A Quick Chat with praise.

“me and my friend named he(art)” is such a unique title. Can you share the meaning behind it and how it ties into the album’s themes?

Yea, “me and my friend named he(art).” carries so many meanings just in one title just like the album itself does. The “he(art)” is so important cause in the he(art) I’m talking about my art, family, friends, etc. I hold so much of that so close to me, so it’s not just me and my friend named heart, and I’m talking about the organ that pumps blood throughout my body haha. It’s more than that.

The album feels deeply personal, with interludes featuring family voices. How did your family’s stories and influences shape this project?

They shaped this project, but it’s a direct callback to how they have shaped my whole life. For me to give those gems to supporters and people that listen means something because some people grow up without family or guidance. I never wanna take that guidance that I had for granted and give it back to people that have trusted me with their ears.

The focus track, “Cigarettes,” has a haunting, nostalgic quality. What inspired this song, and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?

“Cigarettes” had a super cool studio process being that I recorded that in Discord in front of a bunch of supporters, and they were able to see me curate this beautiful album cut. So, fun fact, that was one of my favs to record. What inspired the song is really hard to pinpoint because that song was a freestyle haha, and that's just what I had on my brain when I heard the beat. So while I love to be intentional, sometimes you just have to lean on your creative ability to just go on any mic and still be great.

You write, co-produce, and even direct your visuals. How does wearing so many creative hats help you bring your artistic vision to life?

It allows me to feel complete, and I never wanna feel like I’m not helping or doing something in my process. I live to be creative and share beautiful art, so if it’s a movie or a song, it deserves to be indulged in, and it deserves to execute. My purpose is to have a great community and to share with them art and stories and to love on each person that allows me to do that. So if that's my parents, my childhood friends, my supporters—it stays the same for me.

This album is described as a coming-of-age story. What’s the most important lesson you learned about yourself while creating it?

Be patient and love the process. I’m still learning that haha, and to never let someone change your mind. Do it how you see fit because you’re the one that's gonna have to live with it.

What’s next for you after this release? Are there any upcoming projects, visuals, or live performances we can look forward to?

I wanna drop another ALBUM that has a FILM along with it. My ideas have to be conceptualized and should be consumed in full. I create stories and moments in time, and I'm way past just putting out wav files for the hell of it. My brain is beautiful, and my ideas are her pretty twin sister haha. I’m a great storyteller, and that's what I wanna do. Create. Doing shows is gonna be cool, and I’m excited for it. Creating visuals I’m excited for too. But yea, praise, Me, myself wants to drop another album with a film.