April 9, 2018
LA native Jordan Cantor, known to the world as SOMME, has come to the music scene with several artistic talents up her sleeve, drawing eyes and anticipation for her debut self-titled EP due out May 4th.
The multi-instrumentalist has been working on SOMME since 2017, with songs such as “Tell Me” and “Long Time” that help show her as a personable and personal musician.
Inspired by Lorde and Robyn, Cantor brings the drive many modern musicians do not carry alongside her own self-produced music. With under a month until SOMME is released, there is a lot of anticipation for an artist that taps into what it means it be human.
Contributor Ryan Miller had a chance to chat with Cantor regarding her upcoming EP as well as her involvement in the LGBTQ+ community.
–
Ryan Miller: With your debut self-titled EP coming out in May, what do you hope listeners learn about you through your new releases?
SOMME: Because this is my first time releasing a body of work I kind of have a blank slate with listeners which is really cool. They won’t really be listening because they are expecting a certain sound or message, they’ll be listening because they’re curious what I’m about. I produced every song on this EP so I hope listeners connect to not only the lyrics but also the production. I’ve been super inspired by a lot of female producers lately as well as totally outraged at how little visibility we have in the industry so I definitely hope people listen to the production.
RM: What song from the upcoming EP are you most excited for listeners to hear and why?
SOMME: I’m pretty stoked for the song “Tell Me” to come out. It’s a really personal song lyrically and the production feels almost cinematic. I feel like that song is an experience to listen to.
RM: Your single “Long Time” has such an empowering and beautiful visual. What do you hope viewers take away from the gender-fluid imagery, as well as messages of self-love?
SOMME: The director of the video, Lindsey Byrnes, put it really well: “She is him, he is her, they are her, him are they, and they are them.” We are all human.
RM: As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, how do you hope your music makes an impact with those coming to terms with personal acceptance, as well as representation in the media?
SOMME: I just hope anyone struggling to accept themselves can find comfort in seeing other members of the LGBTQ+ community being represented and celebrated in pop culture. I know that helped me a lot.
RM: How have your inspirations, such as Lorde and Fleetwood Mac, impacted your sound?
SOMME: I grew up in Southern California where people mostly were listening to punk rock. I thought pop music was super lame until about age 14 when I started listening to artists like Robyn, Sia, and Lorde. They showed me that pop music can be alternative and cool and now I’m absolutely obsessed with pop.
RM: Your latest release, “Ordinary Fools,” definitely packs an emotional punch. Could you elaborate on the songwriting process behind it and how it came to be?
SOMME: I started writing Ordinary Fools on a train in upstate New York when I was a little heartbroken. The leaves were changing and it was super beautiful. I sort of had a realization that the girl I was pursuing was wasting my time and from that Ordinary Fools was born.
RM: What artists are you listening to right now? Are there any upcoming releases you’re looking forward to?
SOMME: I’ve been listening to the new Kacey Musgraves record on repeat for days now. The songwriting is so beautiful. I’ve also been really into Lizzo and BAUM lately.
RM: Do you have any plans to take your new music on the road?
Hopefully soon. I’m just focused on getting this EP out into the world and excited to see what follows!
SOMME comes out May 4 on all major distributors. Watch the video for “Long Time” below!
*Photo by Ashley Osborn
No Comment
