penelope

Photo Credit: Genevieve Andrews

New York City based artist penelope radiates with good energy and great music. The singer/songwriter once had dreams of becoming an olympian but was stopped due to a sports-related injury. Turning to her love for music making, the artist began to write and release original songs. Starting with “Across the Room” in 2018, she has since garnered a significant fanbase after a string of acoustic pop hits. Her music holds a distinct quality; many of her songs are reminiscent of the 2000’s era of pop music while still maintaining their own signature sound. “Catch Me When I Fall” is a perfect example of this. The song, also released in 2018, is the artist’s most popular and currently boasts over 500k Spotify streams. Over the course of her young career, penelope has earned herself over one million streams and spots on multiple Spotify-curated playlists. We recently spoke with the artist about her musical journey, a superpower that she would want to have, and more!

WIMITLA: First, let's talk about your musical background. Was music something that you've always been interested in?

penelope: Music has always been a huge part of my life. My mom studied music in college and shared her love for it with us for as long as I can remember. We went to music classes as toddlers, took piano lessons, and always had music playing in the house. I never thought I would be a professional musician though — for a really long time music was just something I loved as a hobby.

W: I understand that sports-related injury led you to pursue professional music. With that said, you've certainly persevered through the setback. How has your relationship changed with music before and after the injury?

p: Growing up, I dreamt about going to the Olympics. Soccer was my main focus — I played music here and there, sang in school and learned guitar but mostly considered it as a side thing. When I got injured, I really turned to music as a saving grace. I wrote songs as a kind of therapy to release the emotions I was dealing with internally and it proved incredibly helpful to my healing process. It really showed me that no maHer what I’m going through, music will always be there and will always be a guiding light.

W: There is such a distinct clear-vocal quality to your music, reminiscent of the acoustic pop of the 2000s. Who were some artists that you looked up to, from any era, growing up?

p: Thank you so much! I am definitely inspired by that 2000s pop era - Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne are two of my childhood icons. I totally love the sounds of the late 90’s early 2000s so artists from that era (Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, etc) and artists who are bringing that flare back (Soccer Mommy, Phoebe Bridgers, Maggie Rogers) are really who I look up to. There will always be a special place in my heart for Taylor Swift though... and of course Stevie Nicks.

W: Has living in New York City affected your musical style?

p: I would say that growing up in New York City and now living here as an adult has really just shown me all the different sounds and variations music can have. I feel like in NYC you feel so inspired to be whoever you want to be instead of being some industry mold. It’s just inspiring to be around so many different cultures and kinds of people.

W: "coming home" is lovely. What was the inspiration for the song?

p: I wrote this song with my amazing collaborator Naz Tokio — we based it around this idea of home being either a person or place that makes you feel grounded. This past year I had relocated to LA for a bit and definitely felt lost and discombobulated at times. I remember the feeling I would get when either driving to visit friends in the Bay Area or flying home to NYC — just this sigh of relief that regardless of the uncertainty that surrounded my current state and career, I was about to feel the warmth and support of “home”. It’s supposed to capture the giddiness and excitement you feel as your plane is landing or you’re taking that familiar exit off the highway — you can taste it in the air and it makes all your worries disappear.

W: If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

p: Ugh this is such a great question - I really think it would be teleportation. My extended family lives in Australia and I have always wanted to be able to click my fingers and be in my grandparents’ kitchen for dinner.

W: The new EP is set to release later this fall. What can we expect from the new album?

p: I am so excited for this project! I am really just looking forward to putting out a complete body of work that gives people a raw, inside look into who I am and what I care about.

W: Was there any, one song that was harder to complete than the rest?

p: I think every song proved to have its own challenges — I write a lot of my stuff super acoustically so it’s always a bit tricky to find the perfect production to compliment the feelings and honesty captured in those early voice memos.

WIMITLA: What advice do you have for a person who has gone through a similar set of circumstances as you have?

penelope: The best advice I have is to just surround yourself with good energy and good people. I think this industry is incredibly challenging and a lot of the times, self-doubt and cynicism can get in the way. Having people who are there to support you and believe in you even on the days when you might not believe in yourself is so crucial to being able to stay positive and keep going!