Your poetry book 'Can’t Read Me' is a captivating journey. What inspired you to write this book, and what was the process like for you?

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This book was an agglomeration of all the poems and songs I previously wrote throughout my four-year songwriting journey. I filtered through all 2,000 notes on my phone, discarded the ones I disliked, and revised the ones I wanted to add to my book. I must say, this was a prolonged, yet reflective process. As I gathered poems, I stumbled upon letters to my future self and praised my mental growth over the years. While all the poems in my book were raw and meaningful, many were reminiscent of the adversity I faced. I was proud of myself for holding onto light during those periods of darkness.

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In 'Can’t Read Me,' you introduce each chapter with a brief reflection. Why did you choose to do this, and how do you think it enhances the reader's experience?

I wanted the chapters in my poetry collection to be reflective of my mental state at several points in my personal life, denoting the trials and upheavals one faces in early to mid-adulthood. The first chapter of my book intends to draw the reader into this young and naive romantic trance. As the book progresses, chapters such as ‘Only when I’m Alone’ and ‘I See Fire’ explore intimate themes such as melancholy and hatred. They are the chapters where I expressed the heartbreak and obstacles I faced. Although many of these poems were not entirely from my personal experiences, I possessed a deep attachment to the lugubrious state of mind. 

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Is there a specific poem in 'Can’t Read Me' that holds a special place in your heart? Could you tell us why?

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Page 61 or this poem: “They all said, “You need a therapist”, / I said, “What for?”/ She can’t revive the dead/..” holds a special place in my heart as it is about mourning the loss of my mother. I lost my mother when I was only fourteen years old, and the older I got, it weighed on me little by little. There is a beautiful quality about the unconditional love a mother has for her child that is unlike any other form of love out there. When I first lost my mother, I was shocked and it took me a while to even process what had just occurred. However, as life went on, I noticed that my friends and family members had this attachment to their moms that I could never regain in my life. So my advice to others would be to cherish the moments with your friends and family because you don't know how long you'll have them around.

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I was particularly touched by 'Mark on The World.' It speaks volumes about your character. I experienced that same kindness when you reached out to give me a spotlight. What inspired you to write this poem, and what does it mean to you?

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‘Mark on the World’ is all about doing something kind for someone else without receiving anything in return. I’ve noticed that there are a lot of people who will do something kind just to boast about it to their friends or upscale their social status. I wanted people to focus on the act of kindness, emphasizing how it can bring joy to someone else.  You never know what situation somebody else is in and being kind can change their entire world. Extending a hand out to someone else and becoming the change you want to see in the world is where it all starts.