And…we’re back! The THP team has been buzzing with all new artist interviews, and we finally get to share our exclusive interview with Fallyn, a rising artist who has stolen our hearts!
Fallyn released her debut single, ‘Love Bomb,’ last December, and we’ve been replaying it ever since. Her vocals and sound have such a nostalgic quality that takes us back to the 1970’s!
Let’s get into our interview with Fallyn as she talks about her debut single, ‘Love Bomb,’ her creative process, and her experience juggling school with music!
Welcome to The Honey POP! What are three things you want new listeners to know about you?
1. I love reading romance novels and watching nostalgic rom-coms. I even took inspiration from the experiences some of the characters went through in my earlier songs.
2. I am a big fan of The Bachelor franchise. I started watching the shows in quarantine, and since then my life has never been the same. Currently, my Instagram explore page just consists of Taylor Swift, makeup videos, and Bachelor memes.
3. I am a huge adrenaline junkie! I have yet to meet a rollercoaster that intimidates me. The more loops, the better.
How did you choose the name Fallyn?
The name Fallyn was actually inspired by a TV show’s character. I remember back in middle school, thinking I wanted a stage name like some of my favorite artists. I thought it was a cool idea, almost like having a superhero persona. At that time, my mom started watching the remake of Dynasty, and there was a character named Fallon. My mom really liked the name and its meaning. I remember she brought the idea up to me, and I immediately jumped on it. We changed the spelling a bit, but that’s how the name was born.
Her Debut Single
Congratulations on the release of your debut single, ‘Love Bomb!’ How do you feel now that you’ve shared your first official song with the world? What are some of your thoughts right now?
Thank you! I feel extremely grateful. Before the release, I was very nervous. I have a tendency to obsess over even the smallest of details, so I really wanted to make sure I was putting out something I was proud of. My goal with all of the music I put out into the world is to make the listener feel something, whether they can relate to the song and feel less alone in their feelings, or just appreciate it for what it is. Now that ‘Love Bomb’ is out, the amazing response I received has been so encouraging. I can’t wait until you hear my next single!
You really nailed the nostalgic vibe from the 70s and 80s while adding your personal sound to it. How long did it take you to create the melody for ‘Love Bomb?‘
I think it took about 2 hours to write the initial draft. Trenton and I met up to work on the song, which started as a project for our songwriting class. We had no plan and really just went with our gut. That’s my favorite way to write a song. To just feel the music and see where it leads. We were messing around with chords we did not know the names of and bounced off melody ideas. It felt like the song came together almost by itself.
Have you ever been love-bombed before or know someone who has? If so, what did you learn from that experience?
Luckily, I have not been in a toxic relationship or had someone love bomb me with the intent to manipulate, but I do know others who have. When it comes to love bombing or other forms of toxic relationships, I think the most crucial thing is knowing when to walk away. It’s tough to come to that decision when you are in the situation, but you should always trust your gut. It may be a difficult step to take, but it always turns out for the better in the end. How can choosing yourself not be? You deserve to be treated with kindness and respect and should not put up with anything less than that.
The Creative Process
What was your favorite part about working on this track with your fellow classmate Trenton Michael?
Trenton is very musically gifted, especially in vocal layering and harmonies. One of the first things we connected on was that we adore the vocal layering featured in a lot of 90’s R&B music. Harmonies and ad-libs happen to be my favorite vocal parts to record. I feel like they can often bring the final song together. Trenton was the perfect collaborator for that. Once we started with the ideas, we just couldn’t stop. One of us would think of an ad-lib, and then the other would build upon that. Trenton pushed me vocally and creatively, and it was just an honor getting to collaborate on this song with him.
You’ve said before that “songs are a journey.” Can you describe the journey you took for your debut song?
Back in February, Trenton and I were randomly paired up by our incredible songwriting professor, Dana D. Calitri. The assignment for the week was to read an article from The New York Times about an AI beta chat and find inspiration for a song. The article featured a transcription of an interaction with the chat. We noticed that the AI began to love-bomb the user as the conversation progressed. We thought that would be a cool idea for a song and immediately started writing.
I took inspiration from stories I heard, as well as from the internet. I remember reading numerous articles to fully understand what love bombing was. As I mentioned before, the draft of the song came together within one writing session. We created a demo as well, featuring some ad-lib takes used in the final version.
In May, we decided to record the song officially. There were numerous FaceTime calls since at this point we left the dorms and were back home in our respective states. Many of the lead vocals you hear were recorded in my mom and stepdad’s closet over the summer. I would go in there for hours and record, while also looking at what I want to (permanently) borrow from my mom. 🙂
Once Trenton and I came back to school, we met to finish the rest of the vocals. I love going into a recording session with virtually no plan. I believe some of the best ideas happen when you experiment and try new things, and that is something we relied on throughout this whole process.
What is the first thing you do when you get inspiration for a song, whether it’s a lyric or melody?
Ideas for songs come to me at the most random moments. There are definitely many voice memos on my phone that feature the loud sounds of New York, as I try to hum a melody idea on the street so I don’t forget it. I have a folder in my notes app dedicated to all the lyrics that come to mind. I also keep a songwriting journal and jot down random lyrics in free spaces in my school notebooks. However, my favorite way to write a song is behind a piano. Even if the idea comes to me while I’m out running errands, I always come back to the piano to continue writing the rest. I love lyrics, but I would say I am definitely more melody-driven, so having my piano next to me helps to visualize what the song could be.
Life As An Artist/Student/Performer
Now that you’re in your second year at NYU, how would you describe your college experience so far? How difficult is it to juggle classes with your performances and songwriting?
It has been the most difficult, but also the most rewarding experience. While there were some low points when it came to adjusting and figuring out who I was in this new environment, I also experienced the most personal growth than I ever had before. I came into college with some social anxieties and insecurities, but within a year and a half, I overcame these almost entirely. And I finally started to truly believe in myself and found my inner voice.
I made some incredible friends along the way who I know have my back, but what really contributed to my newfound confidence was performing my original music on various stages across NYC. I love everything about it. There’s no better feeling than when you are on stage, connecting with people in the audience. It is a special treat for me to speak to people after the show, and hear how they were able to relate to my songs. These are the moments I journal about because I never want to forget or take them for granted.
It can be hard juggling music and classes sometimes because there is only so much time in a day. However, that actually taught me to be a better time manager. I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. Performing has become therapeutic. I am happiest when I’m singing/performing, and that happiness seeps into my everyday life.
What three songs do you currently have on repeat?
1. ‘Cool’ by Gwen Stefani
2. ‘Love Takes Time’ by Mariah Carey
3. ‘Illicit Affairs’ by Taylor Swift
What is some of the best advice you’ve been given as an artist and performer?
The best advice I received, is when I’m on stage, it’s not about me delivering a pitch-perfect performance, but about being able to portray emotion and establishing a connection with the audience. It’s about delivering an authentic performance. No one performance will be the same as the other, and that’s a beautiful thing.
Now that you’ve made your debut, what are some goals that you’re working toward in 2024?
I am currently getting ready for my spring semester abroad in Paris. I can’t wait to live the Parisian lifestyle, go to concerts, and travel to places I only dreamed of as a child. As for music, I will be releasing more originals. I am very excited to share them with you and to see how the rest of my music journey unfolds. I plan to continue performing in NYC (and hopefully beyond) when I return!
There’s no better feeling than when you are on stage, connecting with people in the audience. It is a special treat for me to speak to people after the show, and hear how they were able to relate to my songs. These are the moments I journal about because I never want to forget or take them for granted.
Fallyn
You can listen to Fallyn’s ‘Love Bomb’ here!
We had an amazing time chatting with Fallyn on her debut single and musical journey! If you’re just discovering her music, what do you think? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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