THIRTEEN: When did you first start creating music? Is this new to you or did you grow up in music?

EO: I grew up in a musical family. My Dad played music in college and kept a grand piano and an acoustic guitar in our living room, so I definitely credit the beginning of my love for music to him. My younger and older brother are both self-taught pianists and guitarists, and they can master pretty much any instrument they pick up. I’ve always loved to sing and eventually I learned to play piano and guitar too. I also did a lot of musical theater growing up, which is where I found my love for storytelling and expressing myself through song.

I’ve been writing poetry from a young age and my first attempt at songwriting was by trying to turn those poems into songs. My older brother Aidan was songwriting before I was and I remember being so infatuated by the way he was able to express himself through lyrics. I wrote my first few songs with no knowledge of how they fit into them, they were just stories to me, but over the years I began to recognize myself in the work. I recently looked back at the first piece I’d ever written and could almost pinpoint the exact feelings and thoughts I was having at that time. For me, songwriting is still the way I cope with hurt, exhaustion, joy, and all of my other emotions. My songs allow me to say the words I often have a hard time finding in the moment. 

THIRTEEN: You’ve listed Lori McKenna, Phoebe Bridgers, and Joni Mitchell as inspirations for your own career. What do you pull from each of these artists?

EO: Lori McKenna has been a huge influence on songwriting. I remember noticing in her song, “Stealing Kisses,” how she is able to tell a story without specificity, while still painting a clear picture, feeling, and story. Her abstract way of creating an environment and relating her ideas to emotions she felt encourages me to create with that lyrical balance in mind. Of course she writes from the perspective of someone who has seen more than me, but I feel that I also write from the perspective of someone - who happens to be a teenager - witnessing constant change too. The way she uses words reminds of authors like Jack Kerouac who write in a similar stream of consciousness style. It’s a style of writing I’ve always felt connected to as I feel it sounds like me, or more so the voice in my head. In times where I lack inspiration, I listen to Lori McKenna’s music and often remember there are different perspectives and different ways to say what I’m having a hard time expressing.

THIRTEEN: Speaking of influences, the incredible Maggie Rogers has dueted you multiple times on TikTok. How did you react to seeing that?

EO: I remember first seeing she had dueted me while I was at a party with my friends. I was so excited, as were my friends! 

THIRTEEN: Your sound blends country and indie pop. This isn’t a combination we always see and definitely not in the unique way you are paving. Did growing up in Houston, and now based in Nashville, influence your sound?

EO: I never go into creating music with a certain sound in mind. I don’t want to box myself in that way. However, I am very careful to make sure the songs I create are ones that I’m proud of. I never go into songwriting with a specific genre in mind because I’m so curious about all genres of music. I want to create all that I am able to and I allow different kinds of music to inspire my sound. I mean, one day I might put out a hyper-pop record, you never know!

I think where I grew up in Texas and where I’m living now in Tennessee has had an influence on my sound. I think my sound also fluctuates depending on what I’m currently listening to. I don’t recall hearing a lot of country growing up, but more so Americana folk music. I think that’s the “country” influence that people often hear in my music.

THIRTEEN: You went on tour earlier this year with Michaela Slinger, congrats on that! How was it? Do you plan on touring more in the future?

EO: The tour with Michaela was incredible and I learned so much. Touring has always been my biggest dream, so I’m beyond grateful to everyone who made it happen. It was a fun but exhausting experience. For the first leg of the tour I was solo and I didn’t really have anyone around me who I knew. I found myself really missing my friends in Nashville and Houston, as well as my family, specifically my big brother who usually accompanies me on stage. Despite missing home, I also found it really rejuvenating to see new places and wake up in new cities every morning. Michaela and her friend/photographer Sydney made it really easy to feel comfortable and safe. They are both such kind and personable people. Major props to Michaela for setting up the tour herself, I think it’s incredible. I totally plan on touring as much as I can in the future! 

THIRTEEN: Now that you have two singles out in the world, what else can we expect to see from you?

EO: I’ve got a couple more singles coming out soon, and then my EP will be out with a few more unreleased tracks included on it. Other than that, I’m still enrolled in school at Belmont University in Nashville, and I’ll continue to play as many shows as I can!