What got me into music was my dad. Most of my family are musicians. When I was five or six, he would sit my brother and me down on Thursday nights while my mom was away and play us a song. Then he’d ask us how it made us feel and talk with us about the deeper meaning behind it.

After graduating high school—where I spent most of my time in choirs—I made the decision to follow what made me happiest and helped me feel most like myself. I went through a period of heavy depression after high school and didn’t think it was feasible to pursue music. I’ve always struggled with mental health, and music is the reason I’m here today. It’s why I’m alive.

My band is called The Redliners, a blues group I’m privileged to be part of, alongside some incredibly experienced blues musicians.

What I believe to be true: It’s the only language I’ve ever spoken where I know I’m heard. No subtitles, no translations—just emotion.