First of all, I want to know your feelings about finally being able to share your debut album “BLKBX: wht r u hding?”
I can’t even begin to express the amount of gratitude I have for all of the incredible people who helped this project come to life in the most magical way possible. Two years ago, “BLKBX: wht r u hding?” was a Christmas gift for my mom and to see all that it has become is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I feel so happy knowing that “BLKBX: wht r u hding?” is now in the hands of people who feel the same way I do - different. 
 
In this album you’re taking us into your own world, with all the emotions, struggles, love, identity and self-acceptance. What was it like to turn all of that into music?
It was magical turning my life story into music. Up until I started writing “BLKBX: wht r u hding?” I had no idea just how much self-exploration I still had left to do. It’s hard to imagine that we as human beings don’t know ourselves, but the reality is we never stop growing, learning, and changing. Writing this album taught me more about myself and who I am than I ever could have imagined. 
 
Were there any areas that you found difficult to revisit while writing or recording this album? 
I think the ‘Creature’ era on the album was a particularly difficult time to revisit. Unfortunately at that time in my life I was filled with self-hate and a lot of pain, so reopening those wounds was definitely tricky for me. It brought up a lot of memories I had forgotten and a lot of very difficult times. 
 
Turning all of your experiences into art must have been a therapeutic experience. What positive conclusion would you like the listener to take out of it? 
I think the most positive thing about “BLKBX: wht r u hding?” is that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. There is no such thing as indefinite darkness. It’s all about processing trauma and pain to unlock what healing really is.
 
In partnership with therapist Jaz Robbins and nonprofit organizations, you’ve created the “BLKBX Project”. Can you tell me more about the educational and therapeutic resources it offers? 
When I was younger I recall searching all over the internet for answers to questions I had about myself and my identity, and the truth is I never really found anything helpful. I created blkbxproject.org in an attempt to give teens today the resources I wish I had when I was younger. On the site, Jaz Robbins walks us through the 12 topics discussed in “BLKBX: wht r u hding?” such as depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, etc., and offers advice and free resources to teens currently struggling. 
 
Going back to your own experiences, what would you say gave you the strength to beat the hard times you’ve gone through? 
My mom gave me the strength to beat many of the hard times I went through back then and even now. She is my lifeline and is always a voice of reason and love when I can’t seem to find a path forward. 
 
You’ve filmed music videos for all 12 tracks. How did that help you explore those stories and give them another aspect? 
Van Alpert (director of BLKBX) and I spent so many hours coming up with beautiful visuals to retell the BLKBX story in a unique way. A big goal was to be able to tell the story without the music. While watching the BLKBX music videos, even if you can’t hear the song or understand the words, the visuals tell you the whole story. I think there is so much power in visual art and it’s something I will continue to explore in any additional projects. 
 
What was it like to do this huge effort, especially during a global pandemic? 
It was very difficult! We finished “BLKBX: wht r u hding?” under very unusual circumstances. We did almost all of the planning virtually, we had covid testing every single day on set, and were all wearing masks. We also had a limited crew, among many other things, but we all felt passionate enough about the project that we kept going and kept creating, despite all of the obstacles we faced.