Photo by Kelly Mason
Introduce yourself, what your name?
Hi! I’m SUMif
What is your genre of music?
electropop-dancey music
Give us a little bio about yourself
I’m originally from LA, but after studying music at NYU I moved to Nashville to cut my teeth in songwriter’s mecca… I learned so much there, wrote a ton of country songs, and eventually moved back to CA, landing in San Francisco. In SF I created SUMif – I learned the basic bare bones of production and put my acoustic guitar down in exchange for midi controllers. Fast forward three years later and I’ve released 20 songs, played 20+ shows, and opened for some of my favorite artists.
What made you start making music?
My parents took me to see Sheryl Crow and Michelle Branch when I was 12 – I had been playing guitar before then, but that show was a turning point for me – I remember vividly thinking, “THAT, that’s what I want to do”
Tell us more about your single ‘Holding On’?
Holding On rounds out the Kinda Real EP – a retelling of a relationship from start to finish. Holding On is about moving on, but taking with you the things you learned or realized from a relationship. Even though you and I weren’t mean to be for many reasons, I know that it can feel like this, and I won’t settle for less than this feeling.
Describe the track in two words.
fun-dancey
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote this one with Dylan Emmet – he lives across the country, so we do all our writing over video conference calls. He generally starts with a chord progression and then we both jam on a melody until we lock in something we’re happy with – then we move onto lyrics and production ideas.
Your new EP ‘Kinda Real’ drops real soon! Tell us when that will be and what to expect from it.
Last summer I met someone who opened my eyes and truly captivated me in a totally new way. This EP the entire story. My journey through it from start to finish, from wonder to wanting to falling to feeling to letting go and learning. I feel like she was exactly who I was meant to meet at exactly that time… I discovered new things about myself and took with me a new understanding of what I value. I’ll be forever grateful for the experience. I decided on these songs for the EP as each one is a snapshot of feeling, to take the listener on the journey with me. For me, being able to release these songs as an EP is like taking the whole story and tying it up with a nice little bow and shipping it off into the universe.
Describe each track in two words.
Know You – lustful, excited
Obvious – understanding, knowing
Undone – desperate, confusion
Holding On – confident, hopeful
Who did you work with on the EP?
I worked with Dylan Emmet, Johannes Burger, Rahi Kumar, and Micah Jasper.
Listen to the Album right here;
https://open.spotify.com/album/2XhaiIs6CXRkl4gOqT4LW9?si=9Fhhb6vLR7aquPYQ3vs5Ig
Do you have any shows coming up or a tour in planning? If so, where will you be heading?
nothing booked as of right now.
What else can we expect in 2019?
Much more music – I’ve been in LA writing nonstop for the last couple of months and am looking forward to all of the future releases.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists and would you be up for collaborations?
I don’t have any collabs coming up, but am open to the idea, always open
Do you play any instruments?
guitar, bass, and can get by on the piano/keyboard, drums, ukulele… I took fiddle lessons when I was living in Nashville.
Who are your influences?
currently, all Scandinavian pop… Dagny, Sigrid, Leon, Alma, Anna of the North, MØ, Tove Lo, Tove Styrke … all my queens.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
When I hear a song that makes me want to move, or am feeling motivated by person stories – something me or someone close to me is going through that makes for an interesting story to tell.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Playing festivals around the world.
You are also the co founder of wayOUT. Could you tell us more about it?
Yes! I am so proud to be a part of a non-profit that in our first two years has raised over $300k for LGBTQ+ youth across America, mostly focused on providing housing and live saving services for homeless youth. We have big expansion plans and will be throwing events to raise money for new orgs in SF, NY, and LA this year.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
When I’m not doing music I love traveling, exploring new pleaces with friends, and riding my bike up hills or on the beach.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Follow your hear with an eye on reality and you’ll always be happy… from my mom 🙂
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
As an artist and as a human – be yourself, and be unapologetically you.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“Visualize this thing you want. See it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin.” ― Robert Collier
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
The view of San Francisco from the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge – a lookout point called Battery Spencer, on a clear day, is the most magnificent thing.
You’re coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first?
2/ Who do you see first?
3/What do you eat first?
I’ve yet to go on tour… sooo tbd…
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Glitter, glitter, glitter, glitter, glitter. can’t forget the glitter.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
@sumifmusic on all platforms or facebook.com/sumifmusic
