I asked up-and-coming musician Griffin Oskar all the burning questions you're DYING to know, and, well, things got real. After just releasing a video for his hit song "Bulletproof", I had the privilege of getting to know the guy behind that incredible voice and songs like "Hostage", "Head Above Water", and "Never Loved Me", and trust me, by the end of this article he's going to be your new favorite. We talked music, Portland, chihuahuas, and those dang scooters, and yes, he's just as cool as he looks.

What made you start writing music?

Griffin Oskar

As I mentioned I played violin growing up, and not enjoying that is really what put me on the path to writing songs. I realized composition sounded a lot more appealing to me than playing notes off of a page. I learned how to use recording software in high school and started experimenting with making different types of music and fell in love with pop music. That was when I started getting more serious about it and got an internship at a recording studio during my senior year of high school. I was making mostly instrumentals, and there wasn't exactly a bustling scene of pop writers in Portland. So what really pushed me to start writing and singing was I didn't have anyone around who could write lyrics and sing, so if I wanted complete songs I had to do that myself!

How would you describe your vibe?

Griffin Oskar

I'm definitely a lot more optimistic and happy of a person than I sometimes come across. I'm not the type of guy that'll talk your ear off, and I think sometimes people can mistake that for being kind of dark, which isn't really how I think of myself at all.

Speaking of, where do you pull your inspiration from when writing music?

Griffin Oskar

Obviously things in my life that happen to me, but also from other people and stories friends tell me about their lives. It can also be as simple as liking the way a word sounds or sings or coming up with a neat sound. I've found some of my favorite songs have come when I'm trying to create something cool sonically, like an interesting synth or piano sound for example, because then while I'm focused on that I write lyrics and melody in my head while I'm tweaking it and that can end up being a nice way of distracting myself from overthinking the writing part too much. Overthinking is the easiest way to kill the essence of whatever cool idea you might have had to begin with.

And we CANNOT WAIT to hear them! Whether it's writing high-energy, catchy songs for Big Boi or powerful, emotional ballads like "Bulletproof", Griffin Oskar is set to be at the top of all your playlists very soon. And as for that grande latte? We'll let him slide.

What'd I tell ya? You're welcome.