With “Nailbiter,” she turns the often-unspoken grief of a friendship’s end into a song that’s as urgent as it is heartfelt. Blending alternative pop with indie rock edge, her music channels vulnerability through soaring choruses, energetic arrangements, and lyrics that balance personal specificity with universal resonance. From classical training to punk-pop roots, she crafts melodies that move and breathe, transforming private moments of loss into shared emotional experiences. This track isn’t just a song—it’s a conversation about growth, reflection, and the messy, beautiful process of learning to let go.
“Nailbiter” deals with the end of a long-term friendship. How did you navigate turning such a personal experience into something listeners could connect with?
I didn’t know what I was going to write about when I first sat down with the finished instrumental. The chorus came naturally and immediately felt right, so I followed that lead and let myself get it out. Releasing the song became a way to reach for others who are still searching for their people and learning how to let go of the ones who no longer fit.
Did the song come together quickly, or was it something you returned to repeatedly over time?
It came together very quickly. From recording the vocals to final mixing and mastering, it was less than a week. I’m usually more cautious about releasing music, but this time I felt confident letting it go to find its place with others.
Your work often blends alternative pop with indie rock. How do you approach balancing vulnerability with the sonic energy of your music?
I write as if I’m the only one who will ever hear the words. A lot of my feelings are heavy, and I’m drawn to music with energy and movement. I want my songs to feel as alive as the human emotions written into them. That doesn’t always mean upbeat, but the juxtaposition between heavier meaning and energetic sound definitely felt right with “Nailbiter”.
How does your classical training and early punk/pop experience influence the sound of “Nailbiter”?
My classical training really shapes the way I approach melody. I think about my voice the same way I would my flute – how the line moves, how it breathes. Pairing that with my early rock influences helped me give “Nailbiter” edge and tension lyrically.
In writing about grief and loss, how do you decide which details remain personal and which become universal?
I kept the emotion specific and the details open because what mattered was making the hurt recognizable. By focusing on self reflection rather than particular moments the song stays sincere while leaving room for other people to see themselves in it.
Was there a particular moment in the friendship that inspired the lyrics, or was it more an accumulation of emotion?
There wasn’t a single moment that inspired it. The relationship had dissolved long before I wrote the song, I just hadn’t spoken or written about it yet. I took time to heal, to really examine who I’d become and where I needed to grow as a person and a friend. “Nailbiter” came after a real period of mourning.
How do you see “Nailbiter” fitting into your broader musical trajectory and upcoming projects?
“Nailbiter” is part of a bigger project, reflecting on who I’ve been and how I’ve grown in my 20’s. It feels like I’m writing to younger versions of myself about love, adulthood, addiction, and figuring out who I am while surviving it all. This song is a step further into that world, emotionally and sonically.
Can you talk about the emotional evolution within the song itself—how the arrangement mirrors the story?
I wanted the song to hit almost immediately, which is why I started with the chorus, getting to the core of it right away. The production moves fast, so the listener has to hold on with me as I navigate the realities and consequences of heartbreak. The whole song feels urgent and deliberate, which mirrors how naturally and quickly it came together.
How do you approach vulnerability in your live performances, given the deeply personal nature of this track?
Creating an intimate setting for live shows is my favorite. I love connecting with people in person, sharing music that they already relate to in their own way and feeling that unspoken connection that only live music can create.
Are there particular artists, past or present, whose honesty in songwriting has influenced you?
Hayley Williams’ solo work has been deeply inspiring, and I’ll always have Stevie Nicks and bands like Flyleaf in the rotation. I really value artists who write openly about the moments most people shy away from admitting. I’ve also been following Rachel Chinorouri for a while and am always in awe of her work. Lola Young’s honesty in her songwriting has been incredibly refreshing to hear.
How do you hope listeners engage with the song—simply as music, or as a reflective emotional experience?
I don’t judge how people engage with my work once it’s out of my hands. If it reaches your ears and brings you joy or makes you feel something in any way, then I feel like my job is done.
Looking back on your musical journey from performing at 11 to now, how has your approach to storytelling changed?
I’m a lot less shy in my writing now. I used to hide behind metaphors and shy away from heavy or deeply personal topics. Today, I embrace my ability, and desire to express myself in all my humanness. I enjoy comparing scars, sharing stories, and reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned from my experiences.
Friendship breakups are rarely discussed in music. Why do you think it’s important to explore this type of grief?
I think we focus on romance a lot in music, but intimacy forms in many types of relationships. Friendships can grow deep roots, and when they end, it can feel like a kind of death. The older my generation gets, the more we experience friendship loss and feel the weight of that grief. Putting it into a song felt like something that could really resonate with people who don’t often hear their pain reflected back to them.
Did writing and releasing “Nailbiter” feel like a form of closure, or is it more about opening up a conversation with your audience?
It’s a bit of both. Writing the song gave me personal closure for that moment in my life, but releasing it is very much about opening a conversation with my audience. It feels like a bold step into my new era, inviting in people who relate and want to engage with something this personal.
Beyond “Nailbiter,” are there recurring themes you’re exploring in this new chapter of your songwriting?
This entire chapter represents change, growth, failure, and the choice to keep going anyway. Hope is a big theme for me, along with moving through experiences and learning from them rather than avoiding them. It’s about embracing the process of being human, especially when it’s messy.
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