Caroline Loveglow

Photography by Drew Reynolds. Interview by Heather Hawke.

It’s been said that Caroline Loveglow uses music as a vessel to understand herself. She grew up in San Diego, and by age seven she had discovered guitar and a love for poetry that eventually led to songwriting by age twelve (her earliest songs were small poems she’d set to a few chords in her bedroom). Back then, songwriting was her way of trying to process the complexities of the world; and it was something of her own. So, as you would imagine, isolation is a familiar feeling for her, even before the world shut down. She grasped at influence from her mother’s textured and emotional music collection (Radiohead, Neil Young) and her own favorite at the time (The Cure). 

As a teenager, Caroline cut her teeth at open mics around the city and started the first version of what would eventually become “Caroline Loveglow.” She began to write the kind of dreamy, emotive songs she does today when she first played with a band, but after taking her music into studios, and it being hit by blockades of producers and collaborators, the songs weren’t quite matching up with what she had first envisioned.  She then took the work entirely into her own hands and her music soon began to crystallized. She now tracks, produces, and mixes her own songs and she’s obsessively captivated by the intricacies of cascading rhythms and abstract, ambient soundscapes- crediting Brian Eno as a major influence. 

Though the creation of her misty, otherworldly music (Strawberry LP out Feb 25) was a solitary pursuit, Caroline forged a strong bond with 100% Electronica after she (a longtime fan of George Clanton) had sent a demo of “Patience Etc…” (her first single) to the label’s live VR podcast. Clanton and co. were so stunned by the song’s casual beauty that they actually discouraged her from uploading it to the internet- in favor of giving it a proper release. 

Just like her first single “Patience Etc…” (a song about “psychological and romantic anxieties, asking questions and expressing the complicated thoughts that sneak up on her late at night” as well as suggesting there are ways to work through one’s darkest moments), Caroline’s music offers a lifeline to those who, like herself, grapple with the weight of indecision and self-doubt and spend a lot of time in their heads. Her music feels like a direct message to anyone of those trying to find their way. With delicate, hypnotic vocals and incredibly honest lyrics that float above it all, she ponders the existential questions and contemplates inner turmoils, and wonders what it really means to be “human”. Her music is unshakeable and ethereal, offering solace.

Caroline Loveglow’s web/socials: Website – Bandcamp – Soundcloud – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

Hi! So, the past year and a half have been pretty chaotic due to various reasons including the pandemic…Before we begin, how are you doing with everything? How has this last year been for you and how are you feeling? How have you been coping with everything? 

Hey! This year has been arduous and dystopian for everyone- definitely tested the limits of my sanity. The first several months of lockdown seem like a fever dream now. I think a lot of people, myself included, were kind of forced to work through suppressed emotions, which was pretty brutal, but unavoidable and probably necessary. I had to visit every corner of my mind because there wasn’t much else to do. I’m doing ok! I’m eager to release these new songs into the world finally! And so excited about the new singles.

I feel like the music industry has shifted even more so during the pandemic. How has it felt, to you, as an artist? Has it been freeing?

Initially, I thought I would be making music every day, just due to the copious amount of free time. Instead, I found myself idling and stagnant. In the beginning, especially, it was impossible to turn my attention to anything other than the disorder and tragedy. I usually need at least a little bit of routine in my days to want to make music. If I have too much time or too much stress,  I end up getting nothing done. 

I rearranged my room so I had no choice, but to either listen to music or, make it. I put my speakers and my entire studio set-up right at the edge of my bed. It was freeing to lock myself in that space, sit on my bed, and get lost for a little while to escape the chaos. 

Is it scary trying to question how to approach music-making and then how to or if you want to creatively release it to the public?

For me, it doesn’t feel scary to approach making new music, because I never truly have an end goal when I open a new Logic session or write something on guitar. I am never sure if that song will ultimately stand alone as a song at all. I have countless half-songs, or songs where I decide halfway through that they are not stimulating and not exciting me. Those don’t usually get finished. I’ve always been this way, and have always made my songs with the same approach of almost having no approach at all.

There’s this sweet spot when you have no experience, or knowledge on how to begin a proper release. There’s a precious innocence, naivete, and freedom in that autonomy. No mistakes can be felt when you don’t even know what you’re doing wrong. I’ve also never truly had any expectations because music has forever been in my life. I’ve always just wanted to make songs that I like and play to anyone who wants to listen.

Going back to the beginning. What was your childhood like growing up in San Diego? Did creativity/music/art play a big part in your childhood?  

Growing up in San Diego was wonderful and very simple. Now, it’s a sweet escape from LA when I need to slow down. My parents still live in my childhood home and my older brother and I are best friends- I try to visit whenever I can. My Stepdad, Drew, is a brilliant writer and extremely creative. He bought my first, real guitar. When I was little, He would sit with me at the kitchen table every morning. We would draw together. Or, he would give me a story writing prompt. I do credit both him and my Mom for nourishing the beginnings of my creativity. 

You discovered guitar at age 7 and a love for poetry that eventually led to songwriting by 12, what was your formal / not formal music education like growing up?

I started guitar lessons when I was seven. I didn’t genuinely possess a keen interest or curiosity at that time, because I was so young, so my lessons seemed more like a chore or a burden. I don’t really credit that for being instrumental in my creativity timeline. I used to write a song after school, then come downstairs and play it for my parents- every single night. I did that for so many years… I have a collection of hundreds of semi-horrible acoustic songs from 11 and 12 years old Caroline. I still have the voice memos on my phone and they’re brutal to listen to now- cute though. I did take one music theory class at my community college, but I failed pretty hard. 

Tell me about your musical upbringing. What music did you grow up listening to? 

My Mom adored Neil Young and Radiohead. My Step-Dad, Drew loves David Bowie, Paul Mccartney, and Brian Eno- he is like a music encyclopedia. Once I started listening to those artists, he would tell me stories about each of them in the studio, or, how they made a certain song- That propelled my fascination with creativity as it relates to music.

 I would always steal music from my older brother, because I thought everything he did was cool. I don’t think I was even old enough to figure out how to use Itunes (or Limewire at the time lol), so I would listen to anything he was listening to. He Showed me Gorillaz, Modest Mouse, and Nirvana when all I knew was the soundtrack to High School Musical. Eventually, I veered off, searching for music I felt was “mine”. I love New Order, Elliott Smith, George Clanton, Talking Heads… I could go on and on. Brian Eno is brilliant and will always be one of my biggest influences.

Do you find it helpful to be intentional when it comes to writing the lyrics/music lyrics? Like “I’m going to sit down and work on a song.” Or is it more ephemeral, like you’ve been kicking something around in your head for days, weeks, months, and then suddenly it comes spilling out? Or is it a mixture of both?

My lyrics, even on this record, are general observations, my inner thoughts, or pointing out peculiarities in everyday mundanity. And questioning everything- all the time. There is no form of closure really, in any of my songs. It might be because I’m always and forever trying to figure out what the fuck is happening.

I never force myself to write if I’m not feeling it that day. I do have a steady iPhone note of lyrics I’ve collected, but when I’m writing a song, usually it’s one complete thought. I like to start with a blank slate. I find it hard to Frankenstein pieces together – especially if the lyrics are rather hyper-specific to one idea. I find inspiration in boredom. I become overstimulated easily, so I take quite a few breaks, but I’ll typically finish the lyrics by the end of the day. Or, at least try to. It can be tough to harness that same feeling again sometimes if I choose to wait. 

When did the album title Strawberry come about in the album creation process? 

I wish I had an elaborate, satisfying answer for this, but the album title came somewhat last minute. I couldn’t decide on an album title for the longest time,  until a few days before it was due.

What is the significance of the title? 

There’s a song on my new record called ‘Strawberry’. It’s one of my favorites and also the first song I started/finished for this LP. Strawberries carry a feeling of nostalgia for me. I liked the idea of a one-word title that doesn’t have to encapsulate the meaning behind each song into a singular thesis statement.

What was your favorite part about the writing/album creation process? 

That fleeting, lightning-like excitement I get when finding a new sound, melody, or even a new vocal or drum chain is my favorite part of all of this. I live for those five minutes. Then, the tedious mixing process begins, but I’ve learned to love that just as much now too. Music production is like the greatest video game.

What was your songwriting/creative process like for your upcoming debut album release, Strawberry (out this February)? 

Making this album was my true escape from real life at the time- I loved it. I would wake up every morning buzzing to open my computer and fuck around with my synths, or write for an unhealthy number of hours. I didn’t push myself when I wasn’t feeling particularly creative, though-  only when I wanted to. When I’m making a song and I start to feel that creative elixir failing or depleting after a few hours- That’s when I close my computer or step outside and walk. Otherwise, every frequency will bother me and my brain quickly becomes useless. I have to take a few reset breaks during a long session. Especially because I’m alone, reality starts to bend a little when I get to that point. This album time-stamped a very distinct period of my life. The making of this whole album was pure experimentation and freedom. I wasn’t sure it was ever going to release these songs, and I held onto them for a while.

Where were you physically and mentally when you wrote the lyrics/music for Strawberry? Did you have any parts of the tracks off of Strawberry (whether it be lyrics, beats, harmonies) that predate the pandemic lockdowns in the U.S.?  

I wrote/produced Strawberry in my apartment over a period of probably five months in 2019. At the time, I was working at a restaurant and taking every crazy long shift I could. I had also just gone through a breakup, and was living alone for the first time. It made me go a bit insane. I was so mentally and physically drained, not seeing friends as much, and kind of threw myself into these songs everyday after work.

How hands-on are you with the making of / direction of the visuals (music videos, press images, artwork) that accompanies the music? 

I’m pretty hands-on with the direction of visuals in all areas. I’m not well versed in editing any form of visual media, but I really enjoy making digital art and abstract videos. I made both music videos for my first two singles ‘Happy Happy’ and ‘Patience Etc…’  I had no budget and way too much time, so I shot the ‘Patience’ video on an iPhone and taped the camera through a microscope I had at home. I found objects with unusual textures and added clear nail polish over them. Pretty sure I also edited the entire video on my phone. The video for “Happy Happy” was a bit more difficult because I had to learn how to build a fake website template while simultaneously learning how to shoot and edit. I loved how they both turned out. 

In terms of single, or album art- I have a photographer or a friend take the photo and then I’ll spend a couple of hours blending my digital art in and messing around. It’s a fun process for me.