Let's see what she had to say!
What do you want listeners to know about “Monterey”?
I think I want people to know that “Monterey” isn’t about a place— it’s about someone you love making a place feel like it belongs to them. I’ve never been to Monterey, but through them, it started to feel like a memory I didn’t actually have. This song is about the push and pull of wanting to hold on to something, but also knowing you have to stay away from it to protect yourself. I think “Monterey” is for anyone who’s ever felt tied to someone through a place, a song, a smell, or a version of the future that never ended up happening. Writing this song was my way of moving forward when things still felt unfinished.
Do you have a favorite lyric from the song?
“Never cared for California, now it’s a thought I can’t escape. You made it sound like forever, but forever couldn’t wait.”
How did you come up with the cover artwork?
Since I’m nowhere near Monterey, I had to settle for the next best thing; Miami. The cover was actually shot in my backyard by my amazing mother, Marinet. I wanted it to feel really simple and nostalgic, and I had just been gifted a digital camera, so we made a nice morning out of it and just captured what felt right to us.
What was the biggest challenge when creating the song?
The biggest challenge was writing about a place I’ve never been to. Monterey only exists to me through someone else’s eyes, so I wasn’t just writing about Monterey itself— I was writing about their version of it. It was really hard to make that feel real without having experienced it myself.
And because the song is about a real person, I was really trying to approach it with care. I was trying to be honest about what Monterey meant to me, while also respecting someone else’s space. I didn’t want to misrepresent something that wasn’t just mine. It came from a place that was so meaningful to me, and almost felt like a conversation of sorts. The challenge was being honest about my feelings while still honoring that connection.
Do you have any favorite memories of the recording process?
Honestly, my favorite memory from recording “Monterey” is just being in the room with everyone. I was really lucky to work with a band and engineers who I trust and care about, and that made such a difference. There’s something really special about being surrounded by people who understand what you’re trying to say and who care about the song just as much as you do. It felt like a shared experience rather than just my own song.
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