March 17, 2024 • 63 mins
Welcome to another engaging episode of Backstory Sessions, where we dive into the musical journey of Carrie Martinelli, the keyboard player, singer, and one of the songwriters of the band, Shell Games. Starting with the story behind the band name, Carrie shares the evolution of her music, from childhood piano lessons to performance experiences on stage, and a visit to a psychic.
Carrie shares personal tales that formed the backdrop of her musical evolution. From a setback that tested her self-confidence to a serendipitous reunion with piano that rekindled her passion for playing and creatin.The discussion goes beyond music, revealing her love for science, a story of unrequited love, and artistic cynicism. Carrie also shares her career transition from a science background to pursuing a passion for music. She discusses her experiences as part of a predominantly female band, tackling stereotypes in a male-dominated industry, and reveals the influence of social media on her journey.
Learn about the band's upcoming album, their creative process influenced by varied musical genres, and hear about lessons learned over years of artistic endeavor. The conversation offers encouragement with wit, and exemplifies the joy and challenges of embracing one's true passion.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Music.
(00:49):
Hey everybody, it's Kat, and I want to welcome you to this episode of Backstory Sessions.
I'm joined today by my co-host, Matt.
Hey, Matt. Hey, Kat. Hey, everyone. How are you?
Well, here we are. Another episode.
Yeah. I don't know what number this is to you. It's got to be like 160.
(01:12):
Yeah, I'm not sure either. Like after 150, I kind of just like, oh, well, you know.
When we get to 200 or close to that, I'll probably be like, oh, we're almost to 200.
But, you know, we're in those in-betweens. And, like, you don't get any badges
or anything, I don't think. No, probably not.
(01:35):
You know, like, how you get one at 150. And you might get one at 175.
I don't know. But, I mean, you know, every episode is important, of course.
And yeah over 150 you
know that's like we're on the
what would you say like you don't
want to say like people say the back side of
(01:57):
30 so we're on the back side of 150 so
yeah i mean i'm guessing it's like
160 or something like that well whatever
it is that's pretty awesome i mean because we have have told some amazing backstories
and you know we should be really proud for that i think yeah for sure it's been
(02:20):
uh been fun then i think this month will be what we're starting year five.
Well season five no year
five we this is like season 11 all right
wow so uh so
amazing isn't in it like yeah i
(02:40):
mean where has the time gone i know it's
uh put me away yeah well
you know we we have
had like just with this season we have
had all kinds of guests and i i like that about podcasts is that you know everybody
has a story and you don't have to be just you know in this this little genre
(03:08):
in order for your story to be interesting.
And, you know, I found that we've got like, you know, actors,
for instance, and they all have such different backgrounds, different paths
that took them to maybe the same place where,
(03:29):
And this, our guests today, you know, we don't know a whole lot about.
Yeah, that's true, yeah.
But, you know, people that, we've had people at all different stages of their careers.
Like, you know, we've had people that have, like, played everywhere.
(03:53):
You know, like, we've had Yellow. We had, you know, Beb Bebin, the drummer for Yellow.
And we've had artemis i mean we've had our share of drummers for sure yeah there's
been quite a few you know that are legendary iconic people uh we've had iconic actresses and actors,
(04:14):
you know so people that have had like the best of the best careers we have had
as guests and you know we have people like sort of middle of their careers you know they've got,
over the beginning stuff and they made it you know to that kind of You know
(04:36):
midpoint, I guess they're not ready to retire, you know or whatever Yeah,
And then we have people,
You know so shell games.
They're they're beginning but they're not like, you know trying to be discovered
like, you know Just let's try to put a band together.
(04:59):
They're not at that level. And they're going to be going on a tour.
So, you know, we're just catching them at a great time in their journey or their story, I feel like.
Yeah, it's kind of interesting to hear how they got together.
(05:20):
And, you know, I'm assuming that they're all, like, been involved in music and stuff for a while.
So how they came together will be an interesting story, I'm sure.
Yeah i mean i think it's a mostly female band with one one guy so he's kind of lucky you know,
(05:43):
yeah um but there's not you know like i think there's traditionally not been
a lot of all female bands or mostly female i mean there's been a few that come
to mind i mean look at heart or.
(06:04):
Or the bangles yes the
bangles or the runaways with joan
jett and the go-go's yeah so yeah there's been a few and you know like aretha
franklin like in those days uh diana ross is the preems yeah you know so i mean
there have been some great ones but you know for every one one of those that we can name,
(06:29):
we could name like how many mostly male bands, you know? That's true.
So this will be interesting just for that fact.
And so Carrie, the one that we're, the member that we're going to interview,
she plays the keyboards and also sings and write songs.
(06:50):
So, you know, have you ever thought about like, if you were going to be in a
band, And like, what would be, you know, the best instrument to play as far as like,
touring and having to you know bring
your instrument with you well i
(07:10):
mean the best you know the best scenario is to have roadies
do it and or like a guitar tech or
keyboard tech or whatever and they carry all
that stuff and set it up for you but i guess
if i had to choose it'd be like i don't know
harmonica well is
there any well i you know a tambourine isn't too heavy either right yeah yeah
(07:35):
i'm so so oh no the triangle that would be a good yes a triangle oh or the little
symbols you put on your fingers you know yeah that's a good one too.
A kazoo a kazoo i
forgot because it would be even better yes you
(07:57):
know we still are if there's anybody out there in a kazoo band we would like
to have you as a guest yeah yeah of course we have been searching for the very
best are there any bands that use kazoos that you know um well Well, I mean,
none that I am familiar with, but...
(08:19):
Yeah, it doesn't mean that there isn't one out there that does. No.
Maybe in Ghana or... Ghana.
Well, I mean, you know, like, there could be someplace.
Yeah, there could be. And I say Ghana because, do you know that...
(08:41):
That is of the countries outside of the U.S.
You know, they are number three in our top listeners. So yes,
yes, this month they are for sure.
So if I had a kazoo or salute of some kind to Ghana, I'd be playing it because, you know, that's great.
Keep listening out there and, you know, your friends and all of that.
(09:08):
Right. Tell your friend. yeah you know
seriously like i i would think being the
advantages okay like hellstorm you
love you know lizzie hale you know so
the advantages of being a female in a
male dominated kind of career career
(09:30):
of music would be what you
know what are the advantages i mean i
guess i don't know i mean if you're
i guess if you're good looking men will pay attention to you so that could be
a plus i think and it could be you know a curse depending on like would they
(09:57):
not take you seriously then and just think,
you know, all you are is attractive.
Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there's some of that, but I mean, I don't know. It's hard for me to say.
Well, so there's not that many.
So, you know, at least you're unique, I guess.
(10:19):
I mean, you're somewhat unique in that you're, you know, there's not as many of you.
Yeah, I guess. Yes, I mean, I don't know. I never really thought about it.
I mean, good music is good music. It doesn't matter whether it's a male or female singing it.
Well, I like to think that's the case. And, you know, now that you have Taylor
(10:41):
Swift, like, you know, a lot of the top performers now are female.
Yeah, I suppose that's true. So I do think that, you know, you got Dolly,
you know, Miley and Beyonce now.
I mean, you know, just like in all the different genres, you've got a lot of
(11:03):
strong females that are out there making, you know, breaking history of the male artists.
So that's pretty cool. Yeah, for sure.
But with shell games, you know, they do have a male. So they do have male and female.
And I'm curious about where they got the name. I think that's an interesting name.
(11:28):
Yeah. That'll be just another interesting part of the story.
Yeah. So the good thing, I think, about having an artist that you don't know
a whole lot about, because before that we planned to do this episode,
I had not listened to the music.
But since, to prepare for the interview, I did listen, and I really do.
(11:56):
I like the music. The lyrics are really profound and interesting.
And, you know, just a lot of talent, like a lot of talent in this group.
So for that, I think sometimes it's really good to listen to something outside
(12:17):
of what you normally would listen to.
Well, what kind of music would you say it is?
So it's kind of like Evanescence in a way, like it has kind of that feel to it. Okay.
You know, like how their lyrics are...
(12:41):
You know, more than just, like, rhyme and time. Right, yeah, yeah.
Like, those kind of, like, you hear a lot of. So it's not like that.
It's, like, really beautiful lyrics.
But some of the songs, you know, are, like, the tempo is really faster.
But then a lot are, like, dreamy, ballad, like, you're floating in space,
(13:05):
like, eye of the sky, you know. Gotcha. Yeah.
So it was just a mixture, and really the songs are very, very different of the three that I listen to.
Hmm, interesting. Yeah. I wonder where those ideas come from.
Well, you know, we're going to ask that question. I mean, because really it's,
(13:30):
well, they're kind of from your neck of the woods.
So, you know. Well, from Connecticut, so. Yeah, well, that's not really my neck of the woods.
I mean, it's a couple hundred miles away, but.
It's still like, you know, on the northeast. Yeah, closer than Kentucky, for sure.
(13:52):
But, you know, I've heard that's like a great place for pizza.
I don't know, but. I don't know either. Connecticut, good for pizza?
Yeah, well, you hate them. so
we'll see but we
do know it's a great place for music so because we're going to be talking to
(14:16):
the artists today all right well we'll talk to her in a minute what else do
we have coming up do you want to reveal any new guest information oh my goodness
we have rick cosnet coming up Yeah,
he's going to be out in a couple of weeks, right?
Oh, gosh, he has on this lilac purple suit.
(14:43):
And oh, he's just dreamy. He's just dreamy. Oh, Lord.
I know, but that is the color for the season.
All righty. Yeah, I mean, I know you don't want a bow tie or any of that.
Nor do I want a purple suit.
I was getting ready to say you'd still look good
(15:03):
in it but sure you know like
you were not going to go with those colors but yeah i i would end up looking
like a grape i think no it's the light you know it's like light color purple
and you know it'd be a great easter suit for you Yeah.
(15:28):
No.
Well, you know, you probably can't get one this time of the year.
Oh, well, we don't. Oh, my gosh. We almost did not say happy St.
Patrick's Day to everybody listening. All right.
(15:50):
Yes. This episode is airing on St. Patrick's Day. Yeah.
And we I mean, oh, my gosh, we should open with that.
That's my fault, really. but mine too because
i wasn't really thinking about it well you know
i could use some of the luck of the irish and uh
can't we all well you gotta
(16:11):
buy those powerball tickets because you know it's
well you know that that's all that ship
has sailed yeah but you
know i am somewhat irish so okay according to my dna oh that's right you did
the 23andme test yes if i did you know that was before i knew that you know
(16:37):
there would be a security breach and you know like yeah,
but still you know if someone were to get my dna like i am irish so all righty
well let's talk to carrie and find out about shell games and uh see what that's
(16:58):
all about you mean oh carrie.
Yes all right well happy saint patrick's day everyone hope you enjoyed this
episode carrie i want to welcome you to backstory sessions we're really excited
to have you as our guest today.
Thank you so much. I'm so excited to be here. Well, I have to ask,
(17:21):
first of all, about the title of your band, Shell Games.
Where does the title, where does that come from? So, you know,
growing up, my favorite band ever was Bright Eyes, Connor Oberst.
And one of his songs is Shell Games. And it means like kind of like a sleight
of hand, like a manipulation.
(17:41):
And And like, you know, like the three cups and there's a ball underneath one
and they spin them around and you got to pick which cup has the ball in it,
but really they've snuck the ball away. So you're always going to lose. Yeah.
So I kind of feel like that's what we do with music. We just take sound and we manipulate it.
And while you're listening, that's what your, your environment is.
And then when the song ends, it's no more.
(18:03):
So it kind of just spoke on a couple levels. It's just fun. I think.
Yeah, definitely. And you know, it's a conversation piece like we're having
now, someone asking what it meant to you.
And so it sounds like music has been a big part of your life,
at least from, from the listening aspect that you were just talking about.
(18:25):
So where did music begin for you?
Well, I've always dreamed of having a daughter play piano.
And she put me in lessons about when I was about four or five.
And I had a private teacher. And I showed, I guess, an aptitude for piano from
a young age. So we kept with it.
(18:47):
Unfortunately, my sister did not.
So they took occur out of lessons pretty quickly, but they kept me in.
And so now all my mom's hopes and dreams were centered on me alone, apparently.
But no, it was a lot. I had weekly lessons and I ended up performing in different
recitals and also festivals,
(19:08):
which is when you go into a room and you play a piece and judges will judge
you in front of other people.
So they literally hold up those cards with the numbers on them after you're done.
And yeah, and then you have a winner of each room. And then that that goes on
to playing to a bigger audience.
And it was I remember being so nervous, I would throw up before going into play
(19:31):
at a festival. I was just like, crazy nervous.
But for some reason, people loved when I played piano.
So I kept with it for for a little bit until I had an experience and then I stopped playing.
So did you like playing piano?
Because I know you said you were, you know, good at it.
Did you enjoy it? I actually did
(19:54):
uh what would happen was I know like people talk
about like when you get runners slow like runners like
run for a certain amount of time and then they just feel like kind of like outside
themselves I guess that's how I felt when I
would perform I I remember not being on the bench while I was playing but I
felt myself like kind of in the audience listening to myself play and and enjoying
(20:16):
it and I always thought that was like a really cool experience I would have
like like an out-of-body experience when I would play. That is interesting.
So what happened to, I guess you said you had an experience.
So what happened that stopped you?
Interest in playing piano or in playing piano period? Did you just completely
(20:41):
stop or just stop lessons?
Yeah, I gave it. I completely stopped. I walked away, unfortunately.
So there was a big recital happening. My teacher was very well known in the
music teacher community, and
there was a whole piano music teacher association going on at the time.
And every year, where each teacher would choose their best students to showcase
(21:04):
and collaborate into one big recital.
So I was one of my, one of the people picked for my teacher and she had a, I was playing a piece.
And honestly, I can't even tell you what the name of the piece was that I was
playing because I think I, I blocked it out.
But I remember the piece had an A section, a B section, and then it went back
to the A section and the middle section, that B section, she was was telling
(21:28):
me that I wasn't playing it technically perfect.
And she was worried that I wouldn't have it in time for the recital.
And I remember she said, practice as much as you can. And we'll have one more
lesson before the recital.
And I'll make the decision whether you play that part or not.
And I was like, okay, so I practiced, I practiced.
And I went back and she told me that she thinks I should just skip the B section,
(21:51):
play the A section and then repeat it. And I was like, oh, that sounds kind of boring.
It doesn't sound like I want to do that, but I don't know.
So I went home and I told my mom about it. And she was like,
listen, I think you play the B section beautifully.
And if you want to do it, you do it. And I was like, okay.
So the day of the recital happened, I didn't know what I was going to do.
(22:11):
I sat down and I just started playing.
And when the time came for me to either play the B section or repeat the A section,
I just, I felt like I couldn't not play that part for the audience for the piece itself.
So I just continued on and played the B section when I played through the entire piece.
And all I remember is when I stood up to bow after I.
(22:32):
Audience just erupted. It was just applause. It was insane.
And I felt such relief at that point because I was like, oh,
okay, good. I, you know, I did the right thing.
And I remember going to my mom, sitting down, finishing watching everyone else.
And after the recital ended, my teacher came up to me and she said that she
(22:53):
was completely mortified.
She said that I had embarrassed her in in front of all of her peers,
that the way I played the B section wasn't how it was written.
I was playing it too creatively. I was interpreting it in a way that,
you know, it wasn't specifically written on the piece and that I was just,
she was so disappointed in me.
And I was like, shocked because everyone else was coming up to me and saying
(23:17):
that I had moved them with my playing.
So I was like, okay, very confused. I went home and my mom's like,
let's go back. Let's, you know, for your next lesson, let's talk to her.
I'm sure everything will be fine.
And I was ready to be like, okay, you know what? Bad performance, whatever. That's it.
I go back. And instead of having a lesson, she sits me down and plays a recording
(23:37):
of my performance where she stopped,
kept pausing it and pointing out every single thing I had done wrong or incorrectly
in terms of the technical playing. I had played everything correctly.
All the notes were correct, everything. It was just the way I was interpreting the piece.
And she made me feel like just a horrible, horrible piano player.
And I remember crying and walking out and telling my mom I didn't want to go back. And she said, OK.
(24:02):
And I stopped playing piano from that day on for a long time.
Matt, what do you think? I think that's terrible. And I mean,
how old were you at this point?
I was just finishing my sophomore year of high school.
So very, very, you know, awkward time in my life already and like sensitive.
(24:24):
Yeah. Yeah. That's horrible. I mean, so, I mean, have you sort of come to terms
with that now over the years?
Or, I mean, is it still like, you know, this woman is crazy or,
I mean, how do you feel about it now? Wow.
Well, now I can look back and realize that, you know, she was she was a piano teacher.
(24:46):
She had gone to school to play classical piano and she she had the metronome.
She was she was like a machine when it came to piano.
And I realize now that and my mom helped me realize because I was so young,
I couldn't really understand.
I was putting in I was starting to become creative with music.
I was starting to add my own inflection, do a little bit of a different thing.
(25:06):
And I didn't realize that that was going to be so, quote unquote, wrong in her book.
And when you become creative in any kind of art form or anything you do where
other people are going to hear it or listen or possibly judge you,
you're literally so vulnerable.
Memorable and i think that's why even though
i loved piano it was enough to make me walk away
(25:27):
because it was the first time i had really shown like part
of my soul when it came to music and it was it
was thrown right back in my face and i was like no i'm too sensitive for this
i can't do that wow now i realize it was more of she couldn't understand could
because she wasn't a creator she she reproduced the music that was written but
(25:47):
she she doesn't create her own she never did i I see.
So she's kind of like, buy the book, and you were just sort of,
you know, playing it, but putting your own spin on it kind of thing,
and she didn't like that. Correct.
Yeah, that's horrible. I mean,
somebody squashing your creativity like that. I mean, I can't imagine.
(26:10):
Yeah, it was painful. So where did you go from there? I mean,
you stopped playing piano. What happened then?
I did. I stopped playing piano. So I gave up.
Music was no longer a part of my identity. Both of my parents are scientists.
So I was like, oh, well, I guess I'll go to college for science.
So I just kept going with my life.
(26:30):
I majored in biology and none of my friends ever knew I played piano all through college.
And then I graduated college and I kind of did a couple floundering years,
you know, trying to figure out what I really wanted to do.
And it wasn't until I had a really, my first, probably a couple bad breakups
(26:51):
that I decided to kind of put myself out there for the universe to just kind of guide me.
And I remember my, my, you know, ex saying, you know, I think you're just wasting time.
I think you, you know what you want to go back to school for.
You're just too afraid to do it.
And I was like, I don't know what that means because I don't think I know what
to go back to school for, but I was so upset that he like challenged me that
(27:15):
I remember getting on the computer that night and looking up master's programs,
graduate programs in my state. I'm from Connecticut.
And I remember just one popped up that I was like, Oh, this looks interesting.
And it was, it was for integrative medicine. And I was like,
I don't know what that is. Sound sciencey, let me go for it, whatever.
And I applied, I got in and they're like, oh, well, you know,
(27:38):
there's two options for you.
You can go to this town, which happened to be where my mom lived.
And I knew, and it would be very convenient.
Or you could go to this town that's super far away, but that's where my ex sort of lived near.
So I was like, oh, I'm going to pick that one just Just in case he ever wants
to, you know, get back with me. That's it. That's the smart move right there.
(28:01):
So anyways, I just joined this program in a city that was pretty far from me.
And I remember my very first day I was sitting there and this girl comes up to me. Her name's Allie.
And she sat down. She's like, hi, how are you? I want to be your friend,
blah, blah. And I was like, I'm here because my boyfriend broke up with me and
I don't want to talk to you, you know, whatever.
And it was this weird program where it was like one weekend a month.
(28:22):
So like you just kind of like slept over and you're kind of like camped out
for the weekend while you learn different like modalities of natural medicine.
So I had nowhere to go. and she's like what are
you doing after this and I'm like nothing she's like well I'm
a drummer and I found this girl on creds list
I've been talking to and she's a singer and she's performing tonight and
we might collab would you like to come with me so I'm not going alone and I'm
(28:43):
like well what do I say to that sure I'll come with you so she's like do you
play music and I was like oh no I used to play piano when I was little not anymore
I gave it up and she's like oh okay So we end up going to see this girl that she met online sing.
And I kid you not, when I go and
see this girl, it's the same girl that my ex-boyfriend just moved in with.
(29:06):
Oh, my God. god yeah and i
was like oh my gosh this is so weird and i really liked her
she's just a roommate situation and i was like wow this is so weird like
i just met you and then i got broken up with and now i'm i see you again and
they're like all right you're gonna play with us we're gonna join we're gonna
make a band i'm like guys i play classical piano i don't even know how to i
don't even know what jamming is like what are you talking about so i started
(29:30):
jamming with these girls and i was I was like, oh, this is really fun.
Like, I kind of like this. I know what a C chord is and I know what chord sounds
good with an E. And all those years of the theory books I wrote in,
they're kind of coming back.
And yeah, from there, we just started kind of writing our own music.
And I actually started dating another guy who was a musician who ended up being a guitarist in our band.
(29:52):
And from there, we just started writing an album.
And again, broken up with, I swear it's not me, I swear.
And I was like, well, there goes music again. I put all my years into this album
with this guy that I thought I loved and now it's gone and I don't know what to do.
And one last time I was like, let me look to the internet. So I went on the
(30:16):
internet and I went on Craigslist and there were a bunch of ads for a keyboard player.
And I was like, let me just pick one. So I literally eeny, meeny,
miny, moe these three different ads. Didn't even know what type of music it was.
I landed on one. I emailed the contact. They're like, come meet us in this random
warehouse in New Haven tonight for an audition.
So I told all my friends where I was going in case they didn't hear from me by a certain time.
(30:40):
And I showed up and I had said, I'm never going to date anyone else I ever work
on music with ever again. end and the lead guitarist walks in and i look at
him and he is now currently my husband.
So i like to joke that i met my husband on kegs list that's funny,
and from there it's been no turning back it's just been music music music for me,
(31:04):
well cat what do you think of that story well you
know that i love that story already oh yeah
i mean is it so you
do you feel like that the universe was guiding
you to you know one get
back into music by going to that audition and also of meeting your husband like
(31:28):
how much do you feel like is effort and hard work or talent and how much is
like fate of how things things play out for you.
So it's interesting you say that because my mom always would joke like.
Was always very good at school and I was always very good at sports and I was
(31:49):
always very good at things and, but none of it I loved.
She'd always be like, what do you want to do with your life? And I just had no clue.
And I, I could have done a lot of things and I could have done them well,
but I wouldn't have loved it. And I, and I just, I just didn't settle.
I feel like I, I might've seen like I was kind of bound during my life,
like, you know, serving at restaurants and doing whatever I could in the in-between,
(32:12):
but like it wouldn't, it made me happy because because it gave me the schedule
and the time to have the life I wanted to live.
So I feel like because I kind of stayed true to myself there and put myself
out there, because if I hadn't looked for these things, then they wouldn't have found me.
If I had just stayed holed up in my room, I wouldn't have found that graduate program.
(32:32):
I wouldn't have met Allie. I wouldn't have, you know, gone to that audition
and met my husband, Nick.
I wouldn't have done any of that. So I feel like it was equal parts me knowing
who I am deep down and having the confidence to put myself out there because of my passion.
And I think the talent comes in gradually. Like, you know, I had lost some of
(32:53):
my ability having given up piano for so long.
But then coming back to it in a reinvented way where I wasn't reading off of a page.
I was pulling notes from the atmosphere, from my mind, and then putting them
in the way I wanted them. And it almost felt like, oh, this is what it was all meant to be.
It wasn't necessarily like it felt like I was so talented. It felt like,
(33:14):
oh, this all finally makes sense.
But of the eeny, meeny, miny, moe method, you could have gone to another audition,
right? Oh, yeah, totally.
That was definitely, me and the universe are best friends.
Yes, that was just like, that's why I have to trust. Like if I,
(33:35):
you know, and I say this for all like artists out there, if you're feeling down,
like you just have to trust that you're creating something that wasn't there
before you thought about it.
And, and it's for a reason, even if you don't really see a reward now,
there's something that exists in this world that didn't before. And it's just like,
Yeah, fate and the universe work in really weird ways. I remember when I went
(33:59):
to, I actually visited a psychic right after I started the band with my husband
because he actually was in a relationship. So we didn't date right off the bat.
I just knew that he was like one day I was like, I think we're going to be together.
It was just a feeling I had.
And so I went to a psychic because I was like, oh, I want to know what the psychic thinks.
I'm pretty skeptical, but you know, I have this unrequited love and I'm in this
(34:20):
band and I'm feeling good about music and I just want to know what's going on.
Check in, you know, let me check in with this universe that I love so much.
So I went to a psychic and right around that same time, my mom had moved and
she couldn't fit the piano, the upright piano that I grew up playing in her house anymore.
So she had it sent over to my house and I was like, oh, this is cool.
(34:42):
You know, like I used to play on this piano.
It's kind of got a lot of memories there for me. Now I have this really old
ivory keyed out of tune piano sitting in my living room and And I go to the
psychic and I'm trying not to give her too much information because I don't
really believe she's a psychic and I don't want her to like know anything just
by like the way I talk or anything. So I'm trying to be all sneaky.
And, you know, it comes up that like, I, she's like, you're very musical.
(35:05):
And I'm like, oh, okay. Yeah, we can start talking.
And then she says, there's someone trying to come through. And I'm like,
what do you mean come through? She's like, there's a, there's a grandparent.
Your grandfather has a message for you. And I'm like, okay. and
she says he never you never met him and it's
true i never met my dad's dad he died before i was born
and everyone says that i'm the most like him and so i was like okay and she
(35:27):
says he wants you to get that piano tuned i was like what and she says i don't
know he's just saying that you need to get that piano tuned because you were
going to be doing great things with music,
And I was shivers all over my body. And I was like, okay, I'm going home and
getting that piano tune.
(35:50):
And I actually teach music now as well. I'm a piano teacher.
Come full circle. I teach from my house on the piano that I grew up playing.
And I've written a lot of the songs. I'm currently in a band,
Shell Games, like we talked about in the beginning, where I am the main writer.
Up until this band I have always been like
(36:10):
kind of like a superfluous player just like adding my
own little part to a another band kind of thing going on or not the lead singer
not the main songwriter but this time I am writing I am singing I am playing
piano and I I'm using that piano and it's just yeah I can't tell you it's it's
crazy it's wild that this is the point of I mean I'm I'm not my life right now.
(36:33):
So did you tell your husband about this experience and what the psychic kind
of, so what was his thoughts or reactions?
Oh yeah. He even said like the minute he met me, like his relationship wasn't
going very well. And it was more of like a living roommate situation.
He's like, I, he's like, I loved you the minute I saw you.
(36:55):
Like I knew we were going to do stuff with music and he's actually our producer.
Producer and he's recording our whole album mixing our
whole album and he'll like play guitar on the album and and
now we're going to be finished in a couple months with our first
album and we're going to play live and he's going to play in the band with me and
he really feels into like the whole universe
(37:15):
he does a lot of meditation and like and very you
know like thought centered like approaches
to things like very I don't know he's just like
he just supports everything I don't know know I can't say enough good things
about him he just he doesn't think I'm crazy let's put it that way it always
helps right so in
(37:36):
your band let's talk about your band mates so you
have your husband and so is he
a high school teacher he is
he teaches high school math wow so that
kind of goes along with your science background I
would think it does yeah and they always
say math and music like kind of connected in
(37:58):
a way in the brain so sure makes sense okay.
And then you have emily so tell us about
her so emily amazing she is this tiny little blonde girl who flies jets she's
literally like a jet and seaplane pilot she has like this crazy training where
she like has to crash land on water and all this stuff but she's our drummer
(38:22):
so when she's not doing that She is playing drums.
Band dana dana is my other
half in the band because she and i actually share the
lead vocals so it kind of makes it
a little more interesting because two people will sing at different times
or together and she also plays bass and she
(38:44):
is awesome because she and we actually did this today before this
interview she came over and she records like voiceovers for
radio and tv commercials commercials so we were
having her talk about a new recycling center
that's opening up and she was just speaking the script and my
husband recorded her and edited it and it's just so cool to watch her
like be able to just like put on this
(39:06):
whole other persona and record these commercials it's
pretty cool but anyway she's now a flight attendant
so half my dan is literally in in the air at different
times it's hard
to keep us grounded that's funny
well i read something about like breaking into what has traditionally been a
(39:30):
male dominated like bands have mostly been male and that many times you were
were mistaken not for being in the band.
But, you know, just being an assistant or groupie or something like that.
So, you know, what was that like trying to break into this, you know, to be taken seriously?
(39:55):
I mean, it's I kind of laugh about it now because it seems funny,
but I think I probably was a little bit more upset by certain things at the
time. But, yeah, I was in three different bands at once at one point and I was laughing.
Guys and then me and then another band had four to
five guys and me and then I was in another band that had like seven to
ten guys and then me because there was like a whole horn section
(40:18):
and trumpets and whatever and a lot
of we would be loading in and a lot of the times I'd be carrying stuff
and guys would be holding the doors who worked there
or just were there early and they'd be like oh your boyfriend's really
putting you to work tonight you know just like me carrying in his
gear and I was like yeah I know right someone's
there and I'd play along with it and then I'd wait until we
(40:38):
were up on stage and then i stood up there and i was like huh i
am actually one of them so that was
always just like you know a little little jab kind
of feeling i guess yeah and just
like a lot i actually it's not so
much now that that affects me it's more
that with this success and like the reception we've already
(41:00):
had with shell games because there are
three girls else in the band i've had a lot of people
say to my husband not to me obviously but
that oh you know must be easy to get
streams when you look like those three or you know
like we should have them do a video where they're like you know doing stuff
for our music so people will actually listen like just like we're getting streams
(41:22):
because of the way we look you know we're girls and that's kind of more offensive
to me even than someone mistaking me for a roadie at this point because Because
we're doing so much work.
And to still, at this day and age, just be put as superficial face value.
It's just like, really? Have you even listened to our music?
It's just bizarre that that still happens to me.
(41:45):
Do you ever write about that?
And the way that you feel about being viewed in that way?
Yeah. Yeah. So after we, we released, we released five songs and it's like half of the album.
So we released them as singles. And after the first one went out,
(42:06):
it was called Into Thin Air.
We put it on all streaming services, whatever. We started hearing stuff like that.
And so I started writing this other song and then I was like,
you know what? No, no way. I got a, I'm angry.
I'm like, I'm set. I'm angry. I put myself out there. It's the first time I've been able to do so.
And, and there's just been some like stuff like, ah, you know,
let's be easy, So I actually put that into the second song.
(42:28):
The second song is called Body Snatchers. And it's a little bit of a darker
vibe and just about letting outside opinion affect your self-worth.
And that has been our most popular song by far, so far. are.
And people have been like, asking to play shows with us because of it.
And they've been doing artwork for us for it, or how they felt when they listened
(42:49):
to the song and just reaching out.
And it's been incredible, because because of why I wrote that song.
And then to have that reception, it's like, okay, I'm okay. Now everything's all right, I can do this.
You know, you're not always gonna hear what you want to hear,
but I'm doing something right. So I'm going to keep going.
So what is the writing process like for you? How do you, like,
(43:11):
does a song lyric come to you, a melody?
Is it based on personal experiences?
Lead us, guide us through that. Yeah.
So for me, at least, I know everyone's songwriting procedure is different,
but I will hear something in my head and then I'll grab my phone and I'll do
(43:32):
a little voice recording.
And it's a melody of some sort. It could be what the synth ends up doing, the guitar, the vocal.
And then once I have like a maybe 20 second clip of what's in my head,
I'll sit down on my piano.
I'll lay down some basic synth and piano lines, and then I will record a scratch vocal over it.
And from there, we'll add, everyone else will step in and then start adding
(43:54):
their instruments, which might be a little backwards.
I think a lot of people, when they record and they write, they either all play
at the same time, they play together, or they, you know, when they record,
they do drums first. But really, our music is started on a piano.
And just me alone with my piano and my thoughts. And in terms of lyrics,
the lyrics, no matter what I sing in the scratch, it's almost like not gibberish,
(44:16):
but just like random words will come out. And it's almost like that's what the song wants to say.
And then when I kind of have a vibe of how I want the diction,
and if there's going to be a rhyming scheme, I like to put myself in a situation. situation.
Like, either I'm, I mean, we have one song coming out called Feels Like Us,
and each line is about a different figure in mythology, and then how that would
(44:38):
relate to a modern relationship.
So I like to like, kind of get atmosphere. And then, you know,
if it's the breakup song, am I standing on the pavement crying?
How am I feeling? Or if it's, you know, about self worth, here I am flying high,
and there's everyone trying to knock me down, like, and I'm just actually trying
to visualize what's happening.
And then the imagery will come out out through the lyrics.
(45:00):
Do you feel like that this song kind of
takes over and guides you
as to how it needs to come
out or how it wishes to come out absolutely
absolutely and if we're if we're writing something
and you know they're asking me like oh what should
what should happen here i actually will have to i'll leave the room
(45:22):
and i'll like do a little little walk by myself and i
need the quiet and then i'll come back and be like okay i got it and
i don't know where it comes from it's just needs to be a little bit quiet and then
the thoughts come and the ideas come and then from there we
can build on it and actually our last song on
the album is called dream song because i actually dreamed
it and i remember waking up in like the middle of the night and i like did my
(45:43):
little voice recordings and they're really ridiculous to listen to now and i
don't even know how i realized what i was doing but the whole song came from
just like something i dreamed up and i was like okay this needs to be out there
and it just kind of goes this album has been super super easy to write,
which is a little unnerving because I'm like, oh, no, what if I could never write another album?
But at least this one, it's been like, oh, it needs to be out there. It just happened.
(46:05):
So in the group,
how do you, like, let's say that your dream or your, you know,
song might be telling you one thing and someone else might have a different idea.
How do you resolve, you know, issues like that where you might be getting two
(46:28):
different vibes of the way it could go?
Well, we actually have like a rule in the studio.
All ideas need to be fleshed out.
So if like we have something being said one way and someone has an idea,
we'll lay it down and then we can actually hear and compare.
And sometimes we're pleasantly surprised that, you know, something we were dead
set on needs to be a certain way.
(46:50):
Um we actually have a song on the album coming out called
hangman and dana takes the lead on
this one for singing and she came up with this amazing bass
line and she had this vocal that was
a little like southern country rock but it was just something was like we wish
none of us were like feeling it completely it wasn't there yet and then finally
she looks at me she's like i don't think this should be the vocal and i'm like
(47:12):
well what do you want to do she's like i don't know play around with it see
what you come up with and i i came up with a different vocal melody and different
lyrics when I had her do it.
And we looked at each other like, that's it. That's what the song needed.
We needed to just get rid of that vocal melody, get rid of those lyrics,
keep that baseline and try again.
And now it's one of our favorite songs on the album now. So we never say no.
If someone has an idea, it's an idea for a reason. Let's try it.
(47:35):
Let's make a decision as a group because you never know.
Like co-writing versus just writing by
yourself I love co-writing because I am
just one person and when I see how
these songs become just so multi-dimensional when
everyone else adds to it it's like mind-blowing it's like
I never thought that this song could be that but these talented people
(47:57):
came in and like made it that way it's amazing I
could I and I also think I would get kind of lonely doing it
on my own I like the collaboration I like that this is a
group thing we all get to have fun and laugh and we
have random things on the album like nick sneezed
once and it sounded so cool so we like kept that in
and we like added a bunch more sneezes in the song and like
(48:18):
i'm giggling i'm giggling at one part and then
dana took a lighter during one song and she she went
but click on the lighter and then she blew it out and it sounds so cool we kept
that in so we just like have fun with it where does where does where does science
fit into all of this i mean are you have you given this up or for now i went
(48:41):
on to get my my emt certification.
And i actually did a physics degree as well i
just tried i kept trying to love science because
my mom and dad are both scientists but my dad also is a
saxophone player and he plays in a lot of bands and so
he kind of gets it he kind of gets like the music thing and my mom's loving
it because this is her dream this is why she spent all that money on piano
(49:03):
lessons front row of every concert i've
ever been in you know she gets on the list for you know
first at the door whatever she wants and i think that i'm at peace right now
with me putting science aside um and really focusing on this but it is nice
to know that i if i you know do want to pursue something in the future i have
(49:24):
have a very good foundation to then go back and maybe try something as a career.
Was your grandfather that you didn't meet your dad's dad that,
you know, sent the message? Was he musical as well?
He was. Yeah. And he was very creative.
And again, it's that science and music, like kind of duality.
(49:46):
He was very, very good at writing. He was a musician and he also was a really
prominent dentist. He was actually FDR's dentist.
Wow. Wow. And he wrote like a book on dentistry and stuff.
So with that, like writing and the science and the music, everyone says I'm
very much like him and kind of just float in between different things.
That is very interesting.
(50:07):
So social media, how has that played out?
And, you know.
Your music career is it an
advantage is it a hindrance it definitely
is it's an it's both i would say it's both
an advantage and a hindrance because it's an
(50:29):
advantage because you do get more reach for your
music and your identity and who you are i've met
so many cool people from all all over
that like are actual people and want to
talk and like collab on things and just
it's been been a really cool community growing situation with
social media it's a hindrance because again
(50:52):
with like I mean Instagram and Instagram
threads are like our main modalities for you
know promoting you do get just kind of like superficial like
photos with a quick caption or whatever so their depth
sometimes isn't there and I'm as a
creative person I don't really like advertising advertising myself i've
never been good at like the businessy side so there's a
(51:15):
part of me that like cringes every time i have to like post the
photo and being like yay but also you know
with the community being so cool they'll they make me feel better about it right
away like oh great job or like liking it or like yeah we feel you we know exactly
what you mean and like it's just been a give and take with that but definitely
a necessity in this day and age so what is next.
(51:39):
Oh, we're so excited.
We're going to be finishing the album very soon. Probably in the next two months,
it'll be streaming everywhere.
And then we are playing live all summer.
We are going to be doing an album release show in New Haven, Connecticut.
And then we're going to be we've been talking to different fans and Massachusetts,
New York, Rhode Island, planning on doing like a little like New England type gig swapping tour.
(52:03):
So we're just going to be getting our feet wet
with like really presenting these songs to the
public and seeing how we feel and then from there
I'm pretty sure the universe will tell me what to do I have faith so
what type of music listener do you feel that that your music would most appeal
to we're definitely like an indie rock type of band a little dream pop a little
(52:28):
alt pop alt rock but what I like about our songs is that each one has has a
different vibe because we're crazy,
I guess. And we just don't really, we just write whatever.
So we have like a very dream poppy song, then a very rocky song,
then a kind of bluesy song with some trumpet.
So, I mean, there's one song about feeling like you're going to space,
(52:48):
It's all like trippy. So I don't know. We just kind of want to just,
you know, like ADHD friendly.
So who do you listen to? Actually, it's funny that all four of us have completely
different tastes in music as well.
My favorite are like, you know, Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit. These two sisters
(53:11):
from Sweden are amazing.
Murder by Death, Me Without You. Like kind of indie rock, you know,
a little grunge, a little folk.
And then I've got Nick, who my husband loves, like the Strokes and Radiohead
and, you know, all that stuff.
And then the girls kind of like that band that I do not like, the Karunjaban band.
I don't know how to pronounce that famous band everyone loves. It's like K-H-R-U-G.
(53:34):
I don't know. But they're a little like trippy and jammy. And yeah,
like Led Zeppelin-y. We're all different.
Interesting. All right, Matt, what do you think? Well, it sounds like you got
a busy summer coming up, you know, lots of good things happening.
When is the album going to be done? Do you know?
(53:56):
We're shooting for two months. We're just mixing now and then sending it off
to mastering in California.
And then we'll give it a couple weeks of like, you know, hype,
all that lovely social media.
And then it'll be it'll be out. is there someone who's responsible for all the
social media or do you all kind of jump in and do it together i'm kind of doing
(54:18):
it for now because nick hates it and the other two girls are in the air half
the time so they don't get service on the planes.
So it's kind of just defaulted to me right now oh you're you're one band member there is a,
a flight attendant she could give out cds or something that's complimentary
(54:40):
well you know it's funny too because the airline's so small she works for they
don't like offer snacks and i'm like you could just give them our cards instead
like i know you can't eat this but here you go.
Or make them out of chocolate oh that
was that's amazing that's a great idea yeah there you go people
would people would read it and then eat it i
(55:00):
love that so what kind
of shows do you have planned i mean are you doing like a
festival kind of thing or you're just gonna um we
were asked to do a connecticut festival we're we're unsure
if we're gonna do that one because we
want our first show to be our album release which we plan and like kind of orchestrate
ourselves right but we're definitely going to be playing at some local venues
(55:23):
i played at in the past with um other bands that'll be really fun to like reclaim
as this project in my mind but yeah we have a great community in New Haven, Connecticut.
We don't have just the best pizza in the country. We also have a great music scene.
So yeah, it's just a really cool community and there's so many cool venues here.
(55:44):
So I'm just excited to like play all of them. That sounds like fun.
So what do you dislike about playing out?
I mean, is there anything that like you just rather not do and get maybe roadies
to take care of or management or something well it's funny because aside from drums and any other.
(56:06):
Keyboardists out there will feel my pain keyboards and synths
and they're not fun to set up they're heavy i have
a nord i have a giant box that it goes in
that's on wheels and it looks like i have like three different machine guns
in it's huge and it's just awkward and setting it up and there's all these cables
and then you know the guitarists and bassists walk in and they just plug in
(56:27):
throw throw down their pedal boards and they're good to go and they're just
looking at me like i'm like so yeah i would love i would love to hire like my
sister or something to just carry my stuff.
That's my least favorite part is setting up and breaking down and then
i'm all like hot before i even start playing and i'm like oh my makeup you know
yeah yeah yeah and then at the end of the night it's like oh crap i'm tired
(56:50):
and just want to chill out but it's the word i've played one one show with another
band where we actually had people like set us up and we had like a green room
and I was like, okay, this is my goal.
This is my goal. This is the life.
Yes. I want to tell them that I only want red M&Ms in my rider.
And I want to, you know, I want that life.
(57:15):
What do you think you would, what do you think you would ask for if you were going down that road?
Would it be the red M&Ms? no I actually don't really even like red M&M's.
Actually have no idea maybe like a fan because i
get really hot like i like being cold yeah so maybe
like a nice little fan for the room that'd be that'd be something
(57:37):
nice well you're in new haven so it's all just you
know it's chilly there now i assume oh yeah yeah
always a little we've had rain for the past like week
and a half so everyone's got supreme depression over here yeah
i'm in pennsylvania and i feel your pain
oh yeah you know yeah all right
cat one more question so looking back
(58:01):
to the experience with the
piano teacher what is the
lesson learned from that that you could
pass on to you know others out
there that may have a similar kind of
experience you know if you could go back
would you do the same thing again like knowing
(58:22):
what you don't it's hard to say
if I would if I like would do the same
thing or if I regret what went down I regret losing music
and and losing the ability to harness my skill as a pianist for so long but
also in the same regard I didn't want to be a technical classical pianist just
(58:43):
replicating music I it helped me find my own path and I with my students especially when I teach them,
you know, if they, they make a, I have so many students and it makes me kind of sad.
If they make a mistake, they'll, they'll say, sorry to me.
And I'll say, don't say sorry. If you were a robot, then maybe I would be a
concern that your programming was off, but you're a human being,
(59:04):
right? Like you're going to make a mistake.
And so I see that like, they're so, they're already like, they're,
they're, there's one little thing I could say that could like switch it for them.
And I was like, oh, I gotta be careful that you're molding minds.
I want them to the love music, music's supposed to be fun.
I would say for anyone learning an instrument or creating, if you're not doing
something like somebody else, that's a good thing.
(59:26):
You know, the people you remember are the innovators, the people that sounded
different, the people that were weird at first, not someone that does something
exactly like somebody else, just the way they did it.
So I think that that individuality is key in terms of, you know,
creating an artistic artistic legacy and, and just also having the most fulfillment
(59:49):
you can get out of your art.
So I would just say, keep going. If it feels right to you, it's right.
I know I was only supposed to get one more question, but I have one more.
So we've asked this question of a lot of the people that we've interviewed.
Is having a plan B, you know, is that a negative or a positive in that it gives
(01:00:14):
you an out if things don't go the way you plan for plan A?
But if you didn't have it you know
would that be a better situation so what's
your thoughts on the plan b which you had of
course by you know pursuing education as well yeah i think and it just happens
(01:00:35):
that i have a plan b i don't think i actually consciously was like oh i need
a plan b and i think in terms of having one it just really depends on what type
of person you are i think think if you're the type of person that if you have a plan B,
then you'll be a little bit more lax on your approach to your passion,
then don't have the plan B.
It's life or death situation. You got to make this happen or it's nothing.
(01:00:58):
If you're the type of person where not having a plan B would give you so much
anxiety that then it would then take away from your ability to be creative and pursue your passion,
then have a little bit of an out, a plan B where you know No,
it's there, but yet now you're free emotionally to pursue your passion.
So I really think it just depends on the type of person you are.
(01:01:19):
And for me, like I said, the universe and I are best friends.
I feel like if something were to happen and I had to pause or give up music
for some reason, I would find another way to make myself happy.
I'm not the type of person that's going to lose sleep over that.
Well, it sounds like a good answer to me. so it
(01:01:40):
has been great having you as a guest and
i hope that you'll come back again in
the future after the album release and the tour and you know let us know how
things are going as the universe keeps guiding you oh thank you so much i would
love to this has been so so fun and healing too to talk about it and to be able
(01:02:00):
to to share this experience that i've kept with me for so long hidden.
Great. We appreciate your time. Thank you so much.
And please do come back. We want to hear how the summer goes and,
you know, if you got a chance to hire roadies or got that green room.
Music.
Music.
(00:49):
Hey everybody, it's Kat, and I want to welcome you to this episode of Backstory Sessions.
I'm joined today by my co-host, Matt.
Hey, Matt. Hey, Kat. Hey, everyone. How are you?
Well, here we are. Another episode.
Yeah. I don't know what number this is to you. It's got to be like 160.
(01:12):
Yeah, I'm not sure either. Like after 150, I kind of just like, oh, well, you know.
When we get to 200 or close to that, I'll probably be like, oh, we're almost to 200.
But, you know, we're in those in-betweens. And, like, you don't get any badges
or anything, I don't think. No, probably not.
(01:35):
You know, like, how you get one at 150. And you might get one at 175.
I don't know. But, I mean, you know, every episode is important, of course.
And yeah over 150 you
know that's like we're on the
what would you say like you don't
want to say like people say the back side of
(01:57):
30 so we're on the back side of 150 so
yeah i mean i'm guessing it's like
160 or something like that well whatever
it is that's pretty awesome i mean because we have have told some amazing backstories
and you know we should be really proud for that i think yeah for sure it's been
(02:20):
uh been fun then i think this month will be what we're starting year five.
Well season five no year
five we this is like season 11 all right
wow so uh so
amazing isn't in it like yeah i
(02:40):
mean where has the time gone i know it's
uh put me away yeah well
you know we we have
had like just with this season we have
had all kinds of guests and i i like that about podcasts is that you know everybody
has a story and you don't have to be just you know in this this little genre
(03:08):
in order for your story to be interesting.
And, you know, I found that we've got like, you know, actors,
for instance, and they all have such different backgrounds, different paths
that took them to maybe the same place where,
(03:29):
And this, our guests today, you know, we don't know a whole lot about.
Yeah, that's true, yeah.
But, you know, people that, we've had people at all different stages of their careers.
Like, you know, we've had people that have, like, played everywhere.
(03:53):
You know, like, we've had Yellow. We had, you know, Beb Bebin, the drummer for Yellow.
And we've had artemis i mean we've had our share of drummers for sure yeah there's
been quite a few you know that are legendary iconic people uh we've had iconic actresses and actors,
(04:14):
you know so people that have had like the best of the best careers we have had
as guests and you know we have people like sort of middle of their careers you know they've got,
over the beginning stuff and they made it you know to that kind of You know
(04:36):
midpoint, I guess they're not ready to retire, you know or whatever Yeah,
And then we have people,
You know so shell games.
They're they're beginning but they're not like, you know trying to be discovered
like, you know Just let's try to put a band together.
(04:59):
They're not at that level. And they're going to be going on a tour.
So, you know, we're just catching them at a great time in their journey or their story, I feel like.
Yeah, it's kind of interesting to hear how they got together.
(05:20):
And, you know, I'm assuming that they're all, like, been involved in music and stuff for a while.
So how they came together will be an interesting story, I'm sure.
Yeah i mean i think it's a mostly female band with one one guy so he's kind of lucky you know,
(05:43):
yeah um but there's not you know like i think there's traditionally not been
a lot of all female bands or mostly female i mean there's been a few that come
to mind i mean look at heart or.
(06:04):
Or the bangles yes the
bangles or the runaways with joan
jett and the go-go's yeah so yeah there's been a few and you know like aretha
franklin like in those days uh diana ross is the preems yeah you know so i mean
there have been some great ones but you know for every one one of those that we can name,
(06:29):
we could name like how many mostly male bands, you know? That's true.
So this will be interesting just for that fact.
And so Carrie, the one that we're, the member that we're going to interview,
she plays the keyboards and also sings and write songs.
(06:50):
So, you know, have you ever thought about like, if you were going to be in a
band, And like, what would be, you know, the best instrument to play as far as like,
touring and having to you know bring
your instrument with you well i
(07:10):
mean the best you know the best scenario is to have roadies
do it and or like a guitar tech or
keyboard tech or whatever and they carry all
that stuff and set it up for you but i guess
if i had to choose it'd be like i don't know
harmonica well is
there any well i you know a tambourine isn't too heavy either right yeah yeah
(07:35):
i'm so so oh no the triangle that would be a good yes a triangle oh or the little
symbols you put on your fingers you know yeah that's a good one too.
A kazoo a kazoo i
forgot because it would be even better yes you
(07:57):
know we still are if there's anybody out there in a kazoo band we would like
to have you as a guest yeah yeah of course we have been searching for the very
best are there any bands that use kazoos that you know um well Well, I mean,
none that I am familiar with, but...
(08:19):
Yeah, it doesn't mean that there isn't one out there that does. No.
Maybe in Ghana or... Ghana.
Well, I mean, you know, like, there could be someplace.
Yeah, there could be. And I say Ghana because, do you know that...
(08:41):
That is of the countries outside of the U.S.
You know, they are number three in our top listeners. So yes,
yes, this month they are for sure.
So if I had a kazoo or salute of some kind to Ghana, I'd be playing it because, you know, that's great.
Keep listening out there and, you know, your friends and all of that.
(09:08):
Right. Tell your friend. yeah you know
seriously like i i would think being the
advantages okay like hellstorm you
love you know lizzie hale you know so
the advantages of being a female in a
male dominated kind of career career
(09:30):
of music would be what you
know what are the advantages i mean i
guess i don't know i mean if you're
i guess if you're good looking men will pay attention to you so that could be
a plus i think and it could be you know a curse depending on like would they
(09:57):
not take you seriously then and just think,
you know, all you are is attractive.
Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there's some of that, but I mean, I don't know. It's hard for me to say.
Well, so there's not that many.
So, you know, at least you're unique, I guess.
(10:19):
I mean, you're somewhat unique in that you're, you know, there's not as many of you.
Yeah, I guess. Yes, I mean, I don't know. I never really thought about it.
I mean, good music is good music. It doesn't matter whether it's a male or female singing it.
Well, I like to think that's the case. And, you know, now that you have Taylor
(10:41):
Swift, like, you know, a lot of the top performers now are female.
Yeah, I suppose that's true. So I do think that, you know, you got Dolly,
you know, Miley and Beyonce now.
I mean, you know, just like in all the different genres, you've got a lot of
(11:03):
strong females that are out there making, you know, breaking history of the male artists.
So that's pretty cool. Yeah, for sure.
But with shell games, you know, they do have a male. So they do have male and female.
And I'm curious about where they got the name. I think that's an interesting name.
(11:28):
Yeah. That'll be just another interesting part of the story.
Yeah. So the good thing, I think, about having an artist that you don't know
a whole lot about, because before that we planned to do this episode,
I had not listened to the music.
But since, to prepare for the interview, I did listen, and I really do.
(11:56):
I like the music. The lyrics are really profound and interesting.
And, you know, just a lot of talent, like a lot of talent in this group.
So for that, I think sometimes it's really good to listen to something outside
(12:17):
of what you normally would listen to.
Well, what kind of music would you say it is?
So it's kind of like Evanescence in a way, like it has kind of that feel to it. Okay.
You know, like how their lyrics are...
(12:41):
You know, more than just, like, rhyme and time. Right, yeah, yeah.
Like, those kind of, like, you hear a lot of. So it's not like that.
It's, like, really beautiful lyrics.
But some of the songs, you know, are, like, the tempo is really faster.
But then a lot are, like, dreamy, ballad, like, you're floating in space,
(13:05):
like, eye of the sky, you know. Gotcha. Yeah.
So it was just a mixture, and really the songs are very, very different of the three that I listen to.
Hmm, interesting. Yeah. I wonder where those ideas come from.
Well, you know, we're going to ask that question. I mean, because really it's,
(13:30):
well, they're kind of from your neck of the woods.
So, you know. Well, from Connecticut, so. Yeah, well, that's not really my neck of the woods.
I mean, it's a couple hundred miles away, but.
It's still like, you know, on the northeast. Yeah, closer than Kentucky, for sure.
(13:52):
But, you know, I've heard that's like a great place for pizza.
I don't know, but. I don't know either. Connecticut, good for pizza?
Yeah, well, you hate them. so
we'll see but we
do know it's a great place for music so because we're going to be talking to
(14:16):
the artists today all right well we'll talk to her in a minute what else do
we have coming up do you want to reveal any new guest information oh my goodness
we have rick cosnet coming up Yeah,
he's going to be out in a couple of weeks, right?
Oh, gosh, he has on this lilac purple suit.
(14:43):
And oh, he's just dreamy. He's just dreamy. Oh, Lord.
I know, but that is the color for the season.
All righty. Yeah, I mean, I know you don't want a bow tie or any of that.
Nor do I want a purple suit.
I was getting ready to say you'd still look good
(15:03):
in it but sure you know like
you were not going to go with those colors but yeah i i would end up looking
like a grape i think no it's the light you know it's like light color purple
and you know it'd be a great easter suit for you Yeah.
(15:28):
No.
Well, you know, you probably can't get one this time of the year.
Oh, well, we don't. Oh, my gosh. We almost did not say happy St.
Patrick's Day to everybody listening. All right.
(15:50):
Yes. This episode is airing on St. Patrick's Day. Yeah.
And we I mean, oh, my gosh, we should open with that.
That's my fault, really. but mine too because
i wasn't really thinking about it well you know
i could use some of the luck of the irish and uh
can't we all well you gotta
(16:11):
buy those powerball tickets because you know it's
well you know that that's all that ship
has sailed yeah but you
know i am somewhat irish so okay according to my dna oh that's right you did
the 23andme test yes if i did you know that was before i knew that you know
(16:37):
there would be a security breach and you know like yeah,
but still you know if someone were to get my dna like i am irish so all righty
well let's talk to carrie and find out about shell games and uh see what that's
(16:58):
all about you mean oh carrie.
Yes all right well happy saint patrick's day everyone hope you enjoyed this
episode carrie i want to welcome you to backstory sessions we're really excited
to have you as our guest today.
Thank you so much. I'm so excited to be here. Well, I have to ask,
(17:21):
first of all, about the title of your band, Shell Games.
Where does the title, where does that come from? So, you know,
growing up, my favorite band ever was Bright Eyes, Connor Oberst.
And one of his songs is Shell Games. And it means like kind of like a sleight
of hand, like a manipulation.
(17:41):
And And like, you know, like the three cups and there's a ball underneath one
and they spin them around and you got to pick which cup has the ball in it,
but really they've snuck the ball away. So you're always going to lose. Yeah.
So I kind of feel like that's what we do with music. We just take sound and we manipulate it.
And while you're listening, that's what your, your environment is.
And then when the song ends, it's no more.
(18:03):
So it kind of just spoke on a couple levels. It's just fun. I think.
Yeah, definitely. And you know, it's a conversation piece like we're having
now, someone asking what it meant to you.
And so it sounds like music has been a big part of your life,
at least from, from the listening aspect that you were just talking about.
(18:25):
So where did music begin for you?
Well, I've always dreamed of having a daughter play piano.
And she put me in lessons about when I was about four or five.
And I had a private teacher. And I showed, I guess, an aptitude for piano from
a young age. So we kept with it.
(18:47):
Unfortunately, my sister did not.
So they took occur out of lessons pretty quickly, but they kept me in.
And so now all my mom's hopes and dreams were centered on me alone, apparently.
But no, it was a lot. I had weekly lessons and I ended up performing in different
recitals and also festivals,
(19:08):
which is when you go into a room and you play a piece and judges will judge
you in front of other people.
So they literally hold up those cards with the numbers on them after you're done.
And yeah, and then you have a winner of each room. And then that that goes on
to playing to a bigger audience.
And it was I remember being so nervous, I would throw up before going into play
(19:31):
at a festival. I was just like, crazy nervous.
But for some reason, people loved when I played piano.
So I kept with it for for a little bit until I had an experience and then I stopped playing.
So did you like playing piano?
Because I know you said you were, you know, good at it.
Did you enjoy it? I actually did
(19:54):
uh what would happen was I know like people talk
about like when you get runners slow like runners like
run for a certain amount of time and then they just feel like kind of like outside
themselves I guess that's how I felt when I
would perform I I remember not being on the bench while I was playing but I
felt myself like kind of in the audience listening to myself play and and enjoying
(20:16):
it and I always thought that was like a really cool experience I would have
like like an out-of-body experience when I would play. That is interesting.
So what happened to, I guess you said you had an experience.
So what happened that stopped you?
Interest in playing piano or in playing piano period? Did you just completely
(20:41):
stop or just stop lessons?
Yeah, I gave it. I completely stopped. I walked away, unfortunately.
So there was a big recital happening. My teacher was very well known in the
music teacher community, and
there was a whole piano music teacher association going on at the time.
And every year, where each teacher would choose their best students to showcase
(21:04):
and collaborate into one big recital.
So I was one of my, one of the people picked for my teacher and she had a, I was playing a piece.
And honestly, I can't even tell you what the name of the piece was that I was
playing because I think I, I blocked it out.
But I remember the piece had an A section, a B section, and then it went back
to the A section and the middle section, that B section, she was was telling
(21:28):
me that I wasn't playing it technically perfect.
And she was worried that I wouldn't have it in time for the recital.
And I remember she said, practice as much as you can. And we'll have one more
lesson before the recital.
And I'll make the decision whether you play that part or not.
And I was like, okay, so I practiced, I practiced.
And I went back and she told me that she thinks I should just skip the B section,
(21:51):
play the A section and then repeat it. And I was like, oh, that sounds kind of boring.
It doesn't sound like I want to do that, but I don't know.
So I went home and I told my mom about it. And she was like,
listen, I think you play the B section beautifully.
And if you want to do it, you do it. And I was like, okay.
So the day of the recital happened, I didn't know what I was going to do.
(22:11):
I sat down and I just started playing.
And when the time came for me to either play the B section or repeat the A section,
I just, I felt like I couldn't not play that part for the audience for the piece itself.
So I just continued on and played the B section when I played through the entire piece.
And all I remember is when I stood up to bow after I.
(22:32):
Audience just erupted. It was just applause. It was insane.
And I felt such relief at that point because I was like, oh,
okay, good. I, you know, I did the right thing.
And I remember going to my mom, sitting down, finishing watching everyone else.
And after the recital ended, my teacher came up to me and she said that she
(22:53):
was completely mortified.
She said that I had embarrassed her in in front of all of her peers,
that the way I played the B section wasn't how it was written.
I was playing it too creatively. I was interpreting it in a way that,
you know, it wasn't specifically written on the piece and that I was just,
she was so disappointed in me.
And I was like, shocked because everyone else was coming up to me and saying
(23:17):
that I had moved them with my playing.
So I was like, okay, very confused. I went home and my mom's like,
let's go back. Let's, you know, for your next lesson, let's talk to her.
I'm sure everything will be fine.
And I was ready to be like, okay, you know what? Bad performance, whatever. That's it.
I go back. And instead of having a lesson, she sits me down and plays a recording
(23:37):
of my performance where she stopped,
kept pausing it and pointing out every single thing I had done wrong or incorrectly
in terms of the technical playing. I had played everything correctly.
All the notes were correct, everything. It was just the way I was interpreting the piece.
And she made me feel like just a horrible, horrible piano player.
And I remember crying and walking out and telling my mom I didn't want to go back. And she said, OK.
(24:02):
And I stopped playing piano from that day on for a long time.
Matt, what do you think? I think that's terrible. And I mean,
how old were you at this point?
I was just finishing my sophomore year of high school.
So very, very, you know, awkward time in my life already and like sensitive.
(24:24):
Yeah. Yeah. That's horrible. I mean, so, I mean, have you sort of come to terms
with that now over the years?
Or, I mean, is it still like, you know, this woman is crazy or,
I mean, how do you feel about it now? Wow.
Well, now I can look back and realize that, you know, she was she was a piano teacher.
(24:46):
She had gone to school to play classical piano and she she had the metronome.
She was she was like a machine when it came to piano.
And I realize now that and my mom helped me realize because I was so young,
I couldn't really understand.
I was putting in I was starting to become creative with music.
I was starting to add my own inflection, do a little bit of a different thing.
(25:06):
And I didn't realize that that was going to be so, quote unquote, wrong in her book.
And when you become creative in any kind of art form or anything you do where
other people are going to hear it or listen or possibly judge you,
you're literally so vulnerable.
Memorable and i think that's why even though
i loved piano it was enough to make me walk away
(25:27):
because it was the first time i had really shown like part
of my soul when it came to music and it was it
was thrown right back in my face and i was like no i'm too sensitive for this
i can't do that wow now i realize it was more of she couldn't understand could
because she wasn't a creator she she reproduced the music that was written but
(25:47):
she she doesn't create her own she never did i I see.
So she's kind of like, buy the book, and you were just sort of,
you know, playing it, but putting your own spin on it kind of thing,
and she didn't like that. Correct.
Yeah, that's horrible. I mean,
somebody squashing your creativity like that. I mean, I can't imagine.
(26:10):
Yeah, it was painful. So where did you go from there? I mean,
you stopped playing piano. What happened then?
I did. I stopped playing piano. So I gave up.
Music was no longer a part of my identity. Both of my parents are scientists.
So I was like, oh, well, I guess I'll go to college for science.
So I just kept going with my life.
(26:30):
I majored in biology and none of my friends ever knew I played piano all through college.
And then I graduated college and I kind of did a couple floundering years,
you know, trying to figure out what I really wanted to do.
And it wasn't until I had a really, my first, probably a couple bad breakups
(26:51):
that I decided to kind of put myself out there for the universe to just kind of guide me.
And I remember my, my, you know, ex saying, you know, I think you're just wasting time.
I think you, you know what you want to go back to school for.
You're just too afraid to do it.
And I was like, I don't know what that means because I don't think I know what
to go back to school for, but I was so upset that he like challenged me that
(27:15):
I remember getting on the computer that night and looking up master's programs,
graduate programs in my state. I'm from Connecticut.
And I remember just one popped up that I was like, Oh, this looks interesting.
And it was, it was for integrative medicine. And I was like,
I don't know what that is. Sound sciencey, let me go for it, whatever.
And I applied, I got in and they're like, oh, well, you know,
(27:38):
there's two options for you.
You can go to this town, which happened to be where my mom lived.
And I knew, and it would be very convenient.
Or you could go to this town that's super far away, but that's where my ex sort of lived near.
So I was like, oh, I'm going to pick that one just Just in case he ever wants
to, you know, get back with me. That's it. That's the smart move right there.
(28:01):
So anyways, I just joined this program in a city that was pretty far from me.
And I remember my very first day I was sitting there and this girl comes up to me. Her name's Allie.
And she sat down. She's like, hi, how are you? I want to be your friend,
blah, blah. And I was like, I'm here because my boyfriend broke up with me and
I don't want to talk to you, you know, whatever.
And it was this weird program where it was like one weekend a month.
(28:22):
So like you just kind of like slept over and you're kind of like camped out
for the weekend while you learn different like modalities of natural medicine.
So I had nowhere to go. and she's like what are
you doing after this and I'm like nothing she's like well I'm
a drummer and I found this girl on creds list
I've been talking to and she's a singer and she's performing tonight and
we might collab would you like to come with me so I'm not going alone and I'm
(28:43):
like well what do I say to that sure I'll come with you so she's like do you
play music and I was like oh no I used to play piano when I was little not anymore
I gave it up and she's like oh okay So we end up going to see this girl that she met online sing.
And I kid you not, when I go and
see this girl, it's the same girl that my ex-boyfriend just moved in with.
(29:06):
Oh, my God. god yeah and i
was like oh my gosh this is so weird and i really liked her
she's just a roommate situation and i was like wow this is so weird like
i just met you and then i got broken up with and now i'm i see you again and
they're like all right you're gonna play with us we're gonna join we're gonna
make a band i'm like guys i play classical piano i don't even know how to i
don't even know what jamming is like what are you talking about so i started
(29:30):
jamming with these girls and i was I was like, oh, this is really fun.
Like, I kind of like this. I know what a C chord is and I know what chord sounds
good with an E. And all those years of the theory books I wrote in,
they're kind of coming back.
And yeah, from there, we just started kind of writing our own music.
And I actually started dating another guy who was a musician who ended up being a guitarist in our band.
(29:52):
And from there, we just started writing an album.
And again, broken up with, I swear it's not me, I swear.
And I was like, well, there goes music again. I put all my years into this album
with this guy that I thought I loved and now it's gone and I don't know what to do.
And one last time I was like, let me look to the internet. So I went on the
(30:16):
internet and I went on Craigslist and there were a bunch of ads for a keyboard player.
And I was like, let me just pick one. So I literally eeny, meeny,
miny, moe these three different ads. Didn't even know what type of music it was.
I landed on one. I emailed the contact. They're like, come meet us in this random
warehouse in New Haven tonight for an audition.
So I told all my friends where I was going in case they didn't hear from me by a certain time.
(30:40):
And I showed up and I had said, I'm never going to date anyone else I ever work
on music with ever again. end and the lead guitarist walks in and i look at
him and he is now currently my husband.
So i like to joke that i met my husband on kegs list that's funny,
and from there it's been no turning back it's just been music music music for me,
(31:04):
well cat what do you think of that story well you
know that i love that story already oh yeah
i mean is it so you
do you feel like that the universe was guiding
you to you know one get
back into music by going to that audition and also of meeting your husband like
(31:28):
how much do you feel like is effort and hard work or talent and how much is
like fate of how things things play out for you.
So it's interesting you say that because my mom always would joke like.
Was always very good at school and I was always very good at sports and I was
(31:49):
always very good at things and, but none of it I loved.
She'd always be like, what do you want to do with your life? And I just had no clue.
And I, I could have done a lot of things and I could have done them well,
but I wouldn't have loved it. And I, and I just, I just didn't settle.
I feel like I, I might've seen like I was kind of bound during my life,
like, you know, serving at restaurants and doing whatever I could in the in-between,
(32:12):
but like it wouldn't, it made me happy because because it gave me the schedule
and the time to have the life I wanted to live.
So I feel like because I kind of stayed true to myself there and put myself
out there, because if I hadn't looked for these things, then they wouldn't have found me.
If I had just stayed holed up in my room, I wouldn't have found that graduate program.
(32:32):
I wouldn't have met Allie. I wouldn't have, you know, gone to that audition
and met my husband, Nick.
I wouldn't have done any of that. So I feel like it was equal parts me knowing
who I am deep down and having the confidence to put myself out there because of my passion.
And I think the talent comes in gradually. Like, you know, I had lost some of
(32:53):
my ability having given up piano for so long.
But then coming back to it in a reinvented way where I wasn't reading off of a page.
I was pulling notes from the atmosphere, from my mind, and then putting them
in the way I wanted them. And it almost felt like, oh, this is what it was all meant to be.
It wasn't necessarily like it felt like I was so talented. It felt like,
(33:14):
oh, this all finally makes sense.
But of the eeny, meeny, miny, moe method, you could have gone to another audition,
right? Oh, yeah, totally.
That was definitely, me and the universe are best friends.
Yes, that was just like, that's why I have to trust. Like if I,
(33:35):
you know, and I say this for all like artists out there, if you're feeling down,
like you just have to trust that you're creating something that wasn't there
before you thought about it.
And, and it's for a reason, even if you don't really see a reward now,
there's something that exists in this world that didn't before. And it's just like,
Yeah, fate and the universe work in really weird ways. I remember when I went
(33:59):
to, I actually visited a psychic right after I started the band with my husband
because he actually was in a relationship. So we didn't date right off the bat.
I just knew that he was like one day I was like, I think we're going to be together.
It was just a feeling I had.
And so I went to a psychic because I was like, oh, I want to know what the psychic thinks.
I'm pretty skeptical, but you know, I have this unrequited love and I'm in this
(34:20):
band and I'm feeling good about music and I just want to know what's going on.
Check in, you know, let me check in with this universe that I love so much.
So I went to a psychic and right around that same time, my mom had moved and
she couldn't fit the piano, the upright piano that I grew up playing in her house anymore.
So she had it sent over to my house and I was like, oh, this is cool.
(34:42):
You know, like I used to play on this piano.
It's kind of got a lot of memories there for me. Now I have this really old
ivory keyed out of tune piano sitting in my living room and And I go to the
psychic and I'm trying not to give her too much information because I don't
really believe she's a psychic and I don't want her to like know anything just
by like the way I talk or anything. So I'm trying to be all sneaky.
And, you know, it comes up that like, I, she's like, you're very musical.
(35:05):
And I'm like, oh, okay. Yeah, we can start talking.
And then she says, there's someone trying to come through. And I'm like,
what do you mean come through? She's like, there's a, there's a grandparent.
Your grandfather has a message for you. And I'm like, okay. and
she says he never you never met him and it's
true i never met my dad's dad he died before i was born
and everyone says that i'm the most like him and so i was like okay and she
(35:27):
says he wants you to get that piano tuned i was like what and she says i don't
know he's just saying that you need to get that piano tuned because you were
going to be doing great things with music,
And I was shivers all over my body. And I was like, okay, I'm going home and
getting that piano tune.
(35:50):
And I actually teach music now as well. I'm a piano teacher.
Come full circle. I teach from my house on the piano that I grew up playing.
And I've written a lot of the songs. I'm currently in a band,
Shell Games, like we talked about in the beginning, where I am the main writer.
Up until this band I have always been like
(36:10):
kind of like a superfluous player just like adding my
own little part to a another band kind of thing going on or not the lead singer
not the main songwriter but this time I am writing I am singing I am playing
piano and I I'm using that piano and it's just yeah I can't tell you it's it's
crazy it's wild that this is the point of I mean I'm I'm not my life right now.
(36:33):
So did you tell your husband about this experience and what the psychic kind
of, so what was his thoughts or reactions?
Oh yeah. He even said like the minute he met me, like his relationship wasn't
going very well. And it was more of like a living roommate situation.
He's like, I, he's like, I loved you the minute I saw you.
(36:55):
Like I knew we were going to do stuff with music and he's actually our producer.
Producer and he's recording our whole album mixing our
whole album and he'll like play guitar on the album and and
now we're going to be finished in a couple months with our first
album and we're going to play live and he's going to play in the band with me and
he really feels into like the whole universe
(37:15):
he does a lot of meditation and like and very you
know like thought centered like approaches
to things like very I don't know he's just like
he just supports everything I don't know know I can't say enough good things
about him he just he doesn't think I'm crazy let's put it that way it always
helps right so in
(37:36):
your band let's talk about your band mates so you
have your husband and so is he
a high school teacher he is
he teaches high school math wow so that
kind of goes along with your science background I
would think it does yeah and they always
say math and music like kind of connected in
(37:58):
a way in the brain so sure makes sense okay.
And then you have emily so tell us about
her so emily amazing she is this tiny little blonde girl who flies jets she's
literally like a jet and seaplane pilot she has like this crazy training where
she like has to crash land on water and all this stuff but she's our drummer
(38:22):
so when she's not doing that She is playing drums.
Band dana dana is my other
half in the band because she and i actually share the
lead vocals so it kind of makes it
a little more interesting because two people will sing at different times
or together and she also plays bass and she
(38:44):
is awesome because she and we actually did this today before this
interview she came over and she records like voiceovers for
radio and tv commercials commercials so we were
having her talk about a new recycling center
that's opening up and she was just speaking the script and my
husband recorded her and edited it and it's just so cool to watch her
like be able to just like put on this
(39:06):
whole other persona and record these commercials it's
pretty cool but anyway she's now a flight attendant
so half my dan is literally in in the air at different
times it's hard
to keep us grounded that's funny
well i read something about like breaking into what has traditionally been a
(39:30):
male dominated like bands have mostly been male and that many times you were
were mistaken not for being in the band.
But, you know, just being an assistant or groupie or something like that.
So, you know, what was that like trying to break into this, you know, to be taken seriously?
(39:55):
I mean, it's I kind of laugh about it now because it seems funny,
but I think I probably was a little bit more upset by certain things at the
time. But, yeah, I was in three different bands at once at one point and I was laughing.
Guys and then me and then another band had four to
five guys and me and then I was in another band that had like seven to
ten guys and then me because there was like a whole horn section
(40:18):
and trumpets and whatever and a lot
of we would be loading in and a lot of the times I'd be carrying stuff
and guys would be holding the doors who worked there
or just were there early and they'd be like oh your boyfriend's really
putting you to work tonight you know just like me carrying in his
gear and I was like yeah I know right someone's
there and I'd play along with it and then I'd wait until we
(40:38):
were up on stage and then i stood up there and i was like huh i
am actually one of them so that was
always just like you know a little little jab kind
of feeling i guess yeah and just
like a lot i actually it's not so
much now that that affects me it's more
that with this success and like the reception we've already
(41:00):
had with shell games because there are
three girls else in the band i've had a lot of people
say to my husband not to me obviously but
that oh you know must be easy to get
streams when you look like those three or you know
like we should have them do a video where they're like you know doing stuff
for our music so people will actually listen like just like we're getting streams
(41:22):
because of the way we look you know we're girls and that's kind of more offensive
to me even than someone mistaking me for a roadie at this point because Because
we're doing so much work.
And to still, at this day and age, just be put as superficial face value.
It's just like, really? Have you even listened to our music?
It's just bizarre that that still happens to me.
(41:45):
Do you ever write about that?
And the way that you feel about being viewed in that way?
Yeah. Yeah. So after we, we released, we released five songs and it's like half of the album.
So we released them as singles. And after the first one went out,
(42:06):
it was called Into Thin Air.
We put it on all streaming services, whatever. We started hearing stuff like that.
And so I started writing this other song and then I was like,
you know what? No, no way. I got a, I'm angry.
I'm like, I'm set. I'm angry. I put myself out there. It's the first time I've been able to do so.
And, and there's just been some like stuff like, ah, you know,
let's be easy, So I actually put that into the second song.
(42:28):
The second song is called Body Snatchers. And it's a little bit of a darker
vibe and just about letting outside opinion affect your self-worth.
And that has been our most popular song by far, so far. are.
And people have been like, asking to play shows with us because of it.
And they've been doing artwork for us for it, or how they felt when they listened
(42:49):
to the song and just reaching out.
And it's been incredible, because because of why I wrote that song.
And then to have that reception, it's like, okay, I'm okay. Now everything's all right, I can do this.
You know, you're not always gonna hear what you want to hear,
but I'm doing something right. So I'm going to keep going.
So what is the writing process like for you? How do you, like,
(43:11):
does a song lyric come to you, a melody?
Is it based on personal experiences?
Lead us, guide us through that. Yeah.
So for me, at least, I know everyone's songwriting procedure is different,
but I will hear something in my head and then I'll grab my phone and I'll do
(43:32):
a little voice recording.
And it's a melody of some sort. It could be what the synth ends up doing, the guitar, the vocal.
And then once I have like a maybe 20 second clip of what's in my head,
I'll sit down on my piano.
I'll lay down some basic synth and piano lines, and then I will record a scratch vocal over it.
And from there, we'll add, everyone else will step in and then start adding
(43:54):
their instruments, which might be a little backwards.
I think a lot of people, when they record and they write, they either all play
at the same time, they play together, or they, you know, when they record,
they do drums first. But really, our music is started on a piano.
And just me alone with my piano and my thoughts. And in terms of lyrics,
the lyrics, no matter what I sing in the scratch, it's almost like not gibberish,
(44:16):
but just like random words will come out. And it's almost like that's what the song wants to say.
And then when I kind of have a vibe of how I want the diction,
and if there's going to be a rhyming scheme, I like to put myself in a situation. situation.
Like, either I'm, I mean, we have one song coming out called Feels Like Us,
and each line is about a different figure in mythology, and then how that would
(44:38):
relate to a modern relationship.
So I like to like, kind of get atmosphere. And then, you know,
if it's the breakup song, am I standing on the pavement crying?
How am I feeling? Or if it's, you know, about self worth, here I am flying high,
and there's everyone trying to knock me down, like, and I'm just actually trying
to visualize what's happening.
And then the imagery will come out out through the lyrics.
(45:00):
Do you feel like that this song kind of
takes over and guides you
as to how it needs to come
out or how it wishes to come out absolutely
absolutely and if we're if we're writing something
and you know they're asking me like oh what should
what should happen here i actually will have to i'll leave the room
(45:22):
and i'll like do a little little walk by myself and i
need the quiet and then i'll come back and be like okay i got it and
i don't know where it comes from it's just needs to be a little bit quiet and then
the thoughts come and the ideas come and then from there we
can build on it and actually our last song on
the album is called dream song because i actually dreamed
it and i remember waking up in like the middle of the night and i like did my
(45:43):
little voice recordings and they're really ridiculous to listen to now and i
don't even know how i realized what i was doing but the whole song came from
just like something i dreamed up and i was like okay this needs to be out there
and it just kind of goes this album has been super super easy to write,
which is a little unnerving because I'm like, oh, no, what if I could never write another album?
But at least this one, it's been like, oh, it needs to be out there. It just happened.
(46:05):
So in the group,
how do you, like, let's say that your dream or your, you know,
song might be telling you one thing and someone else might have a different idea.
How do you resolve, you know, issues like that where you might be getting two
(46:28):
different vibes of the way it could go?
Well, we actually have like a rule in the studio.
All ideas need to be fleshed out.
So if like we have something being said one way and someone has an idea,
we'll lay it down and then we can actually hear and compare.
And sometimes we're pleasantly surprised that, you know, something we were dead
set on needs to be a certain way.
(46:50):
Um we actually have a song on the album coming out called
hangman and dana takes the lead on
this one for singing and she came up with this amazing bass
line and she had this vocal that was
a little like southern country rock but it was just something was like we wish
none of us were like feeling it completely it wasn't there yet and then finally
she looks at me she's like i don't think this should be the vocal and i'm like
(47:12):
well what do you want to do she's like i don't know play around with it see
what you come up with and i i came up with a different vocal melody and different
lyrics when I had her do it.
And we looked at each other like, that's it. That's what the song needed.
We needed to just get rid of that vocal melody, get rid of those lyrics,
keep that baseline and try again.
And now it's one of our favorite songs on the album now. So we never say no.
If someone has an idea, it's an idea for a reason. Let's try it.
(47:35):
Let's make a decision as a group because you never know.
Like co-writing versus just writing by
yourself I love co-writing because I am
just one person and when I see how
these songs become just so multi-dimensional when
everyone else adds to it it's like mind-blowing it's like
I never thought that this song could be that but these talented people
(47:57):
came in and like made it that way it's amazing I
could I and I also think I would get kind of lonely doing it
on my own I like the collaboration I like that this is a
group thing we all get to have fun and laugh and we
have random things on the album like nick sneezed
once and it sounded so cool so we like kept that in
and we like added a bunch more sneezes in the song and like
(48:18):
i'm giggling i'm giggling at one part and then
dana took a lighter during one song and she she went
but click on the lighter and then she blew it out and it sounds so cool we kept
that in so we just like have fun with it where does where does where does science
fit into all of this i mean are you have you given this up or for now i went
(48:41):
on to get my my emt certification.
And i actually did a physics degree as well i
just tried i kept trying to love science because
my mom and dad are both scientists but my dad also is a
saxophone player and he plays in a lot of bands and so
he kind of gets it he kind of gets like the music thing and my mom's loving
it because this is her dream this is why she spent all that money on piano
(49:03):
lessons front row of every concert i've
ever been in you know she gets on the list for you know
first at the door whatever she wants and i think that i'm at peace right now
with me putting science aside um and really focusing on this but it is nice
to know that i if i you know do want to pursue something in the future i have
(49:24):
have a very good foundation to then go back and maybe try something as a career.
Was your grandfather that you didn't meet your dad's dad that,
you know, sent the message? Was he musical as well?
He was. Yeah. And he was very creative.
And again, it's that science and music, like kind of duality.
(49:46):
He was very, very good at writing. He was a musician and he also was a really
prominent dentist. He was actually FDR's dentist.
Wow. Wow. And he wrote like a book on dentistry and stuff.
So with that, like writing and the science and the music, everyone says I'm
very much like him and kind of just float in between different things.
That is very interesting.
(50:07):
So social media, how has that played out?
And, you know.
Your music career is it an
advantage is it a hindrance it definitely
is it's an it's both i would say it's both
an advantage and a hindrance because it's an
(50:29):
advantage because you do get more reach for your
music and your identity and who you are i've met
so many cool people from all all over
that like are actual people and want to
talk and like collab on things and just
it's been been a really cool community growing situation with
social media it's a hindrance because again
(50:52):
with like I mean Instagram and Instagram
threads are like our main modalities for you
know promoting you do get just kind of like superficial like
photos with a quick caption or whatever so their depth
sometimes isn't there and I'm as a
creative person I don't really like advertising advertising myself i've
never been good at like the businessy side so there's a
(51:15):
part of me that like cringes every time i have to like post the
photo and being like yay but also you know
with the community being so cool they'll they make me feel better about it right
away like oh great job or like liking it or like yeah we feel you we know exactly
what you mean and like it's just been a give and take with that but definitely
a necessity in this day and age so what is next.
(51:39):
Oh, we're so excited.
We're going to be finishing the album very soon. Probably in the next two months,
it'll be streaming everywhere.
And then we are playing live all summer.
We are going to be doing an album release show in New Haven, Connecticut.
And then we're going to be we've been talking to different fans and Massachusetts,
New York, Rhode Island, planning on doing like a little like New England type gig swapping tour.
(52:03):
So we're just going to be getting our feet wet
with like really presenting these songs to the
public and seeing how we feel and then from there
I'm pretty sure the universe will tell me what to do I have faith so
what type of music listener do you feel that that your music would most appeal
to we're definitely like an indie rock type of band a little dream pop a little
(52:28):
alt pop alt rock but what I like about our songs is that each one has has a
different vibe because we're crazy,
I guess. And we just don't really, we just write whatever.
So we have like a very dream poppy song, then a very rocky song,
then a kind of bluesy song with some trumpet.
So, I mean, there's one song about feeling like you're going to space,
(52:48):
It's all like trippy. So I don't know. We just kind of want to just,
you know, like ADHD friendly.
So who do you listen to? Actually, it's funny that all four of us have completely
different tastes in music as well.
My favorite are like, you know, Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit. These two sisters
(53:11):
from Sweden are amazing.
Murder by Death, Me Without You. Like kind of indie rock, you know,
a little grunge, a little folk.
And then I've got Nick, who my husband loves, like the Strokes and Radiohead
and, you know, all that stuff.
And then the girls kind of like that band that I do not like, the Karunjaban band.
I don't know how to pronounce that famous band everyone loves. It's like K-H-R-U-G.
(53:34):
I don't know. But they're a little like trippy and jammy. And yeah,
like Led Zeppelin-y. We're all different.
Interesting. All right, Matt, what do you think? Well, it sounds like you got
a busy summer coming up, you know, lots of good things happening.
When is the album going to be done? Do you know?
(53:56):
We're shooting for two months. We're just mixing now and then sending it off
to mastering in California.
And then we'll give it a couple weeks of like, you know, hype,
all that lovely social media.
And then it'll be it'll be out. is there someone who's responsible for all the
social media or do you all kind of jump in and do it together i'm kind of doing
(54:18):
it for now because nick hates it and the other two girls are in the air half
the time so they don't get service on the planes.
So it's kind of just defaulted to me right now oh you're you're one band member there is a,
a flight attendant she could give out cds or something that's complimentary
(54:40):
well you know it's funny too because the airline's so small she works for they
don't like offer snacks and i'm like you could just give them our cards instead
like i know you can't eat this but here you go.
Or make them out of chocolate oh that
was that's amazing that's a great idea yeah there you go people
would people would read it and then eat it i
(55:00):
love that so what kind
of shows do you have planned i mean are you doing like a
festival kind of thing or you're just gonna um we
were asked to do a connecticut festival we're we're unsure
if we're gonna do that one because we
want our first show to be our album release which we plan and like kind of orchestrate
ourselves right but we're definitely going to be playing at some local venues
(55:23):
i played at in the past with um other bands that'll be really fun to like reclaim
as this project in my mind but yeah we have a great community in New Haven, Connecticut.
We don't have just the best pizza in the country. We also have a great music scene.
So yeah, it's just a really cool community and there's so many cool venues here.
(55:44):
So I'm just excited to like play all of them. That sounds like fun.
So what do you dislike about playing out?
I mean, is there anything that like you just rather not do and get maybe roadies
to take care of or management or something well it's funny because aside from drums and any other.
(56:06):
Keyboardists out there will feel my pain keyboards and synths
and they're not fun to set up they're heavy i have
a nord i have a giant box that it goes in
that's on wheels and it looks like i have like three different machine guns
in it's huge and it's just awkward and setting it up and there's all these cables
and then you know the guitarists and bassists walk in and they just plug in
(56:27):
throw throw down their pedal boards and they're good to go and they're just
looking at me like i'm like so yeah i would love i would love to hire like my
sister or something to just carry my stuff.
That's my least favorite part is setting up and breaking down and then
i'm all like hot before i even start playing and i'm like oh my makeup you know
yeah yeah yeah and then at the end of the night it's like oh crap i'm tired
(56:50):
and just want to chill out but it's the word i've played one one show with another
band where we actually had people like set us up and we had like a green room
and I was like, okay, this is my goal.
This is my goal. This is the life.
Yes. I want to tell them that I only want red M&Ms in my rider.
And I want to, you know, I want that life.
(57:15):
What do you think you would, what do you think you would ask for if you were going down that road?
Would it be the red M&Ms? no I actually don't really even like red M&M's.
Actually have no idea maybe like a fan because i
get really hot like i like being cold yeah so maybe
like a nice little fan for the room that'd be that'd be something
(57:37):
nice well you're in new haven so it's all just you
know it's chilly there now i assume oh yeah yeah
always a little we've had rain for the past like week
and a half so everyone's got supreme depression over here yeah
i'm in pennsylvania and i feel your pain
oh yeah you know yeah all right
cat one more question so looking back
(58:01):
to the experience with the
piano teacher what is the
lesson learned from that that you could
pass on to you know others out
there that may have a similar kind of
experience you know if you could go back
would you do the same thing again like knowing
(58:22):
what you don't it's hard to say
if I would if I like would do the same
thing or if I regret what went down I regret losing music
and and losing the ability to harness my skill as a pianist for so long but
also in the same regard I didn't want to be a technical classical pianist just
(58:43):
replicating music I it helped me find my own path and I with my students especially when I teach them,
you know, if they, they make a, I have so many students and it makes me kind of sad.
If they make a mistake, they'll, they'll say, sorry to me.
And I'll say, don't say sorry. If you were a robot, then maybe I would be a
concern that your programming was off, but you're a human being,
(59:04):
right? Like you're going to make a mistake.
And so I see that like, they're so, they're already like, they're,
they're, there's one little thing I could say that could like switch it for them.
And I was like, oh, I gotta be careful that you're molding minds.
I want them to the love music, music's supposed to be fun.
I would say for anyone learning an instrument or creating, if you're not doing
something like somebody else, that's a good thing.
(59:26):
You know, the people you remember are the innovators, the people that sounded
different, the people that were weird at first, not someone that does something
exactly like somebody else, just the way they did it.
So I think that that individuality is key in terms of, you know,
creating an artistic artistic legacy and, and just also having the most fulfillment
(59:49):
you can get out of your art.
So I would just say, keep going. If it feels right to you, it's right.
I know I was only supposed to get one more question, but I have one more.
So we've asked this question of a lot of the people that we've interviewed.
Is having a plan B, you know, is that a negative or a positive in that it gives
(01:00:14):
you an out if things don't go the way you plan for plan A?
But if you didn't have it you know
would that be a better situation so what's
your thoughts on the plan b which you had of
course by you know pursuing education as well yeah i think and it just happens
(01:00:35):
that i have a plan b i don't think i actually consciously was like oh i need
a plan b and i think in terms of having one it just really depends on what type
of person you are i think think if you're the type of person that if you have a plan B,
then you'll be a little bit more lax on your approach to your passion,
then don't have the plan B.
It's life or death situation. You got to make this happen or it's nothing.
(01:00:58):
If you're the type of person where not having a plan B would give you so much
anxiety that then it would then take away from your ability to be creative and pursue your passion,
then have a little bit of an out, a plan B where you know No,
it's there, but yet now you're free emotionally to pursue your passion.
So I really think it just depends on the type of person you are.
(01:01:19):
And for me, like I said, the universe and I are best friends.
I feel like if something were to happen and I had to pause or give up music
for some reason, I would find another way to make myself happy.
I'm not the type of person that's going to lose sleep over that.
Well, it sounds like a good answer to me. so it
(01:01:40):
has been great having you as a guest and
i hope that you'll come back again in
the future after the album release and the tour and you know let us know how
things are going as the universe keeps guiding you oh thank you so much i would
love to this has been so so fun and healing too to talk about it and to be able
(01:02:00):
to to share this experience that i've kept with me for so long hidden.
Great. We appreciate your time. Thank you so much.
And please do come back. We want to hear how the summer goes and,
you know, if you got a chance to hire roadies or got that green room.
Music.
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