Where are you currently? What's your headspace like? What's going on?
I am currently in LA. It's a really hectic week because I've just had a lot of big changes happen in terms of my teams and everything, but it's really positive. At the same time, I have so many shows coming up, and just a lot of exciting things happening. So it's kind of trying to find a balance between bookkeeping, like back-end stuff, but at the same time, pushing forward and thinking about the exciting stuff that's happening.
I feel like it's such a transitional time for so many people right now.
Definitely, I mean, with the world opening up, it just seems like everyone's in that, "Okay, it's go time," head-space and everyone's releasing music. And there are tours being announced, like every day, it just seems like you're letting go of the old view that probably existed in lockdown, and you're kind of open to new possibilities, and you can travel again. Yeah, it's kind of overwhelming.
Well, you just finished your tour, right? Congrats.
Thank you. Yeah, I did my headline tour, and before I did this tour with Billie Eilish, which was a very last-minute thing. But both were really amazing and it was really cool to see people come from Billie's shows to mine. It was a really cute tour and I was surprised by my tour selling out, but it was great.
How did it feel like being on stage again? You were just saying how the world's opening back up, and how people are going full speed ahead. So what was it like being around all that energy?
Being on stage is my home. I feel like it was almost a part of me that I forgot existed for such a long time and in the last few months, it's felt like the complete version of me exists again. So it's been encouraging and motivating to see my music exist outside of my bedroom.
I can't even imagine how surreal it must feel to see all of these fans come sing all of the words to all of your songs especially when you created them from your bedroom.
Yeah, exactly. I think it was a big surprise. I finished most of my songs before lockdown. So I feel like most of lockdown it was things coming out and all you can really gauge is the interest going on the internet. But it's still not an accurate depiction of how your music is being received. I think with touring and everything, it can make a really big difference to someone's career and I think that's what was really helping me. It's almost like, if I'm on Instagram, you can't really see who I am from the way I post. So I think playing shows connects the dots.
Kind of having more of that, "online persona you" versus "real-life at your show" you.
Exactly. And also playing shows makes me understand what works and what doesn't, and you can't really get that unless you're in front of people. So that's what's really helped to say like, "Oh, yeah, I shouldn't play songs that I have that are similar to the ones that are the best in the set. So I should really keep going ahead of those ones."
On tour and stuff too, you performed with Billie. How was it? Talk to me about your feelings opening up for her and performing with her.
It was really surreal. Billie has a really welcoming fanbase. So it's almost like if you have a high energy set and just have great energy, they're going to be so encouraging and be like, "Yeah, don't leave, keep going." And then they're very interactive as well. So it was it felt like I was playing a headline show before her, but then it's also in the stadium, which is insane. But it felt like I was playing my own show to some extent.
I saw her at Gov Ball last year and I know that so many people were literally just diehard fans.
Totally. I remember when I would go to shows, like say if it was Panic! At The Disco or something. That was one of my first concerts I went to, and anyone that played before Panic! was so excited to see them because I was like, "Oh my god. I don't even care what you're playing it's probably amazing." You're just screaming for no reason. So I'm sure when you go to a Billie show, you're like, "Oh my god, I'm just so happy to be here." And that's kind of the vibe I got. It was so cute.
Wait, so are you a big Panic! At The Disco fan?
Yeah, that was the first concert I went to by myself with my friends.
Oh my god, I never got to see them play, but I feel like it would have been life-changing. On another note, your music is experimental and nothing short of evoking. You kind of bring in that alternative twist and really make it your own. So who were some northern stars that you looked up to when curating your own sound?
Missy Elliott is one of them. Kendrick, Kaytranada is a big one for me. Who else? Kanye West, ASAP Rocky, FKA twigs, and Lauryn Hill. Like that's kind of the mood board for me. So I think they have a great understanding of curating, and like overall energy. I feel like a lot of their music as well can be - it's great. Like in a relaxed setting, and also in a live setting the visuals are just the complete package. It's an experience. And I remember when I was young, I was more so into the rollouts, even though when you're a kid you don't really know the rollouts, but you're just seeing music videos and skits and stuff in between. It elevates the songs sometimes as well. Tyler, the Creator is another one for that. I just like it when people give you a complete experience. I think they're all left-of-center acts, but they also do have those sensibilities of having mainstream big songs. But I feel like they always try to introduce things that people haven't heard before.