COYOTE EYES: INTERVIEW

November 1, 2023

by martina rexrode

Coyote Eyes is a musical project led by singer-songwriter Jo Eubanks who recently released a triumphant new single titled “Lightning Strikes.” With a similar cinematic flourish to her other singles, Coyote Eyes is once again able to conjure up images of some of life’s most complex emotions within just a few minutes, an impressive feat for an artist with just over ten singles to her name. We talked to Coyote Eyes about the moment that inspired this release, the fascinating woman who embodies its lyrics, and where her name came from.

What does this single represent to you as an artist?

Coyote Eyes: “‘Lightning Strikes’ is extremely significant to me both as an artist and a person. Creating it was such a spiritual experience for me — it just feels like whatever higher power is out there moves through the music.”

Was there a specific moment in your life that inspired this song?

Coyote Eyes: “Totally. I was dating someone who had such a deep faith that ‘if it’s meant to be, it will be.’ Things just seemed to align for him throughout his life; he was a very successful actor, which I say because anyone who’s in that field knows what a small percentage of people experience that high level of success, and relationships had come easily to him as well. I, on the other hand, had trudged a path which felt like it was decorated with potholes and detours. Our experiences led us to have very different beliefs and brought up the question: are obstacles in life challenges or redirection? I could go on forever down that philosophical rabbit hole, but for now, I’ll just say that’s how ‘Lightning Strikes’ was born.”

What kinds of moments do you hope “Lightning Strikes” might help listeners through?

Coyote Eyes: “I’m hoping it will help listeners feel less alone and more hopeful. I often had the feeling that something was wrong with me because my path had been challenging, and that’s just not so. Sometimes the rockiest paths lead to the most beautiful views.”

The visuals for your recent singles have each been influenced by the stories of various tragic women. Who do you associate the visuals for this single with?

Coyote Eyes: “I think this story is so cool. So I’ve always been fascinated by Lady Godiva. You may not know who she is, but you’ve definitely seen the famous painting of her by John Collier — it’s a naked woman riding a white horse, covered only by her own hair. Lady Godiva lived in the 11th Century and was married to a very powerful Earl in England who instated horribly oppressive taxes in his… I guess they were districts back then? Anyways, she kept pleading with him to have compassion but he refused and said the only way he would lower the taxes is if she rode through the town completely naked, which he obviously assumed she would not do. You can imagine how humiliating that would be for a woman at that time. But, that’s exactly what she did. So in the video, Lady Godiva is conjured back to life to be able to tell her side of the story — we see her come to life from the painting and then fade back into it.”

Do you think of the stories you want to tell visually and the women they represent before or after the songs are complete?

Coyote Eyes: “After. They’re usually unrelated, but applicable.”

How did you find your sound? Are there any artists or groups who have had an influence on your musical development?

Coyote Eyes: “I think I always knew what sound I wanted, but it took me a while to A) find the right people to help me get there, and B) give myself permission to fully explore what I wanted to sonically. When I was younger, I felt like I ‘had’ to pull back, or I guess round my edges to fit into a mainstream mold. I was most inspired by film scores of the 90s and 90s grunge and kind of alt-pop. I love lyrical poetry. When Lana Del Rey first came out, I was really inspired by her because she has such substance and fearless expression — she’s not afraid to be equally feminine and have a razor-sharp tongue.”

Where did you get the name Coyote Eyes from?

Coyote Eyes: “It just kept coming to me. But ultimately, the Coyote is representative as the one creature who can’t be defined or categorized — she’s both dark and light, funny and ominous, spontaneous and calculating, hunter and hunted.”

What is your biggest goal with this single?

Coyote Eyes: “You know, I’m really hoping ‘Lightning Strikes’ will end up in a romantic drama or some film with a really tragic, yet victorious storyline. I don’t know, it’s just so epic and moving, and regardless of the lyrics or even my voice, there’s just something about the music that stirs emotions we can’t necessarily define.”

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DELA KAY: INTERVIEW

October 20, 2023

by martina rexrode

With her latest single, Dela Kay is presenting a side of herself that is eager to show the vulnerability and complexities of modern dating. “Let You Down” is her first release since last December and one that you aren’t sure to forget. Dela is gradually becoming an emerging voice in the world of alternative-pop music, and we had the pleasure of talking with her about this new single, the inspiration behind its lyrics, and her biggest goal moving forward! Keep up with Dela on social media (@delakaymusic) to be the first to know about new releases.

Your newest single “Let You Down” is officially out! What was the inspiration behind this song?

Dela: “‘Let You Down’ originally began with me imagining the perspective of the other person in a previous relationship of mine, but quickly turned into a reflection of my own feelings. It’s about the trust, vulnerability and fear of self-sabotage that comes up when dating someone new and the process of navigating through that. It’s the first single I’m releasing off of my new project and one of the very first songs I wrote with my producer and co-writer, Stefano Pigliapoco. It’s a very upbeat song and one of the more pop driven songs I have. I’m so excited for my fans to hear it and think it’s one a lot of us can relate to.”

Did the process of writing “Let You Down” differ in any ways from past releases? Do the lyrics touch on any subjects you’re tapping into for the first time?

Dela: “I think writing was a little different because it was one of my first few writes ever with Stef, so we were both still getting in the groove of writing together. But honestly once we wrote the chorus, writing the rest came together super quickly. I touched on a similar subject in an older song, ‘The Worst Part,’ as far as working through self-sabotaging tendencies and insecurities. ‘Let You Down’ is definitely a different vibe–although it touches on the fear of self-sabotage, it is also really hopeful and the struggle of trusting something new when it feels good.”

This is your first release of the year! What kind of growth have you seen in yourself as an artist and a songwriter since the release of “Daughter” almost a year ago?

Dela: “I’ve grown a lot! ‘Daughter’ was a very one-off song specifically done for my dad, so it wasn’t my typical sound, much like ‘The Worst Part’ or ‘Old News.’ They always say you have to find the right producer, and I genuinely feel like Stefano and I collabing was a perfect fit. He had been doing a ton in the alt/emo scene and that’s stylistically more so where I wanted to go. I had been developing my sound with producer and friend, Ryan Dulude, and so when Stefano joined in, it really felt like I had a strong team officially locked in.”

Does “Let You Down” hint at themes or stylistic choices fans can expect in future releases?

Dela: “I think it’s the perfect first song for my fans to hear to gear them up for my upcoming singles. I have a lot of songs that are even more in the alternative lane moving forward, and I’m just super excited to show my fans everything as a whole project.”

How has your Nashville upbringing influenced the ways in which you go about songwriting and creating music?

Dela: “I grew up in a very musical household, so songwriting and storytelling was always at the forefront of all of my music, making sure everything I was creating had a strong foundation. I’m really strong with finding melodies, so I typically like to make something melodically first, and then seeing what feelings it evokes and then moving forward writing lyrics.”

Which artists have had the biggest impact on the evolution of your sound throughout the years?

Dela: “Paramore, Avril Lavigne, The Maine, Green Day, Blink-182, Maggie Lindemann, Charli XCX, Kim Petras, The Story So Far, and WILLOW to name a few.”

What is your biggest goal after having released this new single?

Dela: “I honestly just want to gain momentum, gain more fans, and have it open up more opportunities for me business wise, and also hopefully allow me to be able to tour more! I’m excited to keep it moving forward with all of this new music from this project — so many songs coming that I absolutely love and think my fans will enjoy, too. :)”

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PHILINE SONNY: INTERVIEW

October 17, 2023

by mariah estran

Indie/pop artist Philine Sonny is giving listeners a taste of what’s to come.

Recently releasing her newest single, “Drugs,” her enthralling movie-like soundscape and lyricism paints the scene. The German-based singer is introducing the story that will play out as the EP Invader — set for release next year.

“I do remember that while writing, I always had a very clear vision of how the two characters in the song look like,” she says about creating “Drugs.” Her thought process dives into each visual aspect the song can convey. When developing the track, she thought of who she was describing, what they see, and even where they live. The result became a moment of illustrative lyricism coated in a spirited guitar.

Preparing for the EP release, she mentions: “I think it’s bolder than what people might be used to from the first EP.” A project guiding her along as she learns to let go while embarking on the new chapter of her creative tale.

In the meantime, the singer talks with us about the new single “Drugs,” working on the upcoming EP, being a DIY artist, and what inspires her along the way.

You’ve recently released your single “Drugs.” It has such a moving, cinematic feel of being fearless. Tell us more about developing the track and understanding how to express these emotions.

Philine: “I actually wrote ‘Drugs’ a few years ago now — at the same time I wrote ‘Lose Yourself.’ They’re sister tracks, in a way. They both come from the same place of me feeling limited by my anxiety and overall cautiousness. While ‘Lose Yourself’ focuses more on the invisible aspects of struggling with that, ‘Drugs’ is about what happens after you’ve decided to live a more careless and reckless life, all in the context of growing up in a small town, falling in love and aiming for a brighter future.

I don’t remember if the song and lyrics came to me easily. But I do remember that while writing, I always had a very clear vision of how the two characters in the song look like, how it feels to be around them, what the place they live in looks like, what she would say if he asked her one of those questions in the song — so it was just about finding the right words to describe what I was seeing; just like a movie that was there first and I just had to retell the story.”

How would you say “Drugs” introduces us to the overall story of the upcoming EP Invader?

Philine: “I always feel like I’m too much and squeezing myself into others' lives, which is the central idea of all of the songs on the EP. The main character in ‘Drugs’ is doing just that. He'd sacrifice anything for her, which he thinks is a way of showing love and showing that you care. In reality, you can’t just do that. You can’t just attach yourself to someone, love bomb them, and offer yourself to them over and over again even after they’ve made clear they don’t need or want your help because you think that’s a nice thing to do. You need to take responsibility for your own emotions.

That's what I feel like I’ve learned in therapy, and what I think in hindsight is what ‘Drugs’ is about.”

I understand you have a DIY approach to your sound and visual imagery. How is the EP heightening those skills?

Philine: “When I made my first EP, I was still in the process of learning how to produce, record, and write. It was also my first time releasing music, so the whole procedure was very new, and I didn’t think about many things until they needed to be done, you know?

Now I know what is about to happen, so I can think about the visuals in a bigger context, which is so much fun. So, for the video, I chose a technique called ‘mixed media animation,’ which means you print out each frame, scrap each one with a small knife, draw on it, burn the edges, whatever you like, basically, and then scan it. The scans I knew would be great for merchandise and vinyl design, cover artwork, and so on, plus the analog style works great for press pictures too.

The first time around, I wouldn’t have considered all these things from the get-go, so I feel like now the whole project makes much more sense, and I can be so much more creative in every aspect of making the EP, which finally makes it feel like a cohesive piece of art.”

So far, how would you describe the sound we are going to hear on Invader?

Philine: “Oh, I think it’s bolder than what people might be used to from the first EP. I’ve had so much fun trying different sounds, sometimes weird ones — I loved cranking up the gain and screaming into the mic from across the room. I wouldn’t say it’s experimental or something like that, it’s still warm and emotional, but I’ve definitely arrived on my new path of learning how not to give a fuck.

The EP feels like the first step in the right direction, and I’m very excited to get back to producing to explore more in that direction.”

Who have been some of your musical inspirations as you piece together this project?

Philine: “A huge inspiration has definitely been Dijon — that’s where the idea for all the roomy stuff came from. Wunderhorse made me keep it rough in the parts that needed it, and Paolo Nutini’s ‘Last Night In The Bittersweet’ was an inspiration for my bass and drum sound.”

What can listeners expect in the meantime? Possibly more singles and visuals?

Philine: “Yes, there are five tracks on the EP! There’s gonna be more handmade visuals by me and more exciting things that I still have to keep secret.”

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BEST EX: INTERVIEW

October 9, 2023

by martina rexrode

After getting her start deep in the punk scene in the band Candy Hearts, touring with pop punk powerhouses, and playing Warped Tour, frontwoman Mariel Loveland adopted the moniker Best Ex and switched gears. The haunting, hazy synths that inhabit Best Ex’s debut album With a Smile are worlds away from Loveland’s past endeavors while also staying true to her refreshingly vulnerable lyricism. We spoke to Best Ex about everything surrounding this debut album as well as a brief dive into what led Loveland to where she is now.

Congratulations on the release of your debut album! Is there any way to describe how it feels to have your first full-length project out in the world?

Best Ex: “It’s honestly a day I never thought would come. I’ve spent years trying to find the right sound and saving for studio time. I’ve worked so incredibly hard, both with my art and the business side of things, I just hope people give it a chance!”

What inspired the title of the album, “With a Smile?”

Best Ex: “The title track, before I had named it, inspired the album title. I was really racking my brain trying to think of what encompassed the themes on this album. I wrote the title track very early on. One of the first I wrote for the album. Throughout the whole writing process, the line ‘I’ll swallow my fears until my belly’s full and I’ll go outside with a smile’ had been constantly in the back of my mind, I feel like it just says so much, particularly about the way women are pressured to always be pleasant in public, but also the way we’re supposed to look at the atrocities happening in the world — climate change, inequality, war, disease, inflation, the current state of the GOP — and just enjoy our lives like it isn’t happening.”

At its core, With a Smile seems to encapsulate the experience of being human in today’s world, particularly as a woman. What themes would you say that the album touches on?

Best Ex: “That’s exactly what the album is about. I wanted to create an album that showed a very raw side of womanhood, the kind of stuff that often hides behind the smile society tells us we need. Women are always supposed to be grateful, humble, obedient, kind, and ever-willing to sacrifice themselves for the people around them. But behind those pressures is a real person.

That’s not to say this is an album just for women. It really focuses a lot on humanness in general. I think everyone can relate.”

How does this album capture how your life has evolved since your 2020 EP release?

Best Ex: “My life is so different from when I started writing this. I literally hear myself coming of age on the album. I was very unsettled and insecure in 2020. I wrote Good At Feeling Bad before the pandemic, I’d recently gone through horrible breakups (both a romantic and friend breakup), I had lost my job as a writer and I was living in my mom’s basement just waiting to start my life and figure out where to go from there.

The pandemic really helped me sort myself out. When I listen to this album, I hear a person rapidly growing up. Today, I feel much more confident. I worked really hard to achieve most of the things I hoped for back then, this album being one of those! I went from my mom’s basement to an apartment in Brooklyn and it feels like a fairytale.”

Which songs do you feel sum up the album best in terms of its overall theme?

Best Ex: “Like I said before, I think the title track. It’s so much about wallowing in your house, sitting in that sheltered place where you look out on the world and let your insecurities and fears take the best of you.”

Is there any advice you received during your previous musical ventures that you still carry with you?

Best Ex: “Yes! There are two amazing pieces of advice I always think about from people far more successful than me. One is that no one will care more about your band than you do. That means you have to be your champion. If you don’t have a team, if you don’t have people around you who are going to be your cheerleader, you have to be your cheerleader and you have to do it all yourself. Don’t become complacent letting other people steer the ship, they’re not as invested.

The second piece of advice is a statement: ‘it will never be enough’ in regards to success. A music career thrives on external validation, and it’s very easy to think ‘if I get to this level, I’ve made it’ and ‘wait, actually, if I just do this one more thing, I’ve made it.’ But there will always be something else. You need to find your own validation within yourself and enjoy every moment. I look back at the times wherein the moment I thought I was failing, and I was in fact ‘making it.’”

What do you hope listeners take away most from With a Smile after listening from start to finish?

Best Ex: “I really just hope that listeners relate. I want them to hear something and think, ‘Hey, I didn’t think anyone else noticed that or felt that way,’ and know that I’m here, I do, and they’re not alone.”

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'NEW PLANET HEAVEN' / HUNNY: REVIEW

October 6, 2023

by emma schoors

Available now via Epitaph Records, HUNNY’s new planet heaven is a solid second full-length from one of California’s finest and most consistent alternative acts.

Named after collaborator and friend Derek Ted’s Los Angeles studio, the record was born of the band’s renewed “campfire-style” approach to melodic brainstorming. According to guitarist Jake Goldstein, getting out of their own way and being “less precious” about what goes out is among their new objectives, and it shows. This album is them kicking their feet up without handing over a bit of proficiency.

Drummer Joey Anderson suffered an injury before the band’s tour with Waterparks this April. Instead of canceling their appearances, the band pressed on with a drum machine. On opening night, they expressed that this was fresh to them, too, then delivered a set that saw the live debut of lead single “action → reaction.” Anderson’s return made his role in the band crystal clear. “Loser” earns its wings with his cheery backbeat, and his attentiveness as a performer meant that even in a crowd of mostly new faces, he found each and every HUNNY fan and sent them a smile and a nod.

On the last night of tour the band sent “big star” into the stratosphere, sparkling with optimism and warmth to match its mid-June release. “Don’t stay in your old ways / Big star, can’t fall off it / You’re something supersonic,” vocalist Jason Yarger assures. Just over a month later, “solo” made its grand appearance. With an intro more attuned to the likes of 2018’s “Rebel Red” or 2017’s “Hard to Believe,” the third single deploys guitarist Jake Goldstein’s instrumental prowess alongside bassist Kevin Grimmett’s fiercely reliable lines.

“89cc” poses the age-old question: “Would you still love me if I was a worm?” Directed by James Baby and produced by Rachel Goldfinger, the corresponding music video features Yarger wearily entering “worm world,” and eventually being transformed himself. One might expect the more radio-friendly tracks to have been chosen as singles. While that’s true, it’s nowhere near where catchy hooks or pop-rock resonance end on new planet heaven. “Not prophetic, but it feels meant to be,” Yarger sings on opening track “bothering,” welcoming the album in with luscious guitars and a treasure chest of quotable lines.

“sixteen stitches” sees Yarger revisiting the uncertainty that defined 2015’s Pain / Ache / Loving (“I got a new scar from old decisions”) while “my own age” offers a slower acoustic burn. Motion City Soundtrack’s Justin Courtney is featured on “ring in ur ear,” a heavy hitter that harks back to previous collaborations like “Saturday Night” with Bleached. Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark enjoys an unexpected mention on “nothing amazing happens,” and “all my luck” calls upon the romantic alternative charm that forged their fanbase in the first place.

With a string of album release shows set, HUNNY is looking forward to a successful end of year, made even sweeter by their upcoming tenth anniversary as a group. new planet heaven is a supersonic new direction for the Southern California-based quartet.