NYC based singer-songwriter Faerie presents us with her newest single "k-town" a dream track that'll make you feel like you are in a movie, but also floating through time. I had the pleasure of talking to Faerie about her creative and writing process about "k-town", what it was like working with producer Matty Bedrosian, and so much more. "k-town" is out now on all streaming platforms!
Hi Christine! Thanks so much for answering my questions, how are you!
Hi!! Of course! I’m feeling great, thank you for asking! I’m so excited to talk to you about music.
For those who are just discovering your music for the first time, can you introduce yourself?
Sure! My name is Christine, but I write indie-pop music under Faerie. I created Faerie in the corner of my bedroom in NYC because I needed to find an escape from the world. She is an exaggerated version of myself and maybe even a piece of me that has never gotten a chance to live until now. I’ve fallen in love with writing in this fantastical world. I write music to heal, hoping one day someone will listen and share the same emotions.
How did you get into music?
My earliest memory with music is as a toddler hearing my mom blast the radio playing 80s and 90s top hits and my dad playing his old 70s records. I’d be doing that little baby dance and singing along with my mom’s small karaoke machine. From then on, I was always involved with performing arts, whether it was training with a vocal coach, high school musical theatre, or college ensembles. I started taking songwriting more seriously in high school when I started to collaborate with producers on SoundCloud, which was super fun! Then in college, I realized I could do this as a side gig and worked as a freelance singer-songwriter writing lyrics and recording vocals for others. Writing lyrics has always felt therapeutic. I even found my old notepads with lyrics from when I was 8! Not my best work, but a start haha!
How did you go about finding your sound?
I’m gonna be totally honest with you. It was tough and took a long time. I’m still figuring it out! There was one night when I was just so frustrated because I forced myself to write in a genre I thought was “trending.” But then I took my crappy electric guitar, plugged it into an amp, and started writing. I blocked out every voice trying to project self-doubt and just rolled with it. The sound that came out reminded me of what I used to listen to when I was a teenager, like Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, Mitski, Lana Del Rey, and Florence + The Machine. I mixed that with some of the music I was currently listening to and finally this project with “k-town” happened!
How would you describe your music to someone who is listening to it for the first time?
If I had to describe my music in three words, it would be whimsical, warm, yet chaotic. I try to take my jazz, folk, and pop background and blend them into an indie-pop lucid dream. I enjoy taking nostalgic sounds and finding a way to add a modern twist. I’m obsessed with lush synths and dramatic bridge sections. My music is meant to take you on a journey, whether it’s to a new place or maybe a familiar memory tucked in the back of your mind.
You are going to release your next single “k-town” which is such an incredible track, congratulations! Can you tell us a little bit more about this track, and the inspiration behind it?
That’s so sweet. Thank you so much for saying that about the track! The inspiration came from the idea of harboring secrets and getting caught in the middle of gossip. I chose “k-town” because that was the place my friends and I would escape to when we felt the weight of the world on our shoulders. It also just so happened that it was the same place where we’d catch up and spill all the tea. The story in the track starts off with entering K-town, getting familiar with its energy, and literally dancing all your troubles away until you feel numb. But then the Chorus hits and it’s the voice in the back of my mind saying, “Hey, you can’t really escape from this forever. It’ll haunt you until you confront all these secrets and worries.” The end/bridge section hits hard when I’m just questioning what we’ve become. I think that has to be my favorite part.
You got to work with producer Matty Bedrosian on “k-town”, what was that like?
Working with Matty has been a dream! I always get excited when he sends me back new takes for our songs. He understands my energy, my sound, and my story. I’ve been working with him for more than a year now and every time he has taken my vision and made it 10x cooler. We keep adding to each other’s ideas until it’s finally whole. Since he’s from LA and I work in the NY/NJ area, there've been a lot of emails, voice memos, and shared docs. We both expressed how cool it would be to actually work together in person one day. Hoping it won’t take long for that to happen!
What was the recording process like for “k-town”?
It was all from my bedroom! First, I’d ask Matty for the instrumental with the final structure. Then I set up my AT4040 mic, Focusrite Scarlett audio interface, and isolation shield in my closet and positioned it so the sound picks at the perfect spot. I like recording high energy parts first. The fun part is that the bridge was actually written during the recording process. I just suddenly felt so overwhelmed and angry for some reason, so yelling that section was very cathartic.
Was the creative and writing process for “k-town” different from “Fever Dream”?
It was a little different! My creative and writing process usually starts with a concept for the story I want to tell and make an inspo playlist of the sound I’m going for. I’d usually find a title first, strangely enough, and write around it. “Fever Dream” started as a concept because I kept using that phrase to describe the beginning of 2020. I sent a chord progression to the producer, Jonathan Atkins, and ended up writing on top of his instrumental.
On “k-town,” I knew I kept playing the line “Make your way back to k-town” over and over on guitar. I ended up recording a demo of the Verse, Pre-Chorus, and Chorus. I sent it to Matty for him to spice up and then we continued from there! I felt like I really wanted the story to match the atmosphere, so I called a good friend of mine called Christian Young (aka ImTrying) who is an amazing singer-songwriter. We kept revising and revising until we finally created lyrics that captured all my experiences in k-town to one 3m42s song. “k-town” also involved a bigger team where I had Bob Li as my mixing engineer and Gabi Grella as my mastering engineer. It allowed me to hear the track through another creative’s perspective and we all kept adding our ideas until it felt 110% Faerie.
The vibe that surrounds “k-town” is so dreamy! It almost reminds me of a movie, how did you go about finding the sound for the track?
Thank you! Dreamy was the goal! I love, love writing as if my music would appear in some montage of a coming-of-age indie movie. I really wanted “k-town” to have a grooving bass line, a touch of psychedelic influences, and the dreamiest synths. My favorite thing that Matty does is add this distortion that helps emphasize this built-up tension and disarray that’s happening in the story. I had to ask Matty for his answer on this because he definitely played a huge part in finding the perfect sound.
MATTY: Funny that you call it “dreamy,” as the original inspiration for the feel was “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. With all of its resurgent popularity, I found myself wondering what makes that song so special. Strip away the distinctive vocals and melodies, and you’re left with a dependable groove that carries you on a moody lyrical journey. So working with that in mind, I aimed to keep only what was necessary. Lush synths, biting leads, a tight bassline, and Faerie’s impeccable vocals were necessary :)
When creating music, what inspires you the most?
I honestly enjoy going to concerts. I always leave a concert feeling so inspired. Something about watching an artist become vulnerable with their audience through music and being able to really feel the bass in your stomach and the kick through the floor does something to me. I think I also get inspired when I really try to get in touch with my emotions. If it’s anger, fear, or even pure joy, the first thing I do when I really feel is write.
Who would you say are your musical influences?
Right now, I’d have to say Faye Webster, Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, HAIM, Alexandra Savior, Alice Phoebe Lou, and Mitski are on repeat. But I always go back to artists like Lorde, Regina Spektor, Christine and the Queens, Fleetwood Mac, Bleachers, Bon Iver, and Harry Styles when I’m feeling stuck. Since I started songwriting, they’ve been my go-to when I need to feel a spark.
When creating music, what comes first music or lyrics?
Kind of mentioned this before, but I think the lyrics! I’m always writing down ideas in my tiny notebook or Notes App. I think it’s always cool looking back at it and then trying to sing a melody that’ll match the feeling.
What else can we expect from you this year?
I have so, so much to share! I can assure you that you’ll be hearing from me again in the next few months. Maybe even going into next year? I won’t spoil too much for you, but just be ready! It’ll definitely be different from my 2am EP, where it was very electropop/synthpop inspired. There’s a bit more edge in this new chapter for sure.
Last question, we love discovering new music! Who should we be listening to right now?
Hmmm, I’ve been listening to Frank Moody lately! Such a fun, funky sound. If you’re in the mood to dance, they released a new album this year called “Into the Ether” that’s perfect for grooving. OH, singer-songwriter and producer Kate Brunotts just came out with the coolest visual album called “Womb,” which focuses on womanhood. I highly suggest listening if you like electronic, experimental pop.
Words by Melody
Keep up with Faerie
Listen to "k-town" here
"k-town" is available on all streaming platforms!
