With the release of his sophomore EP imminent, Feather is proud to present “Fixing Me,” his newest collaboration with SEGØ featuring Rajiv Dhall. The Nashville-trio combine for a track that blends elements from multiple genres of electronic dance music. Having always been interested in collaborating with like-minded artists, Feather’s newest creative undertaking is a seamless union of style and intent between he and SEGØ, a fellow Nashville-native. We’re delighted to have Feather join us for a few questions, diving into topics ranging from his EP, the intent behind selecting collaborators, independent artistry, and much more. Check the track out below and scroll to read more:
Hello Feather, appreciate you taking the time. For those who might not know you, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hey! Thanks so much, appreciate the chance to talk! I’m an electronic artist and producer based out of Nashville, TN. I grew up a pop punk midwest kid from Wisconsin and Minnesota, playing in bands around the area but after attending my first music festival I was blown away by the unique music and culture so I set off on a journey to learn how to produce my own music, and Feather was born. The past few years has been a wild ride with releasing my first songs and getting to learn more about the vast electronic space and scene!
So you have an EP coming up and your new single “Fixing Me” is out today. What’s your favorite thing about this particular single?
I am really proud of how the song feels like it represents each artist that was involved in making the track. It feels like you can hear all of our styles and signature sounds and that can often be challenging when working on a collaborative project.
Do you find making an EP to be harder or more pressure than making a single?
Yes, I think so. For myself at least, I’m drawn to more conceptual and collections of work that have a depth and breadth to them so I tend to put a lot of effort into more behind the scenes components like art, branding, and release ideas whereas a single feels like it’s able to stand on its own and in its own space without needing to coincide with all these other factors.
Tell us about your collaborators on this single. What specifically drew you to them?
I’ve always been a big fan of the dance pop and house music side of the electronic scene but haven’t spent much time indulging in making it the past few years. SEGØ was one of the first DJs I met in Nashville and he is a huge dance pop connoisseur so it felt like the right opportunity to make something that fit both of our interests. Likewise, Rajiv was one of the very first people I met when I moved to Nashville and we have very similar backgrounds and artistic perspectives so we just click really well – he also has an amazing voice!
As an independent artist, what do you find the most challenging aspect of the release process?
These days I would say the content game has been a really challenging thing to juggle. Not only is it one of the primary ways people learn about and discover your releases and new music in general, but it can take a lot of time and energy to create, edit, and post content to fit the countless platforms online. Even when you do manage to hit all those marks consistently and timely, you are still battling an ever changing algorithm that might not push your content to even half the people who already follow you. It can be really frustrating when you have a release you are really excited about and it struggles to reach your fans despite your efforts. The modern artist or musician these days is juggling a lot of duties that can leave your energy depleted to the point that it can be hard to create some days.
What does success look like for you in the next 5-10 years?
I’ve spent a long time in the music industry through a variety of paths and goals and my definition of success is constantly changing every day as life and priorities change. At this point I think if I can make a living supporting myself, my friends and family by making and performing music not only for myself but also with and for others in a positive and healthy way, I would feel very successful. There are a lot of other smaller personal goals I have artistically but those could very well change tomorrow when life throws something unexpected at you.
If you weren’t working in music, what do you think you’d be doing?
Ever since I was in high school, I’ve always wanted to do a counseling or therapist type job. Freshman year I was nominated to be what was called a “peer counselor” which was a student that trained in a variety of topics that kids at school would struggle with. We would spend time with other students helping guide them through whatever it was they were struggling with. And as someone who grew up with many personal and family issues going on at home I felt called to fill that role and help others in similar situations. Ever since, I’ve wanted to find a way to continue doing that in some capacity. I hope I can find a way to include it in my current music endeavors, and if not maybe I can be that cool high school counselor with tattoos some day!
Congrats on the Twitch deal btw – is it hard to juggle the music and live streaming lifestyle? Or do they balance each other out?
It’s complicated in some ways, but I’ve really loved streaming. It’s allowed me a way to create content and interact with people while simultaneously working on music which has been amazing, however there are a lot of back end things that need to be done in order to make sure you have a consistent, reliable, and engaging stream. Sometimes those two worlds can compete depending on what’s going on, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge and I plan on doing it for quite a while longer!
What do you think is the most important lesson you’ve learned since pursuing music?
It’s simple, but it’s important: don’t give up. I think this can easily be applied to anything but music (just like many other industries I’m sure), is an endurance game. There will be times where it will be difficult, lonely, disheartening, infuriating, confusing, fun, exhilarating, comfortable, and so many more things… but that’s life though too, isn’t it? You just gotta keep going and learn to enjoy the process of what you’re doing, which I know can be easier said than done. But at the end of the day, if it’s something that brings you joy, you owe it to yourself to succeed – in whatever that looks like for you. Struggle is really good for us as people. You learn a lot through struggle and grow mentally in immense ways. Nobody likes to fail, but it’s one of the things that teaches you the most. You just gotta pick yourself back up and keep going. Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.
