QUARANTINE PROFILE: Ciarra Fragale
We’ve launched a profile series to highlight how artists are spending their time during the 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.
Ciarra Fragale has a gift for making some easy listening tunes. Not to mention her live performances (if we ever get to experience those again) are captivating with her true craft for songwriting and a winning personality to boot. She released her 2nd album Call It What You Will in 2019 and we’re waiting patiently for her 3rd album, which you can find out more about by reading on!
Where have you been spending your quarantine?
My home in North Adams, MA
How have you been staying busy during quarantine? (or not keeping busy is totally fine too)
I’ve been working on new music, cooking, and spending as much time outside as I possibly can. I also help run an artist collective called Common Folk, so that’s kept me quite busy as well.
What quarantine trend have you fallen prey to?
I’m proud to say that I still have never made a loaf of sourdough, but I have been experimenting with cooking quite a bit. My best friend and I made tamales for the first time and they turned out pretty well!
Go-to quarantine snack:
Copious amounts of coffee.
Song (or album) you’ve had on repeat:
People, I’ve been sad by Christine and the Queens. Such an incredible song by an equally incredible artist.
What’s a song that is your go-to comfort jam?
I’ve been circling around “The Bottom of It” by Fruit Bats recently. Listening to that song feels like you're getting a cozy hug. (Remember those?)
Something keeping Ciarra Fragale sane right now: This is a picture of the view at the top of my favorite hike. Nature is very accessible here in Western MA, which has been something that I've been incredibly grateful for.
If you could only watch one film or TV show for the rest of time what would it be?
Parks and Recreation is the only answer. Arguments will not be accepted.
What is keeping you happy?
Thankfully many things, but being able to safely & responsibly see my best friend every day is at the top of the list. I’d be totally lost if we weren’t in the same pod.
What’s the best advice you’ve received during this time?
Productivity shouldn’t come at the expense of your mental health.
What’s something you miss the most right now?
Playing shows, seeing my parents, traveling in general.
Are there any livestream concerts/events you’ve really been inspired by or enjoying right now?
TENNIS (my favorite band) recently put on a livestream concert that was a transcendent experience.
What do you hope we take away from this?
Trust science!
Anything new we should know about that you’re working on?
I’ve been working pretty tirelessly on my 3rd album for that last year or so. We’re finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of production, so I’m quite excited for people to hear it.
IN FOCUS: Keyboardists
Cover photos by (left to right): Elizabeth Friar, Jordan Hefler, Edwina Hay, Erin Brown, Dana Jacobs
In Focus is a Photo Ladies collaborative photo series that showcases TPL members’ favorite photos, focusing on a different subject each time. Following the success of our first In Focus feature which was all about Drummers, we decided to dedicate the second feature to a subject that is just as challenging to photograph: Keyboardists! From digital keyboards to pianos, from small gigs to Elton John: this is a selection of our photographers’ all-time favorite keyboardists photos.
ⓒ All photos are subject to copyrights and cannot be used without the photographer’s permission
QUARANTINE PROFILE: Medium Build
We’ve launched a profile series to highlight how artists are spending their time during the 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.
If you’re in search of a catchy new vibe of a song, be sure to check out Medium Build’s “Good At Being Lonely” and thank me later…if you scroll down you can have a listen now. I came across this tune a couple of months back and it’s been on quite a bit in my rotation. Not to mention, Medium Build also has a lot of other musical gems we should be keeping an eye on. We had a chat with Nick about his project and what life has been like in Alaska (yes you heard me right, Anchorage to be exact) during the quarantine.
Medium Build Online: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Website
Where have you been spending your quarantine?
I’ve been spending most of my quarantine in Anchorage, Alaska. My parents are here. As well as my brother and my 6-year-old nephew.
How have you been staying busy during quarantine?
I have been ice skating and watching anime.
Anything new you’ve learned?
I’ve been learning how to play the drums! There’s a set at the brewery I work at and I try to sneak a few rips in every day.
What quarantine trend have you fallen prey to?
Ya I did it all. I watched tiger king. made an only fans. baked some sourdough. broke up with my best friend. did puzzles with my mom. Adopted a cat. Got super into tik tok. Played a drive-in concert. Ordered takeout. Fought boomers on Facebook. Voted by mail. Cut my own hair. Bleached my own clothing. Quit drinking. Started drinking. Hooked up with an ex. Thought I had covid but didn’t. Gathered outside. Walked.
Go to quarantine snack:
Go to lockdown snack is ramen 🍜 . Or an apple & peanut butter.
What’s something you miss the most right now?
I miss the second run dollar theater probably more than I miss anything. We have one in town that has a kitchen attached. The only place I’ve ever been able to watch Blazing Saddles and Frozen on the same day while drinking a banana milkshake.
Something keeping Medium Build sane right now:
Are there any live stream concerts/events you’ve really been inspired by or enjoying right now?
I like watching Kacey Johansing play from home. She has unmatched comfort in the live stream. Makes it feel like ur in the room with her.
What do you hope we take away from this?
An appreciation for our immune systems. I’ve spent so much time in crowded places, yet before 2020 I had never once pondered particulate or my distance to someone else. I feel like the masks might make the immune system think we don’t appreciate the job it had been doing. We weren’t paying attention before, but we are now. I appreciate your white blood cells. I’m just calling in some reinforcements (insert picture of my blue sequined mask) for a while til we figure this thing out.
What’s a puzzle you’ve completed during quarantine?
Still working on the puzzle that is my Instagram algorithm. You know when u got a nice sunset in ur town and ur whole feed is sunsets for a day. I’d really like to figure out how to get 50 percent celebrities and 50 percent friends. Maybe 40 celebs/40 friends/ 20 frog memes. Maybe I need new friends or I need a handful of friends to move away so I can see different weather patterns across my feed. Please send advice.
Anything new we should know about that you’re working on?
A pal and I are building a new studio down the stairs from my apartment so I’m gonna hole up there til the vaccine 💉 pops off and make a record. Been in a sad folk and slow RnB phase lately. Expect acoustic guitar and chimey keyboards. Expect a ton of vocal harmonies and hints of ego death strewn throughout.
INTERVIEW: Elder Island
Elder Island
The Photo Ladies Interview - by Emily May
Electronic-pop trio Elder Island traverses the sounds of many genres. Based in Bristol, they blend electronica, indie, pop, and neo-soul to weave together a sound that threads together poetic lyrics, unique instrumentation, and synth-heavy dance beats. The trio met six years ago in Bristol while attending university to study fine arts, photography, and graphic design, with the city's diverse music scene providing the inspiration and opportunity to play music together. Although the trio started out doing casual jam sessions at home, things took off for them when their 2014 self-titled debut EP gathered steam amongst the public, allowing the band to focus more seriously on their musical endeavor. Their follow up EP, Seeds In Sand, saw the band finding and becoming more comfortable in their sound. Where their debut EP had been an ambient soundscape of field recordings, loops, and percussive elements, the follow-up was a more cohesive collection of five dance-influenced tracks. Their songwriting process adds to the magic of their sound, with each song starting out as a jam session in which various ideas and instrumentation are mixed together to create a song. 2019 saw the release of their album The Omnitone Collection, described as ten tracks that are rich tapestries of tiny moments in time, but also sweeping soundtracks weaved with ambition. The band created bespoke artwork to accompany the album, describing The Omnitone Collection as an “integrated concept”. This form of commitment is evidence of the hands-on, DIY approach the band undertakes in many aspects of their music. 2019 saw Elder Island take The Omnitone Tour to Europe and North America twice, with over 60 dates. This included sold-out shows in New York’s Bowery Ballroom, El Rey Theatre in LA, and an electric, sold-out performance at London Roundhouse. Capturing their dates on their Omnitone Tour, the band released a short documentary last year that not only documented the unique, immersive quality of the band’s live performances – which have inspired sell-out shows at iconic venues around the globe – but it also heralded a raft of new tour dates for 2021. A remix of the album was released last Spring, featuring remixes by fellow musicians and admired artists such as Shigeto, Matthew Dear, and Dirty Nice. The band recently released their latest single and accompanying video for "Feral". A dramatic track, it builds towards a crescendo with inexorable, synth-lead force. “It's got a driving aggressive sound that's quite dark, and then this light bossa nova beat that goes along with it,” explains bassist Luke Thornton. “The song is inspired by childhood memories of fear, so the track has become a juxtaposition between darkness and light.” In a nod to the classic double-sided cassette and vinyl singles, Elder Island also release B-side “Absolute.” Juxtaposing the intensity of the A-side, “Absolute” is the antidote to “Feral,” a drifting synth-led track floating melodically through soft, choral vocals, which nevertheless maintains an unrelenting 4/4 beat. Reminiscent of a short film, the music video for "Feral" embraces the paranormal and the sinister discomfort of vast, desolate landscapes. Directed by Jordan Martin who has worked with the likes of Fontaines DC, IDLES, Heavy Lungs, Two Door Cinema Club, and Bastille, the video centers around a flickering fireside and the band as cult-esque figures, barefoot and shrouded in the dark. Filmed on the outskirts of Bristol, it moves between haunted outhouses, vacant grounds, and Hitchcock-styled chiaroscuro driving scenes with a permeating sense of dread, visually exploring the burden of childhood nightmares. With a new album in the works, Elder Island is definitely a band to follow into the new year! Elder Island is vocalist and cellist Katy Sargent, bassist and beat maestro Luke Thornton, and guitarist and synth master David Havard. You can connect with Elder Island via the following links.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud | iTunes/Apple Music | YouTube | Bandcamp
Luke and David- You knew each other growing up and met Katy while attending university, recruiting her to play with you when you heard her playing the cello. Early on you preferred folk tunes over the synth sounds you now play. What can you tell me about those early days of playing together and the evolution of your sound?
David - When we started playing together, we only had a few instruments at hand. It started with an acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, a cello, and a very basic drum kit. We had a 2-channel interface, one microphone, garage band and would experiment, teaching ourselves how to record, trying different things out. It wasn’t long before we got a copy of Ableton which really helped open things up. We were still mainly using acoustic instruments but were learning to manipulate them and loop in time together to start creating beats. In the years leading up to us making our S/T Ep we had managed to accumulate quite a few more instruments and effects from bargain eBay purchases and making DIY equipment. We would play together when we found the time in between work and it was these early sessions that would be the foundation for that EP. When we made that record, we intentionally played everything, recording directly into the arrangement. We didn’t want to use Ableton for the instruments, just to record and produce the record. I picked up a Pianet T, which was quite a crucial instrument for me as it’s when we started to use keys, not just stringed instruments. I found an old Yamaha PSR-21 keyboard, which was hidden in a cupboard at home, which was the only synth on the record, as it was all we had, but ultimately added to the lo-fi nature of the recordings. After putting that record out and seeing its response, we started to take things a little more seriously. We had a lot to learn, trying to translate that record into something that worked in a live environment. I think every show we performed for a couple of years had a technical issue of some kind, but it’s where we refined our instrument choices and found the basis for how we perform today.
Your process for writing music tends to involve marathon jam sessions. What do you find inspiring about these sessions? Are all of your songs a result of these sessions or do you ever find yourself with specific song ideas going into them?
Luke - I believe the inspiring aspect is getting lost in the moment. Most of the time when this happens, something unique ends up being created. There is nothing more special than that.
You started out writing, recording, and producing on your own in your basement studio in Bristol, but with your first LP, The Omnitone Collection, you worked with Ali Chant at his studio, Play Pen. What can you tell me about the process of doing everything yourself vs working with another producer and what led you to reach out to him? You have said that the album had more of a songwriting focus and that working with Ali led the songs to be more sculpted. What can you tell me about the process of making that album?
Katy - Producing at home is a double-edged sword. You have all the time you need to realize tracks and get them right but there is a tendency to agonize over decisions and things can take a lot longer. It's always hard to know when to stop. When working in a studio you have to be more prepared and because ‘time is money’ you have to make quicker decisions. There is also someone present who can guide and offer a second opinion. Alternatively, these aspects can cause you to rush and the additional person sometimes means another link in the chain of production, having to explain your vision before you can enact it. I think with the Omnitone album we had got the tracks to a good point in our own studio but were struggling to finalize/ finish them. Ali really gets our long processes but as an external producer has the power to chivvy us along a bit and say is this your final decision? It's what we needed.
What can you tell me about your love of old school equipment vs digital gear and your aim to mirror the level of care that goes into the production of old artifacts in everything you create?
Luke - The biggest pro of doing things digitally is that the process is always faster. It's incredible what can be achieved now with digital equipment and the development is never slowing down. The good thing about old school equipment is that it was built to last and if treated with care can last forever. Our goal is to use whatever gear old or new as tools, then see if it inspires us to create something with it. So far it has yet to fail us.
You recently released your new single "Feral" and the accompanying music video. What can you tell me about the inspiration behind the song and the idea behind the video, which brings to life the uncomfortable dread of childhood nightmares and the anxiety and fear of what awaits you when you finally fall asleep? Was the song based on real-life experiences?
Katy - Sonically there’s a contrast in the track between the lightness of the Bossanova / mambo beat and the darker ominous driving bass. A sense of foreboding with a naive twist. Lyrically I was exploring a time in my childhood when I was testing the boundaries of what was right and wrong. A fear of things you don't understand but also the exhilaration in this fear. I reference films that I had watched at friends' houses whose parents did a little less censoring than mine. Late Night horror movies, Candyman, and satellite’s delight ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’ (a North American kids horror television series). Watching these things elicited not only a fear of what I had visually seen but also a deeper feeling that I’d watched something forbidden. These feelings as a child are way more prominent than those of an adult. Everything is interwoven into your imagination and thus your everyday. I didn't sleep much as a child but I certainly didn't sleep much at these horror house sleepovers. I could dedicate some of the sleepless aspects of the video to these long nights awake believing there was something ominous drawing closer.
The video is described as a spooky cinematic seance. What led you to shoot the video like a short film and what was the filming process like?
Katy - The short film probably comes from us trying to squish as much into the video as possible without bursting its seams! We ended up with way more footage than was needed and it was a definite ‘Kill your Darlings’ scrapping certain sections, but the video benefit as a whole from these decisions.
What can you tell me about the different locations in which the video was filmed?
Katy - We filmed in two main locations with a few extras for B-roll. We were looking for classic eerie settings. Dusty cobwebbed barns and creaking outhouses. As per we called in a few favors. One sight was with some incredible friends of ours who live on the outskirts of Bristol. It’s a semi-rural, slightly wild, and sprawling place that I love. The other was near Gloucester where Director Jordan Martin's grandparents live. A fitting location being a place he had spent a lot of his childhood. They were also the owners of the small well that we hung Luke over and the fantastic Saab 900 convertible that I got to drive.
You have said that the video pays homage to the horror films that broke your childhood. What were those films?
Katy - It's a great talking point as everyone has one or two shows they saw as a kid that stayed with them! I think mine was watching MJ’s Thriller Video for the first time and then also watching Candyman way too young. Really shook me up. I also asked Luke and he said Chucky. Dave coincidentally mentioned episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark but then started talking about a scene in a film he had seen with walls closing-in and spiders pouring out. No idea what the film was but it seems to have had a lasting impression.
With an upcoming album in the works, what can you tell me about the process of recording your second LP compared to your first? What can listeners expect sonically? What else can fans look forward to in the coming months?
Luke - It has been a shakeup to how we've written previously. For the first album, we had songs that were created around the same time as “Seeds In Sand” that were being finished and incorporated into the album. With this album, we started from scratch a few days after our London Printworks show. The lockdown happened, so we put our heads down and pretty much spent the entire year making the music and discovering new instruments and equipment. Without giving too much away, expect to hear a sonic landscape filled with the new instrumental discoveries we’ve made. It is an album reflective of the year it was created whilst having an anomalous charm. We’ve had to move live dates on so that our first shows will be the UK and IE tour in May & June. Fingers crossed. We are however hoping to record some live performances to put out in the interim. Looking forward to the challenge of transforming the new tracks into a live show.
PLAYLIST: Hometown Heroes
New year new playlists ahead! We’re kicking off January by showing a little love to our hometown favs. With Photo Ladies spread far and wide we’ve really come together with quite the collection of our hometown heroes. As music photographers, a lot of our drive is in supporting the local artists as they grow. You’ve seen this in past photo series we’ve done like The Local Music Project.
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.
“One of my favorite albums from last year. So proud to have Orion Sun based in Philly”
“The Greeting Committee are awesome musicians and awesome people. Their most recent EP showed maturity in their sound that I really enjoyed.” - Sophia Ragomo - @sophiaragomo | Submission: The Greeting Committee - ‘Cry Baby’
“Love the passion and energy that Hand Out has when on stage! Their songs are moody, raw, heavy, and melodic at the same time.” - Jordan Hefler - @jordanhefler | Submission: Hand Out - “Care”
“I was lucky enough to shoot the cover art for this single. Colton is a good friend and I’ve loved watching him grow!
I feel like anyone can relate to this song when they’re separated from the person they miss most. It just gives me ALL the feels. ”
“I will forever find it strange that I can see Black Peaks rock the biggest festival stages and then bump into its band members at the local pub!”
“‘Oh Why’ is about emotions that can't be conveyed. People use words and language to describe their feelings. All communication has become indirect, but the explanation is not necessary for understanding something, as all feelings are direct and real.” - Mia Min Yen - @miaminyenphotos | Submission: The Fur “Oh Why”
“If you’re looking for a calm but upbeat summer feeling song check this out” - Steph Wanderling - @wvndr | Submission: Varsity “Sleep It Off”
“As the first week of the year wraps up, my Friday was delightfully surprised by not one, but two song releases. I have been a huge fan of Modern Vices, a local Chicago band. A defining trait of the band is their lead singer’s enticing croon. “Fades” is more upbeat with a sense of urgency. “i” could be considered a response to the first track and filled with more nostalgia. Both songs unequivocally reflect the band’s key sounds that have made them recognized and supported throughout the Chicago music scene. I recommend you treat you ears to their new release x ”
“Enon were a NYC based trio (John Schmersal, Toko Yasuda, and Matt Schulz) and was one of my favorites to see around NYC over the years. I tend to listen their music every now and then even though they’re no longer active and it makes me wish for a reunion.”
QUARANTINE PROFILE: Wolf
We’ve launched a profile series to highlight how artists are spending their time during the 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.
Julia (aka Wolf) has slowly been releasing some new bops we think you should really have on your radar. Today we’re graced with a new banger called “Villian”, featuring her signature sound incorporating elements of Hip-Hop, RnB, and Pop. Not only has she been busy with new tunes, but she also has a recently launched clothing line called Girls in Purgatory. Read on for our chat with Juila about what else she’s been busy with during quarantine.
Here’s a photo of me I created when I dropped my Girls in Purgatory clothing line! Something I've been working on during quarantine.
Where have you been spending your quarantine? at home in Astoria, Queens! The first half was mostly in my bedroom (where I create everything) but now that we have a new puppy I’ve migrated on over to the living room to be with him.
How have you been staying busy during quarantine?
I’ve been super busy actually! But it’s all music related so you know I’m loving every second. Lots of filming videos lots of photoshop edits, LOTS of writing and recording new music. It’s been interesting trying to write new music without new experiences to speak on. So I’ve been forced to revisit my past quite a bit and create from there instead.
Anything new you’ve learned?
I’ve been teaching myself new things like after effects and whatnot, but what I’ve really learned is just how much I took for granted the opportunities to connect with other people. Pre Covid I was the first to say no to any new social interactions, or too afraid to ask the waiter for a new glass of Coke; I was constantly canceling plans just out of habit and avoiding new people as best I could. But this isolation has made me realize how acting that way is only doing a disservice to myself. We only get one life to live, so I think it’s important I suck it up and put myself out there before I really regret not having done so.
What’s something new you’ve cooked/baked?
Dumplings!!!
Album you’ve had on repeat:
While The World Was Burning- SAINt JHN
Something keeping Julia sane right now: Here is a picture of my sister Cameron!! I would be nothing without her, she's my other half. Not only does she watch Twilight every time I ask, but she makes me laugh the whole way through. During this quarantine, we’ve been baking new things, obsessing over new fanfic stories, and honestly just helping each other create (she’s a fantastic writer). With her by my side I can get through anything, I’m lucky to have her!!
What’s a song that is your go-to comfort jam?
My comfort lives with Taylor Swift, and I’m talking Fearless album. But can I also just say how lyrically incredible Folklore is? Every line counts.
If you could only watch one film or TV show for the rest of time what would it be?
"CALL ME BY YOUR NAME" OMG
What is keeping you happy?
100% my family. We have a minimum count of 3 laugh attacks per day. My sister Cameron is an automatic serotonin dosage, she just doesn’t know it. Pursuing my dreams as an artist is directly adjacent to that. Also the new Jack Harlow album.
What’s something you miss the most right now?
I miss Cafe Reggio and exploring NYC. I miss dive bars and dancing. I’m going to miss watching Fifty Shades of Grey at the movie theater (a yearly Valentine's day tradition lol). And most of all I MISS PERFORMING!!!
Anything new we should know about that you’re working on?
It’s album time baby!!! I’d also like to drop something in the new year for Girls In Purgatory (my clothing line) and just continue doing whatever I can to scale up and grow more each day. I haven’t even released my all-time favorite tracks yet so when I do that’ll be a HUGE moment for me in the near future.
INTERVIEW: Good Bison
Good Bison
The Photo Ladies Interview - by Emily May
Alternative artist Pablo Alvarez has found his voice as an artist after years of experimenting with multiple genres. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he and his mother emigrated to the culturally diverse city of Miami, FL when he was a young child. Alvarez discovered hip hop, Star Wars, and skateboarding, cultivating his internal creative self and later earning a spot in The Guinness Book Of World Records for the Longest Consecutive Rap, freestyling for 26 hours straight in a live broadcast. As a young adult, he moved out West to Los Angeles in an effort to start a music career and formed his latest musical project Good Bison. It was in Los Angeles that Alvarez feels as though he truly found his voice as an artist. Combining elements of surf rock, pop-punk, indie rock, and hip hop, his music is creative and unique without sounding chaotic. Good Bison has released 2 EPs in recent years, 2016's debut EP Buffalo Roots, which explored indie-rock, lo-fi pop, and electronic sounds, and 2017's hip-hop leaning mixed tape That's Bodhi, influenced by acclaimed producer Jeremy Hawkins, whom Alvarez met shortly after releasing Buffalo Roots. 2019, however, saw Good Bison move back into an indie and rock direction. For Good Bison's latest EP, Scattered Storms, due to be released later this month, he wrote and recorded all the music for the EP with Mauri Viladegutt and Slightly Stoopid producer George Spits. Largely acoustic and rhythmic in sound, the 4 song EP showcases his ability to twist melodies and hooks on a dime and embraces organic instrumentation, such as percussion instrumentation from a kid's toy set and a Colombian rain disk. “I want my music to help people feel less alone in the world, as cheesy as that sounds,” he laughs. “My favorite songs speak to the shared human experience. We may all live wildly different lives, but we go through so many of the same feelings and emotions, and in a way, music helps us understand that we’re all in this together.” In November of 2020, Good Bison released their first single from the EP, "Can't Predict The Weather", a song about loss and learning to be ok with it. Most recently, "Lunatic", the second single from the EP, was released. "Lunatic" is the second song I wrote on guitar and it was inspired by multiple trips out to Joshua Tree in the middle of the night," says Alvarez about the making of the song. "One time, I was walking around the desert at two in the morning and genuinely started to feel like I was lost. Nothing looked familiar, and I had wandered pretty far off the main trail which is super dangerous and not something anyone should do. I was lucky enough to eventually find my way back to the campsite, but that feeling is something I carried with me while working on this track. I'm still not sure if I've made it home yet, but at least I'm not lost in the desert." "The lyrics to me are really about being patient and not letting yourself get overwhelmed with anxiety," he continues. "Even if life isn't exactly how you want it to be right now, there's still plenty of time for things to change. But you also can't be so caught up in getting to the finish line that you miss out on the ride." Combining bits of Beck’s Odelay, Weezer’s Blue Album, The Front Bottoms’ self-titled debut, and the tongue twists of Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP, the new EP is ambitious and self-assured, a solid EP from a solid artist. “I credit this morph to a re-found confidence, and the desire to create something that was representative of myself, rather than something that sounded like what is already coming out. I wanted to make something that was true to me.” You can connect with Good Bison via the following links.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud | iTunes/Apple Music | YouTube
You grew up in Miami after emigrating there from Colombia as a child. What can you tell me about growing up in Miami and learning to integrate and fit into a new culture? You have mentioned that your first real sense of belonging was within the skateboarding community. What can you tell me about discovering skateboarding and finding a sense of belonging within the skateboarding community?
When I moved to the United States, I didn’t speak a word of English, but Miami has such a huge Latin culture that the adjustment was easy for me, especially since I was only seven years old. We landed in the US on July 4, 1999, and my mom told me the fireworks were to celebrate our arrival. I remember I was scared that people wouldn’t be able to understand me, but to my surprise, pretty much everyone spoke Spanish. I like to say I learned English listening to The Marshall Mathers LP on repeat, which isn’t entirely true, but I was obsessed with Eminem from the moment I first heard him rap. I memorized all his lyrics, even before I fully knew what he was saying.
A friend of mine gave me his old skateboard for my eighth birthday, but it took me a few years to really get into it. I didn’t hang out with a lot of people, so skateboarding was great for me because it was something I could do on my own. I’d force myself to go to popular skate spots, and pretty soon I had a crew who I would meet up with literally every single day. We called ourselves Soda Skateboards. We weren’t anywhere near as good as the other skaters in our scene, but using my camcorder we’d shoot ourselves skating and I would edit the videos. I used “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by The Offspring for my first skate part. Skateboarding gave me something to do, and people to do it with.
What has your journey been like of exploring many different styles of music to try to find where you fit in? What have you discovered about yourself as an artist in the process?
I used to fantasize about making music, but never considered the possibility that it would happen. When I started recording, rap felt like my only option, not only because I loved the genre but also because I couldn’t sing, and I couldn’t really play any instruments. But I could write. Lyrics always came naturally to me. My first songs didn’t even have choruses. They were just long verses. Eventually, I started adding hooks and exploring melodies. After high school, I was in a band called Dinosaurs ‘N Disasters, and for a while, I just saw myself as the group’s rapper. But thanks to that experience I developed as a songwriter, and I realized that I could and I wanted to do more than just rap. With Good Bison there was a lot of experimenting to try to find my lane. “Buffalo Roots” had a much more indie-pop feel, and then “That’s Bodhi” once again leaned into my hip hop roots. But releasing that mixtape and breaking the Guinness World Record for longest freestyle pushed me in a completely different direction. I lost my passion for rap. I wasn’t writing lyrics anymore. I was kind of lost. Around this time, I started playing more guitar, and I became a huge fan of ’60s and ‘70’s Rock. When I felt motivated to make my own songs again, I didn’t want to follow current trends or try to fit into any specific genre. I decided that I wanted to follow the music wherever it took me. Like when I was 17, writing songs without choruses, getting out whatever it is I needed to.
What inspired you to move to LA six years ago and what were your first impressions of the city? What do you love and find inspiring about living and making music there and how do you feel that being there has helped you to find your voice as a musician? Having settled in LA to find your own version of the American Dream, what does that look like for you?
In 2014, my band Dinosaurs ‘N Disasters was playing all over South Florida and we were finishing up our second EP. We were in the middle of planning a tour when two of the members decided they wanted to pursue their own careers. That same night, Mauri, Sebas, and I decided we were going to move to Los Angeles. We scrapped the EP, stopped planning the tour, stuffed all our belongings in a car, and drove west. I had never even been to LA. I was immediately blown away by how many different scenes there were in the city. It felt like anything you wanted to do was fair game. I was also able to connect with some incredibly talented people who helped elevate my music even further. I didn’t know what I was going to do when I got here. I didn’t have a place to live, or a job lined up. But I was willing to do whatever it took to make living in LA a reality, and six years later I’m still here.
You have said that when you bond with someone musically, that bond lasts a lifetime. What can you tell me about your friends/bandmates Mauri and Sebas and how you met and began playing music with them? What was it like to move together to LA and what has it been like to have played music together for so many years?
Good Bison is, and always will be, a collaborative project, but it’s not a band in the traditional sense of the word. Mauri, Sebas, and I started this when we moved to LA, but there are so many other musicians who have contributed to the sound. JHawk Productions, Psolomon Williams, George Spits, Sean Magill, Abraham Mendez; just to name a few. I’ve known Mauri and Sebas since I was 13, but our relationships really started to develop when we bonded over music. Mauri was there when I recorded my first song, which led to us writing and performing together. Sebas joined Dinosaurs ‘N Disasters not too long after that. Moving to LA together was an incredible experience, and for years the three of us lived in the same house. But in a lot of ways, leaving Miami felt like one giant step forward and a million tiny steps backward. The only way Good Bison was able to progress was by opening the doors and letting other people get involved. Mauri and Sebas will always be a huge part of Good Bison, but I’d say the lineup is in a perpetual state of flux. For ‘Scattered Storms’, all the music was written and recorded by Mauri, George, and myself. But the last song I released before this EP, “Nowhere To Go”, was made by Abraham, Sebas, and I. I feel incredibly lucky to have so many talented people willing to contribute to the vision.
Aside from music, you are also a writer! How did your interest in writing develop? You have called writing the gateway drug that got you into music, so having written for publications and online websites such as LA Weekly, Miami New Times, and GUFF, what was the transition like for you to writing songs? Do you still write for publications and websites or are you focusing more on music right now?
I’m pretty sure I’ve been writing for as long as I’ve been able to hold a pen. I have countless notebooks filled with stories and poems from when I was a little kid. I don’t even know how it started, I just know I’ve always loved it. I thought I was writing novels when I was 10 years old, but looking back on them now my ‘chapters’ were not much longer than a paragraph. Writing is the only reason I started making music. I figured if I could write stories and poems, I could probably write lyrics too. The big difference was that when it came to music, I wasn’t writing fiction anymore. I was writing about myself. Later I got the opportunity to write for magazines like Miami New Times and LA Weekly, and I focused on covering music as much as I could. I loved interviewing artists and reviewing shows, but nowadays I’d say almost all my writing is for Good Bison.
You have said that it took a while for you to understand that songs were more than what you were putting down on paper. What have you learned about your songs over the years and what they mean to you?
Since writing is such a huge part of who I am, lyrics have always been at the forefront of my understanding of music. Listening to hip hop, I didn’t care about the beats. I was in it for the raps. No matter what genre I was currently into, the only thing I was listening to was the words. I couldn’t pick out guitar riffs or bass lines, or differentiate drum patterns. That started to change when I was in a band, and even more so when I learned to play guitar. Suddenly I found myself getting blown away by the bass in a song, or waiting for specific drum fill. I also learned to understand that the instruments conveyed just as much feeling and meaning as the vocals, which made me pay way more attention to those elements in my own songs.
What was the inspiration for your latest project Good Bison? What was it about going into this project that made you embrace a timeless sound rather than something contemporary and what made you decide you no longer wanted to do rap?
I didn’t necessarily decide I didn’t want to rap anymore, but I did decide I didn’t want to overthink what I was doing so much. In the past, I would focus a lot on whether I was writing a melody or a rap, and if I was rapping, I felt like it had to measure up to some imaginary bar I had set in my head. But listening back to my music, I realized my favorite songs were the ones where it wasn’t immediately clear if I was rapping or singing. With this new EP, I just let things flow as seamlessly as possible. I also didn’t care if the music sounded like what people are listening to right now. My biggest inspiration going into ‘Scattered Storms’ was ‘Pet Sounds’ and Brian Wil
You recently released your new single "Can't Predict The Weather", which you have said is about loss and learning to be ok with it, but that you didn't necessarily realize what the song was about as you were writing the lyrics. What can you tell me about the song and when did you realize what the song was about?
I don’t usually think about what a song is about while I’m working on it. I’d say my writing style is more of a stream of consciousness. The hardest part for me typically is figuring out what the first lyric should be. “Yeah, I know I should’ve said less, but I felt that pressure building in my chest.” Once those words came to me, the rest of the lyrics just flowed naturally. I only realized what the theme was after someone asked me about it. It’s not that I consciously wanted to make a song about loss, but that seemed to be a recurring theme in the lyrics. “I’m scared I burned my bridges, my feet are covered in ash.” “Nothing looks strange anymore.” “I don’t fit in and I’m so bored.”
"Can't Predict The Weather" was originally supposed to be a part of an acoustic project. What can you tell me about that project and what led you to take the song in a different direction?
I originally wanted the entire EP to be acoustic because it felt like something I could accomplish on my own. I wanted it to rely on real instruments, but I wasn’t sure who was going to want to be a part of the project, or what resources I would have available. Guitar and vocals felt feasible. But working with Mauri the songs started evolving as we added bass and acoustic percussion, and then George took them to the next level by playing the drums. I don’t feel like the EP went in a different direction from my original vision. I actually think Mauri and George’s contributions helped me reach what I was always aiming for.
Your upcoming EP Scattered Storms is a blend of many different sounds and that you credit the morph to a re-found confidence and the desire to create something representative of you. What caused your loss of confidence and how did you gain it back? How do you feel that the EP is a representation of you as an artist and what message do you hope it conveys?
In 2017, I released ‘That’s Bodhi’ and I also officially set the Guinness World Record for longest consecutive rap, but instead of following up on that success I completely shut down. I wasn’t doing anything creative, and I wasn’t even really listening to music. My social life came to a halt as well. I didn’t have any direction, or the drive to figure out my next moves. Sebas moved back to Miami and Mauri and I wasn’t working on new songs. I had lost a lot of my passion for music, and life in general. It felt like I was just going through the motions. Towards the end of 2018, I went to my first live show in a long while, Cal Jam, organized by Dave Grohl. It was such a cathartic experience seeing bands jamming on stage in front of an audience. I was near the front for Robert Plant’s set, and when he performed “Going To California” I absolutely lost it. I couldn’t believe I was seeing him live. Singing about California. In California. I remembered why I moved to Los Angeles. Why I started making music in the first place. It felt like something inside me woke up. I spent all of 2019 organizing monthly shows featuring local and touring up-and-coming musicians at different locations around LA. Good Bison would always perform before the night’s featured artist. Those events also pushed me back into writing, and before I knew it I had a bunch of new songs that I didn’t know what to do with. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to continue the shows in 2020, but that was exactly the motivation I needed to get back in the studio. The lyrics in “Scattered Storms” feel as honest and raw as the stuff I was writing when I was 17, but the music is a culmination of all the genres I’ve experimented with. It’s something only Good Bison could have made. The message I hope “Scattered Storms” conveys is to enjoy the good times, but also appreciate and learn from the bad ones. Life is full of ups and downs. All we can do is strap in for the ride and make the most of this rollercoaster. At least music makes the trip more entertaining.
The EP is a testament to the love you've grown to have for instruments. What can you tell me about that love, as well as the non-traditional instruments you used, such as percussion instruments from a kid's toy set and a Colombian rain disk?
I’ve been obsessed with ‘Pet Sounds’ for the past two years, and thanks to that obsession I decided for the next project I wanted to rely less on production and more on real instruments. I think there’s a warmth that can’t be recreated, so for this EP, I was determined to only use what we had available. Mauri had a ‘Band In A Bucket’ playset that came with shakers and a tambourine so we used that. And the Colombian rain disk is something that has been hanging on my wall for years, so I figured it could come in handy.
You have said the songs on the EP are of a more vulnerable, personal, and introspective nature. What was your songwriting process like for the EP and what led you to write from a more personal and introspective nature? What can you tell me about working with Slightly Stoopid producer George Spits on the recording of the EP?
I wrote the guitar for two of the songs on this EP, and the lyrics for those came easier to me than any words I’ve ever written. I felt like I unlocked something inside myself, and it was an ability I was able to carry over into the songs I wrote with Mauri too. I was able to let go of a lot of doubts that I had been holding on to, and I allowed myself to write about whatever it was that I was feeling. I also stopped worrying about what other people might think. If it felt right to me, I just went with it. Working with George was amazing because he immediately understood what I was going for, and I fully trusted him to do whatever he thought was necessary to get the songs where they needed to be. He not only played drums on all the tracks, he also mixed and mastered the entire project.
What can you tell me about the message behind the upside-down smiley face sticker?
Going into this EP, I partnered with Krölhaus and they have been handling the visual direction for ‘Scattered Storms’, and Good Bison overall. It’s been a game-changer for me because, for the first time, I feel like the presentation is at the same level as the music itself, so the songs, images, and videos are all perfectly aligned. The upside-down smiley face is a reminder to maintain a hopeful attitude, even when things aren't going that well. It’s an optimistic sadness or sarcastic happiness. However, you want to look at it.
What's next for you?
I really want to start playing live shows, as soon as it’s safe to do so. I would love to go on tour and perform these songs in front of an audience. And I want to get back to organizing my own events. Also, more music. There are things that didn’t make it onto this EP that I’m eager to release, and I’ve been writing a lot too. So, there’s definitely more new stuff on the way after “Scattered Storms”.
QUARANTINE PROFILE: Danny Black
We’ve launched a profile series to highlight how artists are spending their time during the 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.
Philadelphia guitarist Danny Black has been touring for years, mostly as part of Indie-Folk trio Good Old War, or alongside Anthony Green…to name a few. As a solo artist, Danny has released two super adventurous instrumental records. In the Fall he took a new venture in his solo recordings. Teaming up with Vacationer’s drummer Ryno, the duo paired up to make Danny’s third album Black Ryno featuring vocals for the first time in any of Danny’s recordings. Read on to see how Danny’s been spending his quarantine since the album release and what’s up next for him.
Where have you been spending your quarantine?
For the first few months I stayed home but over the last month or so, I've enjoyed travelling around the country in my van. It's been a dream because it has pretty much all the amenities of home but I get to be out in nature.
How have you been staying busy during quarantine?
I have been making a lot of music. I've done virtual collaborations with artists from all over the world, played a few live streamed concerts, recorded an entire new album, done scores for short films and trailers and I am teaching online guitar, bass and ukulele lessons. Recently I've been recording music in the van on stops as I travel. My wife and I also played this game where we each made up a bunch of activities and every day we'd pick one out of a jar and try it.
Anything new you’ve learned? / Something new you’ve done:
Trying to get better at ping pong and cooking.
What quarantine trend have you fallen prey to?
I definitely watched Tiger King
What’s something new you’ve cooked/baked?
Suddenly I can cook a mean chili
Go to quarantine snack:Apples and peanut butter
Song (or album) you’ve had on repeat:
Gregory Alan Isakov-Evening Machines
What’s your go to song to make you feel less alone? / What’s a song that is your go to comfort jam?
Radiohead: Paranoid Android
If you could only watch one film or TV show for the rest of time what would it be?
Probably Breaking Bad.
What is keeping you happy?
My wife, dog, family, friends, music
What’s something you miss the most right now?
Hugs
What do you hope we take away from this?
How much we depend on human contact to stay happy. being afraid to see our friends and family is incredibly unnatural.
What’s a puzzle you’ve completed during quarantine?
We did a jungle scene that was so hard I quit. My wife ended up finishing it for us.
Anything new we should know about that you’re working on?
Well my new album, Black Ryno just came out and I'm working on a new album with a friend that I can't wait to share. I also will have a new solo album out early next year I hope. It's quite a productive time!