Josephine Relli's here to 'Tell You' something

Musician, model, and actor. Josephine Relli released her first album in 2016 And her on-screen debut came the following year in CChloë Sevigny’s short film, “Carmen.” Originally from Spokane, Washington, her family would move around for a while, finally landing in Portland where she began her musical journey in earnest at age 13, discovering a huge affinity for icons such as Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra alongside many contemporary acts, all slowly shaping the sonic and emotional palette with which she would end up working with alongside producer Joseph Konty for "Miscellaneous", her aforementioned debut which saw her flexing her creative capacity with a wide range of genres and styles.

More recently in 2020, after attending the Grammy's and becoming the talk of the town (Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Glamour) for her red carpet look, she would release her Duology album “Slow Down/Falling." where she reiterated her range and her intentions to avoid labeling or confining herself down to just one or two genres.

Josephine is passionate about fashion and beauty and hopes to launch her own lines in makeup, fashion, and skincare in the near future. She’s also a strong supporter of philanthropic endeavors, including LGBTQ+ rights, animal adoption and rescue, and breast cancer research – to name a few.

Today, we have the pleasure to bring you an interview with this fantastically talented artist, regarding her plans for the future, the nature of her artistry, and an upcoming single release called "Tell You" that has got us all extremely curious and eager. Check it out:

What can you tell *us* about 'Tell You'?

“Tell You” is the first song I’ve really worked on since the pandemic, and it marks somewhat of a new beginning for where I plan to take my music. I wanted to try writing for the joy of it rather than worrying about any logistics. The meaning can be interpreted in many ways and, honestly, the meaning has changed for myself as this year has progressed.

You're first and foremost a singer and a songwriter. Who would you say has influenced you the most in that regard?

That’s tricky because I feel like many different people have influenced me in a variety of different ways, but I suppose a big one is Sam Smith. Their music, presence, and authenticity inspire me a lot.

What's the most important thing for Josephine Relli, the musician?

To really rediscover myself as an artist. Over the past few years, a lot has changed and, while not a bad thing inherently, it has shifted how I see myself growing and creating music in the future.

What's different about the Josephine of today Vs the one from 2016's 'Miscellaneous'?

So many things—it's crazy. My outlook on life, my inspirations, my writing style, and how I see myself. All necessary changes and for the better, I hope, but it has been interesting navigating all that while trying to adapt creativity to fit.

You experienced creative block during the heaviest part of the pandemic. How did you get out of that slump?

I believe there’s still a part of me still in it. Having all that time and that essential “pause” in life really revealed a lot of new things. I’ve been working to adapt to them and apply them to myself as an artist, but I’ve realized it’s a bit of a slow process. The passion for creating hasn’t changed though, so continuing to remember that and hold onto it has helped.

What do you do outside of music? I believe I've heard that have some interest in acting.

I do other creative things for sure, acting and modeling being some of them. I also am in school right now, planning to get a degree in science. Outside of arts and academics, I mainly spend time with my pets.

What are your plans moving forward? What's on Josephine's horizon?

A lot of changes are on the horizon. Good ones, for sure, but artistically I’m planning for quite a few shifts. New music, new content, but in a way that is very different from before. I’m hoping for a smooth transition into this next phase of life and creativity.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Samuel Aponte is Venezuelan-born raised and based. 

I joined Rival Magazine after a few years of doing PR work for independent musicians of all stripes; understanding their struggles to be heard in a sea of constant  ADHD noise and paywalled access to platforms, I now bring a willingness to always appreciate and encourage the effort and creativity that artists put into their work . Can also find some of my writings on LADYGUNN and We Found New Music.