Interview: Sister Crayon

03 Apr 2013 — Ashley Canino

Sister Crayon is the Oakland-based duo of Terra Lopez and Dani Fernandez. After their debut in 2011, Bellow, and a lot of touring last year, the two spent last fall recording their follow-up Cynic. The five-track EP is a confessional piece, approaching topics most personal to both members. Ahead of the release, we talked with the duo about the experience of creating Cynic and a look at what is next.

Cynic is out April 16 via Fake Four Inc.

Cynic, as its name implies, is a lot darker than Bellow. Did you set out to make a grittier EP or did the subject matter just take you there?

Terra: We went through some really tough times and situations while writing and recording this EP. I knew before it even began that the EP was going to be dark, that it was going to be heavy, and that because of that, that our new work would be a lot more honest and a lot more serious than Bellow. Over the last two years since Bellow was released, so much has happened in our individual lives as well as with our music. It was a really exhausting, frustrating, overwhelming time and I think the songs were written because they needed to be. I clung to these songs in order to get through the day, some days.

Was there any discomfort for either of you in composing and recording such a revealing album? [For Dani] What was it like creating around an experience that wasn't necessarily your own?

Terra: There was an urgency in writing this record that I had never personally experienced before. I was unafraid of being brutally honest with myself, about my family, etc. I knew that I had things to get off my chest, experiences I needed to find some closure in and I used this opportunity to do that as best as I could. When writing "Meager Leavings", the lyrics just flowed out in one sitting. That usually doesn't happen for me but I think it needed to get out. I tracked the vocals in one take (during pre-production) and sat back and sighed in relief. Now, looking back at it I feel somewhat anxious about others hearing this track in particular but at the same time, I'm relieved because I want to be able to be completely open like this. I want people to relate if they can-and if they can't, to at least know that I'm just trying to get through the day like the next person.

Dani: I think "Meager Leavings" was the most honest song we had ever written. I was really taken back with how honest Terra was being but at the same time I loved it because that's how I want all of our songs to be. I want our audience to connect with us on a real level and to maybe relate to what we have been through and/or still going through.

What was your approach to incorporating both live and electronic instruments?

Terra: Dani and I really wanted to focus this time around on beats, sub bass, and vocals. We knew that we wanted to focus on having a good balance of live drums (via Omar Barajas) along with heavy MPC and SPD beats (via Dani). We wanted the beats to be the most important musical element on this record so we took a lot of time with that. Our producer Wes Jones did such an incredible job understanding how to balance the live and electronic aspects and make the songs as dynamic as possible. I wanted this record to be a raw representation of how our live show is – intense and heavy. I want people to feel what's going on on this recording.

Can we expect the full-length due out late this year to be as heavy, in topics and sound, as the Cynic EP?

Terra: I'm really looking forward with the full length to explore more in vocal dynamics and with electronic beats. We are leaning more towards the electronic aspect for the full length because it's something we have always wanted to do and I'm really excited to explore that realm with our producer. I really want to get lost in sound and focus on vocal melodies, harmonies, etc. As far as heavy topic material, I'm not sure. I do tend to write when I'm going through shit but I'm really going to try to challenge myself and not be afraid to write some lighter material. That will be my challenge to myself-hold me to it!

Will you spend a good part of 2013 touring? Are there any particular shows you're excited for?

Terra: You know, we spent most of 2012 touring so we will be playing dates to support the EP release but I think our main focus will be writing and recording the full-length. We love playing live so we will play as much as possible but I'm already thinking of the full length and how we can make that happen as soon as possible.

I'm really excited to share the stage with Shlohmo and Jeremih on April 5 in San Francisco  and we are also putting together some West Coast dates for the EP release. I can't share just yet!

Have other Bay area artists influenced the way your sound has developed?

Terra: We are still pretty new to the Bay Area so I'm not sure if I would say that any artists from here have influenced our sound but the area and our neighborhood where we live sure has. Living in Oakland, we are challenged and exposed to so many different elements and people. I defintely think living here will have a huge influence on us musically-maybe lyrically. Living here has enabled us to hide out and work on music every day though. We still don't know too many people here so we haven't gone out much. I do have to shout out to Dose One, Jel, and Odd Nosdam though. They have influenced me for years and they all live out here.