In the heartland of Ohio, a childhood movie sparked an unshakable sense of self in young Autumn Paige—a flame she carried into the vibrant music scene of Los Angeles. Now, as a captivating singer-songwriter, Autumn pours her raw, unfiltered experiences into deeply resonant music. Discover the formative memory that shaped her unapologetic voice and the powerful story behind her latest single, “Baggage” – a poignant exploration of love, vulnerability, and shedding the weight of the past. Journey with Autumn as she transforms personal moments into universal anthems, offering a glimpse into the soul of an artist unafraid to lay it all bare.
“Unapologetically Me To The Core” – Autumn Paige
Peter Vandunk: You moved to L.A. when you were 19. Where are you originally from, and can you share a memory from your upbringing that truly shaped you?
Autumn Paige: I’m originally from New York but grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. One of my core childhood memories is my dad taking me to see the live-action Bratz movie when it came out in theaters. I remember thinking, “I’m gonna be cool like that when I grow up.” And now, looking back, I feel like that’s exactly who I am—unapologetically me to the core. I don’t care what anyone thinks, and I’ll always stay true to myself.
PV: Your music feels so raw and personal. What experiences from your own life do you draw from when writing songs that feel so relatable to so many people?
AP: Most of the time, on my way to the studio, I really try to tune into my feelings and check in with where I’m at that day. I ask myself—did something happen literally minutes before I walked in that I can write about? Or is there something from the past that still hits me emotionally? A lot of times, it feels like a therapy session. That’s actually how Baggage came about. I was just venting to my producer about this guy I really wanted to be with. That’s when the idea for Baggage sparked. We ended up talking for like 30 minutes about what I was feeling and the things I’d need to work on to be ready for the kind of relationship I wanted.
PV: You’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredible names in the industry, like Emile Ghantous and Eric Benét. How has collaborating with such talented artists shaped you both as a person and as a musician?
AP: It was honestly terrifying at first. I didn’t grow up listening to the music everyone else did—I was raised Christian, so my playlist was pretty much gospel and more gospel. Secular music? Never heard of her. So when people ask me about certain songs or artists, I’m just standing there like, “Yeah… no clue who that is.” It can be a little embarrassing, but also kind of amazing. It’s like I’ve stumbled into this whole secret music universe I never got to explore.
Working with these “old heads” has been eye-opening in the best way. They’ve put me on to so much, and watching them write and build beats from scratch? It’s like witnessing magic. Honestly, it’s been such a blessing to learn from them—and now my musical vocabulary has officially leveled up from strictly Sunday service to certified vibe curator.
“Giving My Permission To Grow” – Autumn Paige
PV: Your new single “Baggage” is such a powerful track. Can you share a little about what inspired the song and what you hope listeners take away from it?
AP: “Baggage” was inspired by my own toxic era—like, I was outside, okay? Living. But then I stumbled across this man… and he loved me in a way I had never experienced before. It was soft, safe, and real. And suddenly, all my little ‘City Girl’ habits weren’t hitting the same. I realized that if I wanted to receive that kind of love, I had to change—I had to let go of the patterns, the mindset, and honestly, the trauma I’d been carrying around like a designer bag.
It was scary because I wasn’t sure I was ready… but I knew I wanted to be. Writing “Baggage” became my way of giving myself permission to grow. To say, “It’s okay to let go of what hurt you. It’s okay to be loved,” right?
“Diving head first into the chaos of my heart” – Autumn Paige
PV: Your latest EP “Down The Rabbit Hole” has so many people excited. What’s the story behind this project, and how does it reflect where you are at in your life and music right now?
AP: The story behind Down the Rabbit Hole is a full-on rollercoaster—like, strap in and hold on. I’m not perfect by any means, but I’ve always been obsessed with love. I’ve wanted it, chased it, romanticized it… sometimes to my own detriment. And yeah, I didn’t always go about it the right way. I’ve made some wild decisions, been petty, acted out of hurt, and still somehow thought, “Yeah, this is totally normal.”
This project is really just me diving headfirst into the chaos of my heart. It’s about how love can feel euphoric one minute, and then infuriating the next. How I overthink, spiral, stay too long, leave too soon—all of it. But at the core, it’s really just me saying: I love love. Even when it’s messy. Even when it’s toxic. I’d probably stick around forever just to find it.
“Be you- loudly, proudly,100% of the time”- Autumn Paige
PV: As someone who’s just starting to make waves in the industry, what advice would you give to others trying to navigate the ups and downs of chasing their dreams?
AP: First and foremost: take opinions with a grain of salt. Feedback can be helpful, sure—but it can also mess with your head. Some people are fake, some are overly hyped, and others just project their own stuff onto you. At the end of the day, the only person you can really count on to stay real is you.
So be you—loudly, proudly, 100% of the time. Don’t water yourself down, don’t shape-shift to make people comfortable, and never give up. There’s always going to be someone trying to throw their two cents in, and because we’re human, it’s hard not to let it affect us—whether it’s praise or criticism. But sometimes, the best thing you can do is tune it out and trust your gut. It won’t steer you wrong.
“From Bratz Dreams to Raw Truths: Autumn Paige’s Music Is an Invitation to Be Yourself”
So, from that little spark ignited by the Bratz movie while growing up in Ohio, Autumn Paige has blossomed into a truly captivating artist in L.A. Her journey reminds us that even the smallest moments can shape who we become, and that sharing our honest selves—as she does in her music, especially in the beautifully raw “Baggage”—is how we connect on a real level.
Listening to her feels like sharing a piece of your own story—a reminder that we’re all figuring things out and carrying our own kind of baggage. Keep an ear out for what Autumn does next; her voice feels like a warm invitation to be yourself, and that’s a journey we can all appreciate.
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