Hey Rasha, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. Could you tell us a little known fact about yourself?

I am not only a music artist but a therapist that integrates music and expressive arts into therapy sessions if it’s good for the client. Music has tremendous therapeutic qualities!

Your new single ‘Purple Hours’ feels deeply personal and tranquil, so can you tell us more about the inspiration behind it?

I thought about the authors and poets back in the day used beautiful language for everything and especially how they described a time, a place, a mood, a setting. I wanted to borrow from that use Purple Hours to describe a calm, beautiful space between yourself and/or others. Wherever you are, when you hear the song, I think it can take you to a different place in your mind. For me, it’s a long summer evening drive.

How was the experience of co-producing this track with NONEWLOVERS different from your previous collaborations?

Actually, they are my collaborators, my brothers from afar, my buddies, my fellow musicians and we’ve worked together since the 2018. I don’t fix what not’s broken. We get each other and we work well. I adore that duo!

Liza Light’s guitar solo is a standout moment. What made you want to feature a long outro, and what was it like working with her?

When I was writing it and starting to produce this at home, I just knew! I knew the song was going to have a long guitar outro, less vocal, and just the song flow. She is a dear friend and collaborator for my live gigs, and I knew it had to be her. She nailed it.

How do you balance genre experimentation with maintaining your signature sound?

I’m learning that my signature sound is me, my vocals, the way I write my songs. I like to play with moods and tempos, rather than name the genre at the start of any song. I let genre go, and while my heart is always in alternative and rock, I’ve found that I write best when I stay where I am in my initial thoughts and just write. Ask what the song needs, and deliver that.

Why was a summertime release so important for this track?

To me, it felt like a summer song! It felt like a sunset, a beach, warmer weather, people embracing, dancing, rooftops, windows up with the breeze, it just felt right.

What’s next for you?

I’m finalzing the music video for Purple Hours and it’s looking great! I have some fall live gigs to prepare for, and I just deciding on when I’m releasing my next single. It’s been a wonderful year of trying new things, and letting things flow, I’m very happy.

Follow Rasha Jay on Instagram.