For those people that haven’t heard of you could you tell us a bit about yourself, your story?
I grew up with some science teacher parents in the Hudson Valley of NY. I was always a shy music kid but had had a whole bunch of random hobbies along the way as well. I was obsessed with 60’s and 70’s bands and specifically had a major crush on young Paul McCartney. I started writing songs and learning guitar in Middle school, had a girl band in high school and then went to undergrad for Music industry at SUNY Oneonta. I’ve always done a little bit of everything, sports, theatre, and camping, and all sorts of random art passions. I think my style of writing started off with a love for jazzy funky tunes as well as a folk inspiration from my parents.
Towards the end of college, I met some significant people and travelled a whole bunch to Costa Rica and South Africa and Europe and ended up working for a music publishing company in Berlin for a while. Got into electronic music and learned a whole lot about myself and living life.
After moving home to make a little money, I moved down to Florida to live with my grandparents for a few months and ended up joining a psychedelic rock band and writing my first solo album. Spent time adventuring and boating and eventually went on a national tour for a few months playing music and spending time with new and old friends and camping in national parks for a few months. Moved to Boston with my boyfriend for an events job, then quarantine happened and I learned how to cook and meditate and do yoga and mountain bike.
Now my guy and I are living in lovely Charleston, SC with a pup named Winnie. I worked as a pastry chef, and then an events manager, and now I work from home as an events coordinator and make a whole lot of pasta and play music on the weekends. My first ever music video is coming out next week on June 3rd and I’m stoked about that!
Who inspired you to get on stage and perform?
I’ve always loved theatre and grew up doing shows. After a while, I think the encouragement from my parents and my drama teachers made me realize that I had a great voice and gave me the confidence to perform on stage. Honestly, it was the love I always had for theatre that made me want to be on stage. I think I started writing around 11 when I went through a few tough experiences in middle school. I moved schools for a year and then during middle school, being as uncomfortable as it usually is anyway, I ended up going through the death of a best friend from Cystic Fibrosis. She always wanted to be a country singer so I think felt some sort of push to follow through and have confidence from her.
Are there any particular artists or albums that have stuck with you and influenced your sound?
Mac Demarco “2” was a pretty significant one that influenced my first album as well as my style of playing now.
Lana Del Rey – All albums. I grew up as she released each album and I think the old Hollywood cinematic feel of her music was something that felt relatable and unique to me. I think my vocals tend to be along these lines.
Ella Fitzgerald was a big vocal inspiration for me. I think I have her version of “All of Me” stuck in my head most days.
Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young – Always an inspiration to me in all ways musical
I was a little obsessed with Beach Boys, “Pet Sounds” for a bit and then Jefferson Airplane around that same time
Do you have any songwriting rituals?
I tend to write voice memo dittys in the car. I like long car rides because I’ll get a few cool ideas going, lyrics or music, and then start building off of one of those. At home, I usually start with one of those voice memo ideas and sit on the floor with my guitar and my notes app open on my laptop. Then I record some awkward video of me roughing through the beginnings of the idea haha
Could you tell us a bit about the writing/recording of Red and Blue?
I wrote Red and Blue when I was living at home in between travels: Between Florida and the national tour. I was really inspired by the spaghetti western delay sounds on my electric guitar giving off these Summer Wine Nancy Sinatra vibes. I also was writing a bunch of ideas around that time that had a more narrative storytelling flow instead of a 1st person view. I was going through a difficult life situation with my family and my boyfriend, and felt that it very naturally came out as the Hollywood tale that the lyrics portray.
I recorded the song with a friend of mine from high school, Jesse Barki at a venue- turned music studio from my early days in Marlboro, NY. My brother Dillon Shillieto played drums, and a folkie friend of mine played lead guitar, Jim Hession. I recorded and low-key released it onto youtube during my national tour in 2019 and then felt it needed a visual aspect and a true release onto Spotify with the rest of my music.
I see that you are recording a video for Red and Blue, how was that process?
The process of making the video was soooo so new and interesting for me. I’m a very visual person so feeling like I could finally put my music to a visual aspect just felt right. I reached out to Taylor Czerwinski, a photographer I had shot with, and she hopped on board to lead the filming. My guy Ryan Sullivan, Taylor and I started running through a bunch of different ideas over the course of a few months and then Ryan and I established the idea for where it is now. I developed the costumes and we went out scouting for locations. We got a little crew together and shot the first main scenes out on Morris Island, Folly beach. Super windy day but it was such a fun time and I think it added to the intensity. For the later shots above the water, Taylor, Ryan and I rigged up a skiff and headed out on the water for some very cool filming.
Do you have any plans for a new EP or album coming up?
The next release will be a single, and then maybe followed up with an EP. The vibe seems to be following in the direction of this narrative, storytelling format so I’m excited about that as well as another short film style video.
What are some of your favourite venues to perform at?
I have to shout it out to Terra Fermata in Stuart, FL and Chico Feo on Folly beach, SC
Both are artsy outdoor venues with an inviting and collaborative crowd. That’s definitely my style
Here at Artistic Echoes, we are always on the lookout for new artists do you have any to recommend?
I’ve really been loving the music by Alexandra Savior, Camelia Jordana, iLe, Kaina, and Kalli Uchis
As well some of my long time favorites are Beruit, Juniore, Andrew Bird, Devotchka, Bonobo, Father John Misty, and London Grammar
What plans do you have for the rest of the year?
After this release, I’ll be playing a showcase at the New Orleans Cutting Edge Conference July 7-9. Then I’ll be aiming to record and release a single around September in time for a full band show in October in Charleston, SC. I have a lot of travel planned, so I’ll be writing a bunch and working on my live show.
