Name 3 Songs: So this is an exciting time for you because you have an EP coming out as of February 2nd. Reflecting on this body of work, how does this feel different from the music that you’ve created before?

Susannah Joffe: It’s so different in like almost too many ways to say. Not to be self-deprecating, but I really feel like with the music I was putting out before, I just had no idea what kind of artist I wanted to be. Like even as a listener, I was still figuring out what kind of music I liked and felt inspired by. And since moving from Texas to New York, I’ve been exposed to a whole other world of art and inspiration, and it has definitely changed my taste and my artistic expression a lot. 

And with that, I think this project is a lot more true to the kind of music that I want to be making. I’m still developing so much as an artist – even the music that I’m planning on releasing after the EP is still growing and changing. But I think that you can hear it in the EP itself. From track to track, you can kind of hear my journey from Austin to New York and see the growth through the songs, which is one of the reasons why I really love the project

So we have talked to a couple of artists based in New York at this point, and it’s been really interesting hearing how New York City inspires people. And I (Sara) am from here, and I always felt like it’s very much like a city that’s alive, and it kind of chooses who it’s going to welcome and who it doesn’t. But it’s really interesting to hear artist perspectives of this, but especially coming from Austin, which is another music city. How do you feel like New York has influenced you in a different way than Austin did? 

I grew up in Austin. I’ve lived in Austin since I was four years old. So I think when you grow up there, it’s such a small city. At least for me, everything I was doing, I felt like I was being judged. Like I was just so scared of being judged by my peers – like the kids I went to highschool with, kids I went to Hebrew school with, the kids that I did summer camp with, all of this stuff. 

So I feel like I couldn’t just express myself and let my freak fly in the way that I wanted to. And when I first started college, I was in Greek life for a year. Very different vibe than I am now. And I was really caught up in appearances, and like trying to fit into this world I really did not fit in.

And I think that I kind of had to move to New York because I just felt there was so much more in me that I wasn’t really letting out just because I was so caught up in this Texas world. There is such an amazing DIY indie rock scene in Austin, but I think by the time that I realized like, oh wait, that’s something I want to be a part of I was kind of already on my way out. It was senior year of college and I was like, I think I’m ready to move on and be challenged and whatnot. And moving to New York was so scary but the best decision I’ve ever made for me personally and for my career.