Exclusive Interview with 'AUDRI' | Illustrate Magazine

Seattle-based newcomer Audri released a summer EP on June 23, 2022. More than a million listens have been logged for her last three EPs. Despite its more upbeat tone, this EP maintains the same depth and story-telling abilities as their previous offerings. Check out the latest EP & the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how you got started?
AUDRI: I’m from Seattle, Washington. I have always been obsessed with the creation of music. I honestly can’t think of a time when I wasn’t. I’ve been writing since I was a little kid, so when I graduated high school, I knew it was the career I wanted to pursue.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
AUDRI: I am self-taught. I like teaching myself things, I’m very hands on when it comes to learning. I like going straight into trying something and figuring it out as I go.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘AUDRI’?

AUDRI: It is hard for me to pinpoint a specific musical influence. I tend to grab inspiration from an array of genres and artists. I picked the name Audri out of sheer laziness. My actual name is Audrey. I changed it to Audri, since I thought it looked cooler and more defined.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

AUDRI: I really like to tell stories. Most, if not all, of my songs are not about me. Even though I am writing a story, I try to make all the emotions attached to it personal. I try to capture emotions that anyone can relate to and I think that resonates well with people. My favorite story genre is fantasy and it utilizes the same approach. A grand story that we will never live, but with very human emotions that we all can feel.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as INDIE?

AUDRI:
My writing approach is very go with the flow. As I start writing a song, it tends to just form itself. So honestly, I am very unaware of how I’ve achieved my own style. It just kinda happened.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?

AUDRI:

I think there is no culture without art and vice versa. It’s a necessity to society and just human nature in general. With that, I think what makes art great is that it can be used in endless ways. I think my music is all over the map. Like I said, I go with the flow and I go with whatever story/commentary I think fits the song best.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fullfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

AUDRI:

That’s a hard one to answer. Trying to make something out of nothing in the music industry is grueling. It’s a lot of grunt work that can be exhausting most of the time. But creating music is beyond a passion for me, so any little victory that get me towards my goal makes it all worth it.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

AUDRI:

The “creating music” aspect happens instantly for me. I really don’t know what exact brain process is happening, but I just get the idea and go with it. Lyrics on the other hand take a good amount of time. It’s hard for me to put thoughts into words, so I really take my time to make sure I get the right idea across. All of my music under my label are written by only me. I have worked with other companies and people as a songwriter on their projects though.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your music career so far?

AUDRI: The psychological aspects are the hardest. It’s really easy to see yourself as a failure or that you are not making the progress you should. Over the last couple years, I’ve really tried to change how I see success. It’s not about how fast you get there, but just that you get there. So as long as I’m moving towards my goal, I try not to be hard on myself.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

AUDRI: When I hit a million streams on Spotify, that was really cool. It’s crazy to think that my music has been heard a million times. It’s hard to comprehend how many people that actually is.