Today is the perfect day to share the new EP from the garage pop band named Astrologer, called Legerdemain. Astrologer is comprised of lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Drew Cline as well as Candy Caballero who contributes both backing and lead vocals during the EP. The sophomore set was produced by Wyatt Blair, and the EP hits the streets via Lolipop Records tomorrow. Also, as a bonus treat, I caught up with the band for a brief interview regarding the artistic steps they took on Legerdemain.
What was the inspiration behind Legerdemain? What do you want your fans to take away from this EP, and what does it mean to you personally?
Both EPs were influenced heavily by the death of my father, and the disintegration of my relationship with the mother of my son. By the time we began recording, the world had been plunged into the woes of a left-field pandemic. My personal grief and fear for the future informed every part of these recordings. At the time, I didn’t know if I wanted to make music anymore, and, even if I did, I was unsure I would ever get another chance. With all that in mind, Wyatt Blair and I seized upon any and every idea we had. I hope everyone who listens to it will see a new side of us; a fun and whimsical side. Recording the Legerdemain EPs represents a transitional period of my life and, incidentally, the life of our society. Making it was cathartic and personal and I hope it comes across as hopeful and light in the face of rather dismal times.
Can you share a bit about your songwriting process? What do you think makes a good song? Tell me about the making of the EP, including how you got Candy and Don involved.
I am always making up songs but I don’t sit down and write them until it feels necessary. Most of my time writing is actually just daydreaming. I will spend days or weeks thinking about a song before I ever pick up my guitar and pen. I work mundane jobs and spend that time imagining things. Words, turns of phrase, images, chord progressions and melodies… I let it all just float around upstairs for awhile until I feel good about it. Only then will I bother writing. I also don’t typically make demos. If I write something and forget it, my stance is that it maybe wasn’t worth doing in the first place. Inspiration and intuition guide me.
A good song must have a point. It must justify it’s existence. As a listener, I am not excited by genre exercises and placeholder lyrics. Substance and purpose are important to me. As a writer, I suppose I need something to keep me interested. A novel chord progression or a good melody, a good play on words maybe.
Candy and Don came into the fold around the same time. Candy and I met at the Monte Vista hotel in Flagstaff. It was a whirlwind romance, emotionally and creatively. We are partners in every sense. Don and I knew each other a little bit several years ago, we kept in touch. Eventually, he and I agreed we had something creatively worthwhile to work on, he started hanging out with us at the studio. We listen to bubblegum and glam singles at his place sometimes, and also avant-garde records. We enjoy singing together and I continue to learn a lot from him.
How has LA influenced the music you make?
I am a bit of a recluse, I don’t particularly like going out. Candy is from LA, but I am from Phoenix. I am from the Wild West! LA is its own monolithic icon, one that I view as an outsider. On one hand, LA to me is sunshine and pop music. On the other hand, it’s druggy and kinda gross. I think of LA like a Hollywood movie. A city of style and glamour that betrays the harder truths and realities of the actual physical place.
How have you been spending your pandemic time?
Doing the same thing I always do, daydreaming.