Q: Here is the perfect debut single that showcases not only your beautiful voice but also your talent as a songwriter. What inspired you to write Here?
JOËTTA: Thank you so much! I was inspired by the idea of being in the here and now, being present with your feelings, embracing all there is. My experience is that if I don’t allow my feelings, I end up in a downward spiral. I wrote the song in a difficult time during which I had started avoiding so many things – my feelings and situations. I got help and that has been such a valuable step for me. I hope this song can offer some comfort to listeners, as lyrics might resonate and music may soothe during a stressful time.
Q: What is your favorite lyric from Here and why?
JOËTTA: My favourite lyric from Here is “It hasn’t been easy feeling lonely, so many things I’ve been avoiding” because it feels the most honest and vulnerable.
Q: How would you describe the music that you typically create?
JOËTTA: I aim to write lyrics that reflect the real world, where emotions are part of society. I’d love to create dreamy music with guitar, piano and harmonies. I listen to indie folk and folkpop music a lot and I’m inspired by artists like Alice Phoebe Lou, Billie Marten and Lucy Rose. I’m looking forward to creating more music and I think that the more I learn about music and songwriting, the better I’ll be able to express myself. I feel like this is just the beginning.
Q: How has living in Amsterdam influenced your music?
JOËTTA: Living in Amsterdam has allowed me to meet the musicians that have contributed to my first EP, so I’m incredibly grateful for that! Amsterdam has great music venues, such as Paradiso and Bitterzoet – and seeing my favourite artists perform there, has been immensely inspiring. And of course Amsterdam has given me grey skies to be melancholic about.
Q: We see that previously you were in group called Wiens Lief. Tell us about that experience and is there anything that you learned from working with two other musicians?
JOËTTA: Meeting Tiana Stuart and Fanni Walla (Wiens Lief), has been a blessing. It was so much fun to create music and play shows together and it was a really safe space for me to find my own voice in songwriting and music. I learnt a lot about music and about the industry. We aren’t living in the same city at the moment, but we plan on releasing a couple of songs in the near future.
Q: What do you do when you AREN’T working on music?
JOËTTA: When I’m not working on my music, I teach yoga. I also love spending time out in nature, especially by the beach. You can find me in Málaga in Spain quite often. I lived there for three years and it feels like my second home.
Interviewed by Brynn Hinnant
Featured Photo Credit: Odette Denijs
