@ ColetteCarr
Source: Artistdirect.com
L.A.’s own Colette Carr mixes up pop music like no other. She can bounce from unshakable crooning to alternative unpredictability, hip-hop swagger, R&B sultriness, and just plain musical awesomeness. That diversity defines her new EP, Static.Start. [Kawaii Nation]. Free from a major label now, this follows up her 2012-2013 Skitszo Collection EP series and expands upon what she’s built dramatically and drastically. You won’t be able to turn it off once it starts. In this exclusive interview, Colette Carr talks Static.Start., her happy place, and so much more.
Static.Start. incorporates different textures and flavors, but it weaves everything into one singular sound.
I appreciate that. From someone who does a lot of research about what music is currently out there, it really means a lot. Thanks!
Given that diversity, what’s your approach like?
Usually, we start everything from scratch. We play around and experiment with ideas until something comes about. We try and keep a very positive environment that allows everyone the freedom to express themselves. Any idea that pops in our minds, we go with. We keep working and finessing the material until it all fits well. I didn’t have to rush the process. It worked out really well.
What’s the musical curation process like?
It honestly is like going shopping. You pick out what you like and then go from there. All the sounds are there to choose from—moods and all sorts of different parts. It is a very natural process that isn’t overthought. So, it is very hard to describe something like that. For me, it is literally like trying to describe people shopping.
What’s the story behind “Walking In Place”?
The song is about my ex and our relationship. It sort of seals that envelope from the past and just throwing it into the universe. I was in a very stale relationship—one foot forward and two steps back, you know? As far as the song goes, we started with the BPM and the drums. Then, we wrote the melody. I wrote the lyrics in about three seconds flat. That is how connected I felt to the subject. It is always nice when lyrics just flow out of you. This is [producer] Frankmusik’s personal favorite on the EP or on the entire album for that matter.
Is it important for you to convey images and pictures in the lyrics?
The most fun thing for me is coming up with the lyrics. It is the best part of writing music and the least amount of pressure. I get to voice an opinion or tell a story. These things come most naturally to me. It is so enjoyable to come up with lyrics.
How do you physically write?
I always write on the spot. This works out really well for me. The spur of the moment, improvisational aspect of music works the best for me. I do not usually have lyrics written before I go in. When you don’t expect anything, you are often pleasantly surprised. Whenever comes to mind, I start and build from there.
What artists shaped you?
I’d say The Cure, Talking Heads, Led Zeppelin, The Smiths, Suzanne Vega and Eminem.
They each have this defined vision like you do!
I appreciate that and it took a ton of time to hone this and get myself to the place I am currently in. Years of hard work have paid off, and I keep going and learning new things. I have been thrown so many opinions about who I should be. I eliminated all of that and got to a really Zen place. It was an intense but fulfilling process. Once I chose a sound and followed through with it, everything started falling into place.
What song on the EP speaks to you the most at the moment?
I love “Static.” I think that it really helps me pull my thoughts out of the everyday routine. I wrote it about getting lost in the cell phone notifications, people’s opinions, and the common thoughts everyone goes through each day. It starts to sound like white noise. So, this song is really about enjoying life, the moment, and not trying to think too far ahead. The point is to really breathe and silence the extraneous noise of life. The music and production, I totally adore!
Where do you drown out that noise?
I like to take bubble baths! That’s my place [Laughs]. It could be a walk in the park or enjoying an awesome book. Those are some of the things that I enjoy doing to calm myself. Yoga also helps a lot as well. It’s just whatever I can do to mitigate stress, which is sometimes consuming my life 80% of the time.
The EP really feels like an introduction to you!
That is what it feels like to me. I feel like I have been working up to this, working with so many producers and giving it my all. I have written under any circumstance and this allowed me to find out what I liked and didn’t like. I feel really confident and capable as a writer now. I feel ready to leave the cocoon and make it happen.
What’s next for you?
I am really excited for people to hear the music and to understand where I am coming from. It has been a really long time since I have released any music. I really hope that people understand the whole process of where I have been coming from. I am excited for that for sure. People’s perception of me before this EP and after this EP should be quite different.
—Rick Florino
07.06.15
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