Middle Monster On the Making Of “No More Birthdays”
What is the creative process like?
For me, it's easier to start building the instrumental part of a song before writing lyrics or working on a vocal melody. This usually means I'll spend at least a couple of hours messing around with chord progressions and weird synth sounds before I have any idea what the song will be about. I find if I create the mood of the song first it helps inspire the lyrics.
What impact do you hope "No More Birthdays" will have on your audience?
I hope the song makes people feel more ok with having mixed emotions about their birthday! Birthdays are usually viewed as celebrations, but the truth is that they can also come with a lot of anxiety and discontentment. In the end, I hope people can see the beauty of the new chapters they are stepping into, even if only after wrestling through some of the uncomfortableness of change.
What was your favorite moment in making the music video?
This was my first time shooting any kind real video content so you can imagine I was a bit nervous. But having been a part of this process, I can say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my creative journey. The joy of witnessing so many people come together with the single goal of making your song come to life is a feeling I will treasure for the rest of my life. As far as specific scenes, I loved shooting the scenes in the tall grass on the beach in Brooklyn. It really does feel like we were transported to a different world.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I’ve always been a big feeler. And while it’s quite natural for me to feel big emotions, it hasn’t always been so easy for me to communicate those emotions. Music and songwriting have served as outlets for me to say things that I can’t always say in other contexts. Few things give me more joy than giving others a piece of art that encapsulates their most deeply felt emotions. As someone who has received the comfort that comes with listening to a song that feels like it was personally made for me, I hope to be able to provide that same experience to as many people as possible.
Many of your songs seem very personal. How do you balance sharing your experiences while maintaining a connection with your audience?
Honestly, I’m still working on how to strike the right balance. Sometimes you write things that are so personal that no one else could possibly understand what you’re talking about. But then you overcorrect and write something vague and unremarkable. My hope for the next songs I write is to be able to tell stories that feel fresh and unique while still containing some universal experiences.
