Catch up with teen pop singer Aishlinn Kivlighn and watch the newly released acoustic video for her single "Unstoppable".
What got you interested in music and when did you know you wanted to do this professionally?
Aishlinn Kivlighn: I've always loved music, it's always been something that I've done. Ever since I was really little, I've been singing stuff by myself and I started taking lessons and I didn't really think anything of it; I just loved to sing so I wanted to take lessons so I could get better. Then, once I met some people and I started recording, I realized how much I enjoyed that part of music and that's when I knew that that was something I wanted to do as a profession.
Do you remember the first song you wrote that you were happy with?
Most of the writing, just by myself, that has ever really been recorded was when I was 8/9, so all of those songs are.. interesting [laughs]. I'd say that the first song that I ever was really happy with, that I started off with, was a song called "Are You The One". I think it was the first song that I ever recorded and, at the time, that song was very good for me.
Which musicians have you been influenced by?
So many, I listen to so many different types of music. I'm just surrounded by all these different genres. Obviously, I love all the divas; Whitney Houston, Mariah, Tina, all of them, they're amazing. I love Taylor Swift, just for the way that she's able to take something and put it into lyrics - I think that's really cool. I love artists, right now, like Tori Kelly. Just all kinds of genres have influenced me in some way, whether it's the style of my voice or the kind of music that I want to make.
How would you describe your sound to someone who had never heard your music before?
I'd say that it's a mix. It goes two ways: I either have a more acoustic kind of pop song - more of a Tori Kelly kind of vibe - or I have a more dance/mainstream pop song. It goes either way.
Could you tell us more about your single "Unstoppable"?
Yes. At the time, we were looking for an original song - something to release - because I had mainly been doing covers and we wanted something that I could really call my own and someone that I have performed with a couple of times before had written a song called "Unstoppable" and we listened to it and I loved it. I loved the idea of it, how it's empowering, and it's not just about empowering yourself, but also helping others; it really works both ways, which I thought was so cool. I loved the vibe of it so we were able to use that song and what I love about that song is, even though I didn't personally write it, I feel so connected to it because it so well relates to my values and the things that I try to do for other people and the things I try to do for myself.
Can you tell us more about the work you do with the Official Stand Up Tour and the All-Star Nation Tour?
The All-Star Nation Tour and the Stand Up Tour is about standing up against bullying, which I think is really cool. I've dealt with bullying myself and so I loved the idea of the tour and, at first, I wasn't really sure how it would play out because it's a tour in schools and I wasn't sure how involved the kids would be, but the kids that we get to visit are just so enthusiastic, so great, and are obviously against bullying. I think that the tour, having musicians and having it be their own little concert, really helped to get their energy up, but it's constantly putting in their mind also that they should stand up against bullying. I've done a couple of shows with them; I did a week with them last December and I'm hoping to do more shows with them. That tour, I just think, is all around very cool.
Do you have plans to release an EP or album?
Not yet, but I do have some new cover videos coming out soon so I'm very excited for those!
What do you hope your fans and listeners are able to take away from your music?
At the age where I'm at right now, I think the most important factor in my life is - I'm not old enough where I'm dealing with relationships or anything like that - it's really about self-empowerment and empowering other people and building friendships and things like that. That's the main thing that I think girls - and all people my age - struggle with right now. So, I want people who listen to my music to be able to take away some sort of message that can help them empower themselves and build themselves up and just know that they don't need to compare themselves to other people, they just need to love themselves and know that they're unstoppable.
Is there anything you'd like to add?
I'm really excited for my new videos that are coming out and I'm very grateful for the interview!
