[Those songs] helped me find the direction that I wanted to accomplish.
Below, the 25-year-old reveals to EW the soul divas and pop icons who shaped her.
THE FIRST ARTIST I REALLY LOVED
I was definitely into the Spice Girls.
Credit: Dennis Leupold
They had just come out with their movie,Spice World, and I was obsessed.
I was singing their songs in the mirror and dancing around my room to them.
THE ARTIST I MOST WANT TO SEE IN CONCERT
Ive always wanted to see Aretha Franklin live.
I became a fan of hers when I was about 8 years old.
My mom passed along [the fandom], and then I exploreda little more on my own.
My mother always had music on in the house and loved country music, like Martina McBride.
But I fought through it and won people over.
I connect with the soul in her music she sings straight from the heart about her personal experiences.
And theres a lot of pain in her voice.
When I listen to it, I feel like I understand exactly what shes going through.
Like her, I venture to write about whatever Im passionate about.
I give a shot to get everything off my chest.
THE FIRST SONG I WROTE
It was a song about getting butterflies in your stomach.
I had a crush!
It was so bad.
[Laughs] Literally only my mom has heard it.
I just think shes real.
Shes also very relatable and just young and happy.
With her, you want to be friends.
A SONG THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME CRY
Never Gonna Leave Me by Sia.
The chord progression, the words everything is so deep and so meaningful.
AN ARTIST IVE TRIED TO EMULATE
Christina Aguilera, for sure.
I normally do Christina at karaoke.
Her vocals are just phenomenal.
Im really proud of that.
MY FAVORITE ARTIST TO WORK OUT TO
I love Eminem.
And then when he did [his 2010 LP]Recovery, I really related to that.
I dont know why I like to do that.
I think itd be ironic and funny.
