motel void

You come from Portland, Oregon. The city is well known for its rich music scene. How would you describe the current music scene there?

Right now it’s a sweet feeling in Portland because a lot of local musicians are playing more shows since the lockdown. I’ve been reminded the last few weeks of the talent and variety that this city has to offer. A lot of folk songwriters, experimental and electronic producers, sound designers. A nice array of styles.

I first discovered you on Spotify with your latest EP ‚Paper Trails‘ which is really beautiful and has very mysterious, night vibe. But I was surprised that you’ve got much more music on your Bandcamp. I listened to your first lo-fi/folk single ‚The Geologist‘ as well as your EP ‚This Wind‘. Is this acoustic era already behind you or would you like to come back to your roots in near future?

Thank you for saying so! I like music that has a mysterious night vibe so that’s a huge compliment! You know, it’s hard to say what the future holds but I continue to write songs on guitar and find groundedness in that instrument. I’m sure that the guitar will weave in and out of my productions but it continues to be a home base when it comes to songwriting.

Will you ever put the old releases on streaming services? I noticed you’ve got there only your latest EP. What is your opinion on Spotify and other streaming services?

Probably not. The recent news about the CEO of Spotify investing over $100 million in AI military defense has really bummed me out. Just had a great conversation with friends about this! It’s hard to be a conscientious consumer in our capitalistic society, so people should do what they want (music has an incredible capacity to heal and Spotify has made listening to music much more accessible for people) but if one has the money to spend and has listened to a record a handful of times on Spotify, they should head over to the artist’s Bandcamp/website to buy their record. Speaking from a personal standpoint, that gesture means the world.

For your last EP you tried exploring new sounds. No more acoustic songs, this time you used samples, synths… and I must say the production is stunning. You write, record and produce most of your music by yourself. How did this transformation from simple acoustic songs to more convoluted electronic tracks happen?

I was fascinated by the process of recording from the first time I used Garageband, which was when I was like 10 or so? I liked experimenting with different samples and effects and making multi-layered recordings. I struggled with performing for many years because it was just me and my guitar and I got tired of the way my compositions sounded with just those two elements. I wanted my recordings to be layered and elaborate so this evolution happened naturally alongside listening to more artists that were electronic and experimental.

When did you first start learning about recording and producing music and which DAW you use now and why? Do you have any experience with recording your music in a professional studio?

In high school I was part of a recording arts club and started learning more tools for producing. What I learned there helped me branch out with my own recordings and I haven’t stopped experimenting since. I now use Ableton Live because I fell in love with it instantly. I feel freer to express myself with my electronic taste and sound design more than I did in Logic Pro, but that’s just personal preference! My first EP that was recorded when I was 15 happened in a professional studio.

When you write songs, which part of the song comes first to you? Do you start with lyrics, or is melody/music more important to you?

Melody and music are always first. They inform the words. They act as the guide for what flows out next.

Your music has similar vibe like a lot of my favorite artists – Adrianne Lenker, Björk, Daughter… which musicians inspire you?

Wow thank you, I am so honored that you think so. Well, Björk is my favorite artist of all time and Adrianne Lenker is one of my favorite songwriters (just saw her perform the other night and it was one of the most magical shows). I am also inspired by Aphex Twin, Mabe Fratti, the Bulgarian State Television Female Choir, Kate Bush, Four Tet, Fiona Apple, the list goes on and on and on.

Recently you also released an experimental EP consisting of 3 tracks. It’s called Our Blue Heaven. Do you have any further plans with this project or was it more like a spontaneous improvisation?

Lots of future plans with this project 🙂 We’re hoping to record many more records and play shows…a possible tour in the summer! Very excited about Our Blue Heaven and the future that’s ahead.