Exclusive Interview with Pop Singer RZMRY
RZMRY is a talented songwriter who pens pop beats with a feminist twist. Her debut EP GLD is perfect for summer. It’s infectious, fresh and fun. I recently spoke to RZMRY about her debut EP which can be purchased on amazon, iTunes, and other outlets. Check out her Twitter for the latest information.
How long have you been writing music?
I have been writing music for about thirteen years. It sounds like I was a highly ambitious nine-year-old, but the truth is that I thought all of the artists I listened to wrote their own songs. No one told me they did, I just assumed. Back then I truly thought Brit Brit’s loneliness was killing her and she needed to confess that she still believed. I have since learned that’s not the case, but in hindsight, my ignorance led to bliss; it is the reason I am a strong writer and it is the reason I am relatable as an artist. I doubt I love performing enough to continue doing it without any authenticity behind the words; authenticity is necessary for me.
Did you study? Do you continue to?
Yes. And Dear Lord, no. (laughs). As a first generation American, I am the first in my family to receive a college diploma and it’s a feat I am proud of, but I don’t intend to continue the schooling process. I prefer to learn on my own terms. I think it is important to educate ourselves as much as we can especially since there are so many people, girls especially, without the opportunity to. I love reading and studying about a variety of things that interest me such as animal rights, fashion, feminism, health and wellness and pop culture. It is an eclectic variety, but it’s the stuff I feel passionately about and are all things I never got to learn about in a normal academic setting.
Who are some of your influences?
Katy Perry, Marina & the Diamonds and Kate Nash. They have impacted me not just as a musician, but as a person, each in different and unique ways that I am incredibly grateful for.
How did GLD come about?
GLD is a product of deciding to own my personal and professional afflictions and rise above them. Listening to it now, it feels like a declaration I didn’t know needed making until it was already made. It is confidence that lacks self-preservation but demands self-respect. And how it came about was a complete and total accident. I sat down and attempted to write, but I kept scrapping every lyric and melody I wrote. At the end of the day, I wrote one in New York, one on a plane, one in the car to the studio and one in the studio. They’re in that order on the EP too. GLD was inspired by New York and produced in LA and ended up being a complete documentation of my experiences up until this point.
How long does it typically take for you to record an EP?
How long the recording process takes depends entirely upon who I am working with and whether or not they’re picking up what I’m putting down. (laughs). For GLD specifically, I vibed with my producer so well and never second guessed our collaborative efforts; it was done in eight hours. I swear it felt longer.
Do you have any plans to perform live?
Plans are in motion. My highlight reel of past performances includes jumping off of stages that I shouldn’t and being told “you’re bleeding” after a show where I climbed up a giant amp— so it’s going to be interesting and SO fun. I actually sing live too, so it’s a win win win win win situation for everyone involved.
How did you come up with the cool spelling of your name RZMRY?
For starters, my actual name is spelled “Rozmary” (thanks, Mom & Dad). In the studio my producer and I thought GLD looked rad, so the decision to lose the “o” was immediate. Upon further thought, I couldn’t get over how cool my name looked without vowels. I told my manager, “I’d be more likely to listen to myself if I was RZMRY then if I was ROZMARY,” and here we are. From here on out, though, I’m going to tell people, “This is what happens when you can’t afford a vowel” and call it a day.
What are some of the things that inspire you when you’re writing a song?
I think a list of what does NOT inspire me to write a song would be shorter. (laughs). It could be a passage in a book, a conversation next to me on the subway, a thought I had at two am, a story someone told me, words that sound nice together, and of course my own personal experiences. Sometimes it’ll come from listening to my old voice memos or notes on my phone. I always remember the exact moment they’re from too.
Any plans to release more music?
I have some more aspirations to fulfill with GLD, for example visually, but I am always three steps ahead of myself. I am always writing and I know what my next release will sound like, but as ACDC said, It’s A Long Way To The Top.
Advice to aspiring musicians?
“Don’t stop get it get it put a little love in it.” Seriously. Don’t stop. Get it. Put love in it. That’s all.