How does "Here With Me" differ from your previous work?

"Here With Me" is the first "full band sound" I've done. I'm a singer songwriter and I accompany myself on guitar. All the songs I've released until now have been vocal and guitar. I originally wrote "Here With Me" to pitch to Kpop solo artists, but resonated with the frustration of feeling you’ve done everything"right" and what you truly want is still out of reach. I'm a topliner, which is where I create words and melody to an existing instrumental track. I fell in love with this song from producer Gold's House and loved the drama and emotions it brought up.

Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for this song?

There were several challenges and breakthroughs. The challenges lead to break through moments. I record as I go when I topline. It's like writing outloud. I had artists in mind and was thinking what they had done and l how they might say something. I returned to what I was feeling and what I was seeing as I listened to the music. It helped me tap into different senses and images.

Another breakthrough moment was when my sound engineer, Asher Myers, distorted the drums as a "happy accident." It was a completely different direction than I was thinking, but it makes the song unique and gives it a new flavor.

What was your favorite moment in making the music video?

My brother, Charlie Vasseur of Filming Seals, filmed the music video for me. We got to film at the Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora, which is a beautiful small theater where I've played a New Year’s Eve show. It feels so warm and supportive. I knew I wanted to film there when I decided to do the video. I created beats and suggested scenes. He did a great job directing me. I enjoyed doing several full takes of the song, just singing and moving around a space I know and love.

But my favorite part of filming was hearing my brother's "happy laugh," a laugh he does when he's figured something out and it's working. We had been doing shots and then he asked me to do the full take so he could see what I was thinking and we got the "happy laugh."

Where do you find inspiration for your songs or musical ideas?

Many of my songs are what I want to hear. Most of my work is uplifting, helping people see the bright side and how we will get through something. I take a lot of inspiration from what I've gone through, what I would have wanted to hear in a challenging moment, or what I want someone to hear or know.

What's a little different about "Here With Me" is it's a little self indulgent. The character is kind of having a tantrum in a way, but I think that makes it relatable. I think many of us have felt, "Why not me? I've been good, I've done all this. Why not me?"

What challenges have you faced as a singer-songwriter, and how have you overcome them?

My writing can be unique. I like different turns of phrases and my style can be very conversational, like you're sitting across the table from me having a heart to heart. I like that and people have resonated with it. There can be a softness to it. I have compared myself to my influences and other artists and been afraid "it's not enough." I've said it's too simple. Simple can be very elegant. If one of the goals is to help someone, simple can be very good.
Choosing supportive thoughts and self-compassion has been a game changer.

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