As music tastes and trends shift rapidly, Creti presents a timeless, soulful voice that's as unique as it is powerful. We talked to her about recent music, her raw, confessional lyrics, and creating her striking visuals.
Your new single “Self/Less” is emotionally heavy. Is it based on a true story?
“Self/Less” is the title track to my EP, Self/Less. I wrote this song about a difficult conversation I had with my brother to prepare him for me moving to LA. It was something like 2 a.m. in Montreal, and he called me into his bedroom. I told him, "You know, eventually I’m going to move to LA because I want to be a singer, like the ones you see on TV." My brother’s autistic, so me moving out, let alone to another country. He just kept repeating over and over, “You’re gonna leave? You’re gonna leave? How come you're taking a plane and not a car?" I was so scared that moving away would change our relationship, or he would forget me. We are extremely close, and it hurts to be apart. But I feel like I spent my whole life putting everybody before me, because I thought that if I didn’t, I would be selfish. I ultimately found myself feeling “self/less”, like I needed an identity.
What did you enjoy about making the EP?
This EP is a very emotional and vulnerable piece. I loved collaborating with such incredible creatives. I am used to writing on my own since the music is so personal, so I had to learn to share my most vulnerable thoughts and feelings with others in order to produce some music I’m really proud of. Grateful I did, but that was a unique and challenging shift in the creative process that I had to make in order to create what I’ve always dreamed of. The sound is really organic. A lot of piano and real instrumentation.
Why did you choose that direction?
The project starts and ends at the piano. I've been playing since I started writing when I was a kid because I wanted to have the music I was imagining accompanying me while singing my songs. So, it’s been me and the piano ever since. The piano is like an extension of me, it’s where I feel the most at home, and since the project takes place in my head, I wanted listeners to feel like they were in there with me, and can get lost in their own heads as the EP takes you on a journey of self rediscovery.
How much fun was it to break dishes for the “Crazy” video?
It was a lot of fun.
I love the visualizer for “Guilt Trip.” How did the bed and the garden scene come together?
"Guilt Trip" takes place in a garden where the glass house serves as a metaphor for a past relationship. Amidst the spiral of the breakdown you see in the car scene of the video, you see me drunkenly fall asleep in the house where the project takes place, to then wake up in the glass house. As the video progresses, you can see the glass shattering, the ground cracking, the foundation completely disintegrating like when what a relationship is built on isn’t strong enough to support it. If you have no foundation, it will all come crashing down.
How much are you into visuals? Do you like coming up with ideas?
The visual component to a project is something I’m super passionate about. I think it stems from my love for art and drawing. As a kid, I was really into arts and crafts, and as I’d be drawing or painting, I’d be singing and coming up with the next song I’d want to write until eventually I just loved music so much, it’s all I wanted to do. I love how this part of me can be integrated into my music through the visual component and really bring a whole new universe to life.
What’s something you listen to that might surprise people?
I think people might be surprised at the Sleeping with Sirens and Pierce the Veil songs I have in my music library. I had a phase in high school. I was going through it, I don’t know. But it spoke to me. I love “With Ears to See and Eyes to Hear,” the acoustic version particularly, and “King for a Day."
Alicia Creti - Bleeding Me Dry | A COLORS SHOW
For more from Alicia Creti, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
I was never the type of girl who could endure the mall on Black Friday. My anxiety gets overstimulated in a regular mall on your average Tuesday…what makes you think I could handle the war that once was Black Friday?
So, I’d wait for Cyber Monday. I would do my online shopping in peace, hoping everything in my cart stays in stock until I’m ready to check out. But since the pandemic, in-person shopping is no longer the more convenient option.
Now that online shopping is the norm, sales aren’t exclusive to in-store shoppers. We can enjoy the mall without leaving our homes — and it’s not like I was trying anything on in-store anyway.
So, it all leads up to one of the best makeup sales in the game: the highly anticipated bi-annual Sephora sale. Since beauty products rarely go on sale — yes, that includes luxury skincare brands like Tatcha and even La Mer — Sephora shoppers are graced with a discount of up to 20% depending on your membership status.
If you’re anything like me, you take this sale very seriously. It’s a great time to try that viral makeup product you keep seeing on TikTok, or to stock up on your go-to products. And since products sell out very quickly during the sale, it’s smart to have your cart ready for purchase the moment it starts.
When Is The 2024 Sephora Sale?
Starting April 5 - 15, 2024, all products sold at Sephora stores will go on sale. The Sephora Collection itself will be 30% off for everyone – and with great dupes, brushes, and basics, you’ll definitely want to take advantage.
For Rouge members (those who have spent over $1000 at Sephora in a year), all other products will be 20% off. For VIB members, 15% discount. And for your basic Sephora Insider, you’ll get 10% off your entire purchase.
What Are The Best Products To Get At The Sephora Sale?
@toriejaden lmk if you guys want a part two !! #greenscreen #sephorasale ♬ original sound - torie jaden 🧚🏼♂️
Now here we are, on the precipice of a mega-beauty sale - where all of your favorite brands are on sale in the same place, at the same time…and you feel lost.
If you’re wondering what beauty products are worth spending the money on…luckily, I’ve tried most of them. I like to refer to my bedroom as a “mini Sephora” because of the sheer number of beauty products I own. If you need it, I probably have it.
Here are some of my favorite beauty products at Sephora right now!
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Perfume
Carolina Herrera
The perfume I get complimented on the most. I love the creative packaging, but the scent is what gets me. Floral, sultry, and long-lasting.
T3 Airebrush One-Step Smoothing And Volumizing Hair Dryer Brush
T3
Get rid of your Revlon, don't over-spend on Dyson. This blow-dry brush gives me the best shine, doesn't rip my hair out, and doesn't overheat it.
Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Peptide Cream
Skinfix
Dermatologist-recommended and developed. Skinfix won’t steer you in the wrong direction – plus, the pump dispenser is sanitary and satisfying.
ColorWow DreamCoat
ColorWow
Whenever I do a blowout with DreamCoat, people ask me if I’ve recently dyed my hair. If you want a no frizz style (even in the summer humidity), this is for you.
Kerastase Premiere Anti-Breakage Repairing Mask
Kerastase
Kerastase is salon-worthy for a reason. While it may be on the more expensive side of hair care, it’s genuinely worth it. This will save your damaged hair and bring it back to life.
Paula’s Choice Liquid Exfoliant
Paula's Choice
Say goodbye to blackheads, texture, and breakouts, and hello to glowing, gorgeous skin. It’s a cult favorite, but it’s deserved.
Summer Friday’s Lip Butter Balm
Summer Fridays
If you can’t go rhode, go Summer Friday’s. I’ve been using the mint flavor as a clear gloss that’s hydrating and it’s paid off.
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer
NARS
Don’t be afraid of a matte concealer. This is the only concealer to give me an airbrushed under-eye.
GrandeLASH Lash Enhancing Serum
GrandeLash
I will scream this from the rooftops. I will die on this hill. Buy GrandeLASH for long lashes, I’m so serious.
Tower 28 Beauty OneLiner
Tower 28
An eyeliner and lip liner all in one?! Sign me up. I love these as a creamy lip liner that stays all day.
Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Face Palette
Charlotte Tilbury
I will forever use this face palette. Charlotte does the best glowy look, so the highlighter is always top tier.
