October 30, 2025 • 36 mins
CIL Talks Tooth Gems, Heartbreak & Opening for Dua Lipa!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, Hello, Welcome to our Z one hundred Artist Interview
Lounge presented by Celsius Energy Drinks. I'm Crystal Dlesas Today.
She's a rising force in pop, unafraid to pour her
heart out into every track. Colorado born, La based, she's
emerged as one of pop's hottest newcomers, blending blunt, clever
lyrics with hypnotic R and B pop melodies. Her EP,
(00:24):
Don't Hold Me Accountable explores the turbulence of gen z, romance,
mental health, self love through the tracks, and we are
so excited to see that. She's been performing at we
Hope Pride Summerfest twenty twenty five. Earned early acclaimed from Billboard,
Music Connection, and V Magazine declared as one on the
cusp for pop stardom. Let's have a conversation with zem
(00:47):
hell Hi, curly pop Ye, thank you so much for
having me, Thank you for coming. The gems are Jemmy
think is add oh wait, what are like tooth jumps?
Because I don't know if I need to.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Well, basically I started getting mine like three years ago
something like that, and literally all it is is like braces,
glue and gems, Like I don't know girl. I don't
know what to say. It's like one of my favorite
things that I've done with my smile because I used
to be so insecure of my gap and my teeth.
I got this tiny little gap in between my two
front teeth, and so when I got tooth gems, I
(01:21):
was like, Okay, I'm gonna be fine.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Oh did they stay on? Has one popped off?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
For your solid I'm not gonna lie to you. I
may or may not have eaten one on accident. The
other day while I was eating my wings in Atlanta,
I was.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Like, shit, not in Magic City.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
We talked about, but not in Magic City, but I wish.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Wait, so how is your relationship with your gap now?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
I think it's I mean like it's always. I like it.
I think that I've learned to love it because it's
part of It's part of who I am, and I'm
way too lazy to change it or make any changes whatsoever.
But I love it. I just remember being like in
fourth grade and asking my teacher like, oh, like, when
is this gonna go away? And she's like, well, when
(02:03):
you're a woman, it'll go away. And I'm not even joking.
I waited. I was like Okay, when I'm a woman,
it's gonna go away. And I wait, it's still fucking here.
So I don't really, I don't really understand that. But yeah,
so I never went away. So but it's fine. I'm
learning to love it.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I love it. I mean, she got hers closed up,
but I don't think she did. Oh my god, I
don't think you need to do Okay, I'm not like
she could do that. She wants to do it, But girl,
I think.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I love the gaps. I loved hers. I was like,
she's so pretty.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
That's what they're gonna say. If you decide to close
yours up.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Okay, well then I guess I have to stand strong
with my gap. Keep the guy stands strong. I will, don't.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
I want to roll back. Because it's true that you
have you gre up with seven siblings, what over are you?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I'm number four, the middle kid out of like so
there's two girls and then six boys, which is was
so much fun and growing up it was awesome. Yeah,
so I was the middle kid. It's like me because
technically with eight kids, there's no middle kid. There's two.
So it's me and my brother Patrick, and so do you.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Guys vibe similarly, like, oh my god, he's like my
favorite person in the entire world, and he's the number
one sibling.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, I can't say anything. I don't have a favorite
sibling when you're talking about I love them all. No,
he was just like the closest. I think we were
the closest growing up because he he had my back,
and I think that as a middle kid, you like
learn to take care of everybody else and you're fine.
You're either like the comedic relief of what's going on
(03:43):
or you're like the emotional like punching bag a little bit.
So him and I we were able to be that
for each other at the same time, and like so
it was nice. He's just the closest to me because
I think we had we had each other, you know.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
And when you were growing up, were you who who
was in charge of the music? In a hoolesehold? Like
what were you listening to? Let's talk about that.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
That's me. I mean, like I guess like my older
brothers had a little bit of like you know, but
I remember when I was like twelve, I think I
started getting really into music. And the reason why was
because I really liked vinyls and records, and so I
started collecting them when I was twelve, and then.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I got like, what were your first ones?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
My first one ever was a White Beatles White album,
and then I got a Beach Boys' Greatest Hits and
it was like four vinyls in like the one you know.
So I had like every single Beach Boys song you imaginable,
and I'm I love the Beach Boys. It's like they're
(04:50):
one of my favorite Brian Wilson is just my music.
God have you seen them? I have not, no, never,
never saw them, but and yeah, so I started collecting vinyls.
Those were like my first couple vinyls, and I got
really into oldies. I got really into soul music, the Platters.
I had a Platters album and so yeah, I got
(05:13):
really into it and then that's kind of what started
me and ushered me into Okay, and now I kind
of want to sing like that. I want to make
music like that. I want to make music in general.
I want to write, and so I started writing in
like in singing I think in like eighth grade. That
was really when I started doing it.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
But were you doing talent shows or what was that?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Like? I like, I remember my mom really wanted me
to join choir, and I was like, no, like absolutely not,
I can't do that. And I don't know why, like
I was so scared to join choir. I actually know
why because when I was in listen, when I was
in fourth grade. When I was in fourth grade, I
had this teacher okay, and she we were all like
(06:00):
singing in the choir because we had to do it
because we went to Catholic school too, so nice, so
you understand, I'm like sitting there and I'm singing. I'm
just doing my thing, and she comes up behind me
and like shuts my mouth, and all of a sudden,
everybody stops singing. And then she goes, we have a leader,
like a vocal like a voice leader, And I was
(06:22):
like is that me? And then she was like you
need to keep you need to be a little quieter,
and I was like, I don't want to be here,
like what the book? So I that was my first
experience of a question.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
I didn't dramatic though, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I was like, I don't want to do it. She
actually was. She was my biggest op, like since the
beginning of time. She was praying for you, Miss Kelly
all right, but yeah, that was that was great. That was.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
But yeah, that was that wass aame more? You can
keep that in listen.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I don't know what to say. I gotta call her out,
but yeah, that was. That was my first experience like
in a choir and whatever, so I never really wanted
to do.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
That was your first experience, know you had a talent, Loki.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
You know what? That was my first thank you, Thank
you teacher. Yeah, that was. That was definitely an well.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
That turned you off from public singing, Yeah, a little bit,
of course.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
And then when I was in eighth grade, I really
started to get into writing, okay, and really wanting to
explore what that man and explore what music was for me.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
So what like homs and you like record on your phone,
like what is that?
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I would just teach myself. I taught myself how to
play piano, and then I would just sit there and
I would just let whatever came out, you know, come out.
And I ended up writing like a couple of songs
when I was young. And then I like got an
to high school and around like sixteen, I ended up
(08:03):
dropping out high school and moving to LA and I've
been ever since. My uncle. I was. I was living
with a family member and so we.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
We so like your your parents called up your THEO
and was like a like you know, little thing over here.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
He actually called them, and it was more so like yo,
like I you know, I think she's great whatever, And
I was like I wasn't doing well at home and
like there were I was just like going through some stuff.
And then you know, it kind of ended up being
like the perfect situation of me, like I was able
to I was working, so I was able to like
(08:40):
get over there. I ended up living with him, and
I started working at Victor Bennet's, which is like a
little bakery and Kelly too. I was just I was
just taking orders. That was all I was doing. In Colorado,
I worked at a taco place and I was like
a cook and like doing dishes made stay so late,
(09:01):
like every night. I was there so like one am,
and I was like what so that sucked. But yeah,
those were like my two jobs.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Did you meet famous people when you worked at callavasas? No?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Oh I didn't. Actually, I was very much. I was
very much in my own world at that time too.
I but yeah, no, I didn't meet any famous people.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
So then what are you doing when you're working and
then you get off and you're just like writing and
networking and meeting people? Because how is that like in
LA for you?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
La? Is? I mean like La? My biggest priority was
just to figure out how to pay rent and like
survive for a long time. But I was living in
Huntington Beach. After Calabasas, I moved to Huntington Beach and
then I was living with my cousin and so I
was driving like eighty miles a day up to LA
(09:50):
doing sessions, back down to Huntington Beach to sleep, and
I was working in between that, and it was it
was just a lot. Like it was a lot. I
had to get up every day and be like, Okay,
like this is don't quit. Don't quit. Don't quit, because
I think there were times where I really wanted to.
And it's funny because when I released my first song,
(10:11):
it was I was like posting like videos of just
me singing and whatever, and I just decided one day,
I was like, I think I'm just gonna post an
original song, like who cares?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Did you were doing covers for a while.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, And so I posted that. I turned off my
phone for the day. I went to go make music
and I it just like it did well, and that
was the first one that I decided to show people,
and it felt like really affirming where I was like, okay,
like you can't you can't give up.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
You know how cool that your first like original song
that you popped yeah, was like the biggest video at
the time that you yeah, got so much love for.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
It's crazy. I'm so thankful for just that song one
which I have so much like love for it. It's
so much gratitude towards it because it was what one
of those records that I felt. I mean, when you start,
I think people don't realize how valuable it is to
be young and naive a little bit because you're able
(11:12):
to really you're able to make decisions without overthinking it
one thousand percent, you know, And so I was just
able to. I liked it. It felt like me, I
put it out and that was it, and that, you know,
taught me to really trust my intuition.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
So then at that point when that song is popping
off online, were you're getting reached out by random people
or like what was going on?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
I mean, yeah, I ended up signing or to a
record label and Warner, and that was like the first
kind of thing that happened, and I was I ended
up on a tour shortly after I put it out
with a friend of mine and we ended up like
(12:01):
we ended up just being on tour and I was
singing the song and I was posting it and it
was so much fun. And I just felt like I
was really starting to experience my own life and I
was taking charge of my own life for the first
time in a really long time, you know, because leading
up to that point, honestly, leading up to that putting
out when We're shot, it felt like I was constantly
(12:22):
like climbing, you know, And then it felt like, yes,
I'm climbing, but it's it. I've got like an energy boost,
you know what I mean. It really like it. It
reintroduced why I was so passionate at the time, and
I think that we all need at some point in
our careers and our lives and our friendships and our
romances and everything, like it'll come to a point where
(12:46):
you get that like remembrance of why you're in it
and why it why you love it so much.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Yeah, like motivation boosts like, Okay, the work is doing
things right and right and moving and this year we
got your EP.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, don't hold me accountable. I know, I know, I
swear it's satire, it's a joke. Please hold me accountable.
But it was that came from I think I was having,
you know, these experiences of like figuring out what it
meant to hold myself accountable and what it meant to be,
(13:23):
you know, have self respect and to have you know,
real love for myself. And that was really like this
whole journey of this EP because.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
It is like a heartbreak project and let's go through it.
You're a liar.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
You love me?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Oh my god, I hate and that's like such a
terrible situation that, Oh my god, it was.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I mean, like the thing about this song was like
I remember writing it from this super like toxic place
like I know you love me, like hello, And then
I realized I was like I don't think he tes girl.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Reality check. Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I was like, that mean doesn't love you. But that's okay,
that's okay because we're gonna figure it out for ourselves.
We're gonna love ourselves. Yeah, it had to start that way,
you know what. I mean because that's where it was
and where it went was so great, you know. I
mean like the healing process of it was really valuable
(14:24):
to me.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
In my life, and then we had to loser. You
take me out with the D two personality.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Thank you give me.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Give me qualities of someone that has give me qualities
of a guy that is D two personality.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Oh okay, where do I start? I think a guy
with the D two personality, like he walks ahead of
you every single time you guys are walking together in public.
He's like a couple of steps.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Ahead because I'm your security guard.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Literally, what are you talking about? Because like I remember
being in a relationship and like I'm walking and enjoy
it and he's all the way up here, and I'm like,
wait a second, why why? Like I don't understand that.
I think it's a power move. I think they do
it on purpose for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
That is definitely number one redifact for that. Yeah, holy ish.
That is like when someone's so into themselves but they're
also like kind of toxic and like battling with their
own demons. But you're just like.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Yes, yes, yes, And there's like a lot of that
in la Oh yeah, LA is terrifying. I mean, like
La is like one of those places that I mean,
I love it. I have a lot of love for it.
But I think that if you get into a certain
(15:42):
you know, lifestyle anywhere, you know, you're gonna end up
meeting the wrong people. In La, it's scary because you
know a lot of there's a lot, there's a lot
out there. It's just a lot, you know. I can
only imagine, you know, moving to a big city regardless,
would be terrifying for anyone.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Yeah, pretty years hurt my soul. Pretty years hurt my
soul because it's just that time you cannot get back
like elasticity and my skin. Yeah, I'll not be like this.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I literally I have that. And that was like my
crisis during my I was like I'm literally not ever
gonna be like I'm never gonna be this young again.
Why why am I here? It's like the older I
get and I'm.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Twenty three, I don't you're ahead like for twenty three.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Like heads in the game. You know what I'm saying,
I'm thinking. But yeah, like I uh, pretty years was this.
It was that big moment of like yo, all of
the you know, you can make light of your situation.
All you want the reality of this, of the reality
of it is this person doesn't love you and they
(16:51):
don't care about you, and yet you're giving them so
much of yourself. And I think that the Pretty Years
it didn't come from necessarily a place to be like, oh,
I'm so so young and whatever. The reality of it is.
Like I when I wrote Pretty Ers, I had lost
somebody really close to me, and I I remember thinking,
(17:14):
if I am in this really, if I let's say,
I go the same way, I've wasted half my life
on this person, you know. And that's a really hard realization,
something you you don't always not a lot of people
get to realize so young. And so I was like,
you know, if I'm gonna do this, I really want,
(17:35):
I want real good love in my life. I don't
want I don't want this, you know. And it took
a lot because they think that although you can love somebody,
knowing when they don't love you and when it's time
to walk away, it's really hard, but it's really necessary.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And doubling down on that, Like the Pretty Ors, You're right,
it's not like the physicality, it's the youthful spirit as well,
Like that's also different. We can carry that forever obviously,
but that is the time that you can't get back. Yeah,
I'm happy that you.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
It's any year that you're alive is beautiful.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Forgot to beat my lover that one, that one, oh
my gosh, because that one you have that like oldies
twing in that one, right, that's the one that has
like that oldies twing being over someone who you gave
your everything too, but they kind of embuzzled you. Now
you see them doing that with someone else and you're like, bro.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Like, hello, what are you talking about. I literally taught
you how to beat you. I remember just thinking like
there was this guy I dated, and it kind of
inspired forgot to be my lover a little bit. But
it's funny because like, so I dated this guy and
I remember like ending up. I ended up like having
a conversation with my cousin and I was like, I
(18:45):
literally know how this man is treating this girl that
he is now dating because I taught him how to
do it. It's like the idea of being so frustrated
that like somebody changed for somebody else and you had
to teach him how to do it. It's like whatever.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
That hurts her ego. That's really what?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Yeah? That was really yeah, it does kind of. I
guess it boosts my ego mm and just bothers me,
you know what I mean. That's that's it. It is
an ego boost.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
So I think it is also, Yeah, it is also
an ego boost in a way. Yeah, because you're like, Okay,
well at least they heard me.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Yeah, not for me, but not for me though. It's
more like my swag, like I put you on.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
You and you wrapped it up with don't pick me
up or don't pick up right, don't pick up? Oh
my gosh. It's like you know that you glew up
and you know you deserve better, but like why it
must be a habit, Like.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Why am I still? Yeah? Yeah, don't pick up was
the first time I was like really calling myself, calling
it out, calling out my behavior. You know.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
It's like take accountability.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I was taking accountability, and in a funny way, I guess.
And it was more so like if you see me
trying to call you, please hang up, don't pick up please,
like I really did, because I remember I was like, oh,
I'm gonna block this person and I'm gonna never talk
to them again. And you know how that goes. Sometimes
(20:17):
it goes great, sometimes it doesn't. And so yeah, it
was really like, Yo, if you see me trying to
get back to you and missing you, just don't let me.
You know. It's like I'm asking for one favor, one favor,
and it's don't let me go back to you. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Do these people that you write songs about do they
be hitting you up?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Like? Is that about me?
Speaker 1 (20:39):
This played at me.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
A little. I mean, like I think people guess, and
I'm like they never guess correctly genuinely. I think there's
a lot of like I and again songs music. It's
like you write it about relationship with ninety percent of
the time, it's really about me hit this whole entire me.
It's not about you. Like That's something that I've had
(21:03):
to like kind of remember. Is like, regardless of if
I write a song about an experience, usually ninety percent
of the time I'm writing songs that are inspired off
of personal experiences, you know, But not always are they
you know exact. It's more so about like allowing me
(21:24):
to process the emotions, allowing me to navigate whatever it
is I'm going through you know, so when people think
it's about them, I'm like, I don't know. I'm just
a girl. I just write songs and I'm just a girl.
I don't know what to say.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
And all that led to what we're celebrating now with
something like this your latest single, Congratulations, thank you. How
are you feeling from when you were writing that EP
to now that you're writing this and working on what
I assum is a new project.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
I feel a lot more aligned with who I am
and what I'm doing. I think that Don't Hold Me
Accountable was such a beautiful step towards, you know, really
exploring my truest identity. And obviously identity changes and it
fluctuates over the course of your life. But right now
(22:14):
I feel really crystal clear on like where I'm going.
And also there's it has to you know, these things
go hand in hand. It's like in my personal life
and my and my you know, artistic space, like it
really does feel like, you know, I've done a lot
of healing and a lot of forgiving and now I
can really comm at my art and my life and
(22:34):
everything from a place of just true authenticity, you know,
rather than having any any sort of you know, unfinished
business or unfinished pain really block.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
That's how you got a lot.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
I feel really good. Yeah, it's really amazing. And I
think that this tour with Dua has been such a
healing experience for me. You know, I've been a on
stage and before we did this tour, I was doing
my first headlines ever, my first one is in LA
and New York, and it was really really healing. And
I think that music has been able to heal me
(23:11):
in ways that I don't think anything else really has
been able to do. You know, music is my my
love language, it's my language, it's how I communicate. And yeah,
it's been really really healing recently.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
I mean I was gonna mention that there is someone
in the room that's opened for Dua, opening for her
performing at Madison Square Garden for four nights.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, it's so exciting. I'm so thankful.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Where like, well, where were you when you found out
that you were going to open for her?
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I was sitting on my couch and in my jams
and my and my manager called me and was like,
I just tell you something, but you can't tell you. Yeah,
we have to wait for Samp and Sam's my very
reverse in the world. I love SAMP. So they get
on the phone and they're like, so you're opening for
(24:02):
doing I was like, my whole response was just like
what what? Like I couldn't up saying. I was like,
I'm so excited. It's like, but what are you talking about?
It was really really cool. I mean to find out
that you're doing something like that and somebody's amazing and
beautiful and wonderful as doua is like taking a real
(24:23):
chance on you. Like it's it's you want to do
your best, you know. So that was my first response.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Did you know there was a possibility that was going
to happen?
Speaker 2 (24:34):
I mean you can manifest you know.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Like like did you have a heads up that like
your name was in the pile for this?
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah, like a little bit. I mean it was really
like it it was like we we had this desire
to do it, but it you know, we were kind
of like whatever happens happens. And then I got the
news and it was really really exciting.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
What is preparation for that, like.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Lots of just self care, lots of taking care of yourself,
lots of you know, keeping making sure your body is ready,
your mind is ready, your soul is ready, your voice
is ready. I think it was just a lot of
self care. And it doesn't I mean, prep doesn't stop.
I guess it's like you just start constantly, you know,
(25:20):
you have to be on it the whole time.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Well, what have you learned on this leg of the tour?
Like being able to work with someone right next to
do it?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
I mean I've learned so much more from Doua than
I have. I think in general. She just watching her perform. Yeah,
that's really like what has taught me so much as
an artist watching her. She's so she's she's so sure
of herself on stage. She's so you know, she really
(25:49):
knows her art, you know, and she knows her fans.
And I think that when you have those two things,
it was something that I didn't know, you know, but
like those two things are so important. Knowing your art
and knowing your fans and knowing how that you know
mixes together. And she really shows up as the artist
that you know, as everybody you know sees her to be.
(26:14):
She's incredible, and she really taught me that it takes
a lot more than just getting up there and singing,
you know. So that's what I've learned so far, and
it's been really valuable.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Have you been able to have like time with her,
like have you able to get some advice from her?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
We we met before the tour in Kosovo. I was
lucky enough to be invited to do the Sunny Hill
Festival with her and her family in Kozvo, so we
got to meet there. We had a wonderful conversation. And
you know, tour is so complicated. You know, you have
all these things going on, and everybody's so busy, and
(26:48):
so we are just it feels good to like work
side by side, but the tour has been really busy.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Who have you been able to meet that like you
did know, like knew your stuff, or I was a
fan of yours, or some people that you've had really
fun interactions with.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I don't know. I mean, I I don't Oh. Teddy Swims.
Teddy's been so awesome and just such a great support
of mine and I. You know, we met really early
on in my career and he was just so sweet
and so kind. He's literally genuinely one of the nicest
(27:29):
people that I've ever met, Like, he's so kind. Stevie
Nex was a huge shocker. I think when that happened,
that was huge. What was that like, I mean, it
was incredible. It was like I was I wasn't expecting
it at all. That was one that I had no idea,
you know, that that was even a possibility. And I
(27:51):
was in Joshua Tree and I got a call basically
saying like Stevie wants you to open for her on
her tour. And I was just like, oh, okay, Like
this is insane. And I've looked up to Stevie my
whole life. She was the artist for me, you know,
she was the artist, and so being able to go
(28:12):
on tour with her was amazing and I'm just I'll
always be forever grateful for that. So that one was amazing.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
And so you're working on a project now.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
I am. Yeah, like I'm I'm I'm always working on music.
You know. I always say, like it never stops, you know,
you're always in art wad. But yeah, I'm working on
a project currently. I just want to see, you know,
where it takes me. And yeah, it's very beginning right now,
you know, but my biggest focus right now is just
(28:44):
tour and allowing inspiration to come to me.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Well, because I know that you've had a lot of
inspiration here in New York. You like lived here for
a month.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Yeah, I was here for I was here for like
a month. I made I made music for a while here.
I was like a staying in Brooklyn, Okay, And I
was working and making music in Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
What did you learn about like living in New York?
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Because then I love to walk everywhere, but I have
so much anxiety being around so many I was like,
oh my gosh, oh my gosh. That was but it
taught me how to like walk with a purpose, you know.
I was like, I'm here and I'm walking with a purpose. Also,
New York has the best self care spa facials. It's
(29:30):
the best.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
And like your first time clubbing was here.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
My first time in a club was here. I went
to this club. It was like Hollen had so much fun.
I lived a beautiful life, beautiful carry Bradshaw moment. It
was great.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
You're like a kiss on the cheek with who I had.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I had a kiss with this.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
I don't know who her dress up, what cost him?
Were they in?
Speaker 2 (29:52):
They weren't in one soccer jersey soccer jersey gorgeous? I mean,
could have been you never No, No, I'm joking. No,
it was just beautiful. I loved it. It was a
wonderful experience. And I'll never forget that. I'll never forget that.
That was really like. I was like, I'm young right now,
(30:12):
I'm having so much fun.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
And that we are young.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Yes, fire, yeah, and it was It's cool. New York
always brings this thing out of me. I don't know
what it is. I'm just ready to experience my life.
It feels so uh invigorated in the life when I'm here.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
Who is like your number one that you haven't met yet,
but you'd love to have a convo.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
With Arena Grande? Oh? Yeah, I love her so much?
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Are you a wicked earlier?
Speaker 2 (30:39):
I wasn't a wicked girly and then became a wicked girly?
Me me literally. I never really got into musicals, although
there is this one song from Phantom of the Opera
that I'm obsessed with singing. That's the only musical that
I really like. Yeah, anyway, but Ariana Grande, Yeah, I've
(31:02):
always been such a fan of her.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Did you try to get those tickets online? It was.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
I so, I was like, you're joking I stop it.
But she's just always been such a huge inspiration to
me and I just like, I love Have you seen
her perform? No, I've literally never seen her perform. I
never really went to concerts ever in my life, like
growing up, like I went to maybe like four and
(31:32):
I went to punk concerts, like punk rock concerts, and
that was like it. So I never really got that
opportunity to experience concerts until I was, you know, out
in LA and also until I was really playing.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Well now you're you're like, which is insane.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yeah, yeah, it's amazing. I'm so thankful. Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
What about your fans, I mean, what do you have
to say to them, anyone that's even since the high
school time seeing you on a stage somewhere.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
I mean, I would say just thank you. You know.
I'm so thankful for just anybody and everybody that's you know,
supported me and encouraged me. And you know, I think
that our biggest the best thing that we do as
human beings is we love. You know, it really is
the best thing that we do. And when you're able
(32:22):
to give love and you receive love in that way,
you know, through support and and everything, like that it
really like, it's something that is so precious and should
be protected. I think that art is like our biggest
it's our biggest asset as human beings because we are
able to digest what goes on around us through something
(32:44):
that speaks deeper than just our bodies and our It
speaks to our souls. And so I think that it's
so valuable. And there's not enough thanks in the world
to the people that I have given me the opportunity
to do it. You know, I don't have enough thanks.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
I mean, it's just a big moment that you're living
in right now, but we all know that it's just
going to keep going more and more more. Right now,
How does it feel to be filled right now?
Speaker 2 (33:14):
It feels like it's beautiful. I'm really thankful, you know,
for everything that's going on in my life. And obviously,
you know, I'm young, and so I don't have it
all figured out, and I know that there's a lot
of lessons that I've learned and have yet to learn
that are coming. And yeah, I mean, it feels good overall,
(33:38):
but we'll say, I'm always kind of on the like,
what's gonna happen? You know, I'm like, I don't know,
I'm always kind of yeah on edge a little but
given my track record, but right now is a beautiful time.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
It's a beautiful time girl as normal when you're like twenties, Like,
are you feeling you're right on brand?
Speaker 2 (34:02):
The ball is gonna drop, I don't know where it is, okay,
and that is good now, it's totally fine. It's I
genuinely though, like I feel like something in my brain
is developing. It really is. I'm serious. I'm like I'm
becoming like a real girl, like woman woman because I'm
(34:27):
like starting to find like men who like don't respect
me as like really unattractive. That happened, and I was like,
I'm definitely an adult.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
That's when we flip over to womanhood, like true womanhood,
when we don't allow the disrespect and we compeep it.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Yes, I wrote a song called womanhood when I was
like nineteen.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Pop it out, bring it out on the maybe I will,
maybe it is on the books the final version only. Yeah, exactly,
that's a good idea womanhood.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Yeah, womanhood delects Vinyl version only.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Wait, but like, okay, you wrote that at nineteen, but
now what do you think of that.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
I was really speaking in that in that song. I mean,
like low key, I relate to it more now than
I did that. I was like writing it from this
like this different perspective, but now I'm like, no, like actually, yeah,
listen to her, Listen to her. I think that we
always know it, just our souls know, like our consciousness knows,
(35:28):
like deep deep down, and then as we get older,
it comes out. And yeah, you're like.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Oh right, you know, And I think the most important
thing that you said is that like the biggest contribution
we can have as humans is to love and love.
That was really sweet.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Oh, I mean it's true. I think that that was
It's my reason, you know, it's my why. Yeah, that's
my why. I think that, like you should always figure
out your why within your purpose and within what you
want to do. I think my why is just love
is so and we have to continue to share ourselves
(36:05):
with each other because if we don't, it's going to
become real and personal in this world.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
And that's really ay, I real quick, and that's scary,
And I mean that's why the fans are showing up,
that's why they're so excited to see you open for
duly but they're so excited that they got to see
if you're a headlining tour, you're so excited on the
edge of their seats to see what you have coming out.
We want to say thank you so so much spending
time with us. You know, you're a girl. I really
(36:31):
appreciate it. But I love this chat with you. I
love getting to know you, and I loved hearing your music.
I actually hadn't heard it before and so hearing and
hearing your soul and it was really sweet. I'm so glad,
thank you, and we are so excited to just keep
keep following along the journey. Girl more two gems.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Yes, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
I love Syl
Hello, Hello, Welcome to our Z one hundred Artist Interview
Lounge presented by Celsius Energy Drinks. I'm Crystal Dlesas Today.
She's a rising force in pop, unafraid to pour her
heart out into every track. Colorado born, La based, she's
emerged as one of pop's hottest newcomers, blending blunt, clever
lyrics with hypnotic R and B pop melodies. Her EP,
(00:24):
Don't Hold Me Accountable explores the turbulence of gen z, romance,
mental health, self love through the tracks, and we are
so excited to see that. She's been performing at we
Hope Pride Summerfest twenty twenty five. Earned early acclaimed from Billboard,
Music Connection, and V Magazine declared as one on the
cusp for pop stardom. Let's have a conversation with zem
(00:47):
hell Hi, curly pop Ye, thank you so much for
having me, Thank you for coming. The gems are Jemmy
think is add oh wait, what are like tooth jumps?
Because I don't know if I need to.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Well, basically I started getting mine like three years ago
something like that, and literally all it is is like braces,
glue and gems, Like I don't know girl. I don't
know what to say. It's like one of my favorite
things that I've done with my smile because I used
to be so insecure of my gap and my teeth.
I got this tiny little gap in between my two
front teeth, and so when I got tooth gems, I
(01:21):
was like, Okay, I'm gonna be fine.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Oh did they stay on? Has one popped off?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
For your solid I'm not gonna lie to you. I
may or may not have eaten one on accident. The
other day while I was eating my wings in Atlanta,
I was.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Like, shit, not in Magic City.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
We talked about, but not in Magic City, but I wish.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Wait, so how is your relationship with your gap now?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
I think it's I mean like it's always. I like it.
I think that I've learned to love it because it's
part of It's part of who I am, and I'm
way too lazy to change it or make any changes whatsoever.
But I love it. I just remember being like in
fourth grade and asking my teacher like, oh, like, when
is this gonna go away? And she's like, well, when
(02:03):
you're a woman, it'll go away. And I'm not even joking.
I waited. I was like Okay, when I'm a woman,
it's gonna go away. And I wait, it's still fucking here.
So I don't really, I don't really understand that. But yeah,
so I never went away. So but it's fine. I'm
learning to love it.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I love it. I mean, she got hers closed up,
but I don't think she did. Oh my god, I
don't think you need to do Okay, I'm not like
she could do that. She wants to do it, But girl,
I think.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I love the gaps. I loved hers. I was like,
she's so pretty.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
That's what they're gonna say. If you decide to close
yours up.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Okay, well then I guess I have to stand strong
with my gap. Keep the guy stands strong. I will, don't.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
I want to roll back. Because it's true that you
have you gre up with seven siblings, what over are you?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I'm number four, the middle kid out of like so
there's two girls and then six boys, which is was
so much fun and growing up it was awesome. Yeah,
so I was the middle kid. It's like me because
technically with eight kids, there's no middle kid. There's two.
So it's me and my brother Patrick, and so do you.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Guys vibe similarly, like, oh my god, he's like my
favorite person in the entire world, and he's the number
one sibling.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, I can't say anything. I don't have a favorite
sibling when you're talking about I love them all. No,
he was just like the closest. I think we were
the closest growing up because he he had my back,
and I think that as a middle kid, you like
learn to take care of everybody else and you're fine.
You're either like the comedic relief of what's going on
(03:43):
or you're like the emotional like punching bag a little bit.
So him and I we were able to be that
for each other at the same time, and like so
it was nice. He's just the closest to me because
I think we had we had each other, you know.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
And when you were growing up, were you who who
was in charge of the music? In a hoolesehold? Like
what were you listening to? Let's talk about that.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
That's me. I mean, like I guess like my older
brothers had a little bit of like you know, but
I remember when I was like twelve, I think I
started getting really into music. And the reason why was
because I really liked vinyls and records, and so I
started collecting them when I was twelve, and then.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I got like, what were your first ones?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
My first one ever was a White Beatles White album,
and then I got a Beach Boys' Greatest Hits and
it was like four vinyls in like the one you know.
So I had like every single Beach Boys song you imaginable,
and I'm I love the Beach Boys. It's like they're
(04:50):
one of my favorite Brian Wilson is just my music.
God have you seen them? I have not, no, never,
never saw them, but and yeah, so I started collecting vinyls.
Those were like my first couple vinyls, and I got
really into oldies. I got really into soul music, the Platters.
I had a Platters album and so yeah, I got
(05:13):
really into it and then that's kind of what started
me and ushered me into Okay, and now I kind
of want to sing like that. I want to make
music like that. I want to make music in general.
I want to write, and so I started writing in
like in singing I think in like eighth grade. That
was really when I started doing it.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
But were you doing talent shows or what was that?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Like? I like, I remember my mom really wanted me
to join choir, and I was like, no, like absolutely not,
I can't do that. And I don't know why, like
I was so scared to join choir. I actually know
why because when I was in listen, when I was
in fourth grade. When I was in fourth grade, I
had this teacher okay, and she we were all like
(06:00):
singing in the choir because we had to do it
because we went to Catholic school too, so nice, so
you understand, I'm like sitting there and I'm singing. I'm
just doing my thing, and she comes up behind me
and like shuts my mouth, and all of a sudden,
everybody stops singing. And then she goes, we have a leader,
like a vocal like a voice leader, And I was
(06:22):
like is that me? And then she was like you
need to keep you need to be a little quieter,
and I was like, I don't want to be here,
like what the book? So I that was my first
experience of a question.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
I didn't dramatic though, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I was like, I don't want to do it. She
actually was. She was my biggest op, like since the
beginning of time. She was praying for you, Miss Kelly
all right, but yeah, that was that was great. That was.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
But yeah, that was that wass aame more? You can
keep that in listen.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I don't know what to say. I gotta call her out,
but yeah, that was. That was my first experience like
in a choir and whatever, so I never really wanted
to do.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
That was your first experience, know you had a talent, Loki.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
You know what? That was my first thank you, Thank
you teacher. Yeah, that was. That was definitely an well.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
That turned you off from public singing, Yeah, a little bit,
of course.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
And then when I was in eighth grade, I really
started to get into writing, okay, and really wanting to
explore what that man and explore what music was for me.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
So what like homs and you like record on your phone,
like what is that?
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I would just teach myself. I taught myself how to
play piano, and then I would just sit there and
I would just let whatever came out, you know, come out.
And I ended up writing like a couple of songs
when I was young. And then I like got an
to high school and around like sixteen, I ended up
(08:03):
dropping out high school and moving to LA and I've
been ever since. My uncle. I was. I was living
with a family member and so we.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
We so like your your parents called up your THEO
and was like a like you know, little thing over here.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
He actually called them, and it was more so like yo,
like I you know, I think she's great whatever, And
I was like I wasn't doing well at home and
like there were I was just like going through some stuff.
And then you know, it kind of ended up being
like the perfect situation of me, like I was able
to I was working, so I was able to like
(08:40):
get over there. I ended up living with him, and
I started working at Victor Bennet's, which is like a
little bakery and Kelly too. I was just I was
just taking orders. That was all I was doing. In Colorado,
I worked at a taco place and I was like
a cook and like doing dishes made stay so late,
(09:01):
like every night. I was there so like one am,
and I was like what so that sucked. But yeah,
those were like my two jobs.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Did you meet famous people when you worked at callavasas? No?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Oh I didn't. Actually, I was very much. I was
very much in my own world at that time too.
I but yeah, no, I didn't meet any famous people.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
So then what are you doing when you're working and
then you get off and you're just like writing and
networking and meeting people? Because how is that like in
LA for you?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
La? Is? I mean like La? My biggest priority was
just to figure out how to pay rent and like
survive for a long time. But I was living in
Huntington Beach. After Calabasas, I moved to Huntington Beach and
then I was living with my cousin and so I
was driving like eighty miles a day up to LA
(09:50):
doing sessions, back down to Huntington Beach to sleep, and
I was working in between that, and it was it
was just a lot. Like it was a lot. I
had to get up every day and be like, Okay,
like this is don't quit. Don't quit. Don't quit, because
I think there were times where I really wanted to.
And it's funny because when I released my first song,
(10:11):
it was I was like posting like videos of just
me singing and whatever, and I just decided one day,
I was like, I think I'm just gonna post an
original song, like who cares?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Did you were doing covers for a while.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, And so I posted that. I turned off my
phone for the day. I went to go make music
and I it just like it did well, and that
was the first one that I decided to show people,
and it felt like really affirming where I was like, okay,
like you can't you can't give up.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
You know how cool that your first like original song
that you popped yeah, was like the biggest video at
the time that you yeah, got so much love for.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
It's crazy. I'm so thankful for just that song one
which I have so much like love for it. It's
so much gratitude towards it because it was what one
of those records that I felt. I mean, when you start,
I think people don't realize how valuable it is to
be young and naive a little bit because you're able
(11:12):
to really you're able to make decisions without overthinking it
one thousand percent, you know, And so I was just
able to. I liked it. It felt like me, I
put it out and that was it, and that, you know,
taught me to really trust my intuition.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
So then at that point when that song is popping
off online, were you're getting reached out by random people
or like what was going on?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
I mean, yeah, I ended up signing or to a
record label and Warner, and that was like the first
kind of thing that happened, and I was I ended
up on a tour shortly after I put it out
with a friend of mine and we ended up like
(12:01):
we ended up just being on tour and I was
singing the song and I was posting it and it
was so much fun. And I just felt like I
was really starting to experience my own life and I
was taking charge of my own life for the first
time in a really long time, you know, because leading
up to that point, honestly, leading up to that putting
out when We're shot, it felt like I was constantly
(12:22):
like climbing, you know, And then it felt like, yes,
I'm climbing, but it's it. I've got like an energy boost,
you know what I mean. It really like it. It
reintroduced why I was so passionate at the time, and
I think that we all need at some point in
our careers and our lives and our friendships and our
romances and everything, like it'll come to a point where
(12:46):
you get that like remembrance of why you're in it
and why it why you love it so much.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Yeah, like motivation boosts like, Okay, the work is doing
things right and right and moving and this year we
got your EP.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, don't hold me accountable. I know, I know, I
swear it's satire, it's a joke. Please hold me accountable.
But it was that came from I think I was having,
you know, these experiences of like figuring out what it
meant to hold myself accountable and what it meant to be,
(13:23):
you know, have self respect and to have you know,
real love for myself. And that was really like this
whole journey of this EP because.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
It is like a heartbreak project and let's go through it.
You're a liar.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
You love me?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Oh my god, I hate and that's like such a
terrible situation that, Oh my god, it was.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I mean, like the thing about this song was like
I remember writing it from this super like toxic place
like I know you love me, like hello, And then
I realized I was like I don't think he tes girl.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Reality check. Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I was like, that mean doesn't love you. But that's okay,
that's okay because we're gonna figure it out for ourselves.
We're gonna love ourselves. Yeah, it had to start that way,
you know what. I mean because that's where it was
and where it went was so great, you know. I
mean like the healing process of it was really valuable
(14:24):
to me.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
In my life, and then we had to loser. You
take me out with the D two personality.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Thank you give me.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Give me qualities of someone that has give me qualities
of a guy that is D two personality.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Oh okay, where do I start? I think a guy
with the D two personality, like he walks ahead of
you every single time you guys are walking together in public.
He's like a couple of steps.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Ahead because I'm your security guard.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Literally, what are you talking about? Because like I remember
being in a relationship and like I'm walking and enjoy
it and he's all the way up here, and I'm like,
wait a second, why why? Like I don't understand that.
I think it's a power move. I think they do
it on purpose for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
That is definitely number one redifact for that. Yeah, holy ish.
That is like when someone's so into themselves but they're
also like kind of toxic and like battling with their
own demons. But you're just like.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Yes, yes, yes, And there's like a lot of that
in la Oh yeah, LA is terrifying. I mean, like
La is like one of those places that I mean,
I love it. I have a lot of love for it.
But I think that if you get into a certain
(15:42):
you know, lifestyle anywhere, you know, you're gonna end up
meeting the wrong people. In La, it's scary because you
know a lot of there's a lot, there's a lot
out there. It's just a lot, you know. I can
only imagine, you know, moving to a big city regardless,
would be terrifying for anyone.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Yeah, pretty years hurt my soul. Pretty years hurt my
soul because it's just that time you cannot get back
like elasticity and my skin. Yeah, I'll not be like this.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I literally I have that. And that was like my
crisis during my I was like I'm literally not ever
gonna be like I'm never gonna be this young again.
Why why am I here? It's like the older I
get and I'm.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Twenty three, I don't you're ahead like for twenty three.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Like heads in the game. You know what I'm saying,
I'm thinking. But yeah, like I uh, pretty years was this.
It was that big moment of like yo, all of
the you know, you can make light of your situation.
All you want the reality of this, of the reality
of it is this person doesn't love you and they
(16:51):
don't care about you, and yet you're giving them so
much of yourself. And I think that the Pretty Years
it didn't come from necessarily a place to be like, oh,
I'm so so young and whatever. The reality of it is.
Like I when I wrote Pretty Ers, I had lost
somebody really close to me, and I I remember thinking,
(17:14):
if I am in this really, if I let's say,
I go the same way, I've wasted half my life
on this person, you know. And that's a really hard realization,
something you you don't always not a lot of people
get to realize so young. And so I was like,
you know, if I'm gonna do this, I really want,
(17:35):
I want real good love in my life. I don't
want I don't want this, you know. And it took
a lot because they think that although you can love somebody,
knowing when they don't love you and when it's time
to walk away, it's really hard, but it's really necessary.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And doubling down on that, Like the Pretty Ors, You're right,
it's not like the physicality, it's the youthful spirit as well,
Like that's also different. We can carry that forever obviously,
but that is the time that you can't get back. Yeah,
I'm happy that you.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
It's any year that you're alive is beautiful.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Forgot to beat my lover that one, that one, oh
my gosh, because that one you have that like oldies
twing in that one, right, that's the one that has
like that oldies twing being over someone who you gave
your everything too, but they kind of embuzzled you. Now
you see them doing that with someone else and you're like, bro.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Like, hello, what are you talking about. I literally taught
you how to beat you. I remember just thinking like
there was this guy I dated, and it kind of
inspired forgot to be my lover a little bit. But
it's funny because like, so I dated this guy and
I remember like ending up. I ended up like having
a conversation with my cousin and I was like, I
(18:45):
literally know how this man is treating this girl that
he is now dating because I taught him how to
do it. It's like the idea of being so frustrated
that like somebody changed for somebody else and you had
to teach him how to do it. It's like whatever.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
That hurts her ego. That's really what?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Yeah? That was really yeah, it does kind of. I
guess it boosts my ego mm and just bothers me,
you know what I mean. That's that's it. It is
an ego boost.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
So I think it is also, Yeah, it is also
an ego boost in a way. Yeah, because you're like, Okay,
well at least they heard me.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Yeah, not for me, but not for me though. It's
more like my swag, like I put you on.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
You and you wrapped it up with don't pick me
up or don't pick up right, don't pick up? Oh
my gosh. It's like you know that you glew up
and you know you deserve better, but like why it
must be a habit, Like.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Why am I still? Yeah? Yeah, don't pick up was
the first time I was like really calling myself, calling
it out, calling out my behavior. You know.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
It's like take accountability.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I was taking accountability, and in a funny way, I guess.
And it was more so like if you see me
trying to call you, please hang up, don't pick up please,
like I really did, because I remember I was like, oh,
I'm gonna block this person and I'm gonna never talk
to them again. And you know how that goes. Sometimes
(20:17):
it goes great, sometimes it doesn't. And so yeah, it
was really like, Yo, if you see me trying to
get back to you and missing you, just don't let me.
You know. It's like I'm asking for one favor, one favor,
and it's don't let me go back to you. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Do these people that you write songs about do they
be hitting you up?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Like? Is that about me?
Speaker 1 (20:39):
This played at me.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
A little. I mean, like I think people guess, and
I'm like they never guess correctly genuinely. I think there's
a lot of like I and again songs music. It's
like you write it about relationship with ninety percent of
the time, it's really about me hit this whole entire me.
It's not about you. Like That's something that I've had
(21:03):
to like kind of remember. Is like, regardless of if
I write a song about an experience, usually ninety percent
of the time I'm writing songs that are inspired off
of personal experiences, you know, But not always are they
you know exact. It's more so about like allowing me
(21:24):
to process the emotions, allowing me to navigate whatever it
is I'm going through you know, so when people think
it's about them, I'm like, I don't know. I'm just
a girl. I just write songs and I'm just a girl.
I don't know what to say.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
And all that led to what we're celebrating now with
something like this your latest single, Congratulations, thank you. How
are you feeling from when you were writing that EP
to now that you're writing this and working on what
I assum is a new project.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
I feel a lot more aligned with who I am
and what I'm doing. I think that Don't Hold Me
Accountable was such a beautiful step towards, you know, really
exploring my truest identity. And obviously identity changes and it
fluctuates over the course of your life. But right now
(22:14):
I feel really crystal clear on like where I'm going.
And also there's it has to you know, these things
go hand in hand. It's like in my personal life
and my and my you know, artistic space, like it
really does feel like, you know, I've done a lot
of healing and a lot of forgiving and now I
can really comm at my art and my life and
(22:34):
everything from a place of just true authenticity, you know,
rather than having any any sort of you know, unfinished
business or unfinished pain really block.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
That's how you got a lot.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
I feel really good. Yeah, it's really amazing. And I
think that this tour with Dua has been such a
healing experience for me. You know, I've been a on
stage and before we did this tour, I was doing
my first headlines ever, my first one is in LA
and New York, and it was really really healing. And
I think that music has been able to heal me
(23:11):
in ways that I don't think anything else really has
been able to do. You know, music is my my
love language, it's my language, it's how I communicate. And yeah,
it's been really really healing recently.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
I mean I was gonna mention that there is someone
in the room that's opened for Dua, opening for her
performing at Madison Square Garden for four nights.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, it's so exciting. I'm so thankful.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Where like, well, where were you when you found out
that you were going to open for her?
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I was sitting on my couch and in my jams
and my and my manager called me and was like,
I just tell you something, but you can't tell you. Yeah,
we have to wait for Samp and Sam's my very
reverse in the world. I love SAMP. So they get
on the phone and they're like, so you're opening for
(24:02):
doing I was like, my whole response was just like
what what? Like I couldn't up saying. I was like,
I'm so excited. It's like, but what are you talking about?
It was really really cool. I mean to find out
that you're doing something like that and somebody's amazing and
beautiful and wonderful as doua is like taking a real
(24:23):
chance on you. Like it's it's you want to do
your best, you know. So that was my first response.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Did you know there was a possibility that was going
to happen?
Speaker 2 (24:34):
I mean you can manifest you know.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Like like did you have a heads up that like
your name was in the pile for this?
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah, like a little bit. I mean it was really
like it it was like we we had this desire
to do it, but it you know, we were kind
of like whatever happens happens. And then I got the
news and it was really really exciting.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
What is preparation for that, like.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Lots of just self care, lots of taking care of yourself,
lots of you know, keeping making sure your body is ready,
your mind is ready, your soul is ready, your voice
is ready. I think it was just a lot of
self care. And it doesn't I mean, prep doesn't stop.
I guess it's like you just start constantly, you know,
(25:20):
you have to be on it the whole time.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Well, what have you learned on this leg of the tour?
Like being able to work with someone right next to
do it?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
I mean I've learned so much more from Doua than
I have. I think in general. She just watching her perform. Yeah,
that's really like what has taught me so much as
an artist watching her. She's so she's she's so sure
of herself on stage. She's so you know, she really
(25:49):
knows her art, you know, and she knows her fans.
And I think that when you have those two things,
it was something that I didn't know, you know, but
like those two things are so important. Knowing your art
and knowing your fans and knowing how that you know
mixes together. And she really shows up as the artist
that you know, as everybody you know sees her to be.
(26:14):
She's incredible, and she really taught me that it takes
a lot more than just getting up there and singing,
you know. So that's what I've learned so far, and
it's been really valuable.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Have you been able to have like time with her,
like have you able to get some advice from her?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
We we met before the tour in Kosovo. I was
lucky enough to be invited to do the Sunny Hill
Festival with her and her family in Kozvo, so we
got to meet there. We had a wonderful conversation. And
you know, tour is so complicated. You know, you have
all these things going on, and everybody's so busy, and
(26:48):
so we are just it feels good to like work
side by side, but the tour has been really busy.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Who have you been able to meet that like you
did know, like knew your stuff, or I was a
fan of yours, or some people that you've had really
fun interactions with.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I don't know. I mean, I I don't Oh. Teddy Swims.
Teddy's been so awesome and just such a great support
of mine and I. You know, we met really early
on in my career and he was just so sweet
and so kind. He's literally genuinely one of the nicest
(27:29):
people that I've ever met, Like, he's so kind. Stevie
Nex was a huge shocker. I think when that happened,
that was huge. What was that like, I mean, it
was incredible. It was like I was I wasn't expecting
it at all. That was one that I had no idea,
you know, that that was even a possibility. And I
(27:51):
was in Joshua Tree and I got a call basically
saying like Stevie wants you to open for her on
her tour. And I was just like, oh, okay, Like
this is insane. And I've looked up to Stevie my
whole life. She was the artist for me, you know,
she was the artist, and so being able to go
(28:12):
on tour with her was amazing and I'm just I'll
always be forever grateful for that. So that one was amazing.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
And so you're working on a project now.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
I am. Yeah, like I'm I'm I'm always working on music.
You know. I always say, like it never stops, you know,
you're always in art wad. But yeah, I'm working on
a project currently. I just want to see, you know,
where it takes me. And yeah, it's very beginning right now,
you know, but my biggest focus right now is just
(28:44):
tour and allowing inspiration to come to me.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Well, because I know that you've had a lot of
inspiration here in New York. You like lived here for
a month.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Yeah, I was here for I was here for like
a month. I made I made music for a while here.
I was like a staying in Brooklyn, Okay, And I
was working and making music in Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
What did you learn about like living in New York?
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Because then I love to walk everywhere, but I have
so much anxiety being around so many I was like,
oh my gosh, oh my gosh. That was but it
taught me how to like walk with a purpose, you know.
I was like, I'm here and I'm walking with a purpose. Also,
New York has the best self care spa facials. It's
(29:30):
the best.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
And like your first time clubbing was here.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
My first time in a club was here. I went
to this club. It was like Hollen had so much fun.
I lived a beautiful life, beautiful carry Bradshaw moment. It
was great.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
You're like a kiss on the cheek with who I had.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I had a kiss with this.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
I don't know who her dress up, what cost him?
Were they in?
Speaker 2 (29:52):
They weren't in one soccer jersey soccer jersey gorgeous? I mean,
could have been you never No, No, I'm joking. No,
it was just beautiful. I loved it. It was a
wonderful experience. And I'll never forget that. I'll never forget that.
That was really like. I was like, I'm young right now,
(30:12):
I'm having so much fun.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
And that we are young.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Yes, fire, yeah, and it was It's cool. New York
always brings this thing out of me. I don't know
what it is. I'm just ready to experience my life.
It feels so uh invigorated in the life when I'm here.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
Who is like your number one that you haven't met yet,
but you'd love to have a convo.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
With Arena Grande? Oh? Yeah, I love her so much?
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Are you a wicked earlier?
Speaker 2 (30:39):
I wasn't a wicked girly and then became a wicked girly?
Me me literally. I never really got into musicals, although
there is this one song from Phantom of the Opera
that I'm obsessed with singing. That's the only musical that
I really like. Yeah, anyway, but Ariana Grande, Yeah, I've
(31:02):
always been such a fan of her.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Did you try to get those tickets online? It was.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
I so, I was like, you're joking I stop it.
But she's just always been such a huge inspiration to
me and I just like, I love Have you seen
her perform? No, I've literally never seen her perform. I
never really went to concerts ever in my life, like
growing up, like I went to maybe like four and
(31:32):
I went to punk concerts, like punk rock concerts, and
that was like it. So I never really got that
opportunity to experience concerts until I was, you know, out
in LA and also until I was really playing.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Well now you're you're like, which is insane.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yeah, yeah, it's amazing. I'm so thankful. Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
What about your fans, I mean, what do you have
to say to them, anyone that's even since the high
school time seeing you on a stage somewhere.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
I mean, I would say just thank you. You know.
I'm so thankful for just anybody and everybody that's you know,
supported me and encouraged me. And you know, I think
that our biggest the best thing that we do as
human beings is we love. You know, it really is
the best thing that we do. And when you're able
(32:22):
to give love and you receive love in that way,
you know, through support and and everything, like that it
really like, it's something that is so precious and should
be protected. I think that art is like our biggest
it's our biggest asset as human beings because we are
able to digest what goes on around us through something
(32:44):
that speaks deeper than just our bodies and our It
speaks to our souls. And so I think that it's
so valuable. And there's not enough thanks in the world
to the people that I have given me the opportunity
to do it. You know, I don't have enough thanks.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
I mean, it's just a big moment that you're living
in right now, but we all know that it's just
going to keep going more and more more. Right now,
How does it feel to be filled right now?
Speaker 2 (33:14):
It feels like it's beautiful. I'm really thankful, you know,
for everything that's going on in my life. And obviously,
you know, I'm young, and so I don't have it
all figured out, and I know that there's a lot
of lessons that I've learned and have yet to learn
that are coming. And yeah, I mean, it feels good overall,
(33:38):
but we'll say, I'm always kind of on the like,
what's gonna happen? You know, I'm like, I don't know,
I'm always kind of yeah on edge a little but
given my track record, but right now is a beautiful time.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
It's a beautiful time girl as normal when you're like twenties, Like,
are you feeling you're right on brand?
Speaker 2 (34:02):
The ball is gonna drop, I don't know where it is, okay,
and that is good now, it's totally fine. It's I
genuinely though, like I feel like something in my brain
is developing. It really is. I'm serious. I'm like I'm
becoming like a real girl, like woman woman because I'm
(34:27):
like starting to find like men who like don't respect
me as like really unattractive. That happened, and I was like,
I'm definitely an adult.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
That's when we flip over to womanhood, like true womanhood,
when we don't allow the disrespect and we compeep it.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Yes, I wrote a song called womanhood when I was
like nineteen.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Pop it out, bring it out on the maybe I will,
maybe it is on the books the final version only. Yeah, exactly,
that's a good idea womanhood.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Yeah, womanhood delects Vinyl version only.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Wait, but like, okay, you wrote that at nineteen, but
now what do you think of that.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
I was really speaking in that in that song. I mean,
like low key, I relate to it more now than
I did that. I was like writing it from this
like this different perspective, but now I'm like, no, like actually, yeah,
listen to her, Listen to her. I think that we
always know it, just our souls know, like our consciousness knows,
(35:28):
like deep deep down, and then as we get older,
it comes out. And yeah, you're like.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Oh right, you know, And I think the most important
thing that you said is that like the biggest contribution
we can have as humans is to love and love.
That was really sweet.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Oh, I mean it's true. I think that that was
It's my reason, you know, it's my why. Yeah, that's
my why. I think that, like you should always figure
out your why within your purpose and within what you
want to do. I think my why is just love
is so and we have to continue to share ourselves
(36:05):
with each other because if we don't, it's going to
become real and personal in this world.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
And that's really ay, I real quick, and that's scary,
And I mean that's why the fans are showing up,
that's why they're so excited to see you open for
duly but they're so excited that they got to see
if you're a headlining tour, you're so excited on the
edge of their seats to see what you have coming out.
We want to say thank you so so much spending
time with us. You know, you're a girl. I really
(36:31):
appreciate it. But I love this chat with you. I
love getting to know you, and I loved hearing your music.
I actually hadn't heard it before and so hearing and
hearing your soul and it was really sweet. I'm so glad,
thank you, and we are so excited to just keep
keep following along the journey. Girl more two gems.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Yes, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
I love Syl
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