I know Kesha played a part in this pivot in a really interesting way. Can you explain how?
Yeah, she did. She’s been a really good friend to me over the years and one day she was in the studio with Zhone and texted me a picture of them together and was like, “You have to get in the studio with this guy, he’s amazing!” And I was like, if it has Kesha’s co-sign, I’m totally gonna do that. So she did have a part in making this album, and I’m eternally grateful for that. Zhone also did her song “Joyride,” which I love so much.
From one pop singer to another, that has to be the highest kind of recommendation. And it seems like his sound now fits your vibe?
First of all, I wanted to give credit where credit is due and say that Kesha did not have to lend her producer to me. That is a testament to her character and how beautiful it is when pop girlies come support one another and just want the best for one another. I wanna really highlight that, because that’s the type of person she is.
There are people in the industry that gatekeep glam people, you know what I’m saying? When I got into the studio with him every day, we laughed so hard. Like, I think the vibes were really right. Not only is he just so talented, but he’s a really great person too.
When during the process did you come up with the album’s title?
Well, it’s a lyric in “Kiss” and I thought it just perfectly summed up the rest of the album, which is that I’m no longer writing from a place of deeply personal issues, or about things I’ve been going through. I’ve had the tendency to get stuck in the past when writing music because I draw inspiration from personal experiences. But this album was all about looking forward and living in the moment. And where I’m at in the moment is a really good place, and that needs to be celebrated. I wanted to write an album that was reflective of the mood I’m in and the energy that I have. It turned out that it’s sassy, it’s cheeky, and it’s, like, not that deep.
