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New Jersey based alternative-pop singer Kirsten Izer is contemplating it all, as she gears up for the release of her debut EP ‘What If This Is It?’ Her forthcoming project is set to drop on September 25, 2015. Every track on the EP is written, performed and produced by the DIY singer/songwriter. GroundSounds recently caught up with Kirsten to talk about her latest project, musical inspirations and more, check out the exclusive interview below.
For those just discovering your music can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started as a singer/songwriter?
I began by teaching myself how to play “Vera” by Pink Floyd on the guitar and then I started posting videos of me singing on YouTube when I was 11 or 12 years old. After learning a lot of covers, they began evolving into original songs, which is when I realized singing/songwriting was something I was passionate about. Ever since then, I’ve been putting all of my focus on music.
What was it like growing up in New Jersey? What is one thing every visitor should see or do?
Growing up in New Jersey was really good. I was fortunate enough to participate in a fine and performing arts program in high school, so I had the opportunity to collaborate with a lot of great artists. For visitors, I recommend Asbury Park. It’s a really great scene to be in, especially for music, and the boardwalk always has interesting things going on. I spend a lot of my time over there.
Can you tell us about working on your forthcoming debut EP What If This Is It?
The making of my debut EP was a bit of a nightmare, to be honest! I’ve had these songs for a year but didn’t do anything with them because I was never totally satisfied. Being a perfectionist basically crippled me. But then I realized how important it is to get myself out there, so I stopped second-guessing and just finished it. And it was the greatest feeling ever.
What made you decide on the EP name What If This Is It?
Going back to my last answer, making this EP drove me absolutely insane! There are 3 particular tracks on the record that are all about self-doubt and feeling like a failure even though I’m still so young. One day, I was sitting outside, and all of a sudden, What If This Is It? popped in my head and I was like, “Holy shit, that’s it.” There was no doubt in my mind. I texted the idea to my best friend and she was in love with it as well. I like the idea of having it be a question so it can really make people think about what I’m asking them. It also goes along with the loose theme of uncertainty and insecurity and it conveys a lot of anxiety—which perfectly describes how I feel about this record.
What musicians/bands are you currently listening to?
Too many bands to name! I’m constantly looking for new music but the top 3 I’ve been listening to the most lately are Tame Impala, Sufjan Stevens and Foals.
Can you tell us about the writing and creative process involved with your first single “Burning Out?”
“Burning Out” was when I was working at a music PR firm and I was going through a darker time in my life last year. I was only 18 years old and the full-time job was so stressful. I’d have insane amounts of work to do for other artists and I was always worrying because I felt like I was in it alone and I wasn’t putting any time into my own music. I sat down one day after work and just poured all of my feelings into the song and played the progression on an acoustic guitar. When I went to go record it, I wanted to keep it very guitar-driven but dreamier and edgier, to make it sound as though I was kind of drifting away, into another part of my mind and hiding from the things that were pressuring me.
Can you tell us a little bit about your love for comedy?
My older brother has been an active member at The Upright Citizens Brigrade for a few years now. One day he asked me to practice a scene with him and then he told me I should try taking classes myself since I seemed to have potential! So merely out of curiosity, I enrolled in an improvisation class and I absolutely adored it. I think improvising is a great life skill to have in general—it was a fantastic learning experience. I discovered I was really into comedic acting so who knows, maybe I can incorporate that into a show or a video! Ha ha.
What was the inspiration for your track “Wrapped In Gold?”
“Wrapped In Gold” ties in with “Burning Out” and is also about the stress I felt when I wasn’t working for myself. When I sing the chorus, “You’re trapping me in a box when I want to be wrapped in gold,” I’m referring to the obstacles that were holding me back, when I just wanted to break out and do my own thing. I felt like I was stuck in a cage and knew exactly what I wanted to do, but something was getting in my way and I needed to break through it. The track is about feeling stronger and empowering yourself and saying, “No, you want me to be stuck here, but I know what I want and I’m going to go for it.”
After the EP release, what’s next for Kirsten Izer, what can fans look forward to?
I’m really looking forward to play some shows in support of my EP in the fall. I’m currently in the process of putting together a backing band so that the recorded songs sound even better live. I’m looking to do some shows in NJ/NY but then also branch out to the west coast. I’m going to continue releasing new music and videos as well!
Stay in touch with Kirsten Izer: FACEBOOK | SOUNDCLOUD
