From portray homes to portray emotional landscapes via melancholic indie pop, Shane J. O’Dwyer laid all the things on the road for his solo debut CALL ME BABE. After navigating heartbreak, band breakups, and the day by day weight of sobriety, his debut transmits unfiltered emotion solid in isolation and resilience.
On this interview, Shane opens up concerning the emotional gravity behind the one, his uncooked recording course of at CYBERSOUND Boston, and the pivotal second when California stopped being a pitstop and have become residence. Whether or not he’s pacing practice 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 positively not from his viewers.
Welcome to A&R Manufacturing unit, 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 positively 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 all the time 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 via. By way of songwriting, not a lot has modified apart from me lastly sharing what I write and being extra affected person with the method.
There’s a hanging euphonic authenticity within the monitor — it doesn’t draw back from uncooked sentimentality, but each notice feels refined. Did you all the time envision CALL ME BABE sounding the best way it does now?
Truthfully, no, the unique demo of this music sounds completely different, and a part of me enjoys the vitality extra within the uncooked bed room tapes, however I’ve all the time 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 roughly let the music 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 challenge releasing, daunting, or each?
Each — I used to be trying ahead to lastly doing my very own factor, nevertheless it was a little bit of a visit going right into a studio alone for the primary time, it’s so much simpler to cope with the surroundings when you could have your shut buddies 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 all the time be pleased about that. I actually assume Rob is a giant a part of the explanation I’m extra comfy 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 route I’ve been chasing all alongside”?
There have been moments at South Station ready to take the practice residence, I’d take heed to the demo from the day, and kind of tempo backwards and forwards, dissecting what we had finished, 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 to date”.
What was the purpose the place you determined your return to LA wouldn’t simply be non permanent, and did that shift mentally push you into ending and releasing your debut?
Satirically sufficient, I did my ultimate 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 music 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 music grew, and I used to be no match for persistence. Rob and I chatted via 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 via anyway, whereas in California, there was only a clear street forward, which I wanted.
I really feel at residence 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 music ought to’ve been out months in the past, however I needed to save the cash to report, and that required extra disciplined time getting facet jobs portray homes, and additional hours at work.
You’ve mentioned you’re doing all the things 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 wish 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 residence. 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 evening as effectively, Babe Ruthless — they f***** ripped. I actually suggest 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 via the beneficial artists tab on Spotify via Demise Valley Ladies, 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 simply’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 monitor?
Nothing however an image, and an area the place they’ll really feel good even concerning the issues that damage most. I actually benefit from the considered everybody listening to the identical music, 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
