Interview with Aviella

Hello. It is Adam. Welcome back to bring it backwards. A podcast where both legendary and rising artists tell their own personal stories of how they achieve stardom. On this episode, we had a chance to hang out with Aviola over zoom video have yellow is born and raised in upstate New York. And she talks about how she got into music was always into music and songwriting. She started writing music and songs at eight years old. She picked up the guitar at 10 around the same time she was learning cover songs, actually in writing her own songs, put together a 30 minute set and was going around, playing in the local Rochester area at that young of an age at the very end of the interview, we find out that she actually had a chance to go to John Legend's house at I think 10 or 11 and play a song for him, which is wild to think about her parents who were so supportive, that they moved their entire family, her two sisters, her parents and her move from New York to Los Angeles. 5 (1m 55s): When she was 14 years old to pursue a career in the music industry, she talked about getting involved with EDM music through SoundCloud, working with different producers. And she's now had over 50 cuts with some of the biggest producers and DJs on the planet. Right now you'll hear her songs with slushie on like rocket league. She's got songs on Fortnite. The amount of success she has had in this EDM world is amazing. She started putting out songs of her own. The first one she put out, ended up going number one on the dance charts. So she signed a record deal in 2020 during a pandemic with Denmark, which is Steve Aoki, his label. And she also had a number one, us dance charts, radio single. 5 (2m 39s): We hear about the new song she has coming out and her most recent record called comfortable. You can watch the interview with Aviola on our Facebook page and YouTube channel at bringing it backwards. It would be amazing if you subscribe to our channel like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik TOK at bringing back pod. And if you're listening to this on Spotify or apple music, it would be awesome. If you were to follow Sarah as well and hook us up with the five star review. If you have a chance, 6 (3m 8s): We'd appreciate your support. If you follow and subscribe to our podcasts, wherever you listen to podcasts, 5 (3m 14s): We're bringing it backwards with Aviola. Ah, this is about you and your journey in music and how you got to where you are now. 7 (3m 21s): Yay. Thanks for having me. 5 (3m 23s): I'm Adam also. I didn't know if I introduced myself. 7 (3m 26s): Hello? 5 (3m 27s): Hello. Hello. So awesome. First off I, I did read that you are you originally from upstate New York? 7 (3m 33s): I am a small little town Fairport. Yes. Are you familiar at all with upstate New York? 5 (3m 40s): I am not in the lease. I'm actually from originally from San Diego and 7 (3m 45s): San Diego, 5 (3m 47s): My family and I moved to Nashville outskirts about a year ago. So other than California, I only know this little town that I'm in now. 7 (3m 55s): How do you like Nashville? I've never been there before, but everybody keeps telling me such amazing things about it. So I have to go someday. 5 (4m 1s): I love it here, honestly. I mean, I'm a California kid. So coming here was just totally, I mean, it's the south it's totally different than what I'm used to, but I absolutely love it here. It's slower pace, but a lot of, you know, it's just so much, there's so much nature and everything. It's just beautiful out here. We love it. 7 (4m 19s): I love that. 5 (4m 20s): Yeah. So, but originally, well tell me about upstate New York. What's that like? 7 (4m 25s): Yeah. Small little town. I'm from Rochester. So it's cold there. Most of the time, 5 (4m 31s): Rochester, actually. That's kind of like, you're almost close to Ohio. Aren't you? 7 (4m 36s): I'm so bad at directions and like all of her feet. 5 (4m 41s): Okay. All good. I have an uncle that lives in Cleveland and he works out in Rochester sometimes. So I think he drives there. So it must not be horribly far. 7 (4m 49s): Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of open roads. Definitely nature thought the lakes and lots of snow, but yeah. Now I'm in California. I've been here for a little over 10 years now. 5 (5m 3s): Wow. Okay. So you've been out here for awhile then or out, I guess they're now for me. Well, growing up in Rochester area, how did you get into music, family, musical at all? 7 (5m 15s): No, actually I have always been into music. I have always known that this is what I want to do with my life. It's always been my passion and it's funny because my mom tells me that when I was way little, I used to sing to get her attention while I was in the crib, I would never cry. And growing up, I learned how to song write when I was really little just by myself, writing phonetically, how I thought things were spelled. And I always get ideas that come to me in the bath usually. So I remember asking my mom like down the hall, Hey mom, bring me my song, writing book. I just had an idea and I know we have it somewhere. I have to search for it one of these days because I'm 5 (5m 56s): Cool to find, right? 7 (5m 57s): Yeah, definitely. So I've just always been in music has always been my life. 5 (6m 3s): Okay. So you, I mean songwriting that early, where you writing melodies and just like the lyrics down, like how did, how are you songwriting that early? Did you play an instrument that young also 7 (6m 13s): I learned how to play guitar when I was 10. So I think that definitely helped. But even prior to that, just writing, going up, listening to a lot of music and just being surrounded by listening to it, I think, I mean, I grew up listening to all different genres, Metallica, and then there was Christina Aguilera, Brittany spear. So very diverse boys to men. So a little bit of everything. And I think I have pieces of that influence in my writing when I started, when I was so young. So I think that for me, sometimes the melody and the lyrics comes almost simultaneously. 5 (6m 48s): Oh, interesting. And then do you want to try to put cords to what you've done? 7 (6m 52s): Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I started initially writing when I learned how to play guitar. So I would do both of those things together. And then since then it's kind of evolved into now with the tracks underneath and EDM. 5 (7m 5s): Cool, cool. I've noticed that you're a lefty unless my camera's backwards Or you are 7 (7m 13s): Well, like I've always been a little bit ambidextrous. Like I can kind of do a little bit with both. 5 (7m 18s): Well, I'm just cause your guitar looks like it's left-handed from where I'm looking at, but maybe it's just because it's flipped because of the camera, I guess it was I'm like, oh wow. That's cool. She's left-handed okay. So wow. 10 years old. Why did you decide on guitar? What'd you eat a guitar? 7 (7m 34s): Oh, that's so interesting. I honestly don't know what, what sparked it in me. I just thought that it would be a cool instrument to learn. So I picked it up, took lessons for a short period of time. And then I actually put together my own 30 minutes singing and guitar solo show that I would perform out around Rochester. So I would perform at the festivals and the New York state fair. And I, it would just be little me on stage with my guitar for a half hour and I would sing all the popular songs that I listened to on the radio and just mostly learn them by year. 5 (8m 7s): Really. So you're okay. So you, you have like the pit perfect pitch type ear where you can hear something and then figure out how to play it pretty quickly. 7 (8m 17s): Well, thank you. But yeah, I'd like to hear things and then it just processes and comes together that way. 5 (8m 25s): Okay. And so you came up with a 30 minute set of just all cover songs, 7 (8m 30s): Cover songs. And then I would also mix in my original songs. I put out my first album when I was, I think 10 actually. So funny. Yeah. So just little and it's funny cause like one of the songs is called ready for today and it was just about waking up and being excited for the day and going to school and being involved in my music. And it's so funny to hear the evolution now and look back on that and I've never given up. 5 (9m 0s): Wow. So you are, you must have this record still, obviously. How did you record it? Did your parents, were they that supportive? And they're like, okay, well obviously they were, if they're letting you do shows and stuff that young, but like where do you go record this record? Or was it something you just did it in your house? 7 (9m 18s): Well, I actually do record a lot of my own things and it's always 5 (9m 22s): Over there. 7 (9m 23s): Yeah. I've had actually, this one came from New York with me here, so I've had it 10 years and I've been featured on over 50 songs in the EDM world. And I just recorded here in my room by myself on this microphone that I've been using now and years. Yeah, 5 (9m 40s): That's incredible. 7 (9m 42s): Yeah. So I learned how to vocal produce when I was really young and it started off just on garage band, like learning how to record my own vocals and then plug in my guitar and learn how to do that. So most of it was done that way. And then I also was very fortunate to work with the house of guitars in upstate New York, which is iconic. So I worked with them on some of the songs too. 5 (10m 5s): Wow. That's amazing. So at 10 years old, you're doing this. You're putting shows, 8 (10m 9s): Join planet fitness now through March 16th and get the PF black card for zero enrollment in 2299 a month. You'll enjoy an upgraded experience with tons of perks, 9 (10m 19s): Like access to more than 2000 locations worldwide. Yup. Super soothing. Hydro massage chairs. Yes. Can I bring a friend every time? Can my friend be a horse? 8 (10m 30s): Nah, sorry. Get the PF black card and feel fit tacular zero enrollment 2299 a month. Deal ends March 16. See club for details 5 (10m 39s): Together. And how does that evolve through what middle school and high school did you, were you in bands or anything or was it all mainly just your own songs? 7 (10m 47s): Yeah, just my own stuff. And I begged my parents to move to California when I was really little around the same time that I was learning how to play guitar and record the vocals and performing, it was always such a big part of me. And I had seen that there were so many opportunities in California and I begged my parents for the longest time. And they were like, well maybe it's just a phase. Like she's really young, you know? And it just kept getting stronger. And the passion just like burning so much inside me and I have two younger sisters actually in my parents up and left everything in New York and moved here so that I could pursue my dreams. 5 (11m 24s): Wow. Wow. That's amazing. That is amazing. I'm curious real quick on why did you not choose New York city? I mean, obviously you're super close to New York city. You want to come all the way to LA what was the draw to Los Angeles? 7 (11m 40s): Honestly, that's such a good question because I was so young and I had actually gone back and forth to New York city, quite a bit for auditions and for music meetings and things. So I was definitely familiar with the area when I was younger. And I think part of it, I think a lot of it actually had to do with the weather too, because it was so knowing still like going worth. And I remember I would take the train with my mom. So we would do like a full day. We would leave early in the morning, take the train to the city and then go back. And it was about like a six hour, seven hour travel. So I had come to California and I just remember being so in awe by every single aspect of it, like the stars and, and the Hollywood sign and the Palm trees and the weather and just everything about it was so amazing to me. 7 (12m 30s): And I had visited with my dad a couple of times before we actually made the move here. And it just felt like home. 5 (12m 37s): That's funny, you brought up Palm trees. Cause I lived in San Francisco for, I come from radio and I did San Francisco. It was on the radio in San Francisco for a handful of years. And somebody mentioned to me like when we'd go back down to San Diego, they're like, gosh, there's so many Palm trees in San Diego or Southern California because there isn't any up in Northern California. And I never thought about it until this guy said that. And then like, I'm driving. I'm like, God, there really are like so many Palm trees. They're just everywhere. 7 (13m 2s): Yeah. I know just that image in my head of driving down and seeing Palm trees like lining both sides of the road and it's just so beautiful. 5 (13m 12s): It's just something we took advantage of. Or I didn't even realize was there because it was just all I knew. So he's mentioned that and I'm like, oh my God, like you're right. There really are a lot, a lot of Palm trees all over the place. 7 (13m 24s): Yeah, 5 (13m 26s): That's fine. Well, so how old were you when you moved to LA? 7 (13m 29s): I was, I believe 14. Yeah. So just starting high school. 5 (13m 36s): So your parents were like all in your, about, about that young that's so cool. I mean, I've got a 13 year old and if he was like, I'm really passionate about this. I don't want to move to Boston or whatever. I'd be like, eh, let's put a pin in that until I'm really confident that this just what she wanted. 7 (13m 54s): I mean, having that support from my family is incredible, but it is funny because I do remember being so young and telling my parents like, just take the risk. I promise, like this is what I want to do with my life. That's never going to change. And they had seen that in me from such a young age being force of what I wanted to do and performing like that was always me. It was always me like wanting to be on stage, just feels like home so much. And just the music has always been such a huge part of my life. And they saw that in me at that young age. So I think they had that idea that it wasn't going to go away. 5 (14m 30s): Sure. But wow. That's, I mean, that's incredible to have such supportive parents that they're going to uproot their lives. Not only theirs, but your two younger sisters, like we're all moving to LA. Let's do this. 7 (14m 41s): Yeah, I know. Crazy. 5 (14m 42s): Wow. Wow. And then did you start going to high school when you got to Los Angeles? 7 (14m 46s): Yes. 5 (14m 47s): How was that like? I mean, you're coming from the, from New York now you're moving clear the whole country, like literally the other side of the country. And now you're meeting all these California kids. Like, was that a culture shock for you? 7 (14m 59s): No, I think I've been able to kind of fit in. I was bullied a lot when I was younger and through middle school and I was just very unique. I would dress very differently and express myself in different ways. And I think moving here was kind of that fresh start for me because I think that it is so open-minded and everybody here has such a way of expressing themselves. And I felt like I could completely be that creative person that I always wanted to be. So for me it was definitely not a culture shock I had, I just was able to completely like immerse myself in my music and expressing myself the way that I fully wanted to. 5 (15m 37s): Was that something that was difficult for you to come in this new school and be like, yeah, I'm a musician. Like did, were, did you have to kind of prove yourself to these kids? 7 (15m 45s): Not really. I don't think so. I think I always just did, did what I did. I would make YouTube covers and put them on YouTube when I was really little. And I think I started that when I was maybe eight actually YouTube channel. And it was under my YouTube name, which was a mix between my name and my younger sister's name. So my YouTube is RVA low one and always what I had posted my videos under, but I had taken the songs that I would perform out or that I would just learn from listening and post them onto YouTube. And it's funny. Cause I remember when I moved to California, my teachers would sometimes pull up my YouTube videos in the middle of class and play it for everybody. 5 (16m 27s): Wow. That's awesome. Yeah. That's funny that you gave the YouTube channel, like the handle out. Is there still stuff on there of you like at that age or did you hide the hide the account? 7 (16m 41s): Yeah. Yeah. Now it's mostly like just the recent stuff, but yeah. 5 (16m 45s): Oh, so you kept the same. What'd you just change the name on the hand, the thing you kept the channel. Got you. I didn't know if like, if somebody typed that in, if it was going to find like these videos of you got eight, like doing these YouTube covers. 7 (16m 58s): That's 5 (16m 59s): Cool though 7 (16m 59s): On the channel, but there I'm sure. Somewhere, somewhere 5 (17m 3s): I'm might dig one up on the internet. 7 (17m 5s): Yeah, probably it's funny. I went through them the other day. Just looking back at all of the memories of the things that I've done and I posted little clips on Instagram and it's funny to see also like the difference between my hair colors throughout all the year Before I went purple. 5 (17m 23s): Okay. I used to dye my hair when I was a kid too. It's funny that it was just like all the different phases. Like I could go back and look as well, like, oh, okay. I remember like these years of being this hair color and then I haven't done that for numerous years, but wow. So what were you like when you're going through looking at those old videos, what songs kind of jumped out to you? You're like, oh wow. I forgot. I can't remember. I, I covered this. 7 (17m 46s): Okay. So there's a Katy Perry song called thinking of you. I don't know if you're familiar with it, but it's beautiful. And I played that song a lot when I was, 5 (18m 1s): That was awesome. I know the song now that you sang it. 7 (18m 5s): I always loved that song. So that was one of the ones that I was looking back and was like, wow. Memories. 5 (18m 11s): That's cool. That is cool. How long did you keep the YouTube thing going? As far as the covers? 7 (18m 16s): All throughout high school. 5 (18m 17s): Okay. 7 (18m 18s): Yeah. 5 (18m 19s): And then 7 (18m 20s): Now mostly through democ, cause I'm now signed to a label, which is super exciting, so 5 (18m 28s): Yeah. 7 (18m 29s): Yeah. 5 (18m 30s): That's impressive. 7 (18m 32s): Thank you. 5 (18m 34s): So yeah, so you, but you obviously, I want to talk to you about how that all happened, but still you're doing YouTube covers. And then what is the next step? Like how do you eventually get your first cut, like on a, on a song or like, what was the kind of the progression of, of your music career there? 7 (18m 50s): When I found EDM music and I was just so inspired by a lot of times, I would even hear it on the radio. And now that I look back and think about it, like Zed songs that I would hear on the radio that I didn't actually even realize were di was dance music. And when I actually found the dance music, I wanted to be a part of it. And I would take actually covers of like a chain smoker song and make it more, instead of stripping it down to be guitar, I would make like a new version of it and post that to YouTube. And then I posted it to SoundCloud and it starts to gain some attention and I had just started collaborating. 7 (19m 30s): So I would work with producers and DJs and they would send tracks and I would put top lines on them and then it would go back and forth. And most of the time they weren't even in-person sessions, which is also really interesting. Everything's on the internet for the most part. So for a long time, I was doing that. And then I have had now collaborations with many DJs slushie, quicks Arm-in-Hammer and I had done 50 of those. And I thought, I think maybe it's time to start working on my own solo artists project. So in addition to the collaborating and the featuring, I, I really wanted to start working on my own music and that's where I found him off. And now I'm signed. 5 (20m 11s): That's crazy. I love slushie. I interviewed him. 10 (20m 14s): There's no better time to go for a huge score than during bet. MGMs March match-ups and right now you can make sure your first bet is a slam dunk. Simply download the bet MGM app and place a $10. Moneyline wait to run any college basketball tournament game. If any team hits a three-pointer during the tournament, you'll win $200 in free bets, regardless of your wagers outcome. Just use bonus code champion 200 when you make your first bet and the opportunities for celebration don't stop. After the net is cut down, try bed MGMs innovative parlay selection features boosted OD specials, daily promotions, and more on all your favorite sports. 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Learn more about how they're helping people connect and share safely at about.fb.com/safety. 5 (22m 45s): Like really early on when we started this podcast, he's a great guy when he was kind of bigger. He's a big boy then. And 7 (22m 53s): I can on some really cool music right now that I'm super excited about. 5 (22m 56s): That's awesome. There's a, I don't even know if she'd say this, but who cares? There's this like rumor flying around? Like I, like you said, I'm from, I came from radio and there's a guy. I was on the alternative radio station, but we're in the same cluster and there was a top 40 station there and this guy was really into EDM and, and deejaying and spit and mixing us up. And he had this whole theory about how slushie is actually the, he writes all the songs for marshmallow. He's got this whole, like this whole thing that like the marshmallow is actually slushy and he's just kind of closed the part of him. And I'm like, like he's a ghost writer for yeah. 5 (23m 38s): Anyway, there was just a really funny like this, this total conspiracy theory that he's came up with in his brain. And I'm like, I don't know, man. I, I interviewed him and he's got his own thing. That's really working. I don't see why he would be spending that much time writing for him. 7 (23m 53s): Yeah. We had a session the other night and we've been continuously working together for years. Now. We have a song on rocket league called all I need together. And that started with the top line that I had originally came up with and he took it and like chopped it up a bunch of really cool ways. And it was like the main song on rocket league for 5 (24m 11s): Well, that's you? Oh my gosh. That's so awesome. I gave it, I didn't realize that, oh my gosh, my kids are gonna freak out. Cause he, he loves that game. I mean, it was like SMACIT for awhile, especially during like COVID and then he 7 (24m 30s): Called me the rocket league girl now. 5 (24m 32s): So that's crazy. Yeah, because he's like, dude, he like comes in and he's like, slushies does the song for rocket league. And he's like all amped about it. Now I'm going to be like, guess what? She said, the top line. That's insane. That is cool. Did you guys know, obviously when that happened, was it something that you knew was in the works or 7 (24m 52s): No, actually it was just a fun little thing that we quickly came up with together and I had no clue that it was going to go on to do that. I mean, with rocket league and Fortnite, and then I have another song with pixel terror that's in rocket league and Fortnite. So it's just been incredible. 5 (25m 9s): That is so cool. That is, I mean, those are the biggest games in the world. I mean, fortnight's the biggest game that will probably ever, I mean, I don't know. I'm not really, I have two boys that play video games all day, One 13 and one's five. The five-year-old like crushes it on, on a fortnight. We'd like my wife and I are like, we need to get him a channel. Like literally, like he will get on, he plays on a switch too, which apparently is harder. I don't, I don't really know, but he'll like, get, you know, he'll win the games like five, six times out of 10 he'll he'll win the whole thing. I'm like, this is crazy. Like he's pushing all these buttons, like building, like I'm just like, but he would probably know all the songs that you sing on as well. 5 (25m 54s): It's just so rad that you, I mean, to be a part of that, I mean, that's such a big thing, obviously. It's like the biggest thing there is. 7 (26m 5s): Yeah. 5 (26m 5s): That's rad. Well, you've also worked with, I mean the other get signed to Steve Aoki, his label, like all that. That's crazy. But like, so you did the top line thing for a long time. And then when do you decide, like, okay, I want to start my own artist project. 7 (26m 21s): It was actually right before COVID. So I got signed to my first record deal in the middle of a pandemic and then, well have a number one song on us dance radio, like all during a pandemic. So It was very interesting, but I definitely was able to focus and hone in on my craft and on my music and creating and writing a lot during that time. So there's a lot of music coming. 5 (26m 48s): That is cool. So did you, like, I mean, in the, when you were doing a lot of top lining stuff, was it, were you still writing a bunch of songs out on your own and then what somebody would send you like, oh, Hey, here's a, here's a track. Can you put something on this or do they S like, how does that work? Did a lot of times, do you just write everything after that? Like here's the song and you just write the lyrics and the melody, or do the, does the producer come with with you and Lee Erickson? Everything goes, can you do what I'm sending you? Or is it a little bit of both? 7 (27m 17s): It's a little bit of both. I feel that in the past it was more of like, here's a track and I'm looking for a vocal on it. So then I would write it and I would like figure out the melody and everything and then record the vocal and send it back. And most of the time that's usually how it's gone for me lately working on my own project and even still collaborating, it's been more of a, from scratch kind of thing, which I love because then I'm able to like sit there and figure out what sound I want and specifically what I'm hearing and work on those kinds of things. And also adding in the live elements too. So it's been really fun to be able to work from it both ways and not just like one straight road of like, it's always done the same way. 7 (27m 59s): It's always different. 5 (28m 2s): Well, what was the, well, I'm curious on, maybe I think you answered this, but I'm like, what was the first cut you get and how did that happen? Was it all through SoundCloud? I think talking about SoundCloud, so you get on, but what was the first record that like really kind of elevated to the next level? And you're like, wow, like, I can't believe I got to do this or this song. I didn't realize this song was going to do what it did. And it just went massive. 7 (28m 26s): I think each there's elements of each song that I've been a part of that I feel that way about because they're all such pieces of me. I think that the first time I was actually like, wow, this is, this is, you know, something so special. I had a song with Barclay Crenshaw and it was completely different from what I was working on and it's kind of like an alien sort of song. So it was very fun and creative and unique. And when I worked on that and I was able to actually sing the song live a while back it, I think that opened a lot of possibilities for me. So I just continued to do all different kinds of sub genres of EDM. 5 (29m 8s): That's cool. And so do you D were you able to like tour with some of these artists and come out and sing the song that you were featured on 7 (29m 15s): Here and there? 5 (29m 17s): I mean pre pandemic, 7 (29m 19s): I'm not exactly. Yeah. I mean, I've been able to perform a lot around LA and then I actually was able to get on stage with slushie and pixel terror EDC a couple months ago. So that was, and then my song, tell me what you're thinking. And also my song that just came out comfortable. I was able to perform with Steve Aoki on stage. So that was also really cool. 5 (29m 42s): Oh, wow. That is huge. That is so cool. And so you start writing when you start putting out songs on, you're like, okay, I'm going to do an artist project. I'm going to put my own music out. Like when, when did that decision? 7 (29m 55s): That was the summer of 2020. And I actually, That I was signed to Denmark on my birthday. So incredible. Just the most amazing feeling. And my birthday is August 12th. So it was cool that I was able to like, celebrate those things together and just know, like, there's so many amazing things ahead. So I put out my first song, I think it was maybe like September that year and just continued. And now I'm working on my second AP. 5 (30m 28s): Wow. So when you get, so when you signed with them, where did you have a bunch of your records beforehand that you were kind of pitching and trying to get a label interest? Like how did they, or how'd you guys meet and how did that all happen? 7 (30m 41s): So I actually met, actually met one of the people working at the label at a party that I knew what he was going to be at. Oh, we were both invited on Facebook and his name was Lauren. So I had seen that he was going to be at the party. So I actually went there by myself. I didn't know a single person at the party, and I knew he was going to be there. So I found him and I tapped him on the shoulder and I introduced myself and he said, you know what? I actually have heard of you before, because you have a song with our artists quicks. And I had performed it just probably a week prior. So he was there and he had seen, so I introduced myself and I said, I would love to like, listen to my music with you and just talk about things. 7 (31m 27s): And he said, all right, come into my office. So we were sharing my music back and forth for probably about a year. And then I met Steve Aoki and shortly after I was signed. 5 (31m 37s): Wow. And then I'll, and then the signing obviously happened over the, over the pandemic. Was that like a zoom call or did you actually get to go in and sign the paperwork and like Make a whole thing of it? 7 (31m 50s): Yeah, it was, it was on the internet. 5 (31m 53s): Okay. I've heard this story a few times though. And it's like, I'm sure you could. I mean, to be able to announce it on your birthday, that had to be a big celebration. Like tell me how your family reacted. They must've been so happy for you. 7 (32m 5s): Oh my goodness. Yeah. They've been completely supportive of everything that I've done all my life. So I think that it was definitely, they, they were ready for it and I was ready for it. And ever since it's just completely continued to be such an amazing thing. 5 (32m 22s): Yeah. They were like, I knew we should have moved to LA. 10 (32m 27s): There's no better time to go for a huge score than during bet. MGMs March match-ups and right now you can make sure your first bet is a slam dunk. Simply download the bet MGM app and place a $10 Moneyline way to run any college tournament game. If any team hits a three-pointer during the tournament, you'll win $200 in free bets, regardless of your waitress outcome. Just use bonus code champion 200 when you make your first bet and the opportunities for celebration don't stop. After the net is cut down, try bed MGMs innovative parlay selection features boosted OD specials, daily promotions, and more on all your favorite sports. Download the app or go to bet mgm.com and use bonus code champion 200. When you sign up then place a Moneyline bet during bed MGMs March match-ups and you'll win $200 in free bets. 10 (33m 10s): If any team hits a three during the college tournament, now you're winning with a king of sports books. Visit bed mtm.com for terms and conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager Washington, DC and Virginia only new customer offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements rewards issued as non withdrawal, free bets or site credit free bets expire seven days from issuance, please gamble responsibly gambling problem. Call 1 805 2 2 4700. 5 (33m 29s): That's cool. So tell me about the new song comfortable and you feed yet Quick's features on this song, right? So it's kind of like a reverse. 7 (33m 36s): Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So the song that basically put me on the radar with democ was my song with quicks and it was featuring all the ELA at the time. So it's so cool that we're able to do a similar kind of thing as an Abila song. Now, years later, it's just cool. How like things come full circle sometimes, you know, 5 (33m 56s): That will tell me about the song. 7 (33m 57s): Yeah. So comfortable. I co-wrote the song with some amazing writers and it was very important for us to get across the point of you can, whether you're in a relationship, not in a relationship that confidence that you have in yourself and just being that person that can stand alone independently and be comfortable with who you are. That was the message that we were really going for. And I remember when we were originally working on the song, the lyrics were part of it was my friends, give me more than anyone. And I, I saw that and I was like, you know what? I think we could maybe switch it and have it be, cause I give me more than anyone because obviously like, it's great. 7 (34m 38s): It's great to have your friends and great to have a support group of amazing people in your life. But at the end of the day, how do you ultimately feel about yourself? And we really wanted to portray something that everyone can resonate with is having that comfortability with who you are as a person. So I had this idea, like let's release it around Valentine's day and it can be like a self-empowerment song. 5 (35m 2s): I like that. That's a brilliant idea. Did you record that in studio or is it recorded on your blue mic? 7 (35m 7s): I recorded it right here. 5 (35m 9s): Did you really? That's so awesome. So is all your stuff done in your house like that for the most part? 7 (35m 16s): No, actually this is just my little area that I've put together. 5 (35m 21s): That's where you record your vocals. 7 (35m 23s): Yeah, this is where I record everything. 5 (35m 26s): Oh my gosh. That's so, I mean, that just shows you that you don't need to spend a hundred thousand dollars on going to a big fancy studio. Just do it, do it yourself now. That's crazy. 7 (35m 36s): Yeah, totally. 5 (35m 38s): Did the pandemic allow you, like, how did that affect you as far as music goes, like w did it allow just more time to focus on your music or did it screw up plans that you had for certain releases? 7 (35m 50s): I think I was really lucky in the sense that it didn't really, it didn't mess anything up as far as release schedule or anything. It really gave me an opportunity to focus on what music we were creating. I had done a lot of writing during that time, which is why now I have so many songs that are ready and I can't wait to share with the world because during that time I was so focused on just writing and getting the songs ready. And I had a lot of sessions with a lot of people in Sweden. So we would do zoom writing calls. And that was this thing. 5 (36m 21s): Yeah. Sweden's huge on dance music. I mean, max Martin, the guy, and he hit ever from like 1998 on for so many years, like, it's crazy the amount of talent that comes out of there. And with zoom now, that's, it's crazy. Now you don't have to fly to Sweden or fly wherever to work with people. You can just hop on the computer and, and do it that way. 7 (36m 47s): Right, right. It was so cool because here I be waking up, I am like super early bird. I get up so early every morning. So for me it would be like seven in the morning and it's usually like a five hour time difference. So they would be kind of, you know, getting their dinner and we would just sit together while there's sometimes like eating their dinner and I'm drinking my coffee in the morning. 5 (37m 11s): Yeah. 7 (37m 11s): So it was very fun. 5 (37m 13s): Well, it sounds like you already were working with people over the like, pretty much your whole career. Right. I mean, through SoundCloud, it was always, were you always just sending tracks back and forth that way? 7 (37m 24s): Yeah, basically all of the things that I had worked on that I've been featured on have just been recorded here and everything is just a back and forth on email. Most of the time. 5 (37m 34s): That's amazing. I mean, he had a leg up on everybody else. You're actually already doing that. Then everyone else had to try to adapt. They're like, oh my God. 7 (37m 41s): Oh wait, no. Now like being able to be back in person because having that, that in-person connection when you're writing, I feel like is also so important. So obviously it's fun to be able to do it on, on the internet too and back and forth on zoom calls. But it's also great to be in person and write with someone and finally like be face-to-face in a room. 5 (38m 0s): Yeah. I would think that I've heard two things. I've heard two different stories about writing in person at versus the internet. Like, do, do you prefer to do it right in person with somebody else co co right. 7 (38m 12s): I think for me, they're both great. I can work both ways with it, but I definitely do enjoy being in person because I feel like you just get to know someone so much better, you know, but then again, I am like sitting in my room studio, so, 5 (38m 26s): Right. Yeah. It's interesting. Cause I've heard this story where it's like, you know, you can't, you obviously can't vibe as well over a computer. Maybe if you haven't met the person before and I guess you have to figure it out real fast, but then other people are like, I like it because it's just like you get, you know, that I'm going to get on the zoom at, you know, 11 o'clock and it's like business right away. It's not like shatter. And then like, oh, let's go like get some coffee. Like is there's a lot, like there's all that noise is just kind of cut out and you're, you're more like focused directly on what you're, you know, came to do 7 (39m 0s): You get straight to it. 5 (39m 2s): Right, right, right. That's awesome. So I'm, I'm stoked to hear your new songs. I mean, I love what you have out now and it sounds like you've got a bunch of songs coming out and what an EAP as well. 7 (39m 12s): Yeah. I'm working on the second AP now. 5 (39m 14s): Awesome. That is awesome. And what about live shows you plan on trying to do a tour or mainly keep it? Oh yeah. Obviously 7 (39m 22s): The dream. 5 (39m 24s): The dream. Yeah. Okay. That's awesome. Well, it's rad that you were able to come out with slushie and obviously in, into your song, Stevie Oakey. That's massive. So congratulations on all of that and I appreciate you doing this. Thank you so much. 7 (39m 36s): Thank you. Thank you so much again for having me. This was so much fun. 5 (39m 39s): I have one more question for you. I want to know if you have any advice for aspiring artists. 7 (39m 45s): Yeah, definitely. I think believing in yourself is a huge part of it. Obviously not giving up and continuing to find that dream that you're searching for. And also I think a big part of it is really honing in on that craft and learning more about the skills that you want to be a part of. I actually had a music meeting when I was younger with John legend and I got to go to his house yeah. And sing and play guitar for him. And he had told me that I had artistry. And at that point in my life, I think I was maybe 12. And hearing that at such a young age, I think really helped to shape what I thought about what I wanted to do. 7 (40m 27s): And I think a really big part of it is just continuing to be creative and continuing to just do what you love and have that fearlessness of, if you have an idea in your head do it. You never know where it could take you. 5 (40m 40s): I love that. I'm actually, now I have a followup question will tell me this John legend story. That's insane. You're 12 years old and you got to go to his house and play your songs for him. 7 (40m 49s): Yeah. 5 (40m 50s): That happened 7 (40m 52s): Through some mutual friends. So it was really cool. I got to yeah. Bring my little guitar and I sang some songs for him. I wish I remembered what songs I say. I might've even saying one of his songs for him, which Had like this huge piano and these lights that hung down and they were like blasts. And they had his lyrics of his songs, like wrapped all around the glass. 5 (41m 14s): Of course. 7 (41m 16s): Yeah. I know. I have like the mental picture in my head that I will never forget. 5 (41m 19s): That's so funny. That's amazing. At 12, maybe that kind of helped you, your parents would be like, okay, John legend. Co-signed on her. So we should, we should move down.