Unfazed Magazine Winter 2017 - Ones to Watch | Page 27

musicandforgingrealconectionswith thosethatchosetolistentoit , starting withhisfirstsingleintheproject ,“ Away .” Thesingleisrelatable , vocal-focused , and representativeofwhatthecolectionof songswilsoundlikethusfar . Thecommon threadthroughouthissongsishisloveof storyteling . Whendescribingthestoryof thesong , heacknowledgesitasanarative thatisfamiliartomany , butexplainswhy henededtosayitinhisownwords . “[‘ Away ’] isobviouslyaboutarelationship . Ithinkthateverysongthat I ’ vedoneinitialyforthis projecthasbenaboutthe yearinwhichitwaswriten . ‘ Away ’ waskindofthefirst thingIhadtodealwith becausetherelationshipthatit isis about was probably something that , out of everythingelse , consumedme mostforthatpastyear . People have a very powerful impactonotherpeople , especialyifyou ’ re inlovewiththem . Itwasarelationshipthat IletdictatemylifemorethanIprobably shouldhave , eventhoughthepersonitwas withdeserveseverybitofthelovethatI gavethem . Iwouldn ' tchangeanything aboutit , butitwassomethingthatafected mesodeplythatIdon ’ tthinktherewas anywayIwasabletotalkaboutanything elsefirstwithoutfirstgetingthatofmy

“. thisis themusic andthisis whoI am .”

chest . Wedatedforayear , triedtodolong distanceforsixmonths , didnotwork , but thatfelingofbeingfarawayfrom somebody , felinglikeliteralyapieceof yoursoulishalfwayacrosthecountry , and youcan ’ tdoanythingaboutit . Again , I don ’ tthinkthat ’ safelingthat ’ suniqueto meandIthinkalotofpeopledealwith that , especialyduringthatimeinyourlife whenpeoplearestartingtogoofto colege , butIdon ’ thinkthatI ’ veeverben soemotionalyafectedbyanything . Maybe that ’ s justyouth . Maybethat ’ snotmehaving theperspectivetorealize therearebigerproblemsin lifethanthat , butIthinkwe felthewaywefel-wecan ’ t changethat .”

People are already identifyingwiththesong , at liveshowsandonline , assen athisfirstsemi-secretshow

inNovemberinawarehouseinLitleTokyo andit ’ snotlostonhimthatthereis somethingbigerhereasheperformswith confidenceandexcitement .“ Ijustwanted tocreatemyownenvironmentforthefirst showtoletpeopleintoaspacethatI completelydesigned , like ,‘ Hey , thisisthe musicandthisiswhoIam , hereyougo .’” I wantedtokepitsortofprivatejust becausethere ’ salotofbigerthings

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