INTERVIEW: CATLOW

The single comes off your new album Main of Nowhere – what’s the story behind the title?

Main of Nowhere is about being in the middle of your life, having lots going on but still feeling like you’re standing still. Getting past the past. Moving on from Nowhere to Somewhere. Or maybe just not forcing things and. letting yourself just stand still in the moment, but still moving.

How was the recording and writing process?

It is always a little difficult and a lot of work. But super creative, fun, and challenging. Howard Redekopp is an amazing producer from Vancouver who we’ve been friends with for years and talked about this album for a good 3 years before we got to make it. At the time I was waiting for spinal surgery, had the major surgery then finished the recording during recovery. We went in a did bed tracks the week before I went for this 8-hour intense surgery. I had to use pillows and couldn’t bend to do anything while we did all the overdubs and vocals and mixed. It was kind of crazy, nothing like I’ve experienced before. I write a lot. I have tons and tons of songs. These are just a records worth we could get out. I write a lot on my own on acoustic guitar and co-write with my longtime music partner Jay Slye. We have some great musicians who play in Catlow that were on the record. 2 different drummers (Barry Higginson and Cole George), 3 different bass players (John “Squid” Harder, Catherine Hiltz, Howard Redekopp), violin (Emily Bach), cello (Catherine Hiltz), glockenspiel (Laurel Borrowman). I did all the vocals and keys except for “My Sun” which we had David Beckingham from Canada’s Hey Ocean! and an amazing solo artist himself who did the duet with me. Jay and I did the guitars. We mixed with Howard and also Roger Swan so essentially we did this with 3 producers and at 4 different studios in LA and Vancouver.

What is it about the 50s that you find so fascinating?

The 50s? Hmm well the popularization of the electric guitar and furniture. I guess, ha. Lots of great writers and rock and roll!

How have Blonde Red Head and Daft Punk has influenced you and your writing?

I like the dark haunting beautiful meldies of Blonde Redhead and their off timing time signatures and the catchy hooky synth-pop dance of Daft Punk. We like to combine a lot of styles that make up Catlow.

What role does Vancouver play in your music?

Well we all live here and it’s my home. It gets rainy and I have had a lot of life experiences here. I get to hole up in winter and thrive in my introversion world which helps me write and gain perspective. It’s also really beautiful.

What aspect of hope did you get to explore on this record?

Hope to get better at being a better version of myself. Hope for healing and moving past difficulties. Accepting our flaws as humans and realizing they are what make us beautiful. Flaws and all. No one can escape the humanness of being flawed.

Any plans to hit the road?

We just got off a 2-week tour to Califonia and back and plan to go out again in the fall! We also play July 22dt Seattle Capitol Hill Block Party! We plan to hit the US and Canada all year on and off.

What else is happening next in CATLOW’s world?

We are playing a live show for SCENES tomorrow! See FB SCENES page out of Atlanta, Georgia. And the festival in Seattle next weekend. We also are playing a benefit for our friend and Main of Nowhere bass player Squid who has MS.  August 22nd in Vancouver at the FOX!

STREAM “Main of Nowhere”:  https://open.spotify.com/album/2mfcL0ZJ1q3Xk0jksJuZoI?si=rHqejY1zQJyufRIOWdLbMw

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