A New Jersey native, Maggie Trapani, grew up around music, taking a lot of her inspiration from Sara Bareilles and Taylor Swift. The talented 22-year-old is set to release her debut EP, Life of a Perpetual Quitter, July 28, 2015.

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Mike O’Keefe: Where are you from and when did you get your start in music?

Maggie Trapani: I’m from New Jersey, I’ve always been involved with music. I’ve always been in choir and played some sort of instrument. I started learning guitar and writing songs about two and a half years ago.

MO: Where did your inspiration come from for “Open Road”?

MT: It was actually a BuzzFeed article. There was 27-old fashioned campers to inspire your next road trip.

MO: Getting out there and seeing as much as you can, I believe is the best thing earth has to offer — that’s really awesome. So, your video for open road captures a cross-country journey that I would encourage anyone to take. Where did you travel and how was the trip?

MT: We went to the Grand Canyon, and we did Route 66 through Arizona to Los Angeles, the Pacific Coast Highway, San Francisco, and Death Valley. It was a lot of fun, I never been out to the west coast at all — a lot of east coast. The architecture was so different out there, there is a lot of Spanish influences. That was really different.

Photo courtesy | Vivek Tulsidas

MO: I’ve heard that the Pacific Coast Highway is probably the best road you can drive on.

MT: It was my favorite, I’ve always wanted to do it and there was a point where weren’t able to do it at all. I said, “Guys, I can’t come out here and not do it — this is why I came.” It was gorgeous. Was such a good day for it too.

MO: What was your favorite stop along the way?

MT: Death Valley. I had never been to a desert area before. I live like 10-miles from Manhattan, everything is so crowded and I love it, but I had never really experienced the dessert. It was a lot of fun.

MO: I have never been to the desert, only the west coast and internationally — would love to get out there. When in search of a personal getaway, are you looking for relaxation? A party? Or a mix of both?

MT: A mix of both. I do not like relaxing a ton to be honest — in any aspect of life.

MO: How does music and travel fit together?

MT: Well, I think music can really define a trip, even starting with airplanes. We flew in and out of Las Vegas — it was a five-hour trip. I had a road-trip playlist that inspired me and got me in the mood. I think it can influence everything. If you’re in a Caribbean area, at a beach resort and listening to Caribbean music, it can really have an effect.

Photo courtesy | Trish Harmann

MO: Absolutely, if you have the perfect music for any situation it sets the whole mood. Name a destination you’ve been to that you’ll definitely return to. What’s the connection to that place?

MT: I actually am looking to go back to Paris. Not that I didn’t think I wouldn’t like Paris, but I didn’t think I would like Paris as much as I really did. I went with my sister and my aunt. I really want to go with my friends and be able to experience the city with people closer to my age. I really like all the museums, but I’m more interested in art and museums now than I was then. I didn’t appreciate it as much as I could have. I would definitely love to experience Paris again — all of France.

MO: If you could perform anywhere in the world where would you go?

MT: Oh! I think either Cape Town or Rio [de Janeiro]. I really want to go to both of those places right now, so any excuse to get there.

MO: The culture in Rio seems amazing, I definitely see that being an awesome place to go.

MT: I’ve never been to South America, but would absolutely love that.

Photo courtesy | Phil Whitehouse

MO: What about recording anywhere in the world?

MT: I would actually really enjoy recording in London. There are a lot of producers in London that I really admire and their music scene has always been so diverse and awesome. I think I would enjoy that.

MO: If you were looking for a vacation in a specific geographical location where would you go? The desert, mountains, beach, or country?

MT: It would less likely be the beach. I know that is working backwards, but I live so close to the beach all the stuff they offer I can usually do here. I tend to like stuff that is drastically different. I have never been anywhere too country so that would be fun.

MO: If you go to a new place you become so much more aware of your surroundings — it wakes you up.

MT: Yes, so exciting and fresh.

MO: What is the next trip and what for?

MT: I am actually looking to do another road-trip with my friends at the end of August. Our work schedules don’t permit for much international traveling — bank accounts too. We were looking at the middle of the country actually so from South Dakota to Louisville and everything in between.

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For more on Maggie visit her website or listen to open road again on SoundCloud.

Additional thanks to the Catalyst Publicity Group.