From portray homes to portray emotional landscapes by means of melancholic indie pop, Shane J. O’Dwyer laid every 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 solid in isolation and resilience.
On this interview, Shane opens up in regards to 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 dwelling. 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 definitely 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 strategy your songwriting?
I undoubtedly 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 pressure 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. By way of songwriting, not a lot has modified in addition to me lastly sharing what I write and being extra affected person with the method.
There’s a hanging euphonic authenticity within the observe — it doesn’t shrink back from uncooked sentimentality, but each observe 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 tune sounds completely different, and a part of me enjoys the vitality extra within the uncooked bed room tapes, however I’ve at all times checked out these songs like my very own little Frankensteins, so nonetheless they develop is finally out of my management — I’m right here for the natural magic. I kind of let the tune 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 mission liberating, daunting, or each?
Each — I used to be wanting ahead to lastly doing my very own factor, but it surely was a little bit of a visit going right into a studio alone for the primary time, it’s rather a lot simpler to cope with the atmosphere when you’ve your shut friends 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 truthfully suppose Rob is a giant a part of the rationale 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. Have 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 dwelling, I’d take heed to the demo from the day, and form of tempo backwards and forwards, dissecting what we had completed, 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 thus far”.
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 closing recording session a few days earlier than I flew again to LA for my “little break”, so Rob was in a position to polish up the tune 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 tune grew, and I used to be no match for persistence. Rob and I chatted by means of textual content, and after 2 classes with out me there, it was able to go. It was excellent 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 try to see by means of anyway, whereas in California, there was only a clear highway forward, which I wanted.
I really feel at dwelling 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 tune ought to’ve been out months in the past, however I needed to save the cash to document, and that required extra disciplined time getting facet jobs portray homes, and further hours at work.
You’ve mentioned you’re doing every thing you possibly can 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 want to begin a brand new band on the facet, 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 dwelling. 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 night time as effectively, 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 beneficial artists tab on Spotify by means of Dying Valley Women, one other LA-based band as effectively.
Has going solo modified your relationship with music in any means? Do you end up writing from a distinct emotional register now that you just’re not contemplating a gaggle 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 observe?
Nothing however an image, and an area the place they will really feel good even in regards to the issues that harm most. I actually benefit from the considered everybody listening to the identical tune, however the place they go to is as distinctive as a snowflake, and I discover it a privilege that these will be made between my sounds. It’s actually cool.
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Stream CALL ME BABE on Spotify now.
Comply with Shane J. O’Dwyer on Instagram.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast
