Siena Fantini – what is it with me?
Siena Fantini releases her debut EP what is it with me? on Friday, September 26.
This collection features four heartfelt tracks that encapsulate her life at the delicate age of 15—dealing with the uncertainties of teen love, alongside the emotions of leaving close friends behind. The EP also features the unreleased track, “Michigan,” written about her time at a songwriting summer camp.
Recorded at Altamira Sound, what is it with me? materialized with the help of numerous industry professionals, including producer Sean Hurley (John Mayer, Lana Del Rey), Taylor Mackall on keyboard/piano (Lizzy McAlpine, Marcus Mumford, Joni Mitchell), Kiel Feher on drums (Selena Gomez, Lauv), Harrison Whitford on guitar (Phoebe Bridgers), and Grammy Award-winning engineer and mixer Darrell Thorp (Foo Fighters, Radiohead).
Secret thoughts revealed with an open-hearted vulnerability: In themes drawn from the dramas and elations of her ongoing teen years, 15-year-old singer-songwriter Siena Fantini conveys a precocious mastery of the songwriting craft. Her music sparkles with vibrant immediacy, a prelude to the promise of a remarkable artistic journey.
Front and center, her buoyant voice conveys intimacy, sincerity, and resolve, reflecting narratives that bounce from fun and flirtatious to poignant and perceptive. Propelled by an accomplished cast of musicians, her assured performances are highlighted by modern pop flourishes and thoughtful arrangements.
The lead single, “wanna know her name,” finds the narrator struck with jealousy when she sees a photo of another girl on an ex’s Instagram post.
Siena says that this story is drawn from real life. “The songs that make the most sense and feel the most honest are straight out of my diary,” she confirms.
Siena matches a compelling melody to her expansive vocal range in the piano-driven ballad “the loved,” an introspective self-examination, and the confession of a crush.
“Sometimes I’m doing something embarrassing or being myself, and it’s like watching a scene rather than being in the moment. I tend to overanalyze,” she explains. With a graceful acoustic guitar backing, “Michigan” is a treatise on the power of friendship to comfort and connect. Siena conceived the song after attending a summer music camp at Interlochen Arts Academy, where she met a global community of like-minded young artists.
The alluring narrative of “poptart” is enriched with sensory reference points, the stale texture of the namesake breakfast treat; a comparison of the merits between Dr. Pepper and Cherry Coke and holding someone who looks “…like a Tuscany summer night.”
Siena says she almost didn’t record the track, thinking it might seem ingenuous, but producer Sean Hurley was convinced that additional elements would support the lyrical details. “I’m a fan of visceral songwriters who are specific,” she adds. “When I listen to songs I love when the lyrics and music affect all of my senses.”
A native of Los Angeles, Siena grew up surrounded by music. “It was always a part of who I was,” she remembers.” With voice training, an affinity for musical theater, and piano lessons, she studied guitar and began writing songs. Gravitating to the music of Taylor Swift, Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, and Role Model, she realized that like these influences, she could also write based on her experiences.
All the reflective lyrics, appealing hooks, and eminently singable choruses that define her first four widely released songs are created entirely by Siena. She shares that songwriting, along with the support of family and friends, has helped her navigate through teenage trials. “Being a high schooler, life can mess with you. I’ve come out stronger. I’ve learned that not everything is the end of the world.” Her debut is a formidable introduction to a committed artist with deep empathy, something real to convey, and a devotion to emotional authenticity. “I measure my life in music,” she confirms.
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