Do you trust me? - Behind "Dive"
Updated: Aug 18
"Dive" has been out for about a month now, and let me tell you, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. Do I even trust myself to do this? But the answer is always the same: keep creating. So, listen to the song while I take you behind the lyrics and production of "Dive"...
The Journey of "Dive"
I’ve poured my heart and soul into "Dive" over the past few years. It has evolved so much, starting from a place of begging for love to now inviting love in. Music teaches me everything; it’s my safe haven. Isn’t it strange to have something so vulnerable fine-tuned to the extent I did, only to hear it casually playing on a friend’s speaker?
This song was born in a single session with Catfish the Wizard at the Palace. He captured the feeling of a magic carpet ride. Suddenly, the heartbreak I felt poured onto the pages of the adventures I plan to have in my life—all the beautiful places in the world I hope to explore. My obsession with Jasmine and Aladdin started at birth (fun fact: it actually came out in my birth year). I’ve always wanted to write my own version of "A Whole New World." So here it is! I’m excited to say I’m the one driving this magic carpet, as crazy as I want. I know that might mean I’m riding solo for a while, but so what?
The Recording Process
After that initial scratch recording, Catfish sent me the stems for the song, and they sat on my computer for too long. In Calgary, I started recording with Tim Afuhmbom in his studio. It was a safe escape, allowing me to get more comfortable hearing my voice in a studio setting. He made it sound so nice! But at that time, my mind, body, and soul didn’t truly know how the song sounded yet.
As time passed, I became healthier. I started vocal lessons, built a stronger support system, and decided to take music more seriously. In February 2025, I had the opportunity to work with Angie, a top-notch sound engineer in Toronto, to record my vocals on "Dive." The final touch was Malkit recording tabla in the secret garden, and Rayray Treeze laying down the bassline.
The Mixing Challenge
After all this, we hadn’t even reached the hardest part yet. I was left with all the stems for this song in the most disorganized state you can imagine. That froze me in the process for way too many months. Thank God for Jinting (the coolest sound engineer) who helped me organize everything and taught me so much about mixing. This song involved hours of staring at the screen. Finally, Graham at Atreus XO in Edmonton mastered the final version that’s out now. "Dive" might not get heard by a billion people, but it has strengthened me as an artist incredibly, and for that, I’m grateful.
The Emotional Impact
I hope everyone who listens feels inspired to dream big and not let anything limit them. Now, I need to start promoting myself and "Dive," and it feels so awkward—like, just don’t look at me! But I want to do justice to what the process of "Dive" has been and the places it has taken me in my creation. So get ready to be bombarded as if I’m Rihanna or something, lol.
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