QUARANTINE PROFILE: Airpark
We’ve launch a profile series to highlight how artists are spending their time during quarantine. Several times a week we’ll highlight a new artist across the globe and see how they’re keeping busy during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Nashville brothers Michael and Ben Ford continue to make some of the most thoughtfully written tunes via their project Airpark. The latest track, “D Y W” is a collab with the equally amazing St. Lucia and leading up to their upcoming EP, Quiet Type: an Intimate Collection of New & Old, which we are anxiously waiting for in early 2021. In the meantime we see what the guys have been up to during quarantine in Nashville.
Airpark Online: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Bandcamp | Instagram
Photo: Melissa Madison Fuller
Where have you been spending your quarantine?
We’ve been spending most of our time at our rehearsal space, Eugenia Hall. In addition to rehearsing there, it’s also where we do a good bit of our writing and recording. It’s a place we can camp out at for long periods of time and feel pretty content.
How have you been staying busy during quarantine?
We’ve been staying surprisingly busy behind the scenes working on new releases….really excited that our new single ‘D Y W’ is out in the world. We had a blast making it with Jean from St. Lucia. We also have a new EP due out early next year that features a bunch of artists we really admire. Excited to share more soon….
Something new you’ve done:
There are some pretty incredible waterfalls in TN - over the summer I went to one that I had never been to before and it was incredible. It was probably 150 ft tall and it had just rained so it was really coming down. Looked like something out of Jurassic Park.
What’s something new you’ve cooked/baked?
I don’t do a ton of cooking but I have been exploring some new found, delicious vegetarian items (especially Quorn’s meatless nuggets).
Go to quarantine snack:
Peanut butter & banana - so damn good.
Song you’ve had on repeat:
Lady HD - “Whatever Comes Next”. Unstoppable song.
What’s a song that is your go to comfort jam?
Fiona Apple’s cover of “Across The Universe” - obsessed with everything about it and it always brings me a lot of comfort.
Something keeping Airpark sane: This is a photo of the waterfall we went to over the Summer - one of the many in TN. That’s Ben in the bottom left of the photo for scale.
If you could only watch one film for the rest of time what would it be?
The Fifth Element. It’s probably my favorite movie. Love the storyline and how much personality the characters have.
What is keeping you happy?
Getting outside for a run/walk has been a real lifesaver during this time. I always come back with more clarity and a renewed sense of optimism after I give myself a chance to get out for a minute.
What’s the best advice you’ve received during this time?
Go easy on yourself and let go of the expectations that you had going into this year or new ones you made at the beginning of quarantine.
What’s something you miss the most right now?
By now I know it may be somewhat cliche to say but it’s just true - I miss being able to hug friends.
Are there any livestream concerts/events you’ve really been inspired by or enjoying right now?
Really loved watching our buds Young The Giant play their debut album front to back on its 10 year anniversary. We met those guys on tour right when that album came out and it’s been incredible to see what they’ve accomplished over the last ten years. Great band and dudes.
What do you hope we take away from this?
One thing it's made me realize is how fast things can drastically change even when everything feels constant - trying to work on being mindful and grateful in the moment.
REVIEW: Pantaya Premieres CELEBREMOS: ETERNA NAVIDAD
Pantaya Gifts New Latinx Holiday Special
The Photo Ladies Review - by: Stephanie Augello
Colombian musician and activist Juanes has cut through the mire of 2020 to bring audiences some peace and hope in the waning days of this tumultuous year. The two-time Grammy winner, along with his wife Karen Martinez, hosts the Christmas special “Celebremos: Eterna Navidad,” which premieres on Lionsgate’s new Latinx streaming platform Pantaya on December 4th. Pantaya is the first-ever premium steaming destination for world-class movies and series in Spanish, offering the largest selection of the biggest blockbusters and critically acclaimed films from Latin America and the US as well as bold never before-seen original series.
For the special, Juanes has assembled a star-studded cast which includes Aislinn Derbez, Ana De La Reguera, Sebastian Zurita, Ricardo O'Farrill, as well as musical performances by Alejandro Fernández & América Fernández & Camila Fernández, Valentina Fernández, Juanes & Jay De La Cueva, Los Tigres Del Norte, Manuel Carrasco, Banda El Recodo, Morat & Danna Paola, Gloria Trevi, Edith Márquez & Luciano Pereyra, Paty Cantú, Kurt, La Adictiva Banda San José De Mesillas.
The storyline revolves around Juanes and Karen preparing for their holiday gathering. They’ve enlisted the cooking prowess of Chef Benito Molina and Chef Solange Muris, with the two offering lessons to the audience as they build dishes such as Mexican-style risotto and Maine lobster tacos. We’re further treated to often comedic anecdotes and heart-warming moments in between scenes, as the cast members reflect upon the Christmas season by sharing their memories, favorites dishes, and notions of what the holiday means to them. Musical interludes are woven throughout the special featuring songs such as “Los Peces en el Rio,” “Diciembre,” “Dulce Navidad,” and “Lleguemos a Tiempo,” and “El Niño del Tambor.” Not to be overlooked is the absolutely delightful comedy of Ricardo O’Farrill, whose superb timing and delivery truly augment this piece.
Soft lighting effects, Christmas sweater style graphics, and familiar holiday melodies complement the positive message of the special, making “Celebremos: Eterna Navidad” a bright spot in a dreary year.
QUARANTINE PROFILE: Laura Lizcano
We’ve launch a profile series to highlight how artists are spending their time during quarantine. Several times a week we’ll highlight a new artist across the globe and see how they’re keeping busy during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Laura Lizcano is another Philly gem we’ve been keeping an eye on this year. She just released her debut album Heart last month and it’s definitely a refreshing album for this year. Laura is a Colombia born singer-songwriter now living in Philadelphia. She’s a seasoned jazz vocalist with eclectic songs in Spanish and English featured on Heart. We highly recommend giving the album a spin (below) while you check out what Laura has been up to during quarantine.
Laura Lizcano Online: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Bandcamp
Me living by best summer quarantine life and embracing covid fashion.
How have you been staying busy during quarantine?
I'm very grateful that a lot of my work has come back online. So, mostly working. But I'm also dedicating a lot of time to fun creative things I haven't really done before: collaging, writing poems, and overall just getting in touch with my creative side more.
Anything new you’ve learned? / Something new you’ve done:
I took a writing workshop with Magdalene San Millan over Zoom! It was soooooo much fun, and I highly recommend it to EVERYONE. Magda's prompts are super fun and carefully crafted. It was also soooo nice to do something creative and share *virtual* space with other folks.
Go to quarantine snack: Veggie Strawwwwws!
What’s your go to song to make you feel less alone? / What’s a song that is your go to comfort jam?
I have a couple of these:
‘Extraordinary Machine’ - Fiona Apple, ‘Satisfied’ - The Wood Brothers & ‘Green and Blue’ - Jennah Bell
"Citrus Dreams" A Collage I made not too long ago.
What is keeping you happy?
Doing things I like and not feeling guilty about it! In pre-covid times I was running around and telling myself that I should be dedicated to the "hustle" 99% of the time. So when I did things that were just fun for me, I felt bad that I wasn't working or whatever. I'm a much happier person now that I make time for the things that bring me joy.
What’s something you miss the most right now?Going to the movies and going to shows and hearing my friends make beautiful sounds. I can't wait to be in a tiny little crowded bar on a Friday night, smushed together with a bunch of people and listening to live music. I can't wait to see Martha Graham Cracker live again, too! I miss that so much!
Are there any livestream concerts/events you’ve really been inspired by or enjoying right now?Early on in the quarantine, I saw Cecile McLorin Salvant doing a duo show from her house. It was magical. Her voice is just so beautiful.
What do you hope we take away from this?I hope that we can remember to appreciate the little things: hugging our friends, celebrating with loved ones, and even just like going to the grocery store. Everything is so different now, and nothing will ever be the same after this. I think that wishing that things will "go back to normal" is just not going to happen. But I also see that as an opportunity for us to be more mindful of each other and to hopefully become of a more compassionate community.
INTERVIEW: Model Stranger
Model Stranger
The Photo Ladies Interview - by Emily May
It's pretty rare these days to find a band that has not only been together for a decade, but one who has their original line-up. Chicago-based alternative rock band Model Stranger is that rare band. Friends since high school, vocalist/guitarist Stephen Francis and bassist Kevin James played in prog rock band together, with time eventually leading them to meet drummer Vincent Joseph. Initially a hired gun for two shows, Vincent soon became a permanent part of the band and Model Stranger was officially born. Dubbed "rock n' roll classicists" and "an eclectic synthesis of psychedelic grunge and classic rock", with variety of influences that range from Muse, Pearl Jam, David Bowie and Tom Petty, the sounds of Model Stranger have appealed to listeners across multiple genres. Upon releasing their debut album Dreams and Bones in 2010, the band spent the next 2 years playing 180 shows and have since showcased their strength as a live band. Their subsequent EP's, 2013's The Changing Score and 2015's Imitation Act, have taken their listeners on a sonic journey that showcases the bands evolving sound. The band recently released their latest album, an LP entitled Phases, which the band describes as the beginning, middle and end of the past decade for the band. Having spent the last several years on the road touring and promoting their music, the band decided to take a break to focus on songwriting, feeling the need to write and record some fresh music. The first single from the album, "Breaks My Heart", shows off the band's range and ability. They shot the music video in a basement in one night, using an iPhone and a single light. The album's second single, "Pick Me", showcases their energy as a band. The trio plans to keep writing and recording and will be releasing more music videos and new tracks in the coming months. You can connect with Model Stranger via the following links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud | iTunes/Apple Music | YouTube | Deezer | Bandcamp
You recently released your new album Phases and have described it as the beginning, middle and end of the past decade for you guys. Having put out your first record 10 years ago, what do you see as the story of the band over the past 10 years? How do you feel your sound has evolved over the years and how have you each grown as artists?
Vincent Joseph- As a whole we have not only matured as a unit, but literally grew up together throughout the last decade. Our story always revolved around this “analog band living in a digital era” attitude. We looked up to our idols from the 60’s & 90’s and the whole cultural movement amongst them. We toured and tried to make connections with fans one on one and we partied and crashed at fans homes throughout the years. These fans became friends and we all became part of our own microcosm, our own culture. However, throughout the years we have had to adjust and move that into a digital landscape, which is what we are attempting to do now. We have played large rooms and festivals to many people and we have played bars to a handful of people, but we have always connected with those people in front of us- now it is us trying to connect with people through our keyboards and social media. We have experienced a lot of personal changes throughout the past decade from success to personal heartache to loss of loved ones and everything in between- but we have experienced these phases together and that is what we have tried to capture in this new record. The sound has evolved from something raw and angst riddled to something more polished but still with edge. From Rock N’ Rollers to alternative pop rock with an edge and pop sensibility. More importantly, throughout the years we have learned to listen to one another, play with one another and write with one another- that is how we have all grown the most.
You have said that Phases showcases a couple of different sounds that you love while still maintaining a rock sound, with each track complimenting the next while maintaining their differences. What can you tell me about the process of writing and recording the album?
Vincent Joseph- We originally wrote about 50 songs and whittled it down to 13 for recording. Of those 13, 9 made it onto “Phases”. Each song was written from a different place mentally, emotionally and structurally. Some of the tracks were written around a single hook, where others were completed around an entire vocal/lyrical idea. However, across the board on “Phases” we made the bass & drums a cornerstone with which to build the arrangements. This whole album has solid rhythm with sexy guitar work coloring it in.
You have said you had a lot of songs that you had to narrow down for the album. How did you go about deciding which songs to include? Do you have any plans for the songs that didn't make the album?
Vincent Joseph- Out of the 50 or so songs that were brought to the table, we all agreed as a unit what worked together and what did not. However, we consulted some friends, family members, our producer (Noam Wallenberg) and peers in the industry to get a fresh take on the tracks, as we had grown close to them and wanted non-biased feedback. Once narrowed down to the 13 tracks we wanted to record, we ran them through the gamut focusing on structure, arrangement and fine tune adjustments. After recording the 13 tracks, 9 made it onto the album with the other 4 to be released at later dates. The 9 tracks on “Phases” were intentionally placed and sequenced to be listed to as a whole unit; ideally on vinyl.
What can you tell be about your idea to put golden tickets in random copies of Phases for Record Store Day in Chicago this year?
Vincent Joseph- We do not have a massive fan-base yet, however, our current fan-base is dedicated and we wanted to show that to them in a clever way. The people that had went out (or online) for record store day had an opportunity to get a copy of “Phases” ahead of its release. So if people were going to be engaging with us and supporting local businesses we wanted to give them a little treat, or golden lining to this shit year. So to those of you that got the golden ticket, bravo!
It's pretty uncommon for bands to stick together with their original line up for 10+ years. What has it been like to grow together as a band over the past 10 years? As a band that is completely DIY, do you feel that doing everything yourselves over the years has strengthened your bond?
Vincent Joseph- We have spent more time together than most families spend together, so for us not wanting to murder one another and still be productive together says something. It is by no means easy being an independent band; it is not all sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. We pour A LOT of time, sweat, blood tears and money into this. We have sacrificed family, personal relationships, birthdays and milestones to make this work. But when the end result is that we can keep doing this, it is worth it. We get to create music and connect with people in a positive and meaningful way. What else could someone ask for?
What can you tell me about your recent single "Breaks My Heart", as well as the video? What was it like to shoot the video in one night on an iPhone using a single light?
Vincent Joseph- We normally have a heavy hand in the video content (if not all), however, we handed over the reins of the plot to Mat Dimare for this one (he also shot our music videos for “Stare”, “Balance”, and edited “Pick Me”). He had a vision for something in particular and it really worked well with the song. We are used to shooting videos within a day, however, being that this was all on an iPhone made the process go even quicker. Matt really had the story board and concept narrowed down, so we worked extremely efficiently. Plus, a lot of our videos have most of the work done in post-production…I mean we can only look pretty in front of a camera for so long.
You also released the single "Pick Me", the song structure of which is not your usual approach to songwriting but is just the way the song developed. What can you tell me about the song as well as the video?
Vincent Joseph- The song came about quicker than any other song on the album. Stephen had written the guitar riff and when he brought that in everything just fell into place. It is definitely the oldest song that was recorded onto “Phases”. It is just a good slammin’ Rock N’ Roll tune that should get your blood pumping and the whiskey flowing. The subject matter could not be more relevant as we are now all imprisoned on our personal devices scrolling through every day with a stamp of approval only a double tap away...I did not mean to rhyme there. The video is one of my favorite concepts we have down and I can’t believe it actually worked out. We had a show at the end of January (just before the Covid Pandemic took root in the states) that was at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. We had our phones set up on stage recording and then asked the audience to send us any footage that they had recorded. All of the compiled footage was then edited into the “Pick Me” video. I am not only pleased with how the video turned out, but was delighted to see how many fans participated and sent in footage, not to mention the nostalgia of looking at a sold out audience for a live music performance… something we will not see again for some time.
What has it been like for you guys to try to reach your audience virtually during this age of COVID? What have been some of your biggest challenges? Has anything surprised you about trying to navigate this time as a band? What do you see as the state of the music industry once COVID is over?
Vincent Joseph- This age of Covid has been trying to say the least, but we are adapting as best we can. Moving as much into the realm of the internet, social media, streaming and just staying busy with business and writing new music. Model Stranger has always prided ourselves on our live performances and touring and that simply cannot happen right now. We did perform a couple of live streams which were much more fun than I anticipated and the best consolation for not being able to have a proper ‘record release party.’ Those can be found on our Facebook page and Gigmor Live Twitch page. It’s times like these that I am grateful Model Stranger has stayed independent and that we are not indebted to a massive corporation. We are able to break into a new era of the industry that will be forever changed. Overall, the state of the music industry will be forever shifted and the power structure is under construction. I think the music venues will be much more willing to broker a reasonable working relationship with artists moving forward, because they will have to in order to keep their doors open at this point. The future is unclear to say the least, but musicians are learning that we do not need anyone other than our craft, our voice, some hard work and a high speed internet connection to succeed- while the industry as a whole requires us to succeed- so this may be a change for the better. I just look forward to playing live again when the time is responsible and right.
You guys have played a Halloween show at the Elbo Room in Chicago every year from 2009-2019. What was it like to not play one this year and what are some of your fondest memories and favorite costumes from past shows? What did you guys do for Halloween? Stephen-As a lover of scary movies, what are your favorites?
Vincent Joseph- We started that event (Bands Being Bands) over 10 years ago not thinking what it would become: an annual sold-out-party that was always the most fun event of the year at one of the best clubs in Chicago that we have always held close to our hearts. We have been David Bowie (2010), Nirvana (2011), Foo Fighters (2012), The Beatles (rooftop/last show 2013), ZZ Top (2014), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (2015), The Red Hot Chili Peppers (2016), The Beatles (pre-Rubber Soul 2017), The Doors (2018), Madonna (2019). Although, I would like to say ZZ Top was the most fun, I do not think anything could top our performance last year as Madonna. It was simply magical and we were all different era “Madonnas.” I don’t know where we could have gone from that, but I do know it would have been a blast. At least it came to an end after so many consecutive years of selling it out and so many great memories. It’s better to go out on a high note, right? For Halloween we all did the responsible thing and stayed home, while watching movies. I watched a friend stream his Halloween special: Otto Von Schirach’s “Live from Draculo’s Castle”. For the record- Stephen uses my Shudder account and will watch what horror movies I allow him to prior to putting him to bed. And it is not a fair question. The best “scary” movies vary on genre, time of release, etc. But some top runners across all boards are: Re-Animator, Alien, Night of The Living Dead, 28 Days Later, When A Stranger Calls, Poltergeist and The Little Mermaid.
What's next for Model Stranger?
Vincent Joseph- We will be releasing a few more videos in support of “Phases” and hopefully be able to tour on the album in the coming year(s). Regardless of touring, we will be releasing some new tracks and videos in the winter and spring too. We are continuously writing and recording new content that will all eventually make its way out into the world. We are navigating these times just like everyone else and trying to find the best way to continuously connect with people, so cheers to the unknown!
QUARANTINE PROFILE: Ben Kessler
We’ve launch a profile series to highlight how artists are spending their time during quarantine. Several times a week we’ll highlight a new artist across the globe and see how they’re keeping busy during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Ben Kessler has been budding his music career in the Philly area for what seems like over a decade now. After going to Nashville for school, quarantine has brought him back to the Philly area to record some new tunes, including his latest single with another Philly burb musician Lizzy McAlpine. “False Art” has been spreading across the internet world for a month now and it further proves that with each new release Ben’s tunes just seem to get better. We have a chat with Ben about how his lockdown is going.
Ben Kessler Online: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Website
Where have you been spending your quarantine?
In my basement studio working on music!
How have you been staying busy during quarantine?
I've been writing & producing my first EP!
What quarantine trend(s) have you fallen prey to?
I've gotten back on my meditation grind - thankfully
Album you’ve had on repeat:
The new Glass Animals album is pretty dope
If you could only watch one film or TV show for the rest of time what would it be?
Community
What is keeping you happy?
Making music everyday!
QUARANTINE PROFILE: slenderbodies
We’ve launch a profile series to highlight how artists are spending their time during quarantine. Several times a week we’ll highlight a new artist across the globe and see how they’re keeping busy during COVID-19 lockdowns.
West coast duo slenderbodies released their second album komorebi last year. Incase you need a definition, komorebi is the Japanese term for the sunlight as it filters through the trees. A mantra I personally like to live in is finding the light in the little things, especially this year, so I find komorebi to be a great concept to find peace in. If you’re not familiar with slenderbodies, their tunes offer an embrace of layered sounds in the vein of artists like Glass Animal. We have a chat with Benji and Max from slenderbodies about what they’ve been up to in lockdown in our latest Quarantine Profile.
slenderbodies Online: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Where have you been spending your quarantine?
Max lives in San Diego! I spent half of this year in Half Moon Bay, CA but recently moved to Austin TX!
How have you been staying busy during quarantine? (or not keeping busy is totally fine too
Of course we’ve been keeping up with making lots of music, but beyond that a tons of DIY projects!! Max has gotten super into renovating his house while i’ve built some sound panels and some furniture. Dabbling in drawing and painting here and there as well. Playing a LOT of videogames as well
Go to quarantine snack:
Kale salad! 1 head of kale, 2 handfuls sunflower seeds, half red onion, lemon and liquid aminos to taste. delicious and light :)
Something keeping Benji from slenderbodies sane: Breeze
Song (or album) you’ve had on repeat:
been listening to Kraak and Smaak’s Pleasure Center a whole bunch
What’s your go to song to make you feel less alone? / What’s a song that is your go to comfort jam?
I love to listen to “7 billion people all alive at once” by And So I Watch You From Afar. Also “Gymnopedie no 1” by Erik Satie really calms me down
What do you hope we take away from this?
I hope we take away rational compassion and respect for science. Maybe a little more emphasis on truly connecting directly to people rather than reliance on social media.
Anything new we should know about that you’re working on?
expect tons of new music soon :)
INTERVIEW: Molly Moore
Molly Moore
The Photo Ladies Interview - by Emily May
Molly Moore wants to change the conversation surrounding the identity crisis society is facing in the age of the internet. The NY-born and LA-based artist has always loved music and graduated from high school 6 months early in order to focus on her music, making the move to LA at 19. Aside from her dreams of creating her own music, Moore honed her songwriting skills and wrote songs for artists such as Jesse McCartney, Steve Aoki and Lea Michele. Formerly part of the duo Cosmos & Creature with her then boyfriend Brandyn Burnette, she also released three solo albums during that time, becoming an accomplished artist in her own right. In 2018, with the death of her father and ending of her relationship, Moore ventured out on her own, focusing solely on her solo career for the first time. Her recently released singles "Identity Crisis" and "Careful", from her upcoming album Voice of The Internet, share the message of being addicted as a society to social media and how to know if what you see on the internet is real or not. The album was written following her break up as she watched her ex move on while she wasn’t ready to do so herself. It is an ode to her journey towards self-discovery and tells of her personal journey through her music. “I was going through the actual separation and embracing myself,” she admits. “I decided to focus on me and give my solo career the shot I had never really given it, because I was always so focused on the band with my ex and doing things with him together. It was healing to be able to make music that showed independence versus being so overwhelmed by romantic pursuits. I tried to break the cycle and adjust on my own, so I could be a whole person the next time I got into a relationship.” “When you hear the record, I hope you don’t need to text or call your ex at three in the morning,” she leaves off. “You could put this on instead. I want you to cry to it and dance to it. I embraced being on my own. You have the same power.” Her latest single "Always Gonna Love You" is one of the more personal tracks on the album and is a bittersweet testament and reminder that regardless of what was and what could have been, the power of love is imminent. “This song is the result of connecting with another female artist after we both had gone through breakups. I had been needing to get this out for a while and we had a long conversation about how no matter what circumstances could've been different, ultimately you can't stop love when it's inevitable,” shares Molly. With a livestream event and more music to release, Moore admits that she is just getting started. This is just the beginning for her and she is looking forward to forging ahead with her music. You can connect with Molly Moore via the following links.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud | iTunes/Apple Music | YouTube | Deezer | last.fm | Tidal
You grew up in a pretty musical household and graduated high school 6 months early to focus on recording music, moving to LA when you were 19 to begin pursuing your career as a songwriter. What was that like for you, to make that move to LA at such a young age?
It was crazy and was quite a transition. I think I was a bit over-confident at that time in my life and it definitely humbled me, which I think was necessary. I was so young and I think I thought I was a lot older than I was. I met a lot of people when I came out here and a lot of people that I kind of already knew from New York were coming out to LA around the same time. It was cool and was a lot of fun and was a wild time. I mean, I don't really even know if I would say that I would go back and change anything because I wouldn't be who I am now. It was definitely a really crazy, kind of tumultuous time for me but was great in a lot of ways. I got to do a lot of collaborating with other people and getting to know different people in LA. That's sort of the name of the game when you get here, just getting to know a lot of different people and hopefully over time you find yours.
You have said that your move to LA helped you to grow into yourself and that being able to work with other people and see their perspective on writing and music helped you to feel pretty confident about your own perspective. How do you feel that writing songs for other artists helped you to find your own perspective as an artist?
That's a great question! I think it sort of led me away from that for a while and then led me to it. I grew up acting and love having different characters and playing different roles. I think that's why I love writing for other artists too. When I came out to LA when I was younger, I think I had a misunderstanding about what it really means to be a great songwriter for other artists. I learned along the way that, you know, it really matters what your perspective is and if you have a voice that people want to align with. I think I was more so hoping to step into somebody else's shoes and become another artist to write for them. But in reality, I realized that developing my own voice is how I can help someone else develop theirs. By having something clear in myself, and knowing how I got there, I could then help somebody else find their perspective of that and what that means for them.
You've written for other artists like Lea Michele, Steve Aoki and Jesse McCartney. When you moved to LA, was your initial goal to solely write for other artists or did you want to write your own music, as well?
I always wanted to do both. I think that I hoped songwriting would help me to pursue my own artist career in a lot of ways. In a lot of ways it did and in a lot of ways it didn't. It's always kind of a mixed bag. When I came out here, I think I wanted to work with other people but didn't know how to get anybody to care about my artist projects. I mean it wasn't only that, but part of me thought "Well, if I'm writing for other artists and working with more people, I can meet more people and just make more songs" and that's kind of what happened.
You were previously part of the duo Cosmos and Creature and during that time you released solo albums, as well. What was it like during that time for you to do both, and what is it like for you now to be able to focus solely on your own music instead of having to go back and forth between the two projects?
You know, it was an amazing time of my life and was, again, a crazy time. A lot of my life has been crazy. There was pressure from other people to kind of choose which one we were going to focus on, if it was going to be our solo projects or the project we had together. What we decided is that it was both and that we could do that. That was a risk for us to take, I think, because it's hard for other people to understand how you can do multiple things at once. But we would incorporate our solo projects into our live sets and stuff like that, which was awesome and kind of helped people to understand what our vibe was. We were like "We're not giving up on our solo projects. We have music we make together and love to perform it and that's it." I definitely was putting a lot of energy towards the duo when we were doing it and were in that relationship, so I think most of my energy was going there. I will say that ever since I started putting my energy back...well, not even back, because I don't even know if it ever was even fully in my solo project. I think I always was excited about making music on my own, but then it sort of grew into this duo that I was also really excited about for a long time. Now, it's like I'm actually focusing on myself fully for the first time and it's amazing. I just feel like I'm growing a lot and it's nice to be able to just learn and apply what I'm learning. I feel like I'm helping other people when I do get into a room to write for someone else. I feel like I have sort of found a place in my own music where I'm excited and feel like I've established how I can use my voice. That, I think, helps everything.
You've talked about your journey in learning how to let go of trying to control when you are writing your best work or when you are super productive and learning to let the work come to you. What has that process been like for you?
It's nice. I think I find more of it in this time period where people aren't doing as many sessions in person and there's not as much fluff happening, I feel, as far as random things being set up. I got into a cycle when I was making my album where I was working so much and really had a lot to say and was the thing that kind of saved me. That being said, in this time I've been able to start even writing on guitar again, which is something I lost touch with in working with other producers for so long. I've been relearning guitar and that's been a lot of fun. I think the ideas that I'm writing now are just...it's opening up because I have now gone through this loss and heartbreak and have written about that. I always will, but I think what I'm writing about now is becoming more about my own process and about love, still, in a lot of ways, both fortunately or unfortunately...however you want to look at it. A lot of the music I'm starting to make now is also just about my own journey, which I think is nice. It's just everything I've been through up to this point.
You'll be releasing your new album Voice of The Internet on November 13th and is an ode to your journey towards self-discovery. What can you tell me about making the album and what you learned about yourself in the process?
Yeah. I learned that I was really angry, listening back to the songs (laughs). I learned that I didn't have to judge myself so much for that anger and that it was ok and was warranted. Maybe growing and...maybe anger and sadness on someone else isn't cool...but I think that making art that's true to what you are going through and accepting that and having sort of an acceptance for the raw versions of those emotions is something that I've really had to learn in this process. There were times when I was like "Ok. I can't do this. It's too much." I was pouring it all out and it's scary, because it's about a relationship where everybody kind of knows who it's about, so it's just scary, you know? Well, obviously not new fans, but the people who have been following my career and the people I'm excited to share this body of work with, as much as new people, as well. I'm really excited for my music to reach new people too. So yeah, there was just a lot of acceptance that went into letting myself express the heartbreak as vulnerably as I did.
You have also said that in recent years the production of your tracks has evolved into a 50/50 mix of having a concrete plan going into the process and trying new things to see what fits. What has that evolution been like for you?
It's always different I find. Everybody's kind of different, unless you are working with the same person consistently, which I have been lucky enough to do on the next body of work. On the first body of work, I was working with a lot of different producers and found that adding live elements like horns and live guitar and live bass helps to bring out the soulful influence that I kind of start my music with. That's something that I have been learning daily, the importance of keeping my sound consistent and evolving too. I love musicians and live instruments and there's just nothing like that. They make every synth for it, that can sound like a guitar or sound like a piano, but when you just really have those instruments, it's something so special, when someone really knows how to play. It's generally not me (laughs).
You have doing 'Voice on The Internet talks'. What led you to want to start doing those talks and how has it been going?
It's been going! I did the first one a couple of weeks back. I have yet to do the next one, but was actually just thinking about that today because I have a friend that I wanted to do it, but he isn't available anymore so I have to switch things up. I've been thinking of doing it with my best friend Maddie for the second episode. It's something I'm going to be rolling out once the album is out. I'm going to be doing a lot more of that. The first one was amazing, as well. Sidney Tipton was my guest and she's an incredible artist and songwriter. We talked about identity crisis and how you can find yourself in an identity crisis when you are a female in the world and in the music industry. Men too. Everybody goes through a time when they feel lost. We kind of just dug into that and expectations and the things we project in our personality as almost like a coping mechanism to get through life. There's a certain point where you realize "Oh. That's not serving me. That's just serving other people." There were just a lot of conversations about that and why and how to break through that and it was a lot of fun. I'm excited about talking openly about that stuff, because that's just my life. It's who I am and I think that's what we should talk about. I don't understand why we talk about the weather or even sports. I don't like sports. It's been really cool to share the this on Instagram. I think I want to maybe develop it further, beyond that platform, so I'm still trying to figure that out to see if I can widen the reach in some way.
Along those same lines, you recently released your two singles "Identity Crisis" and "Careful", which share a complimentary message of being addicted as a society to social media and the idea of how to know if what you see online is real or not. Was there a specific thing that inspired those songs for you and what are your views on social media in general right now and the effect it's having on society?
Yeah. There was definitely a specific inspiration for that, which my whole album is inspired by, which is just, like, how do you get over someone when the internet exists? Especially if they've moved on and you haven't. It's just crazy, and what I realized is that I was falling victim to a lot of things that I didn't think I was susceptible to, in just looking avidly online to see who my ex was trying to date now. It was insane how I started to feel really bad about myself, because I was comparing myself to the types of girls that he liked, which is, like, sick! And so many people do it because it's there for you to do. It's this easy thing and there's no conversation really about it. It's like, it happens and people tell you to block that person and eventually you do or you don't. I realized that I couldn't block him out of my brain and that I needed to realize what I want and not let the world that's been created around me define what I create for myself. I decided to be alone and was like "This is going to suck but I'm just going to be alone and be with myself and figure out who I am and what I want." In that time, I really just realized how the internet plays a role in...either you can really establish who you are and identify with what's real or you can project an image that's a slightly altered version or you can project an image that's completely different. And it's not really received any differently all across the board. There are genuine people and there are really fake people who succeed on the internet. For me, I was just sitting back and analyzing this and realizing that I didn't want to be a part of that. I only wanted to be a part of the internet if I was going to help it move forward and evolve and realized I had to do that in myself. It's really about intention, I think, at the end of the day and realizing you have to decide that for yourself. No amount of memes or posts can tell you who you are. I mean, there are really actually helpful people on social media who are helping to evolve it, and there are great uses to making a funny post and making people laugh and all of that. I'm not hating on any of it, but there's a lot misinformation and I just want people to realize they can think for themselves.
You have said that in recent years you have been able to doing music full time and have been working on your work/life balance. How has trying to find that balance been going for you?
I am finding it every day. I am also realizing the importance of it every day, which I think is a key part to finding it. I lost touch with it for a long time to be honest and still struggle with it, but it is something that I am actively working on and taking time for myself throughout the day. I tend to be an over-worker and get into certain modes of working on certain things and can lose sight of a whole portion of what I have to do because I will funnel in and focus on something. I'm just realizing how much time management plays into taking care of yourself and having a self-care routine and balanced life and all of the success of a business, you know? It's kind of scary, like realizing I failed because of me and not because of anybody else. I'm the business. It's just making sure that I take care of myself and my mental health and my body. I'm literally just now realizing the importance of it, at 28 years old. I actually got sick about a month ago because I wasn't eating enough or drinking enough, and it's crazy to think that can happen and you don't even realize you're doing it. You don't even know that you aren't eating enough throughout the day. I've definitely been working more time for balance into my schedule.
You have also composed children's music for the Hasbro animated series 'Hanazuki'. What can you tell me about that series and how you came to work on it?
It was awesome. The opportunity came through somebody we were working with at the time and it was a lot of fun. We were writing so many songs at that time that a lot of what we were writing actually kind of fit into what the needs were for the music for the show. We also wrote a lot of songs from scratch after having watched the episodes, which was really cool because I've never done anything like that, where I'm getting visual inspiration for music. I'd also never made...well, I guess I've written a couple of scenes over the years where I submitted them for pitches...but I'd never really done it. It was my first time getting to write music for children and having that come out, which was really cool.
You have talked about being raised by spiritual parents and were raised to acknowledge the energy in the world and the universe and what's out there. What are your thoughts on the world right now? I've read a lot of people talking about a great awakening happening right now. Do you feel like that is happening?
Absolutely! There's definitely a massive shift happening. I can feel it every day and every moment. With darkness comes light and with light comes darkness and I feel a lot of the concepts and knowledge that people have really dug into the past year is incredible. It's something that gives me hope for the future. There's a lot of corruption and a lot of imbalance in the world and a lot of pain at the hands of powerful people. I think that is something I hope to be able to work to change in my life, in any way that I can, literally. I do feel like there's a great awakening happening and I feel it's happening to me simultaneously. I feel like I've been able to kind of deal with a lot in the last 6 months that I was running from prior. It's amazing and is a great feeling to not run from things. It's almost like we were all just shoved inside because we were just all running from everything. Or maybe it was just me (laughs). I feel like I have noticed friends talking to me and other artists who feel like they are on similar paths. I know, for me in particular, it's a very personal journey where I feel like I've had to kind of rebuild and with that has come a freedom from a lot of old habits and emotions that I refused to feel for a long time. Simultaneously, I feel that the world is kind of opening its third eye and seeing what's actually happening. It's beautiful and amazing. I've unfortunately been kind of feeling this way for a while about the state of society and not knowing how I could personally make a large enough impact to matter. I feel like every day I'm learning more about how to do that and feel like other people are starting to align with a deeper purpose in life, as well. It's very exciting.
I sometimes feel like maybe all of the slowing down of society happened for a reason, so that people could be more aware of what is really happening in the world.
It's true, because I can't ever imagine a circumstance where this would have happened, outside of this. I'm not saying I'm happy that people have been getting sick and dying. It's really tragic and I'm not trying to say it's a good thing by any means, in that aspect. I do think of it as people not having as many distractions to the impactful things they are dealing with.
You just released your latest single "Always Gonna Love You". What can you tell me about the track and what was it like to write it over Facetime?
It was crazy! The song was written pretty quickly and we just had this conversation where the girl I wrote it with had just gotten out of a relationship, as well. We were just feeling really similarly about it. We still had lingering feelings and it can be hard to let go of that hope that maybe someday it could work out and that things shouldn't have happened the way that they did. We came to this conclusion that we were both always going to love this person no matter what was different about the circumstances, whether it went perfectly or terribly. It's one of those things where you know it's always going to happen and you are going to feel that way. It's sort of liberating in a way and it's true. When you love someone, you really do have that place in your heart for them and it shouldn't ever really go away, if it was real. That's what I'm telling myself lately.
What's next for you, aside from your album release?
I'm doing a livestream on Tuesday with Jam In A Van, which will be awesome. It will be from their YouTube page and I'll be playing songs from my album. I'm also doing a livestream on November 18th and will be playing more songs from the album. Hopefully close to the whole thing. I'm also working on a second album. I have more music coming out after the album and I'm not stopping. This is just the beginning for me! I'm just excited to be able to connect with the people who have been listening more and building that social relationship online, which is the only place we can be right now. And have more conversations like this. I just hope I get to do more of this!
PLAYLIST: November Current Tunes
We’re back with one of our last playlists of the year. Coming together once again to bring you some of the best tracks we’re listening to right now. Hope you enjoy!
With 100 founding members, and over 1000 Photo Ladies part of our community, we all have a huge variety of musical tastes, and we plan to showcase them each month through our upcoming playlists. Full playlist below, along with some Photo Lady blurbs behind the choices.
“In memory of Helen Reddy’s recent passing, let’s remember that no matter the election results on November 3, the fight is not over! We have a lot of work to do.”
“I’ve always loved The Vaccines. Frontman Justin Young and Timothy Lanham created this side project and it’s been lovely. The entirety of Morning Kiss At The Acropolis has been a staple in my quarantine music jamz” - Jennifer Machuca - @jen_machuca | Submission: Halloween’s - ‘My Baby Looks Good With Another’
”It's a heartbreaking song that will get stuck in your head...be sure to also check out the short film for it with her sister and Shia.” - Stefanie Dabs | @sdabspics | Submission: Rainsford - ‘Love Me Like You Hate Me’
“If you’re missing gigs turn this on & you’ll 110% feel transplanted to a sweaty indie gig with your best buds ”
“James Blake always manages to surprise me, either with the melodies and soundscapes or subject matter. Happy boy or Sad boy, i’ll take any version of James i can get.”
“The two tracks share a complimentary message which can be heard throughout Molly’s debut album, Voice on the Internet (out November 13th), about being addicted to social media and the idea that it is difficult to know if what you see online is real.” - Emily May | @emilymayphotography37 | Submission: Molly Moore - “Careful” / ”Identity Crisis”
“Brandy (not the R&B singer who once played Moesha) is a NYC trio and this opening track from their new record is a song I’ve been listening to a lot around my apartment. ”
“I first heard this song while watching Warrior Nun on Netflix and thought it was such an awesome song.”