What inspired you to pursue music?
I’ve always been drawn to music. As a little girl, I was always ready to sing and learnt the words of any new song I heard playing. But, the moment I remember making my mind up was when I watched “Grease” for the first time when I was 8 years old. That was it!
How would you describe your musical style?
My musical style is “transparent pop” – being unapologetically honest, open and expressive. It’s an open book to my feelings, which is set to pop hooks.
How would you describe yourself in 5 words?
Quirky, romantic, honest, foodie, dog-lover
What artists do you look up to right now?
Julia Michaels, The 1975, Haim & Troye Sivan.
Why do you think social media is so important for teen artists today?
Social Media allows teen artists a space to be who they are and share their music with everyone around the world. It’s so accessible. I think that it is important to have such platforms to share, communicate and support one another. Most importantly, social media allows artists to speak their minds – this is special.
With a massive following already, your supporters must have a name for themselves. Does your fan base have a name?
Hmmm… a couple of years ago, there was an attempt, but it didn’t hook really. I’m open to suggestions, actually.
How do you want your relationship to be like with your supporters?
I want to be able to make them feel that what they feel is okay and important. They should never feel ashamed of being themselves and expressing their thoughts and feelings. I want them to know that I can be a voice for them. I’d love the relationship to be a close one. At the end of the day, they make it possible for me to be ME.
What’s the feeling you get when meeting your supporters?
It’s always so unreal to hear that someone listens to my music and relates to it. It makes my heart so full when someone tells me that my music helped them through something in their life, made them happy or touched them in any other way… the BEST feeling an artist could ask for.
You won Ryan Seacrest’s cover song competition when you covered One Direction’s ‘Story of my Life‘. What’s the process of choosing a cover song for you to sing?
Usually I look at a song that touches me in some way. I have to relate to it in that moment of my life. It also has to feel good when I sing it and make it my own.
How did the idea for that music video come about?
I’m a romantic at heart and with “Pearl Harbor” being one of my all time favorite movies, it heavily influenced the visual theme of the video. At the time, that song transported me to that kind of “old-time” love and it made all the sense.
What was your reaction like when finding out about this huge accomplishment?
I was blown away. It was all based on public votes and I was so humbled knowing that people were supporting me so much.
What was your favorite cover song to record?
“I Miss You” by Clean Bandit ft. Julia Michaels. It is so simple, raw and stripped back. I felt like crying during the recording… It was the most emotional one yet.
Your new single “Good Behavior” has gotten an amazing reaction from your supporters. What has been your thought about the reaction of the song?
I’m just happy to know my supporters love it. It’s been so cool to read comments and messages from them letting me know what they think. As always, I’m super excited about it.
You just released the music video as well, how did the idea for the music video come about?
Well, the idea actually came from my own personal experience. I wrote the song about something I had gone through recently and the video had to be true to the song too. The idea was to make it as close as possible to what I experienced and what was going through my head during it all.
What’s your favorite song to perform live?
“Somebody Else” by the 1975. Performing this song live puts me in the best of moods.
What’s the feeling you get when you’re on stage and your fans are singing your songs back to you?
It gives me the biggest adrenaline rush. I feel excited, happy and in awe. It really is amazing.
Are there any other projects in the works you can tell us about?
I have lined up a few more singles and I extremely excited about that! I have been working hard in studio for a long time and I can’t wait to share it all very soon.
Are you planning to go on tour anytime soon?
Hopefully very soon! It’s definitely something I constantly have my mind on, but have to wait for the right time.
What’s something you have that you can’t live without?
My family, they mean the world to me.
How do you manage school with your busy schedule?
With a lot of coffee and patience! I try to keep levelheaded and focus on my goals. It helps me to manage it all.
Do you have any last things you want to tell your supporters?
I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for all their love and tell them to keep being true to themselves, no matter what.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with us.
It’s been such a pleasure, thank YOU!
