You’ve lived and worked in both New Zealand and London. How do you feel your roots in New Zealand have influenced your music, and how has living in London shaped your artistic journey?
New Zealand has shaped me in so many ways. In 2019 I thought I was ready to move to London and then at the last minute I had this gut feeling I wasn’t ready. I’m so glad I didn’t jump then because of covid happening just months later but also it gave me time to really hone in on my craft. I feel so grateful to have grown up in a country where people are so supportive to independent and emerging artists. Without all the support networks in place for NZ artists, my career would be so different to how it is now.
London can be quite tough, I think I’m building more resilience than ever but also working harder than ever. I think it’ll be really crucial for the art and making the strongest things I have yet!
Your music blends genres such as indie, alt, and pop. Is there a particular genre or sound you feel you connect with most as an artist, or do you see yourself continually exploring different musical styles?
I grew up listening to such a range of music from Pop to Prog-Rock to Singer-songwriter and I think you can really hear the music I make. I do really connect with Alt-pop and Alt the most. I think it is almost always so fresh and unique and that’s a big focus for me when making music. I want people to really be like ‘woah this is different’.
I’ll always explore as an artist. It’s so key for me to continue growing. If you look at artists like Bowie, Gaga, Madonna etc, they’re truly artists – they never make the same thing twice and always push their own boundaries, their sound and I LOVE that.
You’ve worked with a variety of collaborators, including Rhys Fletcher, Lucan Mills, and Will McGillivray. How do you approach collaboration, and how do these creative partnerships influence the direction of your music?
Collaboration has become so key for me over the years. I really underestimated the power of collaboration when I first started out and really glad I’m very open to it now because it arguably makes for stronger music. Everyone has their own taste, style and way of doing things so making music could be compared to baking and collaboration being ingredients or the method of cooking.
It’s always different when I collaborate. With production it’s very rare for me not to have an opinion or gut feeling. It’s collaborative but sometimes I’ll guide the producer because I trust my instincts.
Having a project like when i’m feeling better we could dream together come together must be exciting. How do you maintain your vision for an album or EP when working with a team of producers and engineers?
It’s awesome, I’m so excited for this project. I really bring it back to its core. I often show visual and audio references so collaborators get a feeling of the world it lives in immediately.
I’m usually pretty clear with what I want from the get go so it can really help maintain vision! Sometimes we’ll find it together, it just depends on the song.
Do you have a favorite track on the upcoming EP that stands out to you in terms of personal significance, and what makes that song particularly meaningful?
Breathe is a really important track to me! I wrote it in lockdown when I really needed some hope and it really gave me that. Every word is super emotional and has a lot of meaning behind it. Almost like poetry, it has some abstract words in there but it all makes sense when you think about it properly. I love the outburst at the end also and for a few years it had really guided me through some hard moments.
You’ve sold out headline shows in both London and Auckland. How do you prepare for such milestone performances, and do you approach each show differently based on the location and audience?
I don’t think I could ever quite prepare for it! It’s such an honour to play shows anyway so for this many people to show up to see me play is so meaningful. It totally depends, I would say yes and no. I try to just focus on being as present as possible so I can really enjoy the show and not let it be over me.
Your music videos, like the one for “WEEKEND AT BERNIES,” have received praise. How do you envision the visual side of your music, and what role do visuals play in conveying the message or emotion behind a song?
I love collaborating visually! Music’s such a cool industry where you sort of have to do more than just music, you have to also be a brand and a visual identity too. I love working with directors and photographers to pull together a concept which fits around the music. In the case of WEEKEND AT BERNIES, I really let Charlotte (director) take the reins on the concept. She’s my favourite director so being able to work with her was incredible. She’s the best!
With the Australian leg of your tour coming up, what are you most looking forward to when connecting with your fans down under, and how do you think your music resonates with international audiences?
I’m soooo excited to play Melbourne! It’s a city I’ve been wanting to play for the longest time! I’m really excited to play these new songs live for the first time and play a special cover too! I think there’s a song on the project for everyone and whatever someone’s going through. I think it’s certainly an international sound and a sound that Australians would vibe for sure!
