Autmn it's great to have you back on Nefarious Supply, the last time we talked you had just released your newest project Run2U, so since that time how have you been, and what's new?
Thank you so much for having me back, I really appreciate the opportunity. I have been really busy but good! I have just released my second EP “Safehouse.” This project was executively produced by LxndxnAve, with co-producers DV$TPH, B4H (Better4herr) and Downsilence.
Since we last caught up what are some things you have learned about yourself, the process of making music, and the overall music industry?
I feel I have grown so much as a person since my last release. I don’t feel as pressured as I used to in terms of getting my music out there. I am of the view now that the right people who need to hear my music will find me. I can just be myself and attract what is meant for me. My music process is also way more relaxed, as much as I still push myself to grow as an artist, I feel I am embracing the journey and process way more. I am not as fixated on things being a certain way and I trust that if something doesn’t work out the way I want or envision, it means there’s something better.
It’s a way better place for me to be in mentally. In terms of the music industry, it’s definitely been eye opening in terms of the highs and lows. I have learnt a lot by educating myself, I still have a lot to learn though I am more comfortable with setting my boundaries when I need to and only accepting opportunities that align with me. I have also been mentoring other artists and producers and helping them on their individual journey with the knowledge I have learned up until now, so that’s been really rewarding for me.
What artists and albums have been in heavy rotation, and what is your favorite project of 2021 so far?
At the moment I am loving Dylan Sinclair and Vague Detail. I feel they are both going to be huge inspirations for me heading into making my next project.
So let's get into your newest project Safehouse if Run2U was an introduction to you Safehouse feels like an even deeper dive into your expression as an artist. So just walk us through this project including what inspired it, the inspiration behind each song, and how it differs from Run2U?
Yes Safehouse is definitely a deeper dive, I had thought of the concept just after I released Run2u and the majority of it was actually done at the end of 2020. I was originally planning to release it then but delayed it because I felt like it was going to be a full length album to be released at the end of 2021. However, about a month ago I decided that the project was done because nothing further was coming out that felt cohesive with this group of records. It needed to come out for me to then move onto the next chapter which will be the next EP and I probably wouldn’t have put it out if I sat on it any longer. I was actually inspired a lot by being in lockdown, in Australia we were in lockdown for about six months on and off. Because of this I was forced to make my house a sanctuary and it really felt like a “Safehouse.”
I had to face myself during this time and deal with a lot of my own triggers and so these were all the records that came out while I was going through this. I feel the production and mixing improved since Run2u, this time around we (LxndxnAve and I) had better equipment and were able to complete most of the home studio. I feel like because I worked on myself more as a person and having grown more into myself and my voice, you can hear it that in the delivery it’s more confident in comparison to Run2u. The whole project was executively produced by LxndxnAve again and he also co-wrote with me. A lot of the time I write what comes to me in the moment when I hear the beat, I don’t usually plan what I am going to write about that’s never worked for me. I just go off feeling and trust that if it’s meant to come out it’s meant to be on the project. I often feel the process of creating a project is cycling through the “bad” records until you make the ones that “hit.”
Intro – The snippets in the intro are actually unfinished records from between the period of recording Run2u and Safehouse. It was LxndxnAve’s idea to emulate the car scene and I was so excited when he did this because I feel my music is perfect for late night drives (plus I also love to drive it’s where I get a lot of my ideas).
Right Now – Co-produced by DV$TPH. I actually wrote that record in one go, I was feeling down that day and disappointed in a lot of people so that was a collective type release for me. It almost didn’t make the project because I wasn’t sure about it to be honest I was just venting, but I am glad LxndxnAve pushed for it because a lot of people seem to resonate with it.
Everytime – This record was completed in sections, LxndxnAve wrote the first few lines and I came back in a few times when I felt the urge to finish it naturally. I feel like beat just moved me and so that’s literally what came out.
Needs – Co-produced by B4H. The beat on this record really inspired me, it’s not a usual R&B beat it’s more Drill/R&B so it put me in the space to deliver what came through when I heard it. LxndxnAve really helped me with the cadence and being able to finish it because he started the record.
Safehouse – I told LxndxnAve that I wanted to call this project Safehouse and so he had the idea for me to have a song called that. I remember he played the melody when we were just relaxing and I soon as I heard it the first verse came to me. I felt like I was floating when I heard it, it came so easy. He really helped with putting the hook together and I came back and wrote the second verse a few days later. All of the background vocals were recorded later on, I wanted to experiment with seeing what I could add and have them more in the front to compliment the main vocal and this isn’t something I usually do.
I wish – Co-produced by Downsilence. For this record I literally got on the mic and freestyled the hook in one take, and it ended up being the one we used. I had no idea what I was talking about but that’s what the beat made me do. This record felt so unorthodox I had never heard a beat like that and it just felt right, it took me a few sessions to complete it. That song to me is like I am putting out my manifestations when I am saying “I wish.”
Talk to you – I heard the melody and I wrote the hook pretty quick. It was just something I heard in my head and it was just repeating. LxndxnAve initially didn’t see my vision but I am glad I pushed for it because he was able to help me finish writing it.
Breaking Down (Outro) – LxndxnAve actually wrote the lyrics of this record he was repeating it randomly, I remember joking around asking what he was on about. I remember just zoning out to it and just letting my voice go where it needed to go. He played the keyboard at the end and was in such flow, I feel like he really tapped into something higher because he doesn’t usually play keyboard fluently. I really enjoyed the process of making this one and it tied together so perfectly with having the car emulation and finishing off the project.
Similar to the previous project you worked with LxndxnAve & DV$TPH. How did the making of this project differ from Run2U, and what was your favorite part about putting it together?
When Run2u was created a lot of those records were completed in one recording session because the feeling and inspiration was there. With Safehouse, a lot of the records were actually completed in sections. Like Run2u, I wanted to maintain that organic feeling when recording and not just pushing the records out for the sake of it. I didn’t want to rush that process if it wasn’t coming to me naturally in that moment or if time didn’t allow. It gave me a better experience coming back to them because I was able to absorb half of the song then the second part would come to me later. My favorite part was putting the intro and outro together, I felt it tied all of the records together to really tell the story and take people on that journey I wanted them to experience.
So what’s next for you, where do you want to be by the end of 2021, who do you want to work with, and what is your number one goal?
My number one goal is probably putting this third EP together. I also want to mentor more artists. I am currently building a small community that is a “Safehouse” for everyone to support each other. What has helped me the most is having genuine people around me, and I feel it’s so necessary for creatives as it’s a long and lonely journey at times. I would love to work with Jayla Darden and have other producers work with myself and LxndxnAve for the next project.
Any last words?
Thank you again for having me again! I really appreciate your ongoing support to myself and all the independent artists around the world.
Big shout out to Autmn Rains for interviewing with Nefarious Supply, be sure to check out her newest project Safehouse EP and if you want to stay up to date with her and her music you can find her on Instagram, Souncloud, and Twitter.