JM: Did you find any of your friendships change in the same way you mentioned your family has changed since you’ve started this process?
AR: I have a pretty solid group of friends that have been there since the beginning. Definitely people came out after my song got on the radio, and people who I went to school with suddenly wanted to be friends with me. I had my close groups of friends thankfully and they’ve been very supportive through all of this. They’re very understanding.
JM: Who would you love to collaborate with, either in writing or performing?
AR: I love Lady Gaga and Nikki Minaj so if I could collaborate or write with them I’d be heaven.
JM: I’m not a songwriter, but I can guess it’s a very personal process. Was there a time when you wrote something that was hard to share or release for everyone to hear?
AR: Actually the song “Burned” on the album with just me and my guitar is a very personal song that I wrote. I just wrote it sitting in my bedroom alone. I was crying my eyes out when I wrote it. It’s very weird to release it and have other people listen to it. I feel like they’re reading my diary. But it’s amazing because people actually relate to it so I’m very happy that an experience that wasn’t very good for me can help people find strength and help them through whatever they’re going through. The song appeals to everyone; I’ve had comments from 45-year-old women that relate to it and then comments from 11-year-old girls who can relate to it, you know?
JM: Has the boy who inspired “Burned” said anything to you about it?
AR: He hasn’t said anything but I know that he knows it’s about him. He’s the only person I was talking to during the whole album writing process. So he’s fully aware they’re about him! And then if didn’t he read the album booklet and see where I thanked him for being an inspiration, I don’t know what else will make him clue in on that.
JM: Do you have a favourite track on the album?
AR: I think my favourite slow song is “Burned” and my favourite fast song would be “XO”. I can’t decide on an ultimate favourite!
JM: Is there a song that you love performing and try to include on all your set lists?
AR: I love performing “Go”. I don’t know why it’s just when I perform that song it comes very easily to me.
JM: I know you don’t have a lot of time off right now, but when you do finally get a break what could we find you doing?
AR: I like to read a lot so you could probably find me in my bedroom reading a book. Or, well, I don’t really go out very much. I had a free day and I redecorated my bedroom while all my friends were out at the beach.
JM: If you weren’t pursuing music straight out of school what do you think you’d be doing?
AR: I love little kids so I’d probably be a grade 4 or 5 teacher and go to school for that.
JM: What can your fans look forward to hearing/seeing from you in the next few months?
AR: I’ve been doing a lot of writing for other artists right now. Like today I was in the studio, I just co- wrote a song for Mia Martina. So there are a couple songs coming out soon that I co-wrote. For myself, I’ll be performing, I’ve got some touring and festival shows this summer. Plus my new video will be coming out in July for “The Game”.
Not many 18-year-olds can boast a record deal, a MuchMusic Video Award nomination, and a modern interpretation of a Heart song that is soaring up the Canadian pop radio charts. Fortunately Brampton, Ontario native (by way of Edmonton, Alberta) Alyssa Reid can, and she can even add the recent release of her debut album, The Game, to her list of accomplishments. The album is chocked full of pop/dance tracks, all written or co-written by the young self-taught musician and features the intimately mesmerizing “Burned” and her latest single “The Game”. Live in Limbo had a chance to chat with Alyssa about the record, songwriting, and what’s next for the burgeoning pop star.
Jaimie Milburn (JM):The Game came out about a week ago now, and I’m wondering what your experience has been like in the weeks leading up to its release and now a week after its release?
Alyssa Reid (AR): It’s been very busy; we’ve been writing the album for the past year and in the last two weeks we were finishing all the last minute touches and we re-recorded a few of the tracks. Then as soon as the recording was done the album was off to get mastered and it was a really intense waiting period. I’m very excited now that it’s finally out and people are commenting about it online and I’ve been reading reviews. It’s amazing to see after all the work we’ve put into the album how people are reacting to it.
JM: You were signed with Wax Records while still in high school, so what was it like trying to balance the worlds of being a teenager and being an artist?
AR: It was pretty hectic, especially because my teachers didn’t really understand what I was doing. I’d go on tour and I’d be away for shows and I’d come back and ask them for extra work to catch up and they weren’t really understanding and allow me to make up for what I missed. It was difficult. I finally finished though! I should have graduated earlier but I got so caught up in touring and everything that I actually had to go back another year.
JM: How does the songwriting process work for you?
AR: It really depends. Here’s a great example – I was at a barbeque a few weeks ago and I was sitting there eating dinner with everyone and I got an idea for a song so I ran upstairs to sit at the piano and just pounded it out. Other times it will take a few days, or I’ll have to start and stop and come back it a week later.
JM: What inspires you?
AR: It’s a lot of different things. Of course all my relationship songs are from a boy, particularly from the same stupid boy. There’s another song on the album that was written about a member of my family and how people in my life have changed along with this whole music thing, and how my family is adapting to it.
The interview continues after the page jump!
Not many 18-year-olds can boast a record deal, a MuchMusic Video Award nomination, and a modern interpretation of a Heart song that is soaring up the Canadian pop radio charts. Fortunately Brampton, Ontario native (by way of Edmonton, Alberta) Alyssa Reid can, and she can even add the recent release of her debut album, The Game, to her list of accomplishments. The album is chocked full of pop/dance tracks, all written or co-written by the young self-taught musician and features the intimately mesmerizing “Burned” and her latest single “The Game”. Live in Limbo had a chance to chat with Alyssa about the record, songwriting, and what’s next for the burgeoning pop star.
Jaimie Milburn (JM):The Game came out about a week ago now, and I’m wondering what your experience has been like in the weeks leading up to its release and now a week after its release?
Alyssa Reid (AR): It’s been very busy; we’ve been writing the album for the past year and in the last two weeks we were finishing all the last minute touches and we re-recorded a few of the tracks. Then as soon as the recording was done the album was off to get mastered and it was a really intense waiting period. I’m very excited now that it’s finally out and people are commenting about it online and I’ve been reading reviews. It’s amazing to see after all the work we’ve put into the album how people are reacting to it.
JM: You were signed with Wax Records while still in high school, so what was it like trying to balance the worlds of being a teenager and being an artist?
AR: It was pretty hectic, especially because my teachers didn’t really understand what I was doing. I’d go on tour and I’d be away for shows and I’d come back and ask them for extra work to catch up and they weren’t really understanding and allow me to make up for what I missed. It was difficult. I finally finished though! I should have graduated earlier but I got so caught up in touring and everything that I actually had to go back another year.
JM: How does the songwriting process work for you?
AR: It really depends. Here’s a great example – I was at a barbeque a few weeks ago and I was sitting there eating dinner with everyone and I got an idea for a song so I ran upstairs to sit at the piano and just pounded it out. Other times it will take a few days, or I’ll have to start and stop and come back it a week later.
JM: What inspires you?
AR: It’s a lot of different things. Of course all my relationship songs are from a boy, particularly from the same stupid boy. There’s another song on the album that was written about a member of my family and how people in my life have changed along with this whole music thing, and how my family is adapting to it.
The interview continues after the page jump!
Not many 18-year-olds can boast a record deal, a MuchMusic Video Award nomination, and a modern interpretation of a Heart song that is soaring up the Canadian pop radio charts. Fortunately Brampton, Ontario native (by way of Edmonton, Alberta) Alyssa Reid can, and she can even add the recent release of her debut album, The Game, to her list of accomplishments. The album is chocked full of pop/dance tracks, all written or co-written by the young self-taught musician and features the intimately mesmerizing “Burned” and her latest single “The Game”. Live in Limbo had a chance to chat with Alyssa about the record, songwriting, and what’s next for the burgeoning pop star.
Jaimie Milburn (JM):The Game came out about a week ago now, and I’m wondering what your experience has been like in the weeks leading up to its release and now a week after its release?
Alyssa Reid (AR): It’s been very busy; we’ve been writing the album for the past year and in the last two weeks we were finishing all the last minute touches and we re-recorded a few of the tracks. Then as soon as the recording was done the album was off to get mastered and it was a really intense waiting period. I’m very excited now that it’s finally out and people are commenting about it online and I’ve been reading reviews. It’s amazing to see after all the work we’ve put into the album how people are reacting to it.
JM: You were signed with Wax Records while still in high school, so what was it like trying to balance the worlds of being a teenager and being an artist?
AR: It was pretty hectic, especially because my teachers didn’t really understand what I was doing. I’d go on tour and I’d be away for shows and I’d come back and ask them for extra work to catch up and they weren’t really understanding and allow me to make up for what I missed. It was difficult. I finally finished though! I should have graduated earlier but I got so caught up in touring and everything that I actually had to go back another year.
JM: How does the songwriting process work for you?
AR: It really depends. Here’s a great example – I was at a barbeque a few weeks ago and I was sitting there eating dinner with everyone and I got an idea for a song so I ran upstairs to sit at the piano and just pounded it out. Other times it will take a few days, or I’ll have to start and stop and come back it a week later.
JM: What inspires you?
AR: It’s a lot of different things. Of course all my relationship songs are from a boy, particularly from the same stupid boy. There’s another song on the album that was written about a member of my family and how people in my life have changed along with this whole music thing, and how my family is adapting to it.
The interview continues after the page jump!
Not many 18-year-olds can boast a record deal, a MuchMusic Video Award nomination, and a modern interpretation of a Heart song that is soaring up the Canadian pop radio charts. Fortunately Brampton, Ontario native (by way of Edmonton, Alberta) Alyssa Reid can, and she can even add the recent release of her debut album, The Game, to her list of accomplishments. The album is chocked full of pop/dance tracks, all written or co-written by the young self-taught musician and features the intimately mesmerizing “Burned” and her latest single “The Game”. Live in Limbo had a chance to chat with Alyssa about the record, songwriting, and what’s next for the burgeoning pop star.
Jaimie Milburn (JM):The Game came out about a week ago now, and I’m wondering what your experience has been like in the weeks leading up to its release and now a week after its release?
Alyssa Reid (AR): It’s been very busy; we’ve been writing the album for the past year and in the last two weeks we were finishing all the last minute touches and we re-recorded a few of the tracks. Then as soon as the recording was done the album was off to get mastered and it was a really intense waiting period. I’m very excited now that it’s finally out and people are commenting about it online and I’ve been reading reviews. It’s amazing to see after all the work we’ve put into the album how people are reacting to it.
JM: You were signed with Wax Records while still in high school, so what was it like trying to balance the worlds of being a teenager and being an artist?
AR: It was pretty hectic, especially because my teachers didn’t really understand what I was doing. I’d go on tour and I’d be away for shows and I’d come back and ask them for extra work to catch up and they weren’t really understanding and allow me to make up for what I missed. It was difficult. I finally finished though! I should have graduated earlier but I got so caught up in touring and everything that I actually had to go back another year.
JM: How does the songwriting process work for you?
AR: It really depends. Here’s a great example – I was at a barbeque a few weeks ago and I was sitting there eating dinner with everyone and I got an idea for a song so I ran upstairs to sit at the piano and just pounded it out. Other times it will take a few days, or I’ll have to start and stop and come back it a week later.
JM: What inspires you?
AR: It’s a lot of different things. Of course all my relationship songs are from a boy, particularly from the same stupid boy. There’s another song on the album that was written about a member of my family and how people in my life have changed along with this whole music thing, and how my family is adapting to it.
Chief Editor & Founder of Live in Limbo. Host & Producer of the Capsule Podcast. Sean is an award-winning photographer and Nikon Professional Services member. His work has appeared on the CBC, Pitchfork, and MUCH. He is an Academy Delegate at the JUNOs (CARAS) and has been involved in the Toronto music scene since 2005. He is also an endurance and CrossFit athlete. You should follow him on Twitter @SeanChin.
