Interview with HODJE
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
Creating music has been a side passion for me since I was about 15. If I wasn’t able to do it anymore, I think I would have to find another creative outlet—I do like interior design and graphic design, so maybe I would delve into one of those.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
I love spending time with friends and family, and I also enjoy going out into the world and meeting new people. When Chicago started to open up again post-2020, I signed up for classes, joined recreational sports teams, and tried to push myself out of my comfort zone to cultivate a more vibrant social life again. I find I am happier and more creative when I am around people, so I really try to prioritize that as much as I can.
How long have you been making music?
I started plunking out chords on the piano when I was 15. I never learned how to read sheet music, but I had a basic understanding of music theory from my experience singing in choirs. Once I figured out a few chord progressions, I started writing songs.
Where are you based and how did that influence your music?
I’m based in Chicago, which, in my experience, is a very energizing city. I love living here. I am biased, because my roots are here, but I think Midwestern people are some of the kindest around. It probably influences my music in the sense that I am happy living here, and when I am happy, I tend to be more creative.
Tell me about your most memorable shows
The most memorable show I can think of was playing in the Foundation Room at the House of Blues. It was so fun! So many friends and family came out which was really touching to me.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
I don’t know if I can pick a favorite. Most music venues, in my experience have a lot of character and history, so I don’t think I’d be able to choose. In my wildest dreams, I would love to play Red Rocks. I imagine most musicians fantasize about playing there.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Oh man, I think it would be incredible to open for AJR or Bleachers. If we are talking impossible pipedreams: opening for Florence + The Machine or Taylor Swift would be mind-blowing, but I don’t think I’m going to get there in this lifetime. A girl can dream, though.
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music?
I would encourage any new artist to become as self-sufficient as possible. I used to spend a lot of time looking for the right instrumentalist, the right producer, or the right sound engineer to help me complete a project—I was at will to a lot of other people’s schedules and visions. Sometimes those collaborations would end up being wonderful, but other times, they wouldn’t work out the way I hoped they would. I decided to start chipping away at those skills myself, and over the years it has allowed me to become much more self-reliant. Now, if I want to create a song, I can do it by myself from start to finish which has been very freeing for me.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Probably just not to worry so much. I think as we get older, we gain perspective and confidence from living through difficult scenarios, and then realizing we can handle more than we thought we could. So, it’s cliché, but I would just tell my younger self that everything is going to be okay.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
There is a song that I haven’t released yet, but plan to release this year, called ‘Take Me As I Am.’ I wrote it a few months ago and it means a lot to me because I feel like it is written from a place of both vulnerability and empowerment, which are two words that I didn’t always associate with each other.
What is your creative process like, and what inspires you to write your music?
My creative process is different for every song. A lot of the time, though, I will write a song on the piano and then record it in Logic. Once I have that backbone of the song flushed out, I’ll build up the production using my midi keyboard and instrumental samples.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Ideally, I would love for people to feel empowered when they hear my music. Particularly on this upcoming project which features ‘Make Me The Villain.’ I also just hope people feel less alone when they hear my songs, because I think that is what music is about: recognizing ourselves in other people’s stories and being reminded that we are not alone in our hardships.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
I have hopes but no definitive plans. For the first time, I feel pretty relaxed about where I am and where I’m heading, and am not really married to any particular outcome for my music career. I just want to keep making music and see what opportunities present themselves, and whatever happens, I will be okay.