Conway, courtesy.

Los Angeles singer-songwriter Kassia Conway, whose goal is to make you want to dance to her songs, was last in the Bay Area while opening for St. Lucia. Those shows were at the Independent. When she returns this weekend, it will be a much larger venue — opening for Ellie Goulding at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The show is sold out.

I spoke to Conway, whose debut album will be out later this year, about music, image and fashion.

On looking in unique places for musical inspiration:

Conway: Actually, the harmonies and some of the vocal work that happen in traditional music, to me, is fascinating. It gives me ideas, like, “Actually, I should try to sing high here. That really worked.” And I’ll listen to reggae and be like, “That bass line is so loud. I love that. Let’s mix the song with a loud bass line because that shit is bumpin.'”

Is there anyone you try to model your music after?

Conway: I don’t think anything before I write, other than what that beat sounds like and what my mood is. I’m often surprised at the result. I try not to be influenced by the things I hear or copy anything, ever. The minute that I feel like I’m doing something that I’ve heard, I’m like, “This sucks.” Part of why I love music is that it’s like chasing a dragon. You don’t know what’s about to happen, and you have to create new stuff in a world where there’s so much music. It’s the personal challenge of “What can I make that I haven’t heard before?” that gets me writing. But of course there are people that I admire. Or I’ll listen back, and then I’m like, “Oh shit, the first second sounds like the Talking Heads.” God I love David Byrne.

I’ve heard you handcraft your on-stage outfits?

Conway: I will decide the morning of, “Oh my God, I’m going to be a panther.” And I go to vintage stores or raid my closet, alter clothes, rip things up, go buy something new and just start making. It’s completely mood-based.

So what was your mood this morning?

Conway: No. 1, it’s raining, so I must be warm, but I don’t want to be dull. So I went with super sparkly red pants to be a little bit obnoxious because I also feel like when you’re an opener, being cool is out of the question. Nobody knows who you are, so it’s not a cool contest. It’s like, “Notice this, even if you want to make fun of it.” So went for sequined black, white zebra-striped shirt that I bought at a vintage store and sparkly red flaming tights, which would keep me warm but also be obnoxious. If I’m going to go down, I’m going to go down big.

Follow Roman Gokhman at Twitter.com/RomiTheWriter.