10 ARTISTS WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT: HOPSCOTCH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2025

September 2, 2025

by madelyn barkocy

Unclear Magazine is so excited for the 15th anniversary edition of Hopscotch Music Festival, taking place in Raleigh from September 4th — 6th with many more events hosted by labels and venues occurring in the surrounding days.

Hopscotch 2025 has an exciting array of local North Carolina acts, bands traveling from out of state, and a list of mainstage performers that includes legends and up-and-comers alike. These are just a few of the many artists that stood out to us on this year’s lineup:

10. Daughter of Swords

Alex Sauser-Monning, of Mountain Man and The A’s, is taking their solo project Daughter of Swords to Hopscotch. They’re riding the release of their newest album Alex (Psychic Hotline), produced by Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso, in which they invite their folk roots to a dance party. This new whimsical era features lyricism that springs around in detailed vignettes and production that leans more electronic and sprightly than Dawnbreaker, their primarily folk debut record. We can’t wait to hear how these worlds get bridged in Daughter of Swords’ live set!

Thursday, September 4: 11pm at The Pour House

9. Tomin

Tomin is a Brooklyn-based self-taught multi-instrumentalist and computational geneticist making a name for himself in the world of new jazz. The arrangements on his second album A Willed and Conscious Balance (International Anthem), released last year, solidify Tomin’s place as an innovative voice in the scene. There’s such a dense emotional center in all of Tomin’s work and we’re very much looking forward to experiencing it live.

Thursday, September 4: 10:30pm at Nash Hall

8. William Tyler

William Tyler spent his early days playing with Nashville-based acts Lambchop and Silver Jews. Since then, he has been pursuing his own solo body of work, crafting an extensive array of instrumental tracks that explore the bounds of “cosmic country.” His 2025 album Time Indefinite (Psychic Hotline) sees Tyler leaning into new textures and techniques, spotlighting his knack for creating rich ambient worlds.

Friday, September 5: 4:20pm at King’s*

Friday, September 5: 1am at King’s

Saturday, September 6: King’s (doors at 11am)*

7. T. Gold

T. Gold is a project started by Gabriel Anderson and Saman Khoujinian, the two founders of Carrboro label Sleepy Cat Records. Their approach to folk is somehow at once starkly minimal in its saturation and lushly vast in the quality of sound, a perfect late summer soundtrack. In their latest single “Getting to Know the End” released in 2024, they have fun filling the negative space with new experimental layers on an uplifted tempo.

Thursday, September 4: 10pm at Transfer Co. Ballroom

Friday, September 5: 12:30pm at Schoolkids Records*

6. Kumo 99

Kumo 99 is a glitchy electro-pop duo from Los Angeles composed of Ami Komai’s vocals, often sung in Japanese, and Nate Donmoyer’s percussion. Their industrial, drum and bass-inspired sound has lent them a rightful place on primarily hardcore bills, including an upcoming one with fellow Hopscotch 2025 artist Girl Brutal. Kumo 99 played Coachella earlier this year and has some exciting tour dates up ahead, so don’t miss your chance to see them in an intimate venue.

Saturday, September 6: 1am at Slims

5. Friendship

Maine-raised, Philadelphia-based Friendship makes indie rock with an alt-country twang and a knack for finding humor and comfort in the absurd mundanity of the day-to-day. Frontman Dan Wriggins’ baritone bellows are strikingly emotive, delivering each line with nuance that few can master. Friendship shines on their 2025 release Caveman Wakes Up (Merge Records) and we’re so excited to hear it live!

Thursday, September 4: 4:40pm at The Pour House*

Thursday, September 4: 12am at The Pour House

4. Dead Tooth

Dead Tooth is a self-proclaimed “rodeo-core” outfit from Queens fronted by Zach James Ellis. With chaotically catchy, saxophone-lathered rock tunes and a wildcard live show that often features a haunting dance solo by long-time collaborator Nola Sporn Smith, expect a revitalizing cacophony of sound and sweat from Dead Tooth’s set.

Saturday, September 6: 12am at Slims

3. Hemlock

Carolina Chauffe is the brain behind “swamp-raised, ‘phone-fi’ alt-folk” project Hemlock. Their discography is an impressive one after having completed seven different renditions of a “song a day” challenge in one month long intervals, the most recent having been from June of this year. Be sure to check out Chauffe’s work in Little Mazarn as well, also playing Hopscotch this year with quite a few slots of their own.

Saturday, September 6: 11:50am at Wolfe and Porter*

Saturday, September 6: 10pm at The Pour House

2. YHWH Nailgun

Experimental noise rock group YHWH Nailgun has had an exciting year so far after releasing 45 Pounds back in March to critical acclaim. It’s an absolute sprint of an album, running at only 21 minutes long with whiplash-inducing percussion and animalistic vocals that will have you wondering if you should open up a dance floor or a mosh pit. Maybe both. They’ve toured extensively in 2025 and will be continuing to do so for their EU / UK leg up until the tail end of the year, so now is the best time to catch them!

Thursday, September 4: 6pm at City Plaza

1. Wombo

Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Wombo has been abstracting post-punk since 2016. On their new album Danger in Fives (Fire Talk), vocalist and bassist Sydney Chadwick layers an airy, ethereal quality over the sharp, angular work of bandmates Cameron Lowe on guitar and Joel Taylor on drums, creating an exciting sonic friction. We’re really looking forward to hearing the title track off this new one.

Thursday, September 4: 11:30pm at Wicked Witch

Those are our picks, but there’s so much more to discover! Check out the full lineup schedule here, the day party schedule here, and then log your must-sees in the Hopscotch app for easy day-of-fest reference. See you there!

*signifies a day party set which is open to anyone, no need for a festival wristband.

SAVANNAH RÉ: INTERVIEW

July 31, 2025

by mariah estran

Savannah Ré is evolving, and on her latest project Formed, it’s proven through an 11-track arrangement of empowering honesty.

The Toronto native is no stranger to the R&B space, with several projects within her discography, including her critically acclaimed debut, Opia, she's landed herself three JUNO Awards. Plus, most recently, Drake sampled her 2024 single, “Sex With My Ex.”

But now, with Formed, a new phase has been revealed, one that started with going independent. She spent the last year navigating this new creative freedom, the boundless opportunity that had Savannah revitalizing her sound and candid lyricism.

Through this project, she’s expressing how fulfilling music can be. By experimenting with early 2000s sounds, it shines on tracks such as “Go’ Head,” while those moodier moments still make an appearance on “Glory” and “Blank Space.”

Formed is a personal, introspective look into where Savannah Ré is, and where she is going next. She took a moment to give us a closer look at her project, telling us more about the production journey, going independent, and how this latest collection is different from the rest.

We must talk about the new project, Formed. It’s been receiving a lot of love, so how are you feeling now that it’s been out in the world?

Savannah: “I feel great! I’m overwhelmed by the love, support, and reception that this project is getting, especially with it being my first independent release, so I’m grateful.”

When you give the project a listen, you can feel how much work you put into it. It displays this self-reflective look into love, and your own growth and self-worth. What more can you tell us about the themes behind this latest release?

Savannah: “It's all those things. With Opia (the first project), the whole purpose was introspection, looking inside and talking about those things that are hard to be honest about, and that is still my message as an artist overall. But this time, I wanted to approach it from an angle that’s not as heavy.

Through the songs, you can still see and hear so much about my journey and where I've been. It still deals with all those same themes of self-discovery and some heartbreak, but I wanted to do it in a way that was much more uplifting and fun.

This is the most fun music I've put on a project to date — it might just be indicative of where I am as a person. I want people to be able to listen to each of these songs on the project and find a different mood.”

While listening to the project, what caught my attention was your use of different stylistic elements. I feel like it really coincides with this new era you're describing. What drove this thoughtful soundscape and what inspired you?

Savannah: “Honestly, I wanted to show more of myself, sonically. I'm already showing who I am as a writer. On my prior projects, they have set up the foundations of who I am, but it's so much more this time around. Also, having a longer project gives you more room to show more sides.

All of this is still me as an artist. ‘Blank Space’ is the most alt-R&B that I've gone. ‘Go’ Head’ reminds me of the early 2000s era of dance music and like, Ciara. All these eras are a big part of what raised me. I wanted to broaden people's understanding of my sound.”

People have come to know you because you have an incredible list of accolades. We can mention your JUNO Awards and nominations, plus, your amazing collaborations. When getting into the process of making Formed, how did you want it to be different from previous projects?

Savannah: “I wanted it to sound so different, but I wanted you to be able to hear the growth and hear the difference in where I am now versus my other projects. The main difference this time around is I'm in control. I'm completely independent, I'm in the driver's seat, so whatever happens with this project is up to me, and the executive producer, Yogi — he's wonderful at letting me be me and try different things.

The approach to this project was that I wanted to make something I love, that’s it. I was trying not to think about outside pressures or outside things.”

Speaking of you being independent and this being the first time to really explore that, how did it feel to have this freedom to go in and do what you've always wanted to do?

Savannah: “It's interesting because it's freedom, but it also feels terrifying. First, it's a very scary space to be in because it's up to you now.

So, whether you sink or swim, it is up to you. I spent the first year of being independent just figuring out my voice and what I want. When you are not independent or in the label system, there are whole rooms of people who can show you on a graph, show you photos, and show you where they think you should be or what you think you should be. I took that first year off to unlearn that. This is my first independent project, so I’m still figuring it out.”

On Instagram, after you released “Nine Lives,” you mentioned people had opinions on it. You noted that it was an autobiography, the comeback from going through several obstacles. I'm sure that includes things in the industry, things in your life, and coming back even stronger. This song and this project, how has it helped you reclaim and emphasize that confidence as an artist?

Savannah: “It's interesting because when you're going into it, making the music you love, you can never know how it’s going to be received. I feel like for me, it's been healing because this is me now, this is what I have to say, and this is how I would say it — unfiltered without anything holding me back.

I was expecting to get those comments. At the end of the day, being raw is hard for people to consume because not everybody meets themselves the same way you meet yourself.

Especially with ‘Nine Lives,’ I made that song for women, I made that song for us.

So, when it started getting on the wrong side of the internet, I was like, ‘Let me reel it back in and remind you all that this is for us.’ It's about my journey, so it's no surprise to me that men are like, ‘Oh my goodness, what is this?’”

Lastly, what do you hope listeners learn or see about you after they listen to this project?

Savannah: “Honestly, I just hope that they’re able to hear the growth and see themselves in my journey. I'm just getting started; this is my first full-length project since Opia. I hope that this project and my discography are enough for people to feel connected enough with me to keep growing with me, like, this is just the beginning.”

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MOTHER MOTHER: INTERVIEW

July 18, 2025

by lilith jaime

Formed in 2005, the Canadian rock band Mother Mother has built a rich and evolving legacy in the music scene. Over the years, they’ve crafted a distinct sonic identity through an expansive discography that now spans more than ten albums. This June, the band made a compelling return with their latest release, Nostalgia. True to its title, the album dives deep into themes of memory, self-reflection, and emotional echoes from the past. It revisits the sounds and stylistic elements that once defined their early work, offering longtime fans a sense of familiarity while still pushing their musical boundaries in new and thoughtful directions.

We had the chance to catch up with lead singer and songwriter Ryan Guldemond to delve into the heart of Nostalgia. In our conversation, he opened up about the themes that shaped the album, the memories the band collectively revisited during the creative process, and the emotional resonance behind their newest work. Furthermore, the frontman also offered insight into his personal approach to songwriting, the evolving dynamics within the group, and how his relationship with the internet has influenced both his artistry and perspective as a musician.

How would you describe the special element within the group that has been fundamental to your 20 years of making music?

Ryan: “I think just how good of friends we are and how fluent we are in the language of each other. We know how to be good to each other, what the triggers are, what the buttons are. And so, with that knowledge, you can purposefully create a harmonious space with these people that you're doing this job with. However, it wasn't always that way. I think in intimate relationships, you learn the hard way how to get along. And that's very much the case in a band. So, after all of these years, we're just very good at knowing how to exist together.”

Do you think this reflects in your music?

Ryan: “Sure. I think that when we get together to record music, again, we know how to bring out the best in each other, and we know what battles not to pick, softly speaking.”

I saw that you waited a year to release a new record. Commonly, artists take around two years or so to put a new record out, but you took just one. Why is that?

Ryan: “Well, you know how people release deluxe versions? We were going to record three or four songs for the deluxe version of our last record, Grief Chapter. But then that sort of opened up this gateway of creativity, and more songs came into the picture. All of a sudden, it felt like we were doing something new, that we were creating a new body of work that didn't belong on the deluxe version of our last record. So, we just decided to forget about that and make a new record because it felt right.”

With Nostalgia, your new record, how would you say it fits into the band’s sonic evolution?

Ryan: “I think that true to the title, Nostalgia, this record is celebrating our roots. You can really hear that in some of the songs. Like, six of the songs are old and the other six are new. I don't know if you knew that, but we went back in time and looked in the attic, so to speak, for old songs that we've always loved but never released. And we chose six, and then we wrote six new songs.

And there's a real spirit of youthfulness, of playfulness, that I think is alive on this album. So, it's classic Mother Mother, but then it's us today, twenty years later. It can't help but also be a modern version. It's these two ends of the spectrum coming together to create a sound.”

Nostalgia recalls O My Heart, if you ask me. How was revisiting this old material? Did you change anything?

Ryan: “Sure. We took them and then sent them through the machine of criticism and speculation. Some of them came out really close to the way they were, and some of them came out pretty different.”

The song “Love to Death” is one of your fans’ favorites to revisit, considering there’s a demo of it on YouTube still circulating. Now that you have released the track properly, how was the critical response?

Ryan: “I mean, I knew a lot of people wouldn't like it because people get attached to the demo. So, we were prepared for that. But I think it's awesome. We really love the way it is the new version. And I bet you if there was never a demo, then people would love the new version. That's the way the human mind works. It's the first thing you fall in love with, you become so attached to. Some people, I think, struggled to accept the new ‘Love to Death.’ And then I think for a lot of others, that was the first time they heard the song, how they loved it. Maybe some of them even loved it to death, hopefully, but not literally.”

Now, the song “ON AND ON (Song for Jasmin)” also navigates a lot of memories and emotions. Can you walk us through it?

Ryan: “That song was written during a really emotional and deep time. Jasmin and I were good friends, best friends. We've been, friends for many years, but at the very beginning of our relationship, we were a couple. And so, there's lots of layers to our story. In 2020, her dad died unexpectedly. And I was really close with her dad as well as Jasmin. I was given the job of driving over to Jasmin's house on a Sunday morning and telling her that her dad died unexpectedly. So, that experience was very powerful. Just, you know, Jasmin is a very sweet and happy person. She opens the door with a big smile and a ‘come on in.’

And then delivering this news and watching someone you love that much metabolize that information in the moment, and the both of us start weeping together, and you go on this little journey of grief. It's very deepening to the friendship. It's very beautiful and raw. And so, in and around all of that energy during that time, I just picked up a guitar one day, feeling all of this love, sadness, and beauty and just wrote that song very quickly for Jasmin, and for her dad too in a way.”

That’s really sweet and considerate of you. Aside from that track, is there any song that you feel most connected to from the album?

Ryan: “I love ‘Nostalgia.’ I really relate to getting almost drunk on the past and romanticizing it and that sort of wistful longing for what was and for what never was, but you wished was, but now it's too late. All that energy, I get really into.”

On another note, is there a reason why you divide in part 1 and part 2 certain songs?

Ryan: “We've only ever done that once properly, which is ‘Hayloft II.’ You know, with our song ‘Finger,’ we flirted with the idea that it was a prequel to ‘Verbatim,’ just because people were saying, it sounded like Verbatim II. And so, we made a post saying it's the prequel, but it's not actually. But ‘Hayloft II’ is a very purposeful sequel.”

Let’s move on to a more visual approach. Your album covers are different between within each other. How do you know which artistic direction to take every time you're creating them?

Ryan: “I guess you try to find some inroad through the lyrics. Sometimes the music just has a certain vibe, either it wants to be dark or colorful. Just depending on how the music sounds. Molly, my sister in the band, she does all of the art. Her and I work really closely. She designs all the covers, and it's a whole big mountainous project. We talk a lot about how to tackle it and she really looks into the words and comes up with ideas born from the lyrics and says, ‘Hey Ryan, what do you think?’ I'm like, ‘Yeah, that's cool.’ Finally, you arrive at a certain place, animal, image or something.”

I didn’t know Molly did the whole art thing. What is it like working with your sister in the music industry?

Ryan: “I think it's weird. It's especially weird because if you had asked us when we were kids or even two years before the band started, if we thought we’d ever be in a band together, we would have said no. That's preposterous. It never made sense that Molly and I would be in a band together. So that's weird and remains likes that.

We often just still look at each other and look at this life that we've created for ourselves and laugh in disbelief. Beyond that, I think it can be really challenging working with your family. There's just a lot of old stuff that is always right there on the surface of the dynamic. You know, business is hard, and the music business is too. And so, we've definitely had many challenges along the way, challenges that were made more challenging because we're siblings. But on the flip side, there's just this bond. There's this foundation of love and loyalty that you can't break. So, we know in our hearts, no matter how hard it gets, we'll never leave each other because we're family. Maybe that's what's kept us together so long too. That could be true.”

You definitely have a strong bond with her. That’s lovely to hear. Now, how’s your relationship with the internet as of right now? Regarding fan interactions and feedback in general.

Ryan: “Right now, it's good because I deleted all my apps. So, I'm on a diet because I think the Internet and social media is making everybody unhappy. That's my opinion. It's a necessary tool to interact with your audience and there is beauty. There is love and connection. There is creativity that is being shared and that is a good thing.

But the question is: ‘Is that nugget of good big enough to combat all of the bad that goes along with the Internet and social media because there's a lot of bad?’ I think about this a lot. I think about it for myself and young people. And right now, I just must not look at that shit. I must delete my apps and focus on my heart, my creativity and living actual real life. So that's where I'm at. I know I can't do that forever because I have this job, and I have to connect with the fan base. And I love doing that because I love them. It's the way that we do it in these modern times.”

I agree with you right there. That leads me to ask you if you have ever done any kind of activism through your songs regarding these topics or any topic at all?

Ryan: “Not really. We don't write music in that way. I find whenever I sit down to try and write a song about something. Like, I'm going to write about world peace. Doesn't work. I'm going to write about human rights in whatever category. Doesn't work. Creativity for me doesn't work that way. It's like you can't think. You have to go to some other deeper abstract feeling place and get out of the way and let words and sounds come through. That's my process as a songwriter. And, you know, I've tried to write about something. It just never turns into a good song. At the end of the day, what you want are good songs.”

A really interesting songwriting process. It stays true to yourself. Talking about songs, when you are immersing in the making of them, do you consider how they are going to sound live?

Ryan: “I think that sometimes you write songs that are easy to play live or good to play live, but that's not why you should write a song. You're writing a song because you're trying to connect to the universe or to crack open the energy of love through song and creativity. How you feel about the world or how easy you want the song to be performed on stage or any of these earthly matters doesn't help being in creative flow state. So, no. I try not to care about whether it's going to be easy or hard on stage because the song doesn't care. If the song was a person, it would be so uninterested in the songwriter's opinions or their experience playing it live.”

I mostly ask the question of the impact of performing live and many artists agree with it. However, I find it unusual but captivating that you have a divergent opinion. To finish our interview, a fun question! If you could share the stage with anyone, dead or alive, who would you share it with?

Ryan: “Gosh. That is a tough question. I mean, alive, The Pixies. They're the biggest influence. There's still a chance, so I feel like if I choose them as my answer, then I could maybe help manifest it. Because it's possible as they're still going. That is my favorite band in the world, and I think that Mother Mother wouldn't sound like it does if they didn't exist.”

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EMI GRACE: INTERVIEW

June 24, 2025

by kristen case

Emi Grace is an unstoppable force carving her own place in the rock scene with a distinct fusion of rock and electronic textures. Known for catchy vocal melodies or head-banging guitar riffs, Emi is taking the lessons learned and the strength to move forward with her new single “Known Better.” We discuss the inspiration of “Known Better,” her favorite lyric of the song, and the hopes for listeners to take away from the single.

Congratulations on your newest single “Known Better.” Can you tell us a little about where the inspiration for this song came from?

Emi: “Thank you!!! This song all started with that main riff. I made it one night in a rehearsal room and fell in love. It truly inspired the rest of the song; I wrote all my melodies and most of the lyrics to just the riff!”

What was the story behind the song?

Emi: “‘My momma told me not to fuck with your type’ was the first lyric I wrote for it, and it pretty much sums it up [laughs]. There was this guy that she really was right about the entire time, and I ignored all the signs. On the other hand though, this song is also completely about taking your power back in a bad relationship, or situation, and the moment that happens.”

What was the creative process like, and did you have any challenges during the making of the song?

Emi: “The majority of the song came together really fast. Once I had the riff, I knew I had to work on it that day [laughs]. One of my best friends who’s a drummer was in town from New Jersey, and that night me him and another friend brought the structure to life. I wrote the hook and tracked/produced it out a few nights later in my garage, I was so excited I just had to get it done. That version lived on for about two years, played it on tours and so many shows, and it only made me love it more! The hardest part was taking it from the demo into where it is now, but I’m so grateful for everyone involved in that process! Overall, so much fun.”

“Known Better” incorporates an abundance of storytelling. Do you draw from personal experiences when writing or the world around you?

Emi: “Usually, I draw from personal experiences.”

What is your favorite lyric in the song?

Emi: “‘My Momma told me not to fuck with your type.’”

When it comes to Trashy Tone Thursday, do you have a guitar riff in mind or do you just let the melody take you? What’s that process like?

Emi: “I usually just let the melody take me! More often than not I get a track going first, then solo over that!”

What message do you hope listeners take away from your music?

Emi: “Stand strong in just who you are! In your toughest day, moment, relationship, etc., you’ll always come out the other side, and every challenge you face is an opportunity to bring you closer to who you really are. It’s okay to be lighthearted in the hard times too.”

Is there anything else you would like to share about the single or anything we might expect from you this year?

Emi: “This is one of my favorite solos!! Also, I can’t wait for you guys to see this liveeee!”

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SIENNA MELGOZA: INTERVIEW

June 20, 2025

by kristen case

Sienna Melgoza is a multi-talented singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer whose passion for music and the arts has shaped her into a dynamic performer. While her sound is rooted in pop, she seamlessly blends various genres, instruments, and styles, creating a sound that is both fresh and deeply personal. Sienna is embracing autonomy with her single “CUT.” We discuss the story behind “CUT,” the atmosphere creating the single, and the role lyricism played in the songwriting process.

Congratulations on your newest single “CUT!” Tell me about how “CUT” got started? Any unexpected moments or challenges while making the song?

Sienna: “Thank you!! ‘CUT’ got started because I really needed a way to let out all of the emotions I was feeling after a breakup. I had been hurt really badly and was struggling to find ways to cope or accept what was happening. Music has always been my safe space, so I let it speak for me. I think the hardest part about writing a song like this is that I would never want to hurt the person that I experienced that time of my life with. I will always care about them deeply, but at the same time, I want to share my full truth with people, even if it feels scary and vulnerable. It’s something I go back and forth on all the time, but I think at the end of the day, I know that I wrote this song about me and my story, not about them.”

What's the story behind “CUT?”

Sienna: “At the time of coming up with the concept for the song, I was harboring some pretty intense emotions about a breakup I had just had. I could feel myself going through every stage of grief, and in this particular moment, I was going through the anger stage. I really needed an outlet to release and say the things I would never say out loud. This song kind of just formed from there.”

“CUT” really hits the mark by diving into the angst and embracing the feelings that come with making the choice to cut ties with a person from your past. How do you hope this message is being portrayed by listeners?

Sienna: “I hope this song encourages someone to do the one thing in their life that they are scared of. To take a leap of faith into something they aren’t sure about. And even though they are unsure, they do it anyway because they are putting themself first.”

Do you think lyricism is an outlet you use to get your emotions in songwriting? How is it beneficial for yourself?

Sienna: “100%. As I grow as an artist, something I'm really working on improving is my writing! I want my audience to feel exactly what I was feeling in the moment I was writing, and to be able to picture the scene I am painting with my words. Songwriting is so beneficial to my creative process and state of mind, no matter how I am feeling at the moment.”

When it comes to sound selection and production for “CUT,” what was the process for sound selection like and did you ever have a specific vision for what you wanted the song to sound like?

Sienna: “The main feeling I wanted the production to embody was anger. I knew I wanted an electric guitar and heavy drums. However, the talented producers I work with did the heavy lifting of transforming my baby concept into a fully produced masterpiece.”

As your music career has grown over time, how do you balance the evolution of your artistry while staying true to yourself?

Sienna: “The biggest thing for me as I continue to grow as an artist, is to keep my empathy and morality. I know balancing my artistry and staying true to myself will become harder as my career progresses. I'm ready for that challenge because it will only better me as a person in the long run. I know I will never lose my core values during this journey, so I cannot wait to see the evolution of myself and my art!”

Is there any verse or lyric of “CUT” that holds special meaning to you?

Sienna: “I think the lyric I love the most is, ‘Wish I would have seen / Blame’s always on me / Bent over in the back seat.’ It’s a terrible feeling when you finally step out of something harmful, take off the blinders, and realize there’s so much you could’ve done to prevent yourself from being hurt so badly. It’s hard knowing that you thought the best thing you were doing for yourself was staying. That the love you were feeling was what you needed. But the love you were feeling was just your own, and I guess that’s a good thing.”

Can you describe the atmosphere you created with “CUT” and what's the biggest takeaway you have gained from this release?

Sienna: “The atmosphere I created with ‘CUT’ was a healing one. This song was written with a specific intention in mind, and that intention was to release the resentment and anger I was feeling. I’m glad I can say I reached my goal and will continue to work towards healing my wounds every day. The biggest takeaway I gained from this release is that I'm allowed to talk about things that have happened in my life, regardless of when they happened to or for me. I went through it, and if I feel like writing about it, I’m going to write about it. Music is my safe space and I intend on keeping it that way. I will never let anyone take that away from me!”

What can fans expect from you next — new music, tour, collaborations?

Sienna: “The next step for me is always new music. There’s plenty happening on my end, whether I talk about it or not. You’ll be the first to know this, but I have a music video coming out very soon. Stay tuned for that! Tour is something I'm hoping for in the near future. Live music makes me feel a different type of way, and I cannot wait to make others feel it when I perform! In terms of collaborations, there may be one or two in the works. I can’t say too much about that yet, but it’s all exciting stuff!”

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