I got a toy guitar at a fundraiser and was trying to write songs with it that were ridiculous. After a week, my parents bought me a real acoustic guitar, and I started taking guitar lessons.
I've played music since I was six, and I always wrote songs just for myself. I did it for fun, posting songs on Tumblr, Bandcamp, and Soundcloud. I didn't think anyone would notice.
Moving gave me confidence. I was really reclusive when I first moved. I stayed home a lot or went to shows alone. But by the second semester of my freshman year, I started making friends.
I'm a huge fan of Joni Mitchell, and I think her music has inspired me lyrically and guitar-wise.
I think I'm much more of a guitar-songwriter than a singer. I start with chords and then test out melodies rather than improvising over it.
'Still Clean' discusses the hopelessness of waiting for someone who's abandoned you.