- When did you first discover theater/what was your first experience?
One of my earliest experiences with theatre was at 12 years old. My parents took me down to London to see The Phantom of the Opera, and my mind was blown away by it all. The show still has a special place in my heart, and it opened me up to the world of musical theatre and its ability to capture raw emotion and the essence of character in well-crafted songwriting.
Since then, my affinity with theatre has grown with past involvement in various productions, from my school and college days, to amateur and professional productions later down the line. Nothing quite compares to the electric atmosphere you find onstage.
- When/how did you become a writer? Is there a writer, show, or text that particularly inspired you?
I’ve always had a passion for being creative in any way. I suppose I’ve always wanted to be unique and stand out from the crowd, creating something new and totally my own. I’ve also played piano from an early age, and in my teen years discovering amazing artists like Elton John and Billy Joel I wanted to emulate them in writing songs that hit an audience deeper than at the simple, superficial level.
I discovered I loved the feeling of channeling those formative and sometimes chaotic years into such a productive creative outlet.
- How do you describe your style/work?
As much as I love certain musical theatre writers, I tend to be much more pop-influenced. There are so many great artists I admire, a really eclectic mix. It really depends on the character or mood I’m trying to create within a song, I’ll take inspiration from a range of different places. As cliché as it sounds, I like to write songs that tell a story. A key component in my mind when writing is coming up with not only impactful lyrics, but a memorable melody. If I can write a tune an audience gets stuck in their heads, I’m happy.
- What is most rewarding to you about writing music?
I love how unpredictable the development process can be, from that first little spark of an idea to the final finished product. For me, it’s like chipping away at marble, inspiration can strike from anywhere and and I’ll constantly rework and tidy up things I don’t think are good enough until I believe I’ve found the true song hiding underneath. That feeling you get when finishing a song and having someone listen to it for the first time is indescribable. The audience may not know the hours of agonising that went into getting a work just how you want it, but when we hear it’s had an effect on them you know it was worth the extra care to get right.