Interstellar: 10th Anniversary Special Edition

When October, a young and voluptuous woman, appeared on the television for Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve 2012 special to perform two new songs, the buzz had only just begun. Smiling with drinks in their hands, the hundreds of people in the audience erupted with applause after hearing two heartfelt and autobiographical songs please their ears and touch their hearts. Only five days later, a song had appeared on the Apple-made digital store iTunes, and that song climbed to #1. Being the first single from her critically acclaimed sixth studio album, Horoscope, “Who I Am”, which included a music video filmed in 2011, was sure to be a hit. Previously being under the stage names of Aurora (2009-2010), Luna (2010-2011), and now October, “Who I Am” is the first officially released cover that includes an actual picture of October herself. Considering that she felt more confident and positively charged, October reinvented her look and her sound at the same time. At the stroke of midnight on Christmas, October revealed via Twitter that her sixth album would be releasing February 2012, with the first single to be released January 2012. Promising her fans a grand announcement at midnight to the new year, October tweeted (on the set of Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve 2012 television special) a link to her brand new website which revealed the album’s title, cover art, track listing, formats, and pre-order details, October was ready to bring in a new year with new music. Horoscope was released on February 6, topping worldwide sales charts. Remaining in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 200 for three weeks, October doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. The second single from the album, “Blossom”, was performed at the 54^th Grammy Awards, also winning three awards that night for her Venus material. October has also been making appearances on various television shows such as Ellen and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing “Blossom” each time. October will be making her debut performance on popular comedy show Saturday Night Live on March 3. We interviewed October not only about her music, but about the girl behind the music.

Vogue: Where did you grow up and what kind of childhood did you have?

October: I was born in Pennsylvania in a fairly small town. My childhood was pretty adventurous; I had a very loving and supportive family. I had a pretty big family. Lots of aunts, uncles, cousins… And each one of them always could make me laugh. We were a very happy family. At times, I would slip up and do something really foolish, and I would think my family was the worst thing in the world. But I knew it was mostly because they feared for me.

Vogue: We note that in a lot of your music, you reference your mother in some shape or form. What is the background behind that?

October: I don’t like to talk about this, but I had a very mixed up relationship with her. I still don’t know entirely what was wrong with her, but she would definitely abuse her power and advantage. She would take disadvantage of me, and finally, I grew up and realized I was better than that. She still tiptoes into my thoughts a lot, that’s why I create music about it, to try and let it fade away, but it never seems to.

Vogue: A new song from you, “It’s Our Time”, was quoted by you to being about your family. Could you explain this into further detail?

October: It was a very weird experience. After spending the entire Christmas day with my family, that night I dreamt about my family. We were on some sort of mountain or hill, rolling down it, and just laughing. While this was going on, there was music playing in my head. A sort of psychological electronic tune was playing in my head, and the strangest part, I woke up with it still in my head. I was so excited and frantic; I grabbed my phone and recorded myself humming the tune. I put lyrics to the music that very morning and created the song. The lyrics were what the dream was about: the natural fun and adventure my family captures with life.

Vogue: How was your experience with school and those around you?

October: I didn’t like school very much. I felt like the people around me were just friends on impulse. I did find some true friends, but a lot of people destructed me somehow. I never liked doing schoolwork and testing, it just seemed to waste my time. But I definitely feel that education is important to the young society.

Vogue: How did you meet Adam Young and when did you decide to be in a relationship?

October: I heard about him a lot, from others. It’s funny; I met him at a bar. He bought me a drink and we started up a conversation about something. I found out that we were very alike people. We’re both night people. I don’t know, I just fell for him. We live together now, everything is well.

Vogue: Do you plan to expand the relationship?

October: Well, I feel the relationship expands every day. We’re not about to get married or anything, but I definitely feel a strong connection.

Vogue:  What was your main inspiration for writing Horoscope?

October: The title means to predict ones future. I took that and created an album with songs that contain elements of what I want to see in my future, and what I want to change. It’s something to look back on in my career. The music gets different with each song, from bright to dark. I like to think they are all emotions of a human being. You have love for others, love for yourself, romance, frustration, dissatisfaction, intervention, joy, recollection, desperation, appreciation, transformation, and empathy. I taught myself how to be knowledgeable with my own misfortunes in life, turn them away, and look towards the future. I feel this is what the music industry needs right now: meaning.

Vogue: What is your favorite track on the album, or a track you had the most significant experience recording?

October: Oh, they all have significant stories behind them. The album was produced by Anthony Gonzalez and we had so many memorable moments in the studio. I wanted him to be featured in one of the songs so I wrote a song called “Come Join Us”. The song is inspired by the carefree and joyful attitude that his music envelopes upon me. I thought it was amazing how powerful he sang “we are youth”. It definitely filled in any missing spots, if there were any, for the album. So I would say that that was one of my favorites.

Vogue: Is there anything else you would like to say?

October: I just really want to thank everyone all over the world that supports my music and I. It’s still surprises me how much feedback I get. It’s a terrific feeling and I will keep doing what I do for a long, long time.