When the video for Springtime Carnivore's single Collectors was released back in September, it seemed as though almost every music lover and blogger was hit with a wave of excitement. The song, which featured fuzzy, sweet sounding vocals over swingy 60's inspired melodic instrumentals-- was a perfect feel good track that had me walking to work with a bounce almost every day that week! And the video couldn't have been more appropriate. Coinciding with the beat, the one-frame-a-second photo montage playfully displayed images paying homage to the 20th century. Who could ask for more? It was a sweet serenade over a thoughtful gem of a video, and everyone couldn't help but be completely enchanted.
Springtime, who chooses to remain anonymous and has tackled this project solo, clearly knows what she is doing. Listening to her entire EP on Bandcamp-- a mixture of purely instrumental tracks and her two single-- reminded me of one of one of my dad's old vinyl records from the 60's... only if it were remastered and translated into modern day. Collectors was on heavy rotation during the creation of my collection this season, and I just had to feature it on my first compilation, Romance Never Dies.
Being that I have never read an interview with her, I was so beyond excited to ask her a few questions about her music and future plans as I anxiously await more of her impressive gems of songs!!
MF
What is a "Springtime Carnivore?" :)
SPRINGTIME CARNIVORE
In August of last year, I
saw a coyote cross my yard... and the word combination just popped
into my head!
There's something nice about the sweet and unsuspecting nature of Springtime with a more cunning word like Carnivore. Also, the poem "Widow's Lament in Springtime" by William Carlos Williams is one of my favorites.
There's something nice about the sweet and unsuspecting nature of Springtime with a more cunning word like Carnivore. Also, the poem "Widow's Lament in Springtime" by William Carlos Williams is one of my favorites.
MF
When did you start Springtime Carnivore?
SC
Springtime Carnivore started around the same time- last summer (2012). I had a group of songs lying around and I just felt the need to complete them! None of my
musical friends seemed interested, so I just went ahead and did it alone. It was difficult at first-- but by doing so, I feel like I've started to "find
my voice" in a new and exciting way.
MF
So it's just you?
SC
Yep! Just
me so far. I loop the drums and play all the instruments other than
bass, which I asked a friend to record once the tracks were done.
MF
Where are you from? How has this influenced or informed your music?
SC
I moved a lot growing up-- and lived in New Mexico, Illinois, California, and Minnesota at various
times throughout my childhood. I guess each move introduced me to music in a different kind of way. Since I attended Catholic school, I heard a great deal of church music... which suprisingly has turned out to be a big influence in my work. Though I hated church growing up, I just remember loving the chord
progressions and melodic lifts in the songs that I heard... and the sound of the
huge organ. It definitely left an impression on me and I can definietly hear the ways it informs my music now.
New Mexico introduced me to bluegrass, country, and Native American music. I'm not sure how salient these influences were when thinking about the music I'm making now, but they are definitely the underpinnings to my musical foundation.
Throughout it all, I have always loved pop music and folk from the 50's-mid-70's-- and it still makes up the majority of what I listen to now. And I can't forget film scores! Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin, etc. I love old the music from old Westerns.
New Mexico introduced me to bluegrass, country, and Native American music. I'm not sure how salient these influences were when thinking about the music I'm making now, but they are definitely the underpinnings to my musical foundation.
Throughout it all, I have always loved pop music and folk from the 50's-mid-70's-- and it still makes up the majority of what I listen to now. And I can't forget film scores! Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin, etc. I love old the music from old Westerns.
MF
Since music was around, what would you say is your earliest musical memory?
SC
Playing the bottom octaves of the piano while my mom played a classical piece.
MF
SC
MF
And so when you grew up, you wanted to be?
SC
... I always wanted to be a musician or a writer.
MF
Did you play music growing up? What would you say was the first song you ever wrote?
SC
I wrote my first "real" song when I was about eleven years old. It was about my
middle school crush, who sadly never liked me back. We're still buds-- which is funny because I never played him the song!
MF
When I first heard "Collectors" I was so in love with the vibe, the arrangement, and melody-- so much so it appears on Romance Never Dies. Can you talk a little about the song? What was the driving force and inspiration behind it?
SC
The lyrics [for "Collectors"] started as a poem. I imagined there was a museum full of the collective memories you create with someone you love-- a museum where you must go tally the inventory, dust things off, and try to keep the whole place in good shape. Almost as if, by keeping the museum intact, you could keep a relationship intact.
The lyrics [for "Collectors"] started as a poem. I imagined there was a museum full of the collective memories you create with someone you love-- a museum where you must go tally the inventory, dust things off, and try to keep the whole place in good shape. Almost as if, by keeping the museum intact, you could keep a relationship intact.
When I was writing the music, the
sound I had in mind was like a Thin Lizzy / Supremes mashup. I
don't know if these two influences came across in the final recording, but it made sense in my mind!
MF
Can you talk a little about the music video for "Collectors?" How did you come up with the concept and who was involved in its creation?
SC
I
actually discovered the director, Eddie O'Keefe on Tumblr! I reached out and
asked if he would make a video for me-- only I had absolutely no
budget. And so, he then came up with the idea of using a photo montage. It came out so wonderfully-- Eddie has brilliant
taste and a tremendous eye.
MF
When you are in the studio recording, what is your process like? Do you know exactly how you want the song to sound?
SC
Well,
I don't really have a "studio" in a traditional sense … I just record
it all myself, using minimalist equipment and often in many different
locations! I have recorded some songs in and around my old house in New Mexico, and some of it
in California. But a lot of the time, I'll just take a miniature setup to
places that have a good energy. One of my new songs, called "Two Scars," I recorded
in my van parked on the side of the road in Minnesota during sunset.
MF
When
can we expect an EP or Album soon? I'm anxiously awaiting more songs!
SC
I'm very excited to announce that a wonderful European record label that just offered to put out a 7" for me, which is coming out
in May... Details will be coming on that shortly! I'm writing songs
constantly, so I will definitely have an album together by the end of
the year.
MF
If you could cover any song, what would you choose and why?
SC
Believe it or not, I'm working on covers of Blur's "You're So Great" and "Who Do You Love" by The
Sapphires at the moment! Both songs are just so dang good. I wish I had
written both of them!
MF
If you could put a band together comprised of any musicians, dead or alive, who would you pick to play what and why?
SC
Wow, great question. I'd love to play with George Harrison and Billy Preston. And if I
could ever hear Harry Nilsson, Joni Mitchell, Bobbie Gentry, or Otis
Redding sing in close quarters, I would probably die of happiness.
My
favorite young and current musician is Kurt Vile. I've listened to
"Constant Hitmaker" album about 4,000 times. He's a complete inspiration to me, and the main reason as to
why I started recording songs myself. Also, Cat Power is such a great
songwriter; an unbelievable singer. Her voice fills me with longing
for things I never thought I was missing. She's amazing.
MF
What do you draw your inspiration from?
SC
Symbols
are really interesting to me: how we create them-- how we entrust
meaning to them. And not only religious symbols, but everyday ones too.
Sometimes I'll just start writing about an object I've seen, like a worn
baseball glove or a cup of coffee....
Or sometimes it starts with a character. Last week, I saw a cross dresser walking his child to the school bus... So I went home to write a poem about it- just imagining that kid's perspective. That kid must get teased all the time for having an unusual parent. On a good day, I can try to imagine looking through someone else's eyes. I feel empathetic and connected. On a bad day, I feel stuck in my skin and caught up in the little short sighted details.
Or sometimes it starts with a character. Last week, I saw a cross dresser walking his child to the school bus... So I went home to write a poem about it- just imagining that kid's perspective. That kid must get teased all the time for having an unusual parent. On a good day, I can try to imagine looking through someone else's eyes. I feel empathetic and connected. On a bad day, I feel stuck in my skin and caught up in the little short sighted details.
MF
First concert you ever attended:
SC
I saw the opera singer Pavoratti when I was little. I was miserable! Totally didn't appreciate it at the time.
MF
8 songs you couldn't live without:
SC
My Back Pages - Bob Dylan
Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
Harvest - Neil Young
Row - from the 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' film score
Blues Run The Game - Jackson C Frank
Early In the Morning - Peter Paul and John
Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson
Jimmy Mack - Martha Reeves + The Vandellas
MF
3 albums that changed your life:
SC
Blue - Joni Mitchell
Odyssey and Oracle - The Zombies
XO - Elliott Smith
MF
MF
The best scene from a film:
SC
MF
Favorite city to tour and why:
SC
Favorite city to tour and why:
SC
Austin; I love the hospitable people and the great food!
favorite spots in the world:
+ Aspen Vista in Santa Fe, New Mexico
+ Angeles National Park in Los Angeles
+ Lake Pokegama in Minnesota
MF
Your style icons:
SC
Groucho
Marx meets Brigitte Bardot. Weird combo, can't tell if it's working for
me :) Also, pretty much every outfit worn on Twin Peaks is cool with
me.
MF
Your idols:
SC
Georgia O'Keeffe, Lucille Ball, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Alan Watts, David Lynch, Joan Didion
MF
Tell me a joke:
SC
A young boy named Tommy asked his dad, "Dad, what is the difference between 'confident' and 'confidential'?
The father responded, "Tommy, you are my son. I am CONFIDENT of this. Your friend John is also my son. That is CONFIDENTIAL."
MF
Tell me a secret:
SC
I can see the future and it has good things for every one.
MF
Your life motto?
SC
Do the most exciting thing first.
