Aspiring artist and songwriter Faith Gara captures the struggle of chasing dreams in a new city through her new solo single, "Still Want It." This song delves into the feelings of homesickness and loneliness that Faith experienced after relocating to California, but you can feel her determination and strength shinning through. Despite the challenging nature of being an independent artist in any city, Faith hopes young artists feel a little more heard through her song, as perusing dreams never goes exactly as plained. One big positive to her move that didn’t make it into her song is that she is now volunteering at a kitten shelter. Somehow, that seems to make every day a little brighter, even if the sun isn’t shining outside. Continue reading to discover the resilience and passion that fuels Faith's inspiring journey.

Where are you based?
I split time between The Bay and LA. :)

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what led you to pursue a career in music?
I have been obsessed with music since I can remember. When I was really little, I would listen to my mom and older sister practice their lines for community theater and I would know their lines better than they would. When I was old enough I sang in choirs, and operas, took voice lessons, and did musical theater myself. All of those experiences fostered my love for performing, but what truly made my eyes light up was the thought of performing pop songs. In the car, after school going to rehearsal, we would listen to Pink, Jewel, and Christina Aguilera and we would belt along to my mom’s CDs. When I was 11, I picked up my mom’s old Alvarez and began writing my own songs. My dad was so supportive of me. He would listen to me sing while he would cook dinner every night, often requesting songs by The Rolling Stones or Grace Potter.

Growing up, we took family trips to NYC on weekends to stay with my godmother Nefertiti Jones in Alphabet City. She was a singer herself and she would let me sing a few songs during her set at The Bitter End. One day my dad and I were walking through Washington Square Park and he convinced me to busk in Washington Square Park. I became obsessed! It was my new favorite way to practice. My dad passed away unexpectedly when I was 14. The loss was unbearable and the only thought that made me feel better or closer to him was running away to NYC.

I remember there was a school trip for students who were taking French classes to go to France, and I wanted to go badly, but it was expensive. I realized what I wanted more than to parlez-vous francais was to record my own music. So, my mom got me a laptop and my first USB-microphone instead of going bon voyage to Paris with my classmates. I started whipping up demos on GarageBand, calling in my sister to sing backgrounds and harmonies like I was an engineer, and she was my on-call musician. When I turned 16, my mom, sister, and I finally made the move to NYC. I spent time singing on the subway platform as my self-appointed after-school job.

By the time college came around, there was no doubt that I wanted to go to school for music. Not classical voice or musical theater, but a program where I could become a better artist, songwriter, and producer. After a year of knocking out some gen - eds at Brooklyn College, I transferred to LIU Brooklyn, where I completed a B.F.A in Music Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Production. While I was there, I released two solo singles, and I met a classmate who shared the same love for songwriting as I did. We co-founded a songwriting group called Smokelines. Together we released a 6-track EP displaying our diverse penmanship. After graduation, I packed up my bags and moved cross country. I was positive that I wanted to pursue songwriting as my career, but I knew that to be a hit songwriter like Julia Michaels, more work needed to be done. So, I applied for Berklee College of Music’s Online Songwriting Master’s program and I was accepted. I am near completion of my Master’s degree now with an expected graduation in December.

How did your time at LIU Brooklyn shape your musical journey?
LIU provided a well-rounded foundation in music business, music technology, and songwriting. I really enjoyed learning about all aspects of the business to help me survive in the music industry. Robin Lee Kelly, my songwriting professor, mentor, and dear friend from LIU, helped me prepare my thesis defense project which became my master's degree portfolio. I am grateful for the entrepreneurial mindset LIU instilled in me and gave me the drive to want to further my education.

What inspired your decision to release an EP with your group Smokelines? Do you still create with the group?
Sky Star and I co-founded our songwriting group during our undergrad at LIU Brooklyn. We were writing together so often our friendship and brand seamlessly came to fruition. We decided to release an EP together to display our diverse penmanship as a portfolio of our collaboration. It was a really rewarding experience to share together and wear the many hats indie artists need in order to release music. Since graduating from LIU we both have pursued Master’s degrees at Berklee. We have been on a bit of a hiatus as we have been dedicating our time to sharpening our songwriting skills in school, but we plan to resume after we both have graduated :)

You have since gone solo. What inspired this shift?
Smokelines differs from most group arrangements. We both have solo-artist careers and other creative endeavors and fully support that for one another. Smokelines is a fun side project for both of us. The main focus has always been songwriting whether that be for Smokelines or other artists.

How has your songwriting process evolved throughout your career?
I have been writing songs since I can remember. I first started writing songs down when I was 11 years old. I picked up my mom’s old Alvarez after watching a Taylor Swift documentary and I thought to myself “ I can do that too.” So I learned four chords the first night and by the end of the week I wrote my first song. At that point in my life, I was writing songs solely from observing. Listening to my older sister fight with her boyfriend, picking up lines from tv shows, or taking bits and pieces of things I heard from school and stringing them into a song. Soon, as I got a little older I started putting my own life into my writing, crushes on boys, and fights with friends. The biggest shift in my songwriting was when my dad passed away unexpectedly when I was 14. I was absolutely crushed. He was my number 1 fan and for the first few months after his death, I couldn’t touch my guitar and I didn’t think I could continue to make music without his support. One day I sat down at the piano and pain started pouring out of me. Songs were effortless, cathartically flowing out of my voice and onto paper. Songwriting became my therapy. Those songs are what I would call artist songs. They are songs created by me for me. They are my story.

Throughout college, my love for songwriting for other artists grew rapidly. It is so rewarding to help other artists articulate their stories. I love getting to know people, hearing the nitty gritty details about their life, where they were, what they were wearing, and how were they feeling, and weaving it into a story helping them create the soundtrack of their life. I will always write music for myself, and release songs when I feel like it but my main focus at this point is building my career as a songwriter for other artists.

Your new song, “Still Want It”, recently released. Can you tell us a bit about this song?
“Still Want It” was created from a Berklee assignment. While in the program, I have been so focused on writing songs for other people I have lost sight of my own artistry at times. Last semester I was in a “Collab Class” taught by Neil Diercks. During one of the lessons, the class was split into artists and songwriters. So for one week, I was the artist, and I got to pick a co-writer. I chose my friend Jessica Lindsay Sideropoulos who is an amazing human, badass songwriter, and production wizard. Jess and I began the writing process by catching up as friends do on a Zoom call chatting about my move to California and how it’s been hard. The song came together so quickly. It’s rare to have these seamless writing sessions; when we do, we know it’s special. I’m so grateful for this assignment because it was so healing for me to get something off my chest that had been weighing on me.

What message or theme do you hope to convey with “Still Want It”?
I hope that the twenty-somethings can listen to ’Still Want It” and feel a sigh of relief. Nobody knows what we’re doing, but we’re all trying our best. Chasing dreams is not easy and for a lot of us, it comes with a lot of hard work and doesn’t happen overnight. I hope listening to my song is like a comforting hug and that you’re not alone if you’re feeling this way.

Moving across the country to California had a significant impact on you and your music. Can you share some of the experiences and emotions that influenced your upcoming single, ‘Still Want It”?
After graduating college, I packed my bags and drove across the country from New York to California. As we arrived at the golden state In N Out, signs, palm trees, and gorgeous beaches lit up my eyes. I thought to myself, “this is paradise.” The first few weeks felt like out of a movie. I had dreamt of moving to California since I was a little girl to fulfill my music dreams. The harsh New York winters were over for me, and I was hungry. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to chase my dreams alone. Back home, I have a whole tribe of people supporting me. I had special spots to go to, friends to hug, and karaoke bars to sing at. I was HOMESICK. My family was no longer a quick car ride away. I missed the chaos, the fast speed. I had a hard time slowing down to that laid-back California style. Not only was I homesick, this past year, California experienced significantly more rain than usual - hence the line “Where’s that goddamn sun you promised?” It’s been a tough adjustment for me. You don’t know how much your identity is shaped by where you’re from until you leave. While all of this has been difficult, I’m pushing through it. I’ve grown so much being out here and have had some really dope opportunities. Even on the hard days, “I Still Want It.”

In verse two of the song, I reflect on growing up singing on the New York subway. When I was in middle school, we were visiting NYC for a weekend like we often did. My dad and I were walking through Washington Square Park with my Mom’s old guitar slung on my back. My dad said, “Hey, why don’t you sing here?” So I nervously sat on the edge of the fountain, my hand shaking, holding my pick, and I belted out a song. That sparked a thrill of performing live. I continued to sing on the streets in the city whenever we visited there, and by the time we moved there when I was 16, I had self-proclaimed a downtown 6 train platform as my stomping grounds. I would sing a few times a week after school; that was my job and how I made money during high school. I remember those times so fondly, and it feels like a big part of my identity/story.

What challenges did you face as an indie artist while trying to navigate a new city and chase your dreams?
When I moved to California, the mask mandate was still in place, numbers were still high and people were still laying low. I did not go out much for a long time and I felt very isolated. I wanted to go to open mics, and live shows and get to know the music scene out here, but I am just starting to do that now. Building a new support system is so important when you move across, and it’s been really hard for me to do that. I have met some great people though and am starting to feel more settled.

After covid, it seems like so many artists moved from NYC to LA. Do you miss NYC?
I MISS NYC SM!!! I was not prepared for the cultural shift of moving from NYC to CA. I am a fast-talking, always in-a-rush, bagel-eating queen, and here everyone is so laid back and takes their time. I am lovinggg the beaches, stunning drive down the coast, burritos, and good weather (most of the time), but I am missing the NY chaos. Turns out that maybe I am the drama, but I miss the hum of the FDR from my window in my shoebox apartment, I miss the parks, I miss the coffee shops, I miss the dirty looks from strangers on the subway. I am a die-hard NYer and I didn’t even realize that until I left. Um besides the winters. I don’t miss that for now haha.

What is the vibe in LA these days vs NYC?
LA has honestly exceeded my expectations. I was preparing myself with all of the horror stories I’ve heard like it’s hard to meet genuine people, the traffic is a nightmare, etc. And while some things are true, I have met some amazing people. LA is filled with dream chasers, old and new, beautiful beaches, and nature. It is a big city that is very spread out so I think that can make people feel lonely at times. I have really enjoyed the time I have spent there and think it is good for me to slow down even though it is against my instincts haha. I think for me (biased ofc) - NYC has a magical energy that you can’t compare. It is so dense and accessible by the subway system. For me, I am not the best driver after living in NYC for so long without a car, so hopping on the 101 was not a fun vibe the first couple of times for me. They are both amazing cities and the pop songwriting world is in LA so spending time there makes the most sense for me right now. I hope to move back to the east coast one day tho.

What advice do you have for aspiring musicians who are looking to chase their dreams in the industry?
Everyone has different goals and moves at a different pace. We are all figuring it out as we go, so don’t wait until you’re “perfect” to start. Always have a student mindset and be willing to learn from your friends. We are all in this together!

Since moving to LA you have been volunteering at a kitten nursery. There certainly sounds like worse ways to spend a day. How did you first become involved in volunteering at a kitten nursery, and what drew you to this specific form of humanitarian work?
I have always been an animal lover. I usually like animals more than people ahahah. Growing up my mom would often take me to our local animal shelter. We eventually started fostering kittens, taking in a litter every month or so. One time we happened to drive by this borderline abandoned house with a “free kitten sign.” We were coming back from a family road trip and we convinced my dad to stop. We made our way back to where the kittens were and the entire barn was crawling with kittens. My sister and I tried to nonchalantly place two kittens each under our sweatshirts, but we were caught red-handed by my dad with a paw sticking out my sleeve. After a hell of an argument, my dad let us take the few home - with the promise to rehome them. The next day we went back with neighbors and rescued 18 kittens. We found homes for all of them. It felt really good.

When I moved to NYC, it was difficult to find time to volunteer and we certainly didn’t have the space to foster in our apartment. While doing my master’s degree online, and moving to the other side of the country on the tail-end of the pandemic, I was really missing in-person experiences. I was trying to think of where I could feel a part of the community and the first thing that came to mind was volunteering at a shelter. I looked up shelters in my area and found PHS. After looking around at the few open positions I thought the kitten nursery would be a perfect fit based upon my childhood experiences. I have been volunteering there for a few months now and I have had a wonderful experience. After a long day, walking into the kitten nursery is like a huge dopamine rush. Bottle feeding 4-week-old kittens or giving TLC to a long-haired purring cat is the best way to end my day. It has been so rewarding to see certain kittens make huge progress. I definitely get attached, but knowing I’m helping them get ready for a loving home makes it all worth it.

It has been a rough few years, how have you been staying positive?
It has been a really hard few years. Spending time outside really helps me feel peaceful and grounded. Going on a hike with my dog, or grabbing a boba and hitting the dog park is my kind of self-care. Staying active and taking breaks from being online is so good for my mental health and helps me feel more inspired and connected to writing music.

What is your motto in life?
Eat good food, listen to good music, listen to others, let your voice be heard, spend time with animals, go outside, and do everything from love and kindness.

To learn more about Faith, please follow the below links:
Instagram: @faith_gara
TikTok: @faith_gara
Stream Faith’s music: Linktree

Faith Gara - Changing Cities and Rescuing Kittens