Okey Dokey – Once Upon a Time

By starrymag | December 10, 2020

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

Q) Who are some of your greatest musical influences?

 

A) It would without a doubt have to be Gorillaz, Lee Hazlewood and the pyramids.

 

Q) Tell us the story behind your current single “Wine Friends.”

 

A) “Wine Friends” is just a song about breakups and ether.

 

Q) You also recently released a music video for “Wine Friends.” How did you come up with the concept for the video?

 

A) That was all the idea that Casey Pierce had after I told him that it just had to be about astral projection.

 

Q) I really loved the song “The Dreamers” and the retro harmonics you incorporated into the song! What was one of your favorites to record on Once Upon One Time?

 

A) I think “Delicious” was my favorite. It’s a wackier tune and it’s got a lot of good meaning behind it. Johny [Fisher] and I had a funny day of making this one together and it was mixed by Jeremy [Clark].

 

Q) Once Upon One Time touches upon some serious themes such as anxiety, sobriety, death, and relationships. How did you decide to approach addressing these issues through your music?

 

A) There’s no decision. I just sang. There’s no approach for change. There’s no approach to pulling parts of yourself out that you don’t like and standing them up straight. Most people want to push their negatives away. I just wanted mine to get up and walk around a bit; to stop being so damn sulky. I wanted to give them jobs and names. The rest was just a river of sorts. Just me and a little boat and the Bad News and the Smoke and the Creech floating into the sunshine.

 

Q) You had the chance to work on the album with such notable musicians as Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear), Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), Dave Harrington (Darkside), and Yuuki Matthews (The Shins). What was it like getting to work with them on the album and how did their work style contribute to the overall feel of the album?

A) Let’s not forget all of the other extremely notable musicians here as well – Sam Williams, Jessy Wilson, Tom Myers and more. Let’s do give those aforementioned few some love though! It was amazing to work with them. They are all lovely people who have genderless views of their instruments, y’know? It was extremely easy to do because we had already written the songs and all we wanted them to do was make them their songs sorta. So, they did that kinda and we all pretty much got exactly what we thought might happen. It was a beautiful kinda funeral and you’d never know by the look on our faces that we’d ever been city haters. All I’m getting at is that there were no real expectations here and it was hard to explain to people, but when it clicked with them we actually did get what we had actually expected; a beautiful album. I love all of these people. They killed it. We never questioned that they would – we just hoped they would give it a try. Thanks everyone.

 

Q) What are some of your must-haves when you are in the songwriting process?

 

A) Coffee and Marijuana. It has always been that way.

 

Q) What do you hope fans take away from the new album?

 

A) I hope they forget my name and who is singing and fully insert themselves into a narrative that isn’t theirs. If that happens it means my experiment is working out and if that is true it will hopefully inspire more confidence in people out there. It’s an invitation to write your own story and bounce it back and forth with a world that needs you to.

 

Q) With the recent release of Once Upon One Time, do you plan on any listening parties or live shows via social media for your fans?

 

A) With the recent release of Covid-19 you bet your ass we will! [laughs] We’ll see you on a stage when people we love aren’t dying everywhere you look. Fuck Donald Trump.

 

Q) In December you have an upcoming show with Summer Salt in Pomona, CA. What are you most looking forward to getting to perform live?

 

A) That show isn’t actually happening. The whole performance thing is only amazing because you can feel everyone’s energy. I miss that so, so much.

 

Q) As your plans for a tour were changed due to the pandemic, are there plans to try touring in 2021?

 

A) Of course, but that will require a different state than the one we are in. Fuck Donald Trump

 

Q) Which song is your favorite to perform live?

 

A) Probably “All Hat No Cattle” for me.

 

Q) What would you like to share with your fans and supporters of your music?

 

A) Well, I just want them to know that the universe is a place of constant change. We never stay consistent because our own will shifts the literal ground we stand on. I invite my supporters to look at the table in front of them. I invite them to think about a new table for a while. Think about that until you see every little nook on this dream table. Now look at the other one. Which is more real to you? I invite our supporters to change their perceptions of the world and what we actually have to deal with. Make art, wave to people you don’t know, see them literally as you, make art that talks back and FUCK DONALD TRUMP. Biden won.

 

 

All Questions Answered By Aaron Martin