Photo credit: Sasha Pedro
Tell us about your tour vehicle.
I have somehow pulled off being a full-time touring musician without a car???? I take buses, trains, carpool with my bandmates, and rent a car when we are doing longer tour runs. The band and I have tried so many different cars. So far, we were happiest with the Kia Soul (it is tiny and mighty when it comes to fitting two guitars, a drum kit, and luggage). We were most dissatisfied with the Jeep Compass (terrible mileage, large on the outside and somehow small on the inside).
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
I am, if I do say so myself, a master snack packer. I am the one who brings the snacks. I am hungry for about 80% of the day. My snack stash usually includes: trail mix with lots of chocolate chips and lots of nuts, dried apricots, honeycrisp apples, and anything from Trader Joe’s that I can get my hands on.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I avoid changing my strings at all costs… But, I do change them 1-2 times a year – don’t hate me!! I like the warm tone of old strings. At least, that’s what I tell myself. I use flatwounds, they cost about 20 dollars per pack. I love the way that flatwounds sound, and how when I slide my fingers up and down the frets in all sorts of creative ways, the strings don’t screech.
Where do you rehearse?
My rehearsal space is my top floor apartment of an old house. All I need is a chair to sit in, and it has to be near a window. I have had many a good existential space-out moment while staring out the window and playing guitar. Sometimes two squirrels chase each other on the roof, scratching and squeaking.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
One of my first songs ever is called “Milky Moon”. “Milky moon, over blanket with holes, illuminate the cracks in my soul”
I am laughing as I write this, because a) what does that mean? And B) I was 15 years old and I felt like I had “cracks in my soul”.
Describe your first gig.
My first ticketed show was at a DIY venue here in Boston called the LilyPad. It was the beginning of January 2015 (a winter of epic proportions) and the room was filled to the brim. People on thrifted chairs and couches. People on the floor. There was a scruffy dog in a Christmas sweater. It was so warm in there. I felt very happy.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
My favorite day job has always been facilitating art classes with kids. I miss it. But, I do always keep a journal, a small watercolor set, and two brushes in my bag – two brushes, so that I have one for sharing. People always want to join.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
Making a sustainable income from music continues to be a mystery to me. I still make the most from live shows (definitely not from merch or streaming), but my expenses are pretty huge.
Paying my team, paying my bandmates, and travel expenses are the top expenses, taking up half of my gross income. The other 25% goes to taxes, and then the remaining 25% is for all other work expenses, rent, health insurance, groceries, and clothing (lol). I am VERY into dressing up for shows, and dressing up in general. I’m working on letting go of this insatiable hunger for clothes – thrifted and/or impulse-bought in the middle of the night during periods of stress… It’s getting better as my overall well-being improves. <3 cue compassionate hug.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
I wish I had always known how to listen to myself, and that when I advocate for myself it will make some people uncomfortable. I was so afraid of making people uncomfortable, that I didn’t even know how to hear myself think. Meanwhile, I was doing what everyone else wanted of me, but not what I wanted.
It took years of ending up in dodgy venues and having panic attacks while performing for audiences who talked to each other while they ate their hot dogs. Now, I say no more than I say yes. I cannot recommend it enough, people. Be good to yourself. Be yourself. Listen to yourself. Make people uncomfortable by advocating for yourself every day. And if you don’t know what you think yet, ask for time to think. It seems like the secret ingredient to life is learning how to be yourself, even when it makes others uncomfortable. I’m still learning how to do it.