An Interview With The Electronic-Pop Princess, Conway, Whose Dance Moves Are Often Compared to Mick Jagger!

Alternative pop singer-songwriter, Conway has arrived with her second Columbia EP, Shut Up! It has already been hailed as a unique and eclectic pop force with longer term prospects on the horizon.  Born in south St. Louis and then born again in Brooklyn, she is now currently coming into her own in LA.

Indeed, in Shut Up, Conway offers a solo debut reflective of a journey that has been a trip!! Learn all about her and that journey in the following All Access interview:

Can you remember the moment that you wanted to make be a singer?

I’ve been singing since I was a kid but the moment that made me want to be a singer was really the first time I realized I had a lot I needed to say….and that I felt I could only accurately convey it when I sang. Words were not enough by themselves. I realized that when I was singing I felt that I was expressing myself completely and fully. I couldn’t go back from there.

Lucky Magazine recently declared you one of the “coolest new musicians with seriously crush-worthy style”. What do you think of that description?

Umm…thank you? I’m never too fancy…so if that’s cool…then awesome. I can’t stand spending a lot of time getting ready.

Speaking of your style, where do you get your style/fashion inspiration from?

I generally dress to my mood…but sometimes I’m inspired by a 60’s Chanel, Breakfast At Tiffany’s type vibe….but I always mix it with something street sensible ..like slick black boots or fresh slip ons. I love mixing feminine and boyish stuff too. I like things to contrast each other…something new with something vintage etc. Also…like so many women…I am inspired by SHOES!!! I apologize.

I read that you put together the music for your Shut Up EP while you were on the road. What was that process like? In general, what is your songwriting process like?

I mixed the Shut Up EP both in the UK and the US which was really incredible. Mostly I realized that I was very affected by the different emotional vibes I felt in both places. Different things were coming to the surface…and that was the best case for song writing for me. My process is very personal and life experience driven. I write things down wherever I go, stack them up and then go into the studio to collaborate. I pull a bit from all of my books and then write things on the spot to complete the idea. I like to start very minimally…drums and a bass…or a beat and a couple chords. Then I write the melody and lyrics. When I’m satisfied…we build the song up from there.

When can we expect your full-length album to be released? And are the songs on it similar to what we’ve heard on your EP?

We’re looking at 2015 for the album. The songs will be similar in that they are unique and written with a strong intention and deliberate voice….but very diverse. I don’t want to write the same song 20 times.

Let’s talk about your single, “Shut Up”. What’s the inspiration behind that song?

“Shut Up” really should be billed as ‘one’ of the singles…maybe even the second after “Big Talk”. With “Shut Up” I wanted to create something fun, irreverent and truthful. I wrote a chorus a 5 year old could sing because that’s sometimes how we all feel when we are just over it!! …and want desperately to “Feel Good”. It’s like Come On!! The verses tell the story of frustration I feel that sometimes I can never do enough, be enough, play ball enough to succeed without someone judging it relentlessly or moving the goal posts as soon as I get near them.

Your dance moves have been compared to those of Mick Jagger! How does that feel?

Hilarious….and cool….I think.

What was it like supporting Ellie Goulding on tour? Did you learn a lot from her?

Ellie is incredibly talented. Every night she absolutely killed it. Supporting her was great because her fans embraced us and have stayed with me since. I never expected that. As an opener you just hope you don’t get booed off stage. But her fans loved us and I think it gave us all more confidence as a band. We really came together. I learned….keep working hard, be nice and make sure you have good people around you. On the road and off. You will need them.

You’ve also supported St. Lucia and opened for The Fratellis. What were those tours/shows like?

Both tours were awesome…but St. Lucia really sticks in my mind because their fans are just full of energy and love to dance!!! It was a great billing because our show is so high energy too. We’d get people up and moving and then St. Lucia would come out and knock them out! They are the sweetest people as well! We loved touring with them.

More times than not, influences tend to bleed through. What bands or singers have consistently inspired you and your music?

David Byrne, Bjork, The Pixies, The Strokes and R&B in general.

Living or dead, what musician or musicians would you love to work with and why?

Julian Casablancas because I am absolutely in awe of his music and the lyrics are so incredibly smart and sarcastic. He hits me in a very personal and direct way. I think I could learn a lot from him.

Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with you (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?

Aaaack…so many! One of my favorites though was recently. It was simply holding hands with someone in the audience while I was on stage…and sort of dancing with her while I was singing…like we’d known each other for years. We both had the biggest smiles…and nothing else mattered in that moment.

Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?

Yes. I want them to know I mean it, I live it and am honored that they listen.