“Heaven Is a Place On Earth” is greater than Belinda Carlisle’s large 1987 hit, or a key change that’ll go down in historical past. In line with Sedona, it’s a theology that may be utilized to life in 2025 — one which fuses whimsical otherworldliness with pragmatism and psychology. “Being a human is the closest we get to heaven. It’s not one thing that comes after,” says the Los Angeles-based artist, who can be part of the beloved collective Drugdealer. “I’m simply attempting to be taught extra about who I’m — however that’s one thing you by no means cease doing, proper till you die. So this concept of like, ‘Oh, one thing’s coming?’ No, it’s taking place proper now.”
For the reason that venture launched seven years in the past, Sedona has shapeshifted — although the throughline has remained regular. Wandering by means of a patchwork panorama of Americana, nation, and pop, on her debut album, Getting Into Heaven, Sedona nests in a Lilith Honest-leaning alt-rock area, exploring womanhood by means of a private, lyrical lens as knowledgeable by spirituality as it’s the tough terrain of actuality.
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I meet her in Tompkins Sq. Park, soaking within the solar and the chaos. Sedona is magnetic. She splays her mind out earlier than me with buoyant candidness — decked out in polka dots, horn-rimmed glasses, and stick-and-poke tattoos, she pauses the interview to supply chipping commentary on each canine that passes by. Endearing and erratic, sing-song and unapologetically emotional — like a Zooey Deschanel character with sharper edges, who’d additionally spent years residing off the J/M in Bushwick earlier than heading west.
Her earnestness, musically and personally, is disarming. Self-described as “pagent rock,” the Sedona present takes notes from Gwen Stefani and Liz Phair, Tanya Tucker and Anne Wilson. The nostalgic, classic air is thick, although her tackle sentimentality avoids changing into overly saccharine. “At the moment, songs usually really feel rushed, very similar to our way of life. We’re consistently scrolling and transferring with out truly connecting,” she notes, including, “I’m attempting to decelerate and hang around for some time. I wanna drink a strawberry milkshake on a pal’s porch and hearken to the radio… to take a seat down and keep some time.” And it’s an announcement she stands as much as — peppering me with questions on myself and my very own music style as eagerly as she solutions mine. I hearken to hardcore off the clock — however I’m a giant Coronary heart fan! I attempt to defend my legitimacy as her interviewer. However Sedona jumps on the latter, and instantly she’s taking part in my most up-to-date save, XweaponX, off her telephone, bobbing alongside.
It’s laborious to recall an artist as open as Sedona, particularly after our afternoon within the East Village. I received a healthy dose of honesty and heartfelt human connection, which, as a author and day by day client of near-deadly quantities of press kits and watermarked music, makes a distinction. However the 11-track debut — made independently, prime to backside — stood out from my first, blind hear, when it was nothing however an unlabeled hyperlink texted to me by a pal on the periphery. Her sound rose like oil in water, earlier than the hours we spent sifting by means of childhood reminiscences and swapping tales about being raised by musicians — and largely, for its supreme simplicity, despite all the private expertise she’d poured in. For many who like grunge, punk, nation, pop — and are capable of put apart any outward-facing pretense and discover widespread floor within the likes of Ani DiFranco, Exile in Guyville, even early outlaw nation — give Getting Into Heaven a spin.
Sofia Ziman
I need to speak about your album. It’s so good.
You want my album?
I like it. I heard it earlier than it got here out. You’ve achieved stuff earlier than with this venture?
Yeah, I launched an EP in 2020, proper within the pandemic. I launched singles the final couple years, however I simply haven’t actually ever had an opportunity to complete a physique of labor till now.
What made you need to do this?
I imply, simply psychological well being stuff. I really feel prefer it’s so laborious to complete something and have the boldness to share it, however now after years, I’m like, “OK, you need to simply decide 10 songs, make a file.” Then the idea got here to me, and I used to be like, “Oh, these songs make sense. Then it simply form of revealed itself to me. It made itself.
Fascinating. Does it really feel totally different than the stuff you made earlier than?
Every little thing I do feels totally different, as a result of a lot of what I began with was with a producer, and so they wished me to sound a sure method. I simply didn’t know the way to have management over my very own artwork. I used to be simply grateful that anyone wished to work with me, and nevertheless they noticed me, no matter they projected onto my look and my life, I’d simply roll with — as a result of I can sing so many various kinds of music. Now I’ve gotten to know myself higher, I’m like, “Oh, I like guitar. I like dwell drums. I like simpler-sounding music.” The file is less complicated than a few of my earlier songs which are very hi-fi, ’80s-produced. I’m form of returning to my roots, of simply singer-songwriter.
I can positively hear some Liz Phair in your new file, somewhat Tori Amos. Just a little Lilith Honest.
Oh, dude. I can’t cease listening to Liz Phair! Exile in Guyville. My God. The final couple weeks, I listened to it, and I’m like, “I’m not depressed, I swear.” Then I stored listening to it, and I’m like, “Perhaps I’m.” [Laughs.] She simply says issues so clearly. Her lyrics are the most effective. I’ve additionally listened to a number of Fiona Apple just lately. I didn’t like her for some time, after which I relistened to Fetch the Bolt Cutters, and I used to be like, “She does that, too” — however in a extra schoolbook method. I don’t know what meaning.
When did you begin making music?
I began writing songs after I was a child. I’d write poems, after which I’d sing them and strum the guitar with no chords. I simply was messing round. I’d write poems for useless animals that I’d discover, or animals of mine that will die. I suppose the primary music I ever wrote the place I keep in mind being like, “Mother, I wrote a music” was for this lizard — that was truly a newt — and it was drying up the entire time. I caught it, after which it could sit in my hand, and I used to be like, “This factor is supposed to be with me.” His title was Bullseye. Someday, I discovered it in its water bowl, and the crickets had been consuming it, and I used to be like, “No!” So I put it in an Altoids field, the metallic ones, within the storage, and would verify in on its physique decomposition. I used to be like, “That is so cool.” I should have been 8 then, and I wrote, “Bullseye, my favourite lizard, the Lizard of the Sky, and now that you simply’re gone, I really feel so alone.” I keep in mind the music so properly, and it was a very good music. I’ve a number of little bizarre melodies that I keep in mind from childhood, however that was my first music, about Bullseye. And my mother’s a songwriter.
Oh, actually?
She by no means made it. She does random jobs, Uber and stuff, something she will do. However she grew up singing to me. Earlier than I had my very own songs, I sang her originals — again after I was too nervous to share mine. Then, after I began writing my very own, I used to be like, “Someday I’ll do a mother file, however I ought to share mine now.”
When did you begin recording music?
I began to fiddle with that in 2018. That’s the most secure guess for after I was actually entering into music manufacturing and stuff. However I write a number of songs. I’ve lots of of songs on my pc. I’ve 4 albums’ value of songs. These 11 tracks are like 5 years outdated.
I’m curious — I hear from sure musicians that by the point they put a file out, they’ll’t hearken to it. They’re already onto the following. How do you’re feeling after one thing’s been finalized and put out? Particularly with songs you’ve had on deck for some time.
I can not. I put the one out on Tuesday, and I received to my finest pal’s place in Brooklyn, and she or he was like, “We’ve to hearken to the songs!” And I used to be like, “You’ll be able to hearken to it alone. I don’t want to listen to it.” I really feel so hooked up to my songs, after which as quickly as they’re achieved, it’s virtually like I need to eat my younger. I’m like, “Fuck that.” So it’s onto the following. I’ve a number of different songs that I need to placed on my second album, however I’ve to place out the primary album nonetheless. There’s been a number of, “When is it going to occur?” However now it’s taking place, and totally self-releasing. No supervisor, actually. No agent. No label. I’ve a publicist, although. It’s my first time having a publicist. I’m spending all my cash on that. However no, I’ve no business help. I’m doing all of it alone, and my buddies are serving to me. My pal truly received me an outfit for the present tonight, however it may be tense. I’m like an business reject or one thing. [Laughs.] However all of the bands like me!
Being a band’s band is a reasonably good place to be, at the start, although.
I really feel prefer it’s cool. Look, I don’t know, man. Even María [Zardoya] from the Marías, she’s like, “Don’t let it get to you that no person desires your file.” So, it’s all good.
I imply, even that band’s been at it for a very long time. It’s not as simple because it seems to interrupt. Have a look at Shaboozey, who’s getting noms for Finest New Artist after placing music out for 10 years. After a decade of labor, his recognition is hitting, and he’s taking part in halftime reveals now.
That’s the factor. Additionally, there’s no time restrict to success. All of them, they began simply the place all of us began — at a bar alone. And I nonetheless really feel that method, however after I take a look at it from an out of doors perspective, there was regular development.
How would you describe your music to somebody who hasn’t heard it?
Just lately I’ve been calling it pageant rock. It’s female. It’s positively so much about being a girl, or simply experiencing issues on this planet together with your feelers out, current and being susceptible, no matter your gender. However on the coronary heart, it’s rock — something could be rock, to me, as a result of it’s an perspective. I believe pop simply implies that it’s a well-written music, and rock implies that it has a little bit of anger. And I’ve anger. I don’t present it, however I positively have it.
Nicely, femininity inherently has some anger to it.
We’ve to take care of probably the most bullshit. It’s loopy. As I’m getting older, it’s so tough to be a girl. To only be anybody, actually. However particularly to have a feminine physique. There’s so many creepy individuals. There are such a lot of unhappy individuals in all places. So I really feel like I overcompensate for the world with my music, and with my perspective typically. I’m so happy-go-lucky — and it’s a protection mechanism. I see a lot horror that I’m like, “Let me channel this into some form of levity.” However with my music, and songwriting, I positively heal. Generally I’m extra trustworthy in my music than I’m in particular person, so thank God I’ve that. Attempting to determine the way to be extra susceptible daily, and never act like a manic customer support consultant.
If you happen to weren’t doing music, what do you assume you’ll be doing?
Let’s go loopy with it. Marine biology. I like the ocean. I might see that. I’d like to dwell on a ship and simply examine algae and never be on Instagram. Plankton and stuff. Starfish. Go deep in there. I’d have such a special life. However the actuality is, I’m on this for the lengthy haul.
How have the reveals been going?
The reveals have been actually good. I like taking part in. I’m so excited. You’re going to return see the present after speaking to me. I need to hear your tackle me. It’s getting actually nation now.
Sofia Ziman
Do you may have a band that you simply normally play with?
Every time, I’ve some form of hybrid of the final band. The factor is, I play with the most effective musicians in music. My band is all the time a supergroup, so in the event that they’re not on tour with Mac DeMarco and Remi Wolf, they’re with me. I’ve this solid — it’s revolving, and it adjustments the present each time. I used to be truly speaking with somebody about the way it’s quite common within the jazz world to have a brand new ensemble each time you play. However in rock and pop, it’s extra such as you need the identical band each time, which is inconceivable except you guys all write the songs, and I write and not using a band. Or when you’ve got an enormous funds, you’ll be able to simply hold the identical band. But it surely’s been enjoyable.
What music have individuals been vibing to probably the most?
Oh, everyone loves “She’s So Fairly.”
And also you?
I don’t have a favourite music. My favourite is the one on my pc that nobody’s heard, actually. However I actually like taking part in “7 Minutes in Heaven” as a result of we do form of a power-pop model of it dwell. I just like the songs that we do some in a different way for the dwell present.
Who’re you listening to?
I’m listening to the dB’s religiously. It’s simply beautiful rock. It’s like Seaside Boys, ’70s power-poppy. Lou Reed, Liz Pair, I can’t cease listening proper now. That’s been the final two years, I believe. Simply in my late 20s, I’m actually listening to the lyrics and getting them. Gwen Stefani is my favourite ever, and Lindsey Buckingham.
I suppose the overlap of all of the songs I like, it’s like they’re virtually non secular — or there’s this sense of hope or one thing. For my file, I known as it Entering into Heaven. The final was known as Rearview Angel, and I really feel like there’s some form of religious state I’m going into with writing. I prefer to sing about biblical stuff, virtually.
What’s attention-grabbing is we’re speaking about heaven and spirituality — however the vulnerability that’s in your album, it’s a lot about humanity.
It’s each! With this file, after I was occupied with an idea, I centered on “heaven,” as in everyone desires to get into it. The membership, the bar, the checklist, their very own happiness, reaching the highest of their dream. However that doesn’t exist. It’s important to discover every day as its personal life. And to seek out that in you is so laborious — as a result of one minute you’re feeling stoked, the following minute you’re like, “That is the worst day.” So, I suppose I really feel like being a human is the closest we get to heaven. It’s not one thing that comes after. I’m simply attempting to be taught extra about who I’m — however that’s one thing you by no means cease doing, proper till you die. So this concept of like, “Oh, one thing’s coming? No, it’s taking place proper now.” And should you don’t soak that in, you’re going to be consistently trying to find one thing your complete life. Simply studying to be current is so laborious. I suppose the file is about that feeling, simply sitting in it, proper now. There’s a heaven in all of us. I don’t assume it comes once we die.
