Can you tell us about the inspiration behind “Chasing Dreams” and the story it tells?

“Chasing Dreams” was written about the angst I felt while waking up on early morning commutes to different jobs, while wanting to give more time to my creative career and to the things that made me feel purposeful. At that time, I was navigating many feelings, the fear of failure in entrepreneurship, the unknown of working for myself and also wanting to do justice to the years of hard work I put into completing my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. Neither of my immigrant parents came from money, and education was always the way to a better future. So, although I have been supported in my music career, I was wrestling with switching my path on the “stable” science route and embracing an art practice as a form of income. I would pull up to parking lots before work and speak or sing the rough lyric ideas into a voice note on my phone before heading to work. When I got home, I would pick my guitar up and start fleshing out ideas. The piece speaks to the dreams I had of wanting to travel and perform music, to reach people in the ways that helped me to heal, offer healing to others, and made me feel purposeful. To me, it is a song of encouragement to those who may be afraid to take the steps towards the things that light them up inside. I wrote the guitar and driving kick drum to mirror the continuous pursuit towards something meaningful.

Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this song?

Of the 120 hours I put into the studio to record the album, I remember this song being one of the easiest to track, because the passion was pouring out of me. I closed my eyes in the booth, pictured myself tired, with my hands on the steering wheel of my car, with the sun breaking over the mountains on the highway, and let the lyrics pour out of me. I remember after a few of the vocal takes, I checked in with my producer in the booth and asked, “How’s it sounding in there?” He just said something like, “Honestly, I have no real feedback on this one. You are singing it really raw and beautifully. Just keep doing what you are doing.” As a soloist, I always played this song acoustic with my kick pedal and cajón, but I wanted to spice things up even more for the studio version. I initially wrote some electric lead ideas for the song, but I also asked my producer David Ziehr if he would consider writing some lead electric slides to go with the music. The next day I heard what he came up with and was pretty blown away, so we kept his slide guitar lead for the track. I love it, and think it brings even more of that eruptive energy that shakes you up and makes you want to get after the things you love!

How does “Chasing Dreams” fit into your overall artistic vision and what can listeners expect from you in the future?

This title track, “Chasing Dreams,” is essentially the catalyst of all the music on the album. This song feels like planting my feet sturdily into the ground, with my heart racing, before I leap as high as I can into the unknown. It feels like smoldering embers beneath my feet. The songs yet to be released, have a depth and reflective quality to them that takes the audience on a journey with me. It is my attempt at processing the many reflections I had during the wake of the pandemic and launching my full-time music career as the world shut down. The songs cover everything from the challenges in my family history of being mixed race, the power of love in the face of adversity, continuing toward your dreams despite hardship, and the universal connection we have to our environment and others.

What is your songwriting process like? How do you usually start crafting a new song?

The process varies with every single song. But, most of the inspiration comes when I stay up late, or purposely wake up very early in the morning to write by candlelight, when I still feel delirious. Sometimes there could be something really pressing on my mind that feels inspiring to write about, other times it is just a flow of consciousness. Most of the time, the lyrics come first, but not always. Usually in the beginning stages I will pick out bits and pieces of a free write that sound sort of like a song, brainstorm chords over top of my favourite parts I came up with, then I will record a rough draft and go for a run while listening to the music on repeat. Something I learned while studying Kinesiology is that movement and walking while studying helps both sides of your brain communicate and aids in retention, so I apply this practice to my songwriting and it seems to help. The length of time varies. Sometimes the songs take years to write, or others take a few hours, where the ideas are spilling out of my head and I can’t write them down fast enough. Either way, the process is 99% intuitive for me, my ears just figure out what fits together, and when I get goosebumps, a feeling of elation like I am flying, or I feel choked up reading the lyrics, I know things are where they need to be.

Do you have any memorable on-stage moments or performances that stand out to you?

I have a ton that I will cherish. Some that have made me really laugh are when kids see people tipping me at outdoor concerts with money in my guitar case, and they want to join in with sticks and leaves and the parents look horrified, while I am trying not to laugh on stage. Others include, a night I was playing in this packed restaurant on this tiny stage, and this couple squeezed between the tables, just so they could slow dance next to me while I was singing. As the restaurant was closing, this group pushed all the tables to the side in the front half of the restaurant and everyone got up and started dancing to my music. The staff couldn’t believe what was happening, they closed the doors and let the people dance; it was the best feeling in the world. Another memory I have while performing at a resort on the Sunshine Coast was the performance of my song “Better Man,” about moving through the emotions of going your separate ways with a romantic interest. I looked over at the bartender, who had tears streaming down her face, and after a post set conversation, I realized the power and universality that storytelling has in processing our experiences. There is a song I wrote called “The Hurricane Rider” on the upcoming album about navigating both my feelings of overwhelming joy and feeling alone while on the road. I’ve played it live before and I’ve watched other musicians, usually more seasoned than I, frozen in contemplation as they listen to the words. After my set, I chatted with them and some still have this distant gaze, as they tell me how much they enjoyed that song. In these moments, I can tell they are digesting their own lived experiences as artists and it makes me grateful to be a songwriter. Lastly, at an outdoor festival in Vancouver, I performed for an audience of close to 400 people, right before the headliners came up on stage. I remember finishing my set, looking out over crashing waves, hearing the applause of the audience and feeling an immense amount of gratitude for sharing my stories with so many people. Whether it is the roar of an audience or being able to hear a pin drop in a packed crowd, the conversations of how my music has positively impacted people, keep me writing songs and continuing to grow into the lifelong pursuit of the artist I want to be.

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