The Man You Remember explores memory, identity and perception. What was the moment or experience that first sparked the concept for this EP?
The concept for this EP definitely came to be when I had finished recording my song ‘Winter’. I wrote the song from the perspective of my grandfather, and his memory decline. I realised slowly after, that every song on the EP is a reflection of a fragmented memory that I had lived and was trying to retell. It felt very full circle for me. And also emphasised that loss, love and grief can come in so many different shapes and sizes.
If The Man You Remember were a place, a film scene or a memory, what would it look like?
I think the man you remember would definitely be related to ‘eternal sunshine of the spotless mind’. I really feel like running through the memories bit by bit while they slowly get lost is what the world of the EP is.
Now that this chapter is out in the world, what do you hope people remember the most about your debut EP?
I definitely want people to remember their own stories, and reflect on their lives through this EP. I think it is an amazing opportunity for connection and hope even in the worst times, which is what I love about songwriting at its core but also the EP itself.
Which track do you think is the heart of the project?
I definitely think the heart of the project is the song ‘The Matter’. It is an amalgamation of every feeling and theme you could really see within the EP and I think its actually the most introspective song on the EP despite the extremely vulnerable songs on the EP. It’s actually the first time I admit that I have no idea what is really going on half the time and try to accept that.
This project seems to focus heavily on the stories that we tell ourselves about others. What conversations or reflections were you hoping to start with listeners?
I want listeners to examine and reexamine the moments that they have lived and the decisions they have made from every angle they possibly can. There are many times where I have gone to write a song and realised half way through the writing process that I was looking at the scene all wrong. Or I wasn’t seeing the other side of it.
How did the themes of the EP evolve during the songwriting process?
The EP process actually started with the song ‘Armstrong St’ which is one of the more devastating songs on the record. It’s about being stuck in a cycle that you thought you had accepted, but still hurts you. From that point onwards all of the songs I had written felt much more cohesive than I had initially thought.
Are there any songs on the EP that challenged you to be more vulnerable than you’ve been before?
Definitely Armstong St, Winter and Stay With Me. As much as I love the vulnerability of the tracks, it’s hard to openly and publicly admit your flaws in such a dramatic way. But they truly made me accept and come to terms with alot of emotions I had not processed or even admitted to myself.
What does The Man You Remember mean to you personally?
It is my heart in a record truly. There are so many moments and memories that made me who I am and also have shaped me into who I want to be. I think if someone wanted to know who I was I would just play them this record.
The Man You Remember is OUT NOW.