Paige Cora – Instant in Time

By starrymag | February 15, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I think it has roots in indie pop, chamber pop and folk music. I have influences from every decade that add inspiration to everything I set out to write. I like to think I approach my music with a sort of elegance, a lush landscape of sounds and melodies. It’s usually rooted in a piano and vocal performance, with all the other strokes of colors adding to that root.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) From Nina Simone to Tony Visconti—great artists exist in each decade. However, I have always been drawn to music in the 1970s. Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, David Bowie… I would say though that my greatest musical influence is Kate Bush. There’s something about her that validates artistry in general; she’s like a poster girl for being yourself and creating exactly what’s inside of you. Her work as a producer of her own material was a strong influence for me to do the same for this album, self-producing it. I learned so much doing things that way. John Lennon is the other pillar. I have this wonderful statue of him on my piano. When I am writing, I look at it in a joking way and think, “Well, John?” Pretending someone else is critiquing my writing takes me out of my own head. I suppose that sounds absolutely bonkers. I often think about the music he would have made had he lived.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Stray Balloons.”

A) I started thinking about these two characters going on an adventure as a metaphor for our lives. One friend is strong and confident, the other is fear-based and holding onto their past – which really is just two sides of the same person, two sides we humans all have. The song paints them pushing through, working together. The chorus calls out to the fear-based side in almost pity and empathy, “If I could show you life from someone else’s point of view/You hid behind the walls you built so no one captures you.” The true self is aware of the potential beauty of life and desperately wishes to reveal it to the fearful side.

Q) How did Wes Anderson’s film The Darjeeling Limited inspire the track?

A) I had this very powerful scene from the film in my head, when the three brothers have to catch a train, and they have to drop all their luggage in order to help each other hop on at the last second. The metaphor is clear, letting go of your baggage to move forward. It translated to the lyric in the song, “You better pack light, there’s no end coming up in sight.” I used the scene as a visual tool to inspire me to complete the production of the song.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I’m not sure. I can’t speak for them, really. However, I do know we all have that duality inside of us. The mind fighting the heart to pilot and be in control of our choices, our emotions and how we lead our lives. The pressures of our world make us live in survival mode, even when we are abundant. But I think we know when we act from the heart and create in resonance with it, it’s the only time we feel whole. It’s a juggling act we are all dealing with, so maybe fans can relate to that.

Q) What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) My process usually starts with chords that sound beautiful to me. I create a progression and usually start humming melody with a few key phrases that just pop out. Then, I just record take after take of me experimenting and trying to be free with my voice to play around. I’ll listen back and make notes on bits I like and try to weave together my favorite parts. Lyrics come at the end and is my favorite part of the process.

Q) What are some themes you explore on your debut album Instant in Time?

A) The ethereal world, death, where our souls and consciousness travels to… My family suffered several losses when I was writing the record and I explored the process of grief and support. The title track “Instant in Time” is about finding the courage or the energy to pull yourself out of mourning and grief and get back to living. After that period of time, at some point you have to tell yourself to get back to the things you love, that make you happy.

Q) Jae Daniel helped with engineering on the album, but how much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) Jae Daniel mixed and engineered the record. The record was produced by me, which was interesting to work with my studio band for the first time and be the performer and songwriter in the studio. It all gelled together very well, and the whole band helped my vision come to life.

Q) You had an album release show recently. What can fans expect from a live Paige Cora performance?

A) It’s very intimate no matter where we play. I like to tell stories between songs and the band and I laugh a lot on stage, so it feels more like you’re part of the gang. We are very much in tune with our audience and we feel honored every time we get to play for them.

Q) What songs off Instant in Time are you looking forward to performing live?

A) I love playing “Facing the Grass” live because it’s so hypnotic and then has this huge crescendo at the end. I usually close the set with that song for that reason.

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your album as a whole?

A) I hope it takes them on a bit of a journey. There are a lot of different styles of songwriting – some folky, some indie pop/rock, chamber pop, one even has a Motown vibe. I come from the school of The Beatles where every song is an opportunity to be its own world. I don’t subscribe to making each song fit into a genre or sound.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) Really, it’s about the audiences. I’ve been lucky to have as great an experience playing in NYC as I did in Cleveland…

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) There are a couple people… Andrew Bird would be great. I’d love Tony Visconti to produce something with me. I am such a huge fan of his. Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears would be another choice.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) I’ve been listening to composer Max Richter a lot lately. I also compose scores for documentaries and films, so I am always looking for inspiration in composers. He creates such beautiful music.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) It’s amazing being able to reach out to new fans in different countries. It brings us all together, right?

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Just thank you. This is our livelihood. The fact that you support any independent artist keeps us creating and contributing to our life’s work.