Exclusive Interview with Forgetmyname

When you go to Forgetmyname’s page on Spotify, something immediately stands out. While her name is already unique, you’ll also notice the latest single “Daydream” is the first one in a year.

This Q&A gives fans a rare glimpse into the mind of one of music’s most respected voices.

MusicsWeek: Who are your biggest musical influences?

Forgetmyname: Too many, I feel that throughout different phases and music I’ve done, I’ve gone through so many different obsessions that influence what I do at that time.

MusicsWeek: What non-musical influences (books, movies, art, etc.) inspire your work?

Forgetmyname: I’ve looked into a lot of different films for inspiration lately. Mostly older Spanish indie films right now, but I love exploring the classics. I feel like I missed out on so many good ones that I have discovered as an adult.

MusicsWeek: Is there a particular song or album that has significantly influenced your career?

Forgetmyname: Couldn’t think of just one, but there are definitely a few that would inspire me so much and reaffirm that this is what I wanted to do.

MusicsWeek: How do your personal experiences shape your music?

Forgetmyname: It does everything. I think for a little, I tried to not feel so much and stepped away, but once I got back into it and faced some of the feelings I was prolonging feeling or running away from, I was able to understand and process and understand myself better. 

MusicsWeek: Have your influences changed over the years?

Forgetmyname: Not really, I love discovering new music always, but the foundation of my influences, I feel, is consistent.  

MusicsWeek: How do you incorporate your cultural background into your music?

Forgetmyname: I would say it's really helped me with my writing. The way Spanish music describes things, how personal and specific in some ways, that really connects. I try to bring that into my writing.

MusicsWeek: What role does nature or your environment play in your songwriting?

Forgetmyname: The studio setting and time of writing I feel definitely influence my songwriting a little. If I have the lyrics done, sometimes we’ll set the tone around them to match it. 

MusicsWeek: When did you first realize you wanted to be a musician?

Forgetmyname: My parents and family in Peru were always singing. I loved it. My dad would buy all these different karaoke CDs from my favorite Spanish artists and would just have me singing all day, and I just loved it. It was therapeutic at a really young age for me.

MusicsWeek: What was the first song you ever wrote, and what inspired it?

Forgetmyname: I think I was probably 14 or 15. I would always write a lot, but didn’t really understand how to make it into a song at that time. I think that was the first time I wrote and made it real lyrics. Pretty sure it was about liking a girl haha

MusicsWeek: How did you get started in the music industry?

Forgetmyname: I didn’t really start recording until I was 20 and I didn’t really know where to begin but when I moved back to Raleigh, I got in touch with some high school friends and they were in a band and introduced me to their producer and I started recording and really liking and feeling confident in what I was making and just decided to start releasing.