An interview with BEST DAD

BEST DAD is a solo project by singer/songwriter and producer David Caploe best known for his part in the band HATE DRUGS he has released music under various names such as "the flwr boy" and his name David Samuel Caploe. BEST DAD presents us with his newest singles "4Real" and "Right Thing" which are out now!

Hey David! Thanks for answering our questions, how have you been?

Hey, thanks for asking! I’ve been great, keeping busy and trying to make time to enjoy life.

You’ve just released your newest single “4Real” which is so exciting, congratulations! Can you talk a little bit more about the inspiration behind this track?

Yeah, “4Real” came out of my solo bedroom experiments. I spent a lot of time home alone over the Q just messing around with different sounds and production techniques. It was my escape from the weirdness of the last couple of years. A lot of the sounds and textures that I discovered really inspired the track.

How did you go about finding the sound for “4Real”?

The sound of this project has really been inspired by the gear that I’ve been using. “4Real”, specifically, came out of a jam with some Korg DDM-110 samples that I sequenced on a Volca Sample.

What was the writing and creative process like for “4Real”?

It was a super natural process. I’ve been taking a stream of consciousness approach with a lot of this project. I’ll just sit down at the desk and see what happens.

What was the recording process like for “4Real”?

Because I’m recording everything myself, there’s a lot of layering and jamming with the parts that I put down. It’s like playing with legos, stacking the layers and seeing what fits best!

You started your solo project during the lockdown, what made you want to start making your own music?

I think making music is an involuntary process for me. It’s something that just happens, like breathing or feeling. So, when we were locked down, making music on my own just happened. But it’s not my first solo project, Hate Drugs started in a similar way.

What made you want to go by Best Dad?

I think one of my bandmates gave me a hat that said Best Dad on it, and I just thought it would be a fun name for a solo project.

When creating music, what comes first? Music, or lyrics?

It’s almost always music first. Whether it’s the melody, rhythm or harmony, the lyrics are usually inspired by the vibe of the music.

You are also inspired by retro tech such as tape machines, CRT TVS, and VHSr cameras, which is super cool. How do these inspire you and your solo project?

I think there is something about the hands on approach to all that retro gear that gets me engaged and excited. I’d rather turn a knob than click a mouse. The imperfections in the way audio or video is captured on those devices has a very human quality to it that I think carries a lot of emotive weight. There’s definitely a ton of nostalgia tied up in those sounds and images. My first personal music device was a cassette walkman when I was like 6 or 7yrs old, and I used to make little home movies on the family vhs cam with my brother growing up. It all takes me back.

When creating music, do you listen to any bands or artists during the creative process?

I go through phases of listening to a lot of music, and phases of listening to almost no music. I think it’s part of my creative cycle. I usually find myself to be most creative in the spaces between absorbing new music and taking a rest.

You are also in a band called Hate Drugs, that we are a huge fan of! How has being part of Hate Drugs prepared you for Best Dad?

I played in a couple little projects in high school but Hate Drugs was my first real band. We started from scratch, with no connections in the industry and no real experience, so I’ve learned everything I know about releasing music and the industry from the Hate Drugs experiment. It’s been so awesome and I’m really excited for the direction that the band is going. Everyone has been super active in their own creative pursuits which is fun to watch. BEST DAD has been a great outlet for the extra creative ideas and energy that I have but HD is still the priority.

What inspires you the most when writing lyrics?

I think lyrics are like my brain and hearts excretory system. It’s been a huge outlet for me. I usually write about whatever is on my mind, but sometimes I’ll hear or see something that gets the gears turning. I’ve tried to experiment with more character writing lately and that’s been fun.

Was there a difference between the making of “4Real” and “Right Thing” when it came to the creative and writing process?

Both songs were created in a very similar way! I started with the groove and it was off to the races. I’m trying to develop a pretty cohesive sound and aesthetic, but mostly just have a good time and make songs that I think are cool.

Last question, we’re all about discovering new music! Who should we be listening to right now?

I’ve been listening to a lot of my friends music lately, like Nuffer, Little Jet, Fearofmakingout, Austin Weber, Sea Moya and Izzy & The Fins to name a few. Artists like Porches, Faux Real, Toro y Moi, Paul Cherry and Midlife have been in the rotation too. I’ve been making some playlist of my favs that you can follow on Spotify!

Words by Melody

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