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i used to be a child actor, which was my dream at the time, and an incredible experience. but to me, that life represents who i used to be: whatever other people expected me to be (happy, optimistic, mature, responsible, caring). and though i am all of those things, i learned i am allowed to be whatever i wanna be, and i shouldn't feel pressured to be a certain way or feel a certain way to make other people comfortable, especially if it isn't authentic. that's where music comes into play. writing songs became a coping mechanism for me, a way to tell my story instead of other peoples, a means of authentic self-expression, a way out of all the boxes i felt so trapped in. and after Jesus saved me, i realized i can do something unique with my faith, write secular music and use that as a means to talk about God in a new way, tear down toxic Christian stereotypes, and succeed in an industry who's system wasn't designed for me.