From portray homes to portray emotional landscapes by means of melancholic indie pop, Shane J. O’Dwyer laid every little thing on the road for his solo debut CALL ME BABE. After navigating heartbreak, band breakups, and the every day weight of sobriety, his debut transmits unfiltered emotion cast in isolation and resilience.
On this interview, Shane opens up concerning the emotional gravity behind the only, his uncooked recording course of at CYBERSOUND Boston, and the pivotal second when California stopped being a pitstop and have become residence. Whether or not he’s pacing prepare platforms with a demo in his headphones or discovering solace in LA’s psychedelic rock undercurrents, Shane refuses to carry something again — not from himself, and positively not from his viewers.
Welcome to A&R Manufacturing facility, Shane J. O’Dwyer — we’re glad to have you ever right here and excited to speak about this new chapter in your music profession. The circumstances main as much as your solo debut weren’t simple — how did these experiences form the emotional weight behind CALL ME BABE, and did they modify the way you method your songwriting?
I positively had a shift in notion for many issues main as much as this debut. I had walked into it completely heartbroken for a handful of various causes, my woman, my band, sobriety, however beneath all of it was this inevitable drive I lastly felt myself lean into. It doesn’t matter what, when the lights go down, and there’s nothing left, music is at all times there for me, and it’s the one means I can translate my emotions into one thing that may justify the struggles I discover myself tumbling by means of. When it comes to songwriting, not a lot has modified apart from me lastly sharing what I write and being extra affected person with the method.
There’s a hanging euphonic authenticity within the monitor — it doesn’t shrink back from uncooked sentimentality, but each notice feels refined. Did you at all times envision CALL ME BABE sounding the best way it does now?
Truthfully, no, the unique demo of this track sounds totally different, and a part of me enjoys the power extra within the uncooked bed room tapes, however I’ve at all times checked out these songs like my very own little Frankensteins, so nevertheless they develop is finally out of my management — I’m right here for the natural magic. I kind of let the track itself take the wheel, and I discover that much more satisfying from an artist’s perspective.
After such a disheartening fallout along with your band, was stepping right into a solo challenge releasing, daunting, or each?
Each — I used to be trying ahead to lastly doing my very own factor, however it was a little bit of a visit going right into a studio alone for the primary time, it’s lots simpler to take care of the setting when you’ve gotten your shut buddies with you, however the expertise was nice, and I’m actually fortunate I labored with Rob at CYBERSOUND in Boston. He made the method actually nice, and I’ll at all times be pleased about that. I actually assume Rob is an enormous a part of the explanation I’m extra snug with the place I’m in.
The manufacturing in CALL ME BABE carries a way of journey whereas nonetheless sounding totally realised. Had been there any moments within the course of the place you thought, “That is the course I’ve been chasing all alongside”?
There have been moments at South Station ready to take the prepare residence, I’d take heed to the demo from the day, and form of tempo forwards and backwards, dissecting what we had accomplished, and what I wanted to do subsequent. It’s a humorous query for me as a result of I did have a second the place I went “thank god I like this to this point”.
What was the purpose the place you determined your return to LA wouldn’t simply be momentary, and did that shift mentally push you into ending and releasing your debut?
Sarcastically sufficient, I did my remaining recording session a few days earlier than I flew again to LA for my “little break”, so Rob was capable of polish up the track with out me within the room. I initially presumed that after I returned, I’d end it, however after being in CA for a few weeks, the anxiousness of releasing the track grew, and I used to be no match for endurance. Rob and I chatted by means of textual content, and after 2 periods with out me there, it was able to go. It was good timing. I had a second with myself out right here in Malibu, and easily simply didn’t look again to Massachusetts, there was an excessive amount of smoke to attempt to see by means of anyway, whereas in California, there was only a clear highway forward, which I wanted.
I really feel at residence in California, and that presence I discover from inside when I’m right here is one thing I treasure, and I’m at a spot in my life the place I’m not going to let go of that, or look again for nothing, or anybody, sincerely talking. I knew, although, I needed to come out with one thing instantly, and that was an already pre-embedded thought. If something, this track ought to’ve been out months in the past, however I needed to save the cash to file, and that required extra disciplined time getting aspect jobs portray homes, and additional hours at work.
You’ve stated you’re doing every little thing you may to let your music bleed into new locations. Are there any particular areas or listeners you’ve felt most drawn to since releasing this single?
I’ve been actually drawn into the native psychedelic rock scene out right here. I wish to begin a brand new band on the aspect, and that solely got here from the inspiration of seeing some actually nice native bands, and assembly some nice artists out right here, like The Snares & Rainbow Metropolis Park, they made me really feel proper at residence. Though they’re each from the Bay Space, it was my first native present this time round with this mindset in place. I noticed one other LA band that evening as properly, Babe Ruthless — they f***** ripped. I actually advocate checking them out. As of late, I’ve solely been listening to LA WITCH; they’ve been my favorite band for months now, and I’m hoping to catch their present subsequent weekend right here in LA. I discovered LA WITCH by means of the really helpful artists tab on Spotify by means of Demise Valley Ladies, one other LA-based band as properly.
Has going solo modified your relationship with music in any means? Do you end up writing from a special emotional register now that you simply’re not contemplating a bunch dynamic?
Sure, and no. Extra strain utilized, however fewer issues to fret about. On the finish of the day, I’m simply doing what I do, I haven’t put a lot thought into comparisons.
For anybody listening to CALL ME BABE as their introduction to your work, what do you hope they take away from the tonal bliss and the lyrical depth within the monitor?
Nothing however an image, and an area the place they’ll really feel good even concerning the issues that harm most. I actually benefit from the considered everybody listening to the identical track, however the place they go to is as distinctive as a snowflake, and I discover it a privilege that these might be made between my sounds. It’s actually cool.
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Stream CALL ME BABE on Spotify now.
Observe Shane J. O’Dwyer on Instagram.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast
