Describe your sound in 3 words
salt, moonlight, butterflies
(but I really wanted to answer in emojis)
Tell us a few things about your new song and it’s remix. What is the main idea behind it?
I wrote “My Wom” as a way to honour the badass women in my life. I feel really grateful to have a solid group of smart, wild, funny, supportive, daring women around me, especially over the last 18 months. We celebrate each other’s triumphs, we listen when someone needs to vent about something, we goof off, we say things that need to be said instead of what the other person wants to hear. There’s a lot of mutual respect and encouragement. “My Wom” is about embodying our full selves unapologetically and not waiting for permission to shine or speak our minds.
When my producer (Nich Davies) connected with Montréal producer Moses Belanger to do the remix, we didn’t give any direction on what should be done with it. I think it’s really important to relinquish any artistic control when you ask somebody to do a remix. Otherwise you’re just getting in the way of someone else’s artistry. Moses’ remix came back to us as what feels to me like a meditation on the essence of the song, coming from the lyric: You know she’s fine on her own, but she knows how to hold space. I love that that’s the part of the message he chose to focus on. That line holds a lot for me. It’s about being so grounded in yourself that you don’t actually need anyone or anything to fulfill you. You’ve found your peace within. With that self-awareness, you are able to invite a person or experience into your world if it resonates with you. It’s about protecting your energy and your peace while also staying open.
Challenging the patriarchy in music. What should be the first step?
I think it has to be challenged from every angle, but top of mind for me is that men in the industry have to work on this on their own and hold each other accountable. Women shouldn’t have to constantly defend themselves and their work or explain why they deserve to be where they are or why some comment or attitude is inappropriate. It’s exhausting. At the same time, I don’t wanna see men going around self-righteously blaming one another. That’s not the point either. Men need to ask each other and themselves questions. Why do you think that? Why did I say that? Where does that rhetoric come from?
How Important are political statements by music artists? Can music have an impact on politics?
Political statements by music artists are important because artists can help affect change through the relationships they’ve grown with fans. I think artists – especially influential ones with well established platforms – have a responsibility to use their voices and respond to what is going on in the world. I think that’s going to look different depending on the artist, who they are, and what is appropriate in terms of taking up space, but to me it’s more important to speak, make mistakes, and learn how to do better, than to just say nothing. I’m not sure that music itself impacts politics very much, but I think the artists behind the music can in the ways they help mobilize people, encourage them to step up and take action, and draw attention to the issues.
For which lyric are you most proud of?
When I’m talking I hear your words rocking from my lips like a song I used to know (from “Doorway”)
Favourite album of the past year?
Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
One last thing we should know about you?
pisces sun, capricorn moon, sagittarius rising
Thank you!
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