“Writing is cheap therapy,” says singer-songwriter- Mecca Russell, a Eugene Lang Sophomore and goes under the pseudonym Neffy.

When listening to her music, it’s easy to hear the influence of R&B, soul, and blues. Her dad, who according to her is an “epitome of a music encyclopedia,” exposed her to these genres of music from a young age. By 12 years old, her mother gave her her first guitar and Neffy began teaching herself how to play it. She started listening to artists such as Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Alice Russell, whose similar rhythms and sound can be found in Neffy’s music.

Over the summer, Neffy has been actively writing music in anticipation of recording her EP next month in her hometown Washington DC. She tells us that this new music is the result of a friendship unexpectedly ending. Writing songs was her way of finding closure in a situation that was confusing, hurtful, and unforeseen.  Although she says most of her music is currently about relationships, she hopes that in the future she will write music that “is bigger than her, and make music more people can relate to.”

In the fifth episode of Free Press Live, Neffy makes her second appearance and plays one of her originals. We are anxious to hear her EP, which is expected to come out sometime before the new year.

Check out more of Neffy’s work on her Soundcloud.