Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
I’ve always wanted to be a storyteller. I was always interested in human connection and how feelings of love, loss and hope connect all humans. Writing songs gave me a chance to tell my story, which allowed me to connect with others. It gave me a platform to do good, to take peoples minds off their worries for a few minutes or to have their fears crushed under the pressure of knowing that someone else feels the same way they do.
I was about 12 when I really started writing songs, but the material has been in my head from a very young age. 


How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?

In terms of genres, I just call myself pop. But only because it’s a get out of jail free card as it encompasses so many different styles. I’m inspired by good songs, so I listen to all genres. Therefore, my music takes from, and sounds like, a whole range of genres. 

I think that is part of the reason people have connected with my music. Because I’ve never let myself be put in a box. I’ve always allowed the song to go where it needs to and I think people appreciate that. Ultimately, it’s hard to say exactly why people listen to my music and come to my shows but, when you write honest and open songs, there’s bound to be at least a few people who agree with what you’re saying. 


Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 

I grew up on Stevie Wonder, Sting, The Beatles and James Taylor. Their influences are still present in my writing today. I also love artists such as Jason Mraz, John Mayer, John Martyn, Thirsty Merc, Paul Brady, Declan O’Rourke, Irish Trad Music, New Orleans music and so much more.


Your new single “Who Hangs The Moon” is about to be released! Describe its origin and evolution.
“Who Hangs The Moon” is being released on July 30th and is the third and final single from my debut album “KID”, released earlier this year. I wrote “Who Hangs The Moon” a few years ago after watching a video that was a part of a youtube series called ‘My Last Days’ that documented people living with a terminal illness. This one episode in particular featured a terminally ill woman who wanted to marry her husband before she passed. In one of the final scenes, this woman said ‘I just hope Dan (her husband) remembers me as the cooky…. woman that thought he hung the moon’ and I don’t know exactly what it was that sentence, but as I laid there in my bed, crying my eyes out, it hit me right in the heart. And rather selfishly, I thought something along the lines of ‘I want to find the one who hangs the moon’. Which on reflection just makes me feel terrible that in a moment like that I thought about my own love life, but I did and ‘Who Hangs The Moon?’ was the question that started the song. 


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Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?

Sure, the album is actually already out funnily enough. I always wanted to release another music video and single after the album was released. That was just always a part of my plan and it is a fairly common thing that artists do. But as COVID hit Australia, all my plans for a professionally shot music video went out the window and I didn’t know how I was going to pull it off. 

The funny thing is that, this gave me a bit more time to see the reaction to the album. I noticed “Who Hangs The Moon” was getting a lot of positive reviews and it was the number one song people spoke to me about. “Who Hangs The Moon” wasn’t going to be the third single until I saw how much people loved it. So as restrictions eased, Graphic Designer (and bass player in the James Franklin band!), Kai Lane-U’Ren and myself, set out to shoot a simple, DIY music video. So we did! and I think I prefer the final product over what I could have done with a more professional set-up.


Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?

Tours and events are too fragile to be discussed now with everything going on. But, I do have some exciting things planned regardless. I am recording and releasing two songs from my album ‘KID’ in other languages. They will be released in the coming months. 

On top of that, I am featuring on Melbourne rapper DL’s new single, co-written with Rai Thistlethwayte of Thirsty Merc, coming later this year. I also have a few brand new singles in the works as well, coming early next year.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 

I think I’d have to choose Michael Jackson. To me, he is and always will be the most complete musical artist. I’m forever in awe of what he created and how he performed it live. 


Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist? 

I just want to keep connecting with people. I have no big goals set that I ‘have to meet before I’m 30 or else I will have failed’, I think those are superfluous. I’m trying to provide a service with my songwriting. I’m trying to do what songs have always done for me, pull me out of the deepest, darkest valley of my mind and into the light. My goal is to make people feel something. 


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What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?

There’s been a few. Honourable mentions would be my first gig in the U.S at Lestats West in San Diego, playing at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, playing at the MCG on one occasion and playing in the park outside the MCG on another occasion to over 40,000 people. 

But if I had to choose one, it would be when I played with 5 Seconds Of Summer in Melbourne a few years ago. This was my first ‘big’ gig and no one knew who I was. I played an original of mine called ‘Our First Dance’ and by the end of the song, the audience were singing along. There was no way they had heard the song, they just picked it up as I went along. That was amazing to me. It was the first time I heard my lyrics sung back to me by an audience. A true moment of spontaneous connection…. That moment will always have a special place in my heart. 


Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Chris Stapleton – Traveller
Artist – Jason Mraz
Movie – Always changing but at the moment, Mon Oncle.
Place to visit – Rye/Sorrento
Venue to play – In the U.S: Lestats West. In Aus: The Wesley Anne
Food – Fried Chicken
Drink – Chai Latte
Person in History – Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud.
Tattoo – I have one at the moment of a spaceman that my dad drew. So that has to be my favourite for now, but I’m planning getting many more in the future.