So tell us a little about the new project?
‘Double Eye Rascal’ is a compilation of previously released songs, remastered. It’s a collection of tracks that I wanted to revisit as a project because they mean a lot to me as self-produced works and the messages within each song are very tender/close to my heart. It was also a chance for me to distribute them onto platforms that don’t currently have them listed in their music libraries i.e. Apple Music, Spotify, etc.
Can you tell us a little about the messages presented on this project?
I guess you could say the entire project is centered around the concept of love – whether it be self-love, love for another person, or the purity of love as an isolated idea. If I had to pair it down per track I’d say ‘Lavender’ is about the love of friendship, ‘Kaleidoscope’ is about self-love/picking up broken pieces of self to grow and rebuild, ‘What A Thing’ is about the purity of love as an ideal and how important it is to love no matter what, ‘Polaroid’ is about the love of family and the bonds we build from childhood, and ‘Vantage Point’ is about love lost and looking ahead.
Are you a self-taught producer? Can you take us through your learning process?
Ya, when I was in high school I started teaching myself after I heard the Imogen Heap song, ‘Hide And Seek’. I wanted to know how she was creating those sounds so I started messing around in GarageBand. But, it wasn’t until college that I really started investing time into music production. They offered an electronic music course at Lewis and Clark College my Sophomore year and we used Reason as our DAW. I used Reason for a couple years until my friend in Chicago gifted me Ableton and I’ve been using it ever since.
I will say – I wouldn’t have the skills I have today if it weren’t for my friends, the internet, and other producers who have given me tips along the way. I’m always looking for ways to improve and different methods to try. Recently, it’s been fun to mix live instruments (drums, harp, guitar) in with more electronic based downtempo rhythms and synths. My initial incentive to learning how to produce was always focused around my vocals i.e. creating instrumentals to sing on because I was too impatient to wait for male producers to send me beats. Over time though, it’s blossomed into a separate and distinct passion that I enjoy just as much as singing.
And I hear you’ve got a new single coming out in August? My ears are burning.
It’s called ‘Butterfly Effect’! It’s the first song I’m releasing that features me on guitar and the first time I’ve recorded and mixed my drummer, Robby Bowen, into a track. We recently started working with a harpist named Anna Bikales, so she’ll be featured as well. And to accompany the single, I also wrote, directed, and produced a music video which was shot and edited by my friend Jeff Mertz (http://mertz.works/). Definitely, keep your eyes peeled for that one.
