with my listeners.
How do you want your relationship to be with your supporters?
With this first EP I definitely didn’t shy away from vulnerability and truth and I don’t plan to in the future. I am so frequently writing music for stories that aren’t my own, I hope that through my songwriting I can give my supporters a piece of myself and allow them to feel open to share themselves with me as well. I’m all about openness and communication!
What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your supporters?
Instagram – @elizabethpwmusic
Are there any other projects in the works you can tell us about?
I’m writing the music for a short film that I’m really excited about. I also have a few songs floating around in my head – you may see a second album from me soon!
Do you have any last things you want to tell your supporters?
I just want to say a huge THANK YOU for listening! We live in a world that is flooded with content right now – I don’t take for granted the people who take a minute and give my songs a listen, it means so so much!
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with us.
Thank YOU for talking with me! xx