EMEI: INTERVIEW

February 6, 2023

by alex grainger

Emei recently released her single “Backtrack” to round off her electric pop rock era. “Backtrack” is laced with defiant drumbeats paired with aggressive guitar riffs to sonically push the narrative of aggravation elicited when someone attempts to take back terrible things they’ve said. Although the concept and writing process only took one day, Emei didn’t understand her full connection to the powerful “Backtrack” until months later. She relistened to the song and understood her true emotions towards and reasoning for sharing the relatable story of “Backtrack.” You may have heard this track before it was officially released as Emei used “Backtrack” to open her live shows. This past year the single was Emei’s “good luck charm” as it allowed her to feel comfortable and confident onstage. Read more about “Backtrack” and Emei below!

Can you tell us what your song “Backtrack” is about?

Emei: “The song ‘Backtrack’ is about the frustration and annoyance that comes with someone trying to take back horrible things they’ve said.”

What was the creative process behind “Backtrack?”

Emei: “I wrote this in one day with the amazing Rachel Folmar, Stephen Ordoñez, and James Colla. We first started with the concept of the title ‘Backtrack’ and the chorus. It really fell into place very fast and it was one of those songs that felt so easy to write (which happen to always be my favorite songs). Once we finished writing it, the song sat in my lil demo vault for a few months before I brought it to Myles Avery and Jordan Lewis to finish. We played around with the sounds for a while before we really landed on this final version!”

Why were you inspired to use your love of live performances on this track?

Emei: “This song has been my opening song for every show I played this year (while it was fully unreleased)! The first song of my set is always really important since it’s my transition from being nervous to comfortable on stage. I have to feel confident and have a ton of fun. It’s like my good luck charm for every show. Since ‘Backtrack’ was that song for me all year, I had to have the final recorded version be the same energetic live sounding. That’s why I had to have the studio version also have live sounds and the final raw vocal take.”

How do you feel this sound you have created for this single is reflective and supportive of the song’s narrative?

Emei: “The song’s narrative is being pissed off and frustrated and over dealing with someone else’s BS. The whole song is a journey as well from being in denial and describing the situation to being completely over it. I think the instrumentation reflects that narrative by keeping the energy of the drums and the aggression of the guitars.”

How do you deal with those in your personal relationships who have said hurtful and “messed up” things? Can they redeem themselves or are some words just unforgivable?

Emei: “It definitely depends on the relationship and the things said. In the heat of the moment, I’m sure we’ve all said some things we’ve regretted but when it’s one of those things that reoccur where someone says mean things and tries to take it back, that’s when it definitely becomes toxic and unforgivable.”

“Backtrack” was your last record of 2022. Why did you decide to release this single as your last of the year?

Emei: “This track was a 2022 send off after my debut EP came out. I was actually debating for a while if I wanted to include ‘Backtrack’ on the EP but decided against it. End of an Era is centered on nostalgia and growing up and captures a very specific time in my life. This song felt like it stuck out but still existed in the sound and era (ha) so I definitely wanted it out before the end of the year.”

Is there a message you are sending to listeners of “Backtrack?”

Emei: “I guess I’m saying to yell and scream it out when you’re frustrated and to NOT TAKE ANYONE’S BS!”

How have you grown as an artist through the creation of “Backtrack?”

Emei: “I had a lot of fun with this track. It was interesting because when I first wrote it, I actually wasn’t sure if it felt totally me. I wasn’t sure if I really related and I wasn’t sure if it was about a relationship that I felt strongly about. But a few months later, I relistened to the song and realized who and what I was subconsciously writing about, even though I didn’t know in the moment. I tend to do that a lot now where I write a song off of a concept (in this case ‘Backtrack’), and as we write, I realize how I’m feeling and why I’m writing about the situation. Songwriting has definitely turned more and more like therapy for me in the last few months.”

After the release of End of an Era and all your 2022 projects, what can we expect from you in the next era and new year?

Emei: “So much new music!!! ‘Backtrack’ felt like the cherry on top of this pop rock sundae that I’ve lived in and now I’m moving back into my silly alt-pop, dark-pop world.”

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VIVI RINCON: INTERVIEW

February 3, 2023

by emma schoors

“The EP is full of extremes: very happy to very sad, madly in love to incredibly heartbroken, so I wanted to explore those contradictions through the title,” vivi rincon says of her upcoming debut EP crash landing. “Sometimes I feel like I barely make it through tough situations, almost like a crash landing.”

Rincon’s newest release, hot on the heels of her summer 2022 hit “if we lived on the moon,” comes in the form of “overflow,” a heart-wrenching admission of insecurity in the face of newfound love. “I’d say I’m in too deep, but I’ve never seen these waters,” Rincon sings. “I’d spill all my thoughts, but I’m not much of a talker.” Rincon wrote the track about her current girlfriend, and the doubt that tangles itself in new beginnings. “I was so worried that I was too much to handle and that she would leave me,” she says. “I wrote this song about those scary feelings, the fear of abandonment that comes with the beginning of a relationship.”

“A snake hidden beneath the wool, your belly's full,” Rincon delivers flawlessly in the tender yet relentless “angela,” complimenting the guitars as they let loose. The track was written about a two-week long relationship that left Rincon confused and heartbroken: “A girl I had been dating for two weeks left me for someone else. But I only knew her for two weeks!” Rincon filled in the missing pieces by turning them into lyrics. “The song is more of a character,” she says. “I wanted it to be overdramatic and angry. I wanted to give myself permission to be angry.”

We had a chance to speak with Rincon about her musical beginnings, the gorgeous origins of “crash landing,” and what’s next for the rising singer-songwriter.

Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us! Before we get to your upcoming EP, I’d love to get some insight into your musical background. Do you have a first memory of music?

vivi: “My first memory of music was definitely this Mexican rock band called Mana. I’m half Mexican and half Venezuelan so I grew up listening to a lot of latin music. It’s the best! I remember my mom playing ‘Rayando el Sol’ while she was getting ready in the bathroom every day. It’s one of my favorite memories and I still listen to that song almost every day.”

Who were some of the artists you grew up listening to?

vivi: “Like I already said, I love Mana so much! But I also grew up listening to Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, and Franco de Vita. When I was in high school I also had a huge emo phase, so I listened to a lot of Paramore.”

Was there ever a moment you said to yourself, “Music is what I want to do for the rest of my life?”

vivi: “I grew up as a dancer, and I was so certain that I would grow up to be a dancer. But plans changed because my mental health started declining. Dance can be really difficult, and I became a huge perfectionist which didn’t make me feel great. To deal with these emotions I started writing on ukulele and guitar. That feeling of releasing my emotions through a song made me realize I could do this forever.”

Your breakout hit, “if we lived on the moon,” has resonated deeply with over a million listeners. What do you attribute this to?

vivi: “I think it resonated with people because I wrote about my experience as honestly as I could. I was struggling with feeling like I couldn’t fully be myself in public as a queer woman, and unfortunately, I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling.”

Your newest single, “overflow,” deals with the fear and insecurity that comes with falling in love. Can you take us through your thought process while writing this track?

vivi: “When I wrote this record I was thinking about the beginning of my relationship with my girlfriend. I was struggling with my mental health, and we had to do long distance because of the pandemic. I was so worried that I was too much to handle and that she would leave me. I wrote this song about those scary feelings, the fear of abandonment that comes with the beginning of a relationship.”

Your debut EP is absolutely gorgeous. One track that immediately stands out is “angela.” What was the initial spark of inspiration for this song?

vivi: “‘angela’ was such a fun one to write because it actually wasn’t 100% about my experience. I based it off of a real feeling when a girl I had been dating for two weeks left me for someone else. But I only knew her for two WEEKS! I was 16 and very emotional and it broke my heart so much that I was inspired to write ‘Angela.’ But the song is more of a character. I wanted it to be overdramatic and angry. I wanted to give myself permission to be angry.”

How did you decide on the EP’s title, “crash landing?”

vivi: “I like the title ‘crash landing’ because it is an oxymoron. The EP is full of extremes, very happy to very sad, madly in love to incredibly heartbroken, so I wanted to explore those contradictions through the title. Also, sometimes I feel like I barely make it through tough situations, almost like a crash landing.”

Take us through how you craft a song. Are you more of a Notes app person, or do you write lyrics down in pen?

vivi: “I LOVE the notes app. That’s how I write all of my songs. Notes app and voice memos.”

When you picture yourself at the height of your career, what do you see? Are there any specific career milestones that come to mind?

vivi: “I would love to tour, I want to play as many shows as I can. I used to have terrible stage fright but recently I have just been so obsessed with performing. I also want to build a community of people where we can all feel loved and accepted. That’s the most important thing to me. I would love to reach as many people as I can.”

Is there anything else you’d like to share with fans about you or your music?

vivi: “All I want to say is I hope that people feel connected to my music, I hope that they are able to relate to my songs and feel less alone, because that makes me feel less alone too.”

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CHIPPED NAIL POLISH: INTERVIEW

January 27, 2023

by chris richmond

photo by allison barr
custom outfit by kelly madden

Chipped Nail Polish are an incredibly intriguing new presence on the music scene. They're the brainchild of Jill Sullivan of Portland, Oregon, whose music fuses surf punk and indie pop, all tied together by an ever-present ukulele. It's rocky and it's fun, with their latest single “Rut” being a refreshing breath of cinematic guitar-driven pop. Their new EP, Bottom Feeder, is out on the 27th of January, and we were lucky enough to speak to Jill about the origins of the band, their influences, and her aspirations moving forward.

Can you tell us about the origin of Chipped Nail Polish? When and where was the project founded?

Jill: “I was really new to playing music when my first serious boyfriend dumped me in 2018. I was a junior in college at the University of Oregon and that whole year was basically me grieving and processing that breakup. For the first time ever, I started writing my own songs as a way to heal. Those songs became my first EP, B. I’ve been writing ever since.

A year later, I decided I wanted to play one house show before I graduated. UO had a thriving DIY scene and I knew a lot of people in it. I grabbed some close friends of mine, they learned my songs, and we played to over one hundred college kids in somebody’s tiny living room.”

Chipped Nail Polish is a really intriguing name for a musical project. What is the inspiration behind the name?

Jill: “I actually came up with the name before I even started playing music. I always have had chipped nails and I always thought it would be a cool band name. It makes more sense now because a lot of my music is about my imperfections and shortcomings as a person. I think chipped nails are a pretty good visual representation for what the content of my songs hold.”

The genre of Chipped Nail Polish is described as ukulele indie pop. When did you learn the ukulele and why did you decide to make it such an integral element of your music?

Jill: “I started playing in 2017, so it still feels pretty recent. I wanted to learn a new instrument and guitar was so hard that I ended up getting very frustrated and tried the uke instead. I was able to instantly play some songs and it was just what I needed to keep going. It’s an integral part partially because it’s what I know best, and partially because it just sounds cool. It’s been fun playing with distortion and effects too.”

We've listened to your new EP, Bottom Feeder, which will be released on January 27th. It's great! Can you talk us through the meaning and inspiration behind the collection?

Jill: “I was living at home in Southern California when I wrote most of the songs for the EP. I had graduated from school and was really mourning my college self. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just peaked, and was sinking. I took a lot of solo trips to the beach and got really inspired by water, the ocean, the tides and SoCal surf punk (my favorite genre in high school).

I felt like a bottom feeding fish. I felt like I was at the bottom of the food chain, lowly, forgotten, etc. Yet, despite how hard that period for me, I slowly began to realize that it was a temporary problem. Writing this EP was so healing and helped enter a ‘this too shall pass’ mindset. It made me realize that I needed the pain in order to experience the joy on the other side. This also ties in with bottom feeding fish in an ecosystem in a nerdy way. Without those fish the entire food chain would fall apart.”

What's the meaning and inspiration behind the lead single, “Rut?” Is it easy to choose which tracks to release as singles? How do you make this decision?

Jill: “I wrote ‘Rut’ at a time when I felt especially stuck and nostalgic for my past self. I feel like nobody prepares you for how weird your early 20s are. I just couldn’t really imagine my life post grad and COVID amplified that feeling of being lost.

I chose it as the single because it’s definitely my favorite song off the EP. It was partially a gut instinct, but I think it encapsulates the broader meaning of EP the best as well.”

Were there many songs written and recorded for the EP, or was it always meant to be these five tracks? If so, how did you decide on these tracks?

Jill: “I was originally aiming for an album. I had enough songs to fill it out, but it would have been less pointed and specific. I realized I really just wanted the concept of ‘Bottom Feeder’ to tell a clear story. I found that I didn’t need the extra songs to say what I wanted to say. I figured that out before I started recording so now I’m gonna have to go back and revisit those other songs.”

What's your process when writing a song? How do you begin the process and how do you know when it's done?

Jill: “It varies greatly by the song. Some songs pour right out of me in less than 15 minutes. Some take months, some I piece together from different songs. I usually like to start with a chord progression, then the vocal melody, then lyrics. I keep a lot of voice memos and write down lots of song ideas in my notes app. If I’m stuck while trying to write, I usually like to turn to those.”

Who are your musical inspirations? Whose career would you like to emulate?

Jill: “I think I’m most heavily influenced by female indie/alternative artists like Snail Mail, Phoebe Bridgers, and Beach Bunny. I love their vulnerable lyricism and dark quality to their mixes. Other prevalent influences are pop punk and surf punk. I love to write songs that I can envision people moshing too.

I really like the career path of the band SALES. I got to meet them a few years back and they talked a lot about how they’ve garnered success while staying independent and sort of on the outskirts of the music industry. It made me rethink what I want out of a career in music.”

What contemporary music are you listening to? Whose albums are you listening to lately that have struck a chord with you?

Jill: “Alice Phoebe Lou. I rediscovered her album Glow last year and it’s been on repeat ever since. It truly fits in every season and I am just absolutely in love with it. I’m really looking forward to the new Boygenius, Paramore, and Arlo Parks albums coming out later this year. All of their singles make me so excited for what’s next.”

What are your career inspirations? What would you like to achieve in the future?

Jill: “That’s something I’m still trying to sort out. I just want to make art and share it with more people. I am hoping to go on tour and open for some bigger acts this year. It’s really hard to fathom much beyond that right now but I’m just focusing on opening myself up to more opportunities and growing my community.”

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BESTFRIEND: INTERVIEW

January 26, 2023

by mariah estran

Have you dropped a DM lately? You know what I’m talking about; we’ve all heard a couple of those stories or been, at least, a part of them. Sagas of the individual who musters up the courage to reach out through an in-app, communication feature.

As for this story, it was more of an artistic endeavor that pushed one to send a message. One that brought Stacy Kim and Kaelan Geoffrey together — the now indie-pop duo known as Bestfriend.

It’s a tale of a digital connection that encouraged the two like-minded creatives to pursue what they’ve always wanted to do — music. “I think that Kaelan and I have been sitting on all our feelings about music and wanting to make music for so long, through our entire young-adult lives,” Stacy says. “Once we met and started Bestfriend, we were so ready at that point in our lives.”

In the best way possible, there was no turning back; this was the time to make it happen.

One in Vancouver and the other in Toronto, the team figured out the working-from-afar system, even before the dreaded days of the pandemic, when everyone was adapting to creating through a file share. “I feel like now there’s a little more of a playbook on how to do it from not in the same room,” Stacy says, nervously laughing about the recollection. “But, back then, oh my god, it was a tough one.” Their witted humor fills the room, even over a long-distance Zoom call. Kaelan chiming-in, “back then, we thought we were so interesting.” All in good nature, they can’t help but joke a little about the process.

They released their first EP, places i’ve lived, in 2021. A compilation of tracks that fed the young-adult angst scribbled through their diary pages. It was finding a way to express those heart-staining breakups and long nights out, a homage to the funny chaos that’s part of living. “What I like to say, and what I think still rings true, is that we didn’t really know how to express ourselves through the music. But what we did know was how we felt, and what we did know is what it looked like,” Stacy describes.

places i’ve lived became the roadmap to finding how to communicate with each other sonically, specifically from a distance. The bond they’ve created intertwines firmly through the record. Their tender vocals complement each other as they describe dreamlike romantic encounters in “For Grace, After a Party.”

Then, there is "You Want Everyone to Love You." Which transcends the listener to a serene atmosphere of twinkling keys, finished with a crescendo of twisting synths. A magnetic force of production as Stacy sings about love not being received by the counterpart.

“It’s a fun process of reflection and living in the moment while also, very much dealing with how to express that ourselves,” Stacy explains. “In the end, we had these songs. We were like this, is it; this is exactly what it felt like — these are the songs that work.”

In 2023, it’s about moving to the next chapter in their story. “We lived the experience, and now, we have to move forward,” Kaelan reiterates. Stacy adds that places i’ve lived was a project they owed to their younger selves, “We know how to write, we know how we work together — let’s actually get into this. Let’s talk about how we are feeling right now.”

“LEMON LIME” has now entered the chat.

The three-minute, tongue-in-cheek lyrical number that is jumpstarting Bestfriend’s new phase. It is the observation of the now — a world that feels uncertain and, at times, complex to navigate. “We were very frustrated at what was going on. Capital E, everything — politically, socially, everything was just so confusing,” Stacy shares. Yet, don’t misconstrue the disarray for a dark, extra-emotive ballad. Instead, Bestfriend keeps the air light, consistently showcasing their flair for engaging synths and spiffy drumbeats. As Stacy calls out lines like:

Tell me what's the point of showing up if nothing's for us / Maybe we're alone, maybe nothing really matters.

Stacy explains, “I think everything we wanted to say about this is just coming out of us right now, and we should vibe with it because I don’t think we are the only ones that feel this way.” They agree that in the last few years, mindsets have begun to change, specifically for this generation. Kaelan notes the concept of the American Dream as Stacy elaborates on her parents migrating to the U.S. There was once a time when individuals looked up to those aspirations or ideals centered around “the good life.” Fast-forward and Generation Z are conscious of the reality that might not be as rosey. “LEMON LIME” is that example, serving as a tiny zeitgeist via Bestfriend. Even more so, considering it is named after a vape flavor of the same handle.

Kaelan bashfully grins as Stacy shares, “You know when a word kind of sounds exactly as what it means? Lemon-Lime, for some reason — this song’s vibe felt very correct for that.”

The origin of the song title is indicative of who they are. Even when explaining the deep subject of the latest track, their easy-going demeanors brighten the room. They began reminiscing, mentioning that when they made this song (and the more that is to come on an EP this year), they were finally able to record vocals in the same room. Smiling through the recollections, the two divulge that there were more hangout sessions than music progressions. But that’s what you hope to hear from two good friends, right?

They have recently signed with Nettwerk and are planning on continuously sharing new music. “It’s to the point that we can finally see something,” Kaelan describes when asked about the plans for BestFriend. “We are going to keep going forward and putting out new music,” Stacy begins to conclude.

“I would say, in this next song era, we feel a lot more comfortable — I think you can hear it in the music as well. I think we are really starting to settle into all of this.”

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CAYE: INTERVIEW

January 25, 2023

by alex grainger

Caye recently released his single “LOSE SLEEP.” He notes how “LOSE SLEEP” is the “only real soulful balled” he’s released, one that’s rooted in his “jazz foundation” he explored while in high school. The emotional track shares the vulnerable story of addiction to “everything that tastes, looks, and feels so good, yet is so bad for you.” It’s about the consciousness of knowing you’re “drowning,” but being unable to rid yourself of the starving emotions of addiction. To sonically translate the polarizing mask of addiction, Caye contrasts warm melodies with painfully sad lyrics.

Independently releasing his debut album We Love has allowed Caye to generously give listeners a “constant, reliable stream of content.” We had the chance to talk a bit about the album’s latest single “A DOOR” released on January 6th. The track was “written to be a meditation itself.” The anchoring and soothing sounds were written throughout the process of his own meditation. A truly unique song revolving around inner peace, is a true testament to the incredible talent and artistry of Caye. Read more about “LOSE SLEEP,” “A DOOR,” and Caye below.

Can you tell us what your single “LOSE SLEEP” is about?

Caye: “This song is about addiction. Casinos, drugs, alcohol, sugar… everything that tastes, looks, and feels so good, yet is so bad for you. It’s about being in an unhealthy relationship, whether that's with another person, with yourself, with drugs or alcohol, with your habits, or with social media. It can feel like you’re drowning and although it’s getting worse, you can't seem to get out.”

Having written and produced “LOSE SLEEP” yourself, can you tell us about the creative process behind the single?

Caye: “This one took a bunch of different forms over the years. The production started on more of a distorted, almost EDM wave. I always had the chorus melody in my head, but the verses have changed drastically. Eventually I got back to the basics and started singing the chorus over stripped back piano chords. I wrote the first verse over those chords and then almost just capped it at that, but I wanted to explore where else I could take the song. At one point, I experimented going double time on the drop, but ultimately it didn’t feel right. Eventually it turned into the wavy, soulful drop with the slide guitar leads.”

What type of growth, if any, occurs with writing and producing each song you create? How have you grown as an artist specifically through the creation of “LOSE SLEEP?”

Caye: “Every finished song teaches me something new. This one really taught me the importance of being patient and always being free with a song. As I said earlier, it took so many different forms over a long period of time, but there was always something in that chorus that spoke to me. Holding onto those special moments when you find them and not letting them get lost in the process is really important.”

You experiment with so many different genres to create a sound that is uniquely yours. How does “LOSE SLEEP” work to support and develop your signature sound?

Caye: “Throughout high school I was deep in the jazz scene in Boston. I was playing a lot of steel pan, drums, and piano in a bunch of different jazz bands around the city. I think LOSE SLEEP draws from that jazz foundation. It’s also special to me because it’s the only real soulful ballad I’ve ever released.”

How do you feel the specific sound you crafted for “LOSE SLEEP” drives the narrative of addiction?

Caye: “All of the sounds and melodies are warm, beautiful, and alluring, while the lyrics are sad and painful. With a lot of addictive things, they make you feel great while you’re using them, but the aftermath is even more painful than before. I loved that contrast.”

This single shares the story of “being addicted to something you know is bad for you.” Did the writing and producing process aid in combatting these types of addictions you have experienced?

Caye: “Every song I write is its own healing experience. I always find that if something is really bothering me, it helps to write it down in my journal. The next step of that process is meditating on those feelings. Ultimately, they often turn into songs. For me, nothing helps me move on from something more than putting it into a song. Music to me is really just the expression of emotion in the form of sounds, so putting any type of feelings into a song most definitely helps soothe and heal the soul.”

You’re starting the new year off strong with the release of your next single “A DOOR.” Can you tell us what the single is about?

Caye: “‘A DOOR’ is about inner peace and meditation. The song was actually written to be a meditation in itself. That constant ringing piano drone is there to anchor your attention, while the rest of the sounds are basically just softly coloring and filling in the spaces. The lyrics start with ‘As I shut my eyes, I see more,’ meaning, when you meditate and look inward, you’re actually able to notice a lot more about why you feel the way you do, and why things are happening the way they are. The last lyric is ‘inside your heart, is a door.’ To me, that means when you do look inside and begin to explore your own inner world, there is often an answer there. For me, this is where I’m able to become unstuck, and this is where I’m able to find my own path forward.”

I think this is the first time I’ve heard of trying to find a door within your heart — it’s incredibly interesting. Can you take us through the writing and production process for “A DOOR?”

Caye: “It came out relatively quickly for me. I found that piano sample and wrote chords around it and then all the vocal stacking and padding too… it all happened in a single session. It was a very natural song. I think it took about two hours to get the full idea, chords, melodies, lyrics, and basic production out. Again, creating this song truly was a meditation for me. I started putting these sounds together and just went through my process of meditation and sort of documented that process in the form of a song.”

“LOSE SLEEP” and “A DOOR” are tracks off your upcoming debut album We Love. Why did you decide to release “LOSE SLEEP,” “A DOOR,” and the accompanying album tracks as singles?

Caye: “I’ve always wanted to release an album as singles to provide a constant, reliable stream of content to anyone tuning into my art. I released this project independently, so I had total control over every aspect of the release process. It’s been a really fun experiment.”

You said how We Love is “best experienced when improvised live.” Going into the new year with the release of your debut album and your first headlining tour, what can we expect from you?

Caye: “I’ll finally be playing this music live, which I’m incredibly excited about. I’ve spent months on the live set… you can expect a really immersive experience that builds around the streaming releases but takes them to a whole new level. Tickets are on sale now and I’m hitting the road March 1st!”

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