Ready to hit refresh on your fall playlist? 18-year-old singer-songwriter Stella Prince is here to save the day, and her folksy sound (and amaze energy) is exactly what we needed this autumn. We sat down with Stella to hear all about her newest release, "Closing Doors" (stream it here) and the ins and outs of authenticity in the music industry.

Girls' Life: OK, so: Tell us everything about your new single, "Closing Doors."
Stella: It's my seventh single release, and all my releases are original songs. I wrote this one on my own. One of my favorite things about this song is that I recorded it with live musicians in the studio. In the past, I would go to the studio, record my vocals, record my guitar and then send everything to a producer elsewhere. This time, I got to record it live—with four other musicians. The other thing I love about this song is the message behind it. The idea of facing rejection is so difficult, especially for young artists. I just wanted to write a song about how much harder it is now to pursue your art.

GL: What's your writing process like?
Stella: I actually wrote this one when I was touring in the UK for the first time. It was my first international tour, and I booked it all myself. We were staying at a bed and breakfast in Ireland where there were just miles and miles of green pastures as far as the eye could see. I decided to write a song outside and, as I started singing, all these cows came right up to me and started mooing. It was just incredible.

GL: Wow. And how would you describe your sound overall?
Stella: Authentic. I know that word gets pushed around a lot, but I try to really be authentic and relatable. I want my songs to resonate with everyone, every generation, every issue: loneliness, fear, all of that. I released a song a few months ago called "Crying on a Saturday Night." It's the idea of just being alone on a weekend and not having friends or people to hang out with. I've never specifically said who it's about, so I feel like it leaves room for people to base it on their own life.

GL: What are some goals you have for your career?
Stella: I think to just be as successful as I can possibly be. And that might mean anything from winning a Grammy to touring the world. I just want to be as successful as the universe will let me. I'm going to keep moving forward and building my career.

GL: Who are some of your favorite artists? What's your dream collab?
Stella: Taylor Swift. She's like an honorary member of my favorite people. Then, of course, the classic folk singers: Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton. I love the sound of folk and country together. But my three favorite singers in the world are Judy Garland, Karen Carpenter and Patsy Cline. I find them all to be so inspiring.

GL: What's your favorite part about performing?
Stella: That feeling you get from the audience. Their attention and love are just incredible. I feel like it goes into me when I perform. When people clap, it just makes my heart sing.

GL: Is there any advice you would give our readers?
Stella: A lot of people have said to me that it's not possible to make your dreams come true, especially if you don't have the money to back you up or the family connections. It was incredibly hard when I started in the music industry, but if you work as hard as you possibly can and follow your specific dream, you can *totally* do whatever you want.

Stream "Closing Doors" here!

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Photo credit: Stella Prince

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