Samuel Maselli, Grade 11:

I am singing a song called “idontwannabeyouanymore” by Billie Eilish. This is a song that I believe everyone can relate to in some way. The song is about a girl looking into a mirror and thinking about how she feels like she is broken. She talks about how she lies about how she feels to others and how she pretends to be happy when in reality, she just wants to cry.

Q: How did you get started in music? Who are your greatest musical influences?

A: I first became interested in music because of my sister. She was involved in the music program at school, and I thought it was cool and fun, so I followed.

Q: Do you aspire to do anything with music in your future?

A: I don’t necessarily want to go anywhere with music as a career, but I want to keep music as a part of my life. Music is so much fun, and I want to keep it that way. If it is part of a career, then it might become a chore.

Q: What is your favorite part about Performance Friday and/or performing in general?

A: My favorite part of performing is the feedback I get so I can improve. I like to know what I did right and what I did wrong so that in the future, I will be a better performer. Although, what makes performing fun is getting to share my favorite music with others.

Q: Do you get nervous to perform in front of people, specifically your peers? How do you quell your nerves?

A: I get a little nervous, but not much. I know that if I make a mistake, then there will always be other chances. I can just laugh it off and move on. The best way to reduce stress and nervousness is definitely just by practicing, especially right before a performance. Getting to do multiple performances a day makes the ones later in the day easier.

Q: What do you love most about music? Has music helped you in any way through the pandemic?

A: The best part of music is the fact that you can always have music. If you have no music player, you can sing. There is a song that makes sense for every single part of life. Music has not just helped me through the pandemic, but it has helped me through life. Music can make you feel so many ways, it can make you feel understood and that your emotions are valid. For me, music is almost literally a driving force for life.