CALEB HEARN: INTERVIEW

July 16, 2022

by alex grainger

Caleb Hearn dropped his latest single “Friend Right Now” on July 7th, 2022. The catchy indie-pop single follows the experience and emotions of being friend-zoned. The release of “Friend Right Now’ is accompanied by the announcement of Hearn’s upcoming EP We’re Getting Older dropping September 30th. The EP is a strikingly vulnerable story of heartbreak to self-growth Hearn has dealt with over the past year. Caleb hopes listeners will know him as a good friend upon listening to We’re Getting Older as the EP carries a conversational tone, one of talking to an old and trusted friend. Read more about “Friend Right Now,” We’re Getting Older, and Caleb Hearn below!

Can you tell us what “Friend Right Now” is about?

Caleb: “‘Friend Right Now’ is about a time when I was friend-zoned, but instead of dwelling on it, I learned to accept it. I want listeners to understand that it’s okay when someone needs a friend instead of something more.”

What was the creative process behind “Friend Right Now?” TikTok has been such a huge platform for your music, where you post snippets of songs you’ve written, but did this song originate as a TikTok snippet, or separate from the app?

Caleb: “This song was unique since it didn’t originate from TikTok like many of my other songs. I actually wrote ‘Friend Right Now’ during a writing trip in LA after I brought up my experience of being friend-zoned during a session.”

Is there a message you are sending to listeners of “Friend Right Now?”

Caleb: “I want listeners to remember that it’s okay if things don’t work out with someone! It says nothing about who they are as a person, and things will get better.”

Do you have a favorite lyric in “Friend Right Now” that you feel is especially powerful or meaningful?

Caleb: “There’s a line in the song that goes, ‘usually, I’m not the type to be an open book, but I let you read through every page.’ I like this line because it’s a creative way to showcase how much of myself I gave to this person.”

You’re dropping a music video to accompany “Friend Right Now.” What was the creative process behind it? How was it translating your song into a visual piece?

Caleb: “I really liked translating ‘Friend Right Now’ into a visual piece because it lets me capture the song in a very lighthearted and almost corny way. The video shows listeners how being friend-zoned can be an opportunity to work on yourself and still have fun.”

What was your reaction to seeing the finished music video?

Caleb: “I was excited when I saw the finished video since it felt so random but also had a storyline behind it at the same time. I also was thrilled to see how energetic and fun the video was.”

You just announced you’re releasing your EP We’re Getting Older on September 30th. Can you tell us what the EP is about? Are you telling a story through We’re Getting Older?

Caleb: “The EP takes listeners through different scenarios I’ve dealt with in the past year. It tells a story from top to bottom of being heartbroken to trying to move on to learning to accept things out of my control. Overall, the EP is about growth and learning to accept the way things are meant to be.”

How would you describe your sound? How has it developed throughout your music career to now upon the release of “Friend Right Now” and We’re Getting Older?

Caleb: “My sound has always been very organic, but I’ve been working on making my music very conversational and vulnerable so listeners can easily connect with it.”

How have you grown through the process of creating We’re Getting Older?

Caleb: “Throughout creating We’re Getting Older, I’ve learned to let things happen on their own and be more of a go-with-the-flow type of person. Instead of trying to micromanage my own life, I realized it’s better to let everything work out the way it is going to.”

You mentioned how through your music you want listeners to know you as a good friend. Why is this so important for you?

Caleb: “I listened to NF a lot while growing up, and because of how vulnerable he was with his music, I felt like I got to know him. Feeling so connected to NF and his music helped me find comfort throughout a lot of things I went through that he did as well. Knowing that someone I felt connected to had gone through something similar made healing much easier for me. I want to create this same connection with my listeners so I can help them through whatever they’re going through with my music.”

We’re Getting Older you note is similar to a conversation with an old friend, someone you trust. How have you been able to express such a level of vulnerability in your songwriting and throughout the EP? How have you found the courage to be so honest?

Caleb: “I’ve been able to be so vulnerable in my songwriting because I see the impact it has on listeners. If I wasn’t as raw in my lyrics, my music would not have the same effect on people. I’ve realized that it is much easier to express vulnerability through songs than through conversation, so songwriting is how I like to express my feelings.”

What are you most proud of upon the release of We’re Getting Older?

Caleb: “This EP is the first time I’ve put out a project that feels complete and tells a story. It is very personal to my experiences, and each song has a big piece of me, so the whole EP feels very true to who I am and who I’m becoming.”

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ELEPHANT HEART: INTERVIEW

July 14, 2022

by isabel dowell

Elephant Heart is the brainchild of married couple, Jason and Victoria Evigan. Finding a shared passion for traveling, global culture, and spirituality, these two started this genre-bending duo on a fluke. Already having experience in the creative world, Jason is an award-winning singer/songwriter and producer, while Victoria has recently joined his side to become Elephant Heart’s lead vocalist, as well as a songwriter, lyricist, producer, and art director, giving this team a fresh, new aura.

Between two sets at Electric Forest’s Grand Artique stage, I was able to sit down with Jason and Victoria to discuss the origin of Elephant Heart, spreading their message of positivity and love, and what we can expect to see from them in the future.

How would you introduce yourself to someone who might not be familiar with you or your music?

Jason: “I’m Jason, this is Victoria, and we’re Elephant Heart. We started making music together on our five year anniversary of being married. It was a total fluke! I had a studio and was just like, ‘Yeah, let’s go and see what happens, maybe we can make music together.’ She had never really done it.”

Victoria: “We had been together like eleven, maybe ten years at that point. I was a hair and makeup artist my whole life. Music has always been a big foundation for our relationship, but I wasn’t at all wanting to create or be a singer. I didn’t think I’d have the confidence, it was never even a thought.”

Jason: “And I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid. It was funny because we started playing together and playing for our friends. They were all freaking out about it saying we had to do something with this. Literally for a year, we went back and forth. I had been an artist before and I didn’t want to be an artist anymore. I liked being behind the scenes. I liked writing for other people, but we had friends pray with us to kind of get a vision. You know, what would it look like, what would it feel like. And at one point I was like you know what, I felt like the music was just not about us, it was about connecting with our creator, connecting with ourselves, connecting with real love. That’s when we realized we needed to put this out into the world.”

Victoria: “That gave me the confidence I needed. I don’t even like to call it performing, that makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to force myself, but I’m up there and being really free and a lot of these songs were healing for myself. I struggled with depression and anxiety and all these things. I felt like I had all these strongholds on me and these songs have been warrior music for myself. Before this it was just a love song for ourselves, but then other people started to resonate with it, because again it’s all so universal. I thought that if I could go up there and shine and gather that hope from people, to feel free and not feel like I was putting on an act, then that’s what I needed to do.”

Jason: “I come from a band where the performances were all so in sync and we all had to jump at the same time. Victoria really grounds us and helps to spread love for the show. It just shows it’s all bigger than the music, it’s about spirituality, God, connections, love, and friendship. It’s a really cool change for me.”

Victoria: “For people that haven’t heard our music, you’re invited to exchange in the healing and uplifting nature.”

You had mentioned that you [Victoria] had never thought of performing and you [Jason] wanted to transition to being behind the scenes, what changed?

Victoria: “I think it was so many of his peers. He was already successful with producing, being an artist, and so many people that we really respected thought we had something really special and told us to go with it!”

Jason: “Then we played our Halloween parties! Our first show was at our own Halloween party. We only played three songs. After that, it just became a thing.”

Victoria: “Yeah, there wasn’t really one particular instance. A good friend of ours gave us a connection for Lighting in a Bottle, which is our favorite music festival. We’ve been attending for ten years so far.”

It seems like your message is all about spreading positivity and love, how was that message affected once COVID hit?

Jason: “We made one song during COVID, it was called ‘Behke.’ It was a song to calm people down, it was filled with all these metaphors.”

Victoria: “And really about trusting God.”

Jason: “Yeah, letting it cleanse your soul. Almost like God was talking at one point, nature was talking at another. All of the stuff we wrote during quarantine was very relationship based.”

Victoria: “And I had gotten pregnant during quarantine.”

Jason: “We were going through some turmoil so we wrote some songs, sorry they haven’t come out yet, but it was about forgiveness and the songs changed a little bit on our new album.”

Victoria: “We always like to be transparent.”

Jason: “In our first album we were in such a spiritually high place, even before we got on stage yesterday we were kind of fighting and had a weird energy. The music brought us back together, and it kind of keeps bringing us back together.”

What is it like performing while pregnant and this isn't your first time performing while pregnant, correct?

Victoria: “No! It’s not. I performed with my first baby and I was pregnant at the time. It’s been okay actually. I was nervous because I’m in the nausea stage while performing, but I think I’ve done the right prep to avoid it.”

Jason: “From my point of view, it’s great. Before we get on stage or get to the show, she’s like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to do this,’ or, ‘I’m dead,’ but the second she hits the stage it’s like a whole new spirit.”

Victoria: “I definitely get fueled, you know, getting to exchange all that love and energy I feel at this festival.”

And leading into my next question, what are the pros and cons of being a married, musical duo?

Victoria: “I mean, when we write music together we have a great time. We’ve been together for so long that we’re very telepathic.”

Jason: “The entire creation process is the best I’ve ever had with anyone. Also, she doesn’t really have an ego. I worked with a lot of big singers who had big egos because they just wanted to be superstars. She just hears music differently than I do, since she hasn’t done it professionally for very long she hears it from a perspective of no rules, no boundaries. It’s very fun for me and I’m always willing to try it.”

Victoria: “I definitely always want to bring out the physical. I like handwritten letters and if I try to take us off the computer for a little bit, then I’m pushing us to make actual sounds and stuff.”

Jason: “The pros definitely outweigh the cons, but the con is that she just takes a long time to get ready. I mean at Coachella she had this crazy hair, but yeah, I end up just sitting around and doing a lot of waiting.”

So you just mentioned Coachella, I had actually seen you last year at Lollapalooza, and your outfits there were so creative. You are always so coordinated and eccentric. Who puts together your outfits?

Victoria: “I made this one. I just found a vintage jumpsuit. I love saving vintage things and collecting clothes. This was made from a t-shirt that had smiley faces so I just cut that up and sewed them on.”

Jason: “She’s crazy, super creative and crafty.”

Victoria: “I would love to do set production or design. But that outfit at Lollapalooza, Rebecca Bunker is a friend and a crazy designer. I had dreamed it up and we collaborated on it, but she designed it.”

Jason: “Vic is the mind child of these ideas and finds people who can help bring them to life.”

Victoria: “At Lighting In a Bottle, another friend, Steph Alverez, is a stupid good painter. They painted things on my arms, on my pants. They used to be pants that didn’t fit that well. I thought I wasted them, but another friend dreamed up an idea to turn them into arms.”

Jason: “We are surrounded by a big community of creative friends and while Elephant Heart is the two of us, it’s also a collective of all our homies.”

When you book shows and festivals, do you already have an idea of how you want to dress or what you want your set to look like?

Victoria: “Not too far in advance. I wore this already at Okeechobee. There’s a lot of DIY. I’m really big on sustainability and repurposing things.”

Jason: “And she just makes me look cool. This piece of hers is like a hundred years old from Cambodia. We travel the world with our nonprofit and she always collects these things from different tribes.”

You’ve created a career under the title of “genre-bending,” does that give you the freedom to pursue music in whatever ways you want?

Victoria: “Ah, that makes me very happy. If you looked at my playlist it would be everything from country to Arabic music, Indian music, African music, to rock ‘n’ roll. The Beatles are my favorite. I feel like we can’t really be put in a box because we are influenced by a lot of the people we love.”

Jason: “Being a producer is fun too because coming from a rock band, whenever we change our sound people get upset and we can never evolve as an artist. With this, we can constantly evolve with every song. The essence that ties everything together is her voice, plus my sound choices, but for the most part it’s her voice. We don’t have to find a certain genre to stick to.”

What was a goal you had before COVID that you hope to achieve in the future?

Victoria: “Growing my garden! I actually got into it during COVID but then I got pregnant and I just did not have the energy for it.”

Jason: “We dropped our album right when COVID started so we never got to tour on it or really get it out there. That was a little bit of a bummer and unfortunately, the way it works with music, people think it’s old now and are asking for a new album. We never got to achieve what we wanted to with that album and hope that the new album will push people to revisit the older stuff.”

Do you have any plans to push people in the direction of revisiting that album?

Jason: “Totally. My plan is that with the new label we are signed to buy the old masters and re-release it.”

You are coming out with an album, anything else for the future?

Jason: “We’re working on a collab right now with LSDream. We have a collab with MEMBA, and I was talking to CloZee last night. We're going to do a collaboration with her. It’s just talk, but I sent her the track and she’s into it.”

Victoria: “And making a baby!”

Jason: “Yes, making a baby! We’re playing Bass Camp in a couple of weeks in Lake Tahoe. We’re definitely gonna tour. We might be coming to a city near you!”

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TOBY SEBASTIAN: INTERVIEW

July 13, 2022

by madden levin

Toby Sebastian, a musician and actor hailing from the UK, chats with us about the exciting roles he’s gotten the chance to play and the tunes he has put out to fans across the world. The love for both music and acting has always flowed through Toby, as he shares with us in this exclusive interview. As he continues his endeavors, we wanted to share with you the incredible content that this talented man has to offer. With a new single coming out in August and preparing for the next big role, Toby makes sure his fans are never waiting for new content. Check out the exclusive interview below and stay up-to-date with all of Toby’s exciting news!

Hi Toby! Can you tell our readers a little bit about who you are and the work you create?

Toby: “My name is Toby Sebastian and I’m a musician and actor from the UK. Coming from a musical family, I’ve been writing songs and performing since I was a kid. I’m a daydreamer so I guess a path in the creative industry fits well for me!”

You started your career off as an actor, taking on empowering roles in Game of Thrones, The Music of Silence, and most recent, Coffee Wars. At what time did you realize that acting was something you wanted to pursue and that these roles were something that spoke to you?

Toby: “I’ve always loved acting. I started acting at school in plays and always thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with people of all ages. It was such a fantastic escape from being in class. I’ve always gravitated towards the roles that are further away from who is am. I find it easier for some reason. A real chance to play dress up and make believe.”

Growing up in an Italian family, your role in The Music of Silence is extremely commendable as Andrea Bocelli is definitely a rockstar. How was it getting to take in this role and appreciate his work to a greater level?

Toby: “I had the privilege of meeting Andrea prior to filming and got to hang out with him for a couple weeks. I remember him singing the songs I had to learn for the film… I was just blown away. His talent is extraordinary and it was an experience I’ll never forget.”

Turning to music, did you plan to pursue both acting and music or did one of the two become a goal along the way?

Toby: “Well, I always loved the two of them and I always knew that I would pursue them both. Somehow. Originally the plan was to go to drama school, whilst keep creating music at the same time. However, I was offered an opportunity with music before leaving school that I couldn’t refuse. A couple of years down the line I started auditioning for acting roles and they’ve kind of woven in and out of each other. It’s been fantastic to have been able to do both… I feel very lucky.”

From your debut album, Into the Light, to your newest single, “Real Kicks,” in what way do you think your sound and inspiration had adapted the most over the years?

Toby: “Well, I think musically, that first album I was really learning about the industry as much as I was learning what my sound was. It’s half me and half not me at the same time. It was a weird and wonderful time... two years actually between Nashville, London, and LA, but I was pretty young and new to it all. The music I am releasing now is I guess closer to the music I listen to and always have done. It’s all melody driven and I’m definitely paying less attention to the rule book if you like. If it sounds great and emotes something in me, then we’re putting it down and it’s staying. It feels completely free and in the moment.”

Say you have a few new fans checking you out for the first time here… do you recommend them to listen to “Real Kicks” first or take a stab at an older tune?

Toby: “For all the new fans out there I’d definitely say give ‘Real Kicks’ a listen first. Then I’d go, ‘Midnight,’ ‘Hamliar,’ ‘Train To Mexico,’ and ‘Don’t Lay Your Head Down.’ Those are my top few anyway!”

Can you share with us any exciting news about upcoming events, content, or anything in between?

Toby: “Well, I have a new single coming out in August which I’m super excited about. It’s an idea I’ve had for years and years and it’s a summer party vibe. I’ll then soon be starting to plan recording an album… there’ll be a few great shows in and around that too! At the same time as all the music, I’m currently looking for my next acting role which is super exciting as there’s just so much brilliant material around at the moment.”

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AVERY LYNCH: INTERVIEW

July 12, 2022

by alex grainger

Avery Lynch dropped her new song “i’m sorry if i hurt u sometimes” on June 24th. The single tells the story of the realization that a relationship is not all that it seems to be in your head. The vulnerability in her gentle melodious voice pulls at our heart strings in an apologetic song that is incredibly relatable. Read more about “i’m sorry if i hurt u sometimes” and Avery Lynch below!

Can you tell us what “i’m sorry if i hurt u sometimes” is about?

Avery: "‘i’m sorry if i hurt u sometimes’ is about the realization that the relationship you planned on being in forever isn't what you want anymore, and looking back, it was never really what you made it out to be in your head. It's essentially an apology to that person for hurting them by taking away the plans you both made, and for hurting them in the process of realizing you want other things.”

What was the creative process behind the song? I know you post snippets of your compositions on TikTok, did this song originate as one of those videos? Or has the song yet to grace the TikTok sphere?

Avery: “I originally wrote the first verse kind of randomly when I sat down at the piano one night and I loved it and thought it was really different from my writing before so I ran with it and finished the song that week. I haven’t posted much about it on TikTok, just some snippets here and there.”

Is there a message you are sending to listeners of “i’m sorry if i hurt u sometimes?”

Avery: “Just that this sort of thing happens all the time and so many people feel the guilt of ending relationships you thought you’d be in forever. It’s also easy to feel like the process of figuring that out for yourself was hurting the person you were with, cause it probably was. But it’s overall just something people can relate to.”

Do you have a favorite lyric in the song, one that is especially meaningful or powerful?

Avery: “I really like the line ‘crossed the line before the bridge and now it’s burning slow.’ When I wrote it I didn’t know if it would even make sense to people but I kept it in anyway ‘cause it makes sense to me. To me that’s about the saying ‘we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,’ but I crossed the finish line of the relationship before we could ever reach the bridge and now that bridge is burning. It’s a lot of sayings in one, so it’s kinda confusing but I love it.”

How would you describe your sound? How has it developed since you began composing at the age of eight to your latest release?

Avery: “I feel like my sound is in a weird transition period where I don’t even know what it is. I love the tone and energy of the mid-tempo songs I’ve been creating, but I also love the soft pretty melodies and sweetness/sadness in the ballads. So I’m kinda doing all of it but I think they go well together.”

“i’m sorry if i hurt u sometimes” is about coming to the realization that a relationship isn’t all that it seems to be. While writing this song, did you look deeper into the relationships in your life and learn anything new on how you viewed them or where they were going?

Avery: “This was about a relationship I had all through high school and into college and it was something I felt during the whole ending of that relationship because I felt so badly for taking away someone else’s future with me that they wanted and centered their life around. The whole beginning of the song is me talking about how everything that person did started to get on my nerves and make me resent them. Those irritated feelings came first in my realization about ending things and that’s why I made that the first verse, cause that’s what started it all. Looking back, I don’t know if I was hurting him in that process but I’m sorry if I did, and that’s what the song’s about ultimately.”

You’re releasing a music video to accompany the single. What was the creative process behind translating the song into visuals?

Avery: “The ‘i’m sorry if i hurt u sometimes’ video is inspired by early 2000s coming of age movies. The song itself is written about a relationship I had during high school and into the beginning of college, and the feeling of the song has that nostalgic movie feeling you get when the main character has a moment to themselves to process whatever happened in the scene before it, and I really wanted to capture that in the video.”

What was your reaction to seeing the finished music video?

Avery: “I haven’t seen it completely finished yet, but I love it, I think it captures everything I wanted the song to convey.”

You have an interesting story of one where you found great success during the throws of the pandemic, where you began posting on TikTok and within the first year had over 328k followers and 6.8 million followers. First, how has this been for you?

Avery: “I’m so grateful for the opportunities that have come from just posting singing videos, it has really changed my life in the best way.”

Do you think you have learned any important lessons as an emerging artist reaching such a level of success during the pandemic? Do you believe this has translated into your music and songwriting?

Avery: “I learned mainly to just keep making music that I love and that means a lot to me because that’s the most important part and everything else will fall into place. I think this has transferred into my music and songwriting by allowing me to open up and be completely honest in my music about my life, and it’s really cool hearing other people say that it’s as if I wrote it about their lives. That’s so cool.”

You were recently featured on the cover of Spotify’s Next Gen Singer-Songwriter playlist. Congrats! What was your reaction?

Avery: “I thought it was a glitch and then read the description saying that the cover features Avery Lynch and then I freaked out. Who knew I’d ever be a cover of anything, what the heck!”

What’s next for you?

Avery: “I have a whole EP that I’m in love with. I’m beyond excited to show people this new chapter of my music, it’s so exciting and it’s everything I hoped it would be.”

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RILEY LYNCH: INTERVIEW

July 5, 2022

by kaylee pickens

“That’s On Me” artist, Riley Lynch, is a new coming of age artist to watch. The 24-year-old newcomer with hits, “7” and “Alone,” is proving that you make your dreams come true whilst being yourself. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Lynch is back with a new track that’s gained instant popularity. “I WISH,” released in late-June, this 3-minute song is rocking fans and playlists far and wide. Unclear had the pleasure to chat with Lynch to discuss coming out, career changes, and new music. You can find Riley Lynch on Instagram and Twitter (@rileynlynch) for updates on live performances, new music, and more!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Riley: “For me, music has always been my one true love and I tend to spend most of my time creating it. I know that so many other artists have said this before, but making music is truly one of the most powerful forms of therapy for me. It’s integral in the maintenance of my sanity.

When I am not making music, I like to spend my time outdoors. Feeling connected and grounded both physically and spiritually are hugely important to me. As someone who has spent much of their life seeking out meaning and connection, both creating music and grounding myself in nature have helped me to find that.”

What are some self-care tips that you would recommend to someone?

Riley: “Self-care is a necessity that I take part in daily. For me, what has been the most helpful is taking time to sit with myself. Life is so incredibly hectic; we consume various types of media and communicate with all sorts of other people every single day. We all need time to rest and recover, and I do what I can to make this a part of my day to day. Whether that be to give myself the evening to decompress, or even just an hour or two to spend with myself and not worry about business. During this time, I will journal, watch a comfort show, or meditate (depending on the intensity of the day).

In addition to recommending taking time to sit with yourself, I also suggest physical self-care. I do my best to take care of my body and mind by staying active, fueling myself with wholesome foods, and being honest with myself about the state of my mental health. If I need it, I will ask for extra help. This is something never to be ashamed of and to make a priority if you are struggling.

Also, I don’t know who needs to hear this, but turn your phone off when/if you can. Unplugging from the noise of social media from time to time can be surprisingly cathartic.”

How would you describe your new song, “I WISH,” in three words?

Riley: “Brain slandering banger! ‘I WISH’ is all about wishing that I couldn’t feel anymore. If you’re like me and have been on a journey with your mental health for quite some time, you can relate. ‘I WISH’ details throwing your hands up, surrendering, and making that desperate call for your feelings to vanish. Maybe if we sing this song together enough it’ll come true?”

Do you have a favorite lyric from your new song?

Riley: “I love the bridge in this song. My favorite lyric is, ‘Maybe somehow I could forget all the things I’ve ever said.’ I am notorious for sitting up in my bed late at night going over everything I’ve ever said while harshly judging myself for it.

My mind gets so fixated on unimportant things. It’s moments like these where I’ve wished for a reprieve from my emotions. I know I’m not the only one who does this. I wanted to make this song to connect with others who feel similarly to me and need to scream these words without fear of judgement, from others, but especially from themselves.”

Your Instagram showcases your iconic nail game. What inspires your nail choices?

Riley: “Firstly, iconic? I’m blushing. I love that you asked this. I spent so long doing the inner work to get to a place where I felt comfortable and powerful expressing myself in all forms, so it makes my little queer heart happy for this to be acknowledged. As far as inspiration surrounding the nails goes, I love anything gothic, impractically long, and usually sharp. The nails usually take notes from the vibe of the music I’m creating and I’m always looking for new designs and ideas. The inclusion of the long nails in the visuals of my art is something I intend to keep doing and intensify going forward. Nail suggestions in my DMs are always welcome, I’d love to get my followers involved in my choices!”

What can your audience expect from your new music?

Riley: “A lot. I have been in this game since I was 14 and on The X Factor. In my new music, the culmination of 10 years of trial, error, self-exploration, self-discovery, relationships, pain, learning, and love is undeniably evident. The music is rock, it’s pop, it’s got hyper pop elements, and a little grunge too. You can hear everything I’ve ever done in these songs and at the same time, so clearly see where this journey is going to take us. I have never felt so excited, supported, and seen before in my career. Thank you to everyone who has stuck by my side in this journey, both new and old. My team is incredible, my support system is incredible, and everyone who has expressed excitement and interest surrounding my art, I value you and hold a place for you so deeply in my heart.”

What’s been the biggest change in your career? Looking back, do you think that affected you?

Riley: “My coming out journey, for sure. When I first started releasing music, I felt like I was playing a role. Cast as the straight, cisgender teen boy suddenly thrust into the spotlight in front of thousands of adoring young female fans.

To have that kind of energy thrown my way while I was just beginning to navigate what I know now to be my queer identity was very difficult. When I finally came out publicly, much to the disapproval of people investing in my career, I knew a shift was about to take place.

I had to come out and begin that journey publicly, for me. If I had never done it, and believe me there were people who did not want me to, I would never have gotten to where I am now.

Since then, I have been fortunate enough to have had the time to be patient with myself to really understand who Riley Lynch is. While it was hard then, being authentically myself has opened doors for me that I truly believe never would have opened otherwise. It’s time to share every part of who I am with the world, not just the easily digestible.”

You tweeted on June 15th that you “can’t wait to perform” for your audience — what are you most looking forward to in these live performances?

Riley: “The reintroduction of ME! It has been way too long since I have been able to play new music in a way that would truly honor the art. I have a ton of new songs on the way and these shows are an opportunity for me to play out released, and unreleased music that will be shared throughout 2022 and beyond.

I also cannot wait to see everyone’s faces in person and get to share the beauty that is live music together again. Specifically, for anyone in LA, keep your eyes peeled for show announcements coming very soon so we can scream the new music together.”

What’s something you wish you knew before starting you career?

Riley: “Music as a profession is not for the faint of heart. This industry is cutthroat and can take even the most passionate of artists, chew them up, and spit them out. I have been walking this road for years, and I have no intentions of a career change. But I’d be lying if I said there weren’t days where it would have just been easier to throw in the towel. Something about me though, I don’t give up easily. If I’m going to be taken down by these industry machines, they’re going to have to work a lot harder than they have been.”

Anything new you’d like to share?

Riley: “Not really new… but my overwhelming commitment to bringing the house down! That said, there are lots of exciting new things coming very soon and I can’t wait to share it all with you.”

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