Could you tell us a bit about yourself? Where we’re you raised? What was it like growing up there?
I was raised in Long Island and then moved to Connecticut. I am really fortunate to have grown up in an environment that allowed me to flourish as an artist. I’ve had a large white acoustic piano in my house since I was a child and was able to experiment on it as I was learning my first chords. In retrospect, I was really lucky to have instruments surrounding me as I grew up.
What did you want to become when you were a child?
It was a cross between Batman and a major league baseball player. Maybe I could have been the first to combine the two careers.
What generated your interest in music?
I started listening to John Mayer and Coldplay in middle school and that music just changed it all for me.
What skills do you have within music?
I am a songwriter and producer. I play piano, guitar, bass and sing.
When did you learn to play the piano? How did it come about?
In 8th grade I took a piano class in school. From there I experimented on piano while simultaneously writing music. My mom also has been playing piano for most of her life and she taught me some of my first chords to work off.
When did you start singing?
Around the same time I started playing the piano. Writing, playing and singing really all linked up at the same time. It was a big time in my life—realizing my love of the craft.
What kind of music do you make?
I make Alternative Pop/Rock music.
Are there any themes in your music?
Definitely a wide range of themes, but they all come down to relationships. Relationship with yourself, the world, growing up, your family, friends, etc. At the core of it all it’s about the journeys we take within these relationships.
Who do you make music for?
Connection. It helps me connect with a purpose, with myself and with others in a way most other things do not.
What is your creation process like?
It changes between songs. I could sit down at a piano and write the whole composition, or create an instrumental on my laptop and go from there. Whether it’s an interesting chord progression or synth sound—when I find something that has resonance, that’s always the best place to start.
What projects have you released? Where can people find your music?
I am in a band called Kalimur (kalimurband/) as well as a band called Chasing Moonlight (chasingmoonlightmusic). Both bands have music on Spotify (Here & here). I also have a solo project (ageofwonderalbum).
What do you like most about creating music?
When I create, I can live in my own world for a bit. The control is completely in your hands and you attain a freedom to say whatever is on your mind and express whatever you’re feeling in that moment.
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
Keep writing and experimenting. Trust your instinct and do music for the right reasons.
Why do you think it’s important for people to follow their dreams?
As corny as it is, you’ve got one life to live. It’s important to live it authentically and to do what makes you happy. I don’t see the point in writing yourself off before trying to achieve what makes you want to get up in the morning.
__
Original post appeared at Dreamer Loop. Reprinted with permission.
Photo credit: Dreamer Loop