What’s the story behind “Beacon”?
Beacon is ultimately about making the same bets over and over again and wanting a different outcome- caring when you wish you didn’t.
How was the recording and songwriting process for Beacon? How did the track come to life?
I wrote “Beacon” in the fall at my friend Ben’s place in Ridgewood. I wanted to start something from scratch, and it was one of those songs that just comes to fruition immediately- Ben started playing chords and within 30 minutes we had the song. I use a lot of images of light throughout my next project, and I loved “Beacon” as a metaphorical through line . I later brought it to producer Jos Kuhn in Nashville , where we fleshed out the production to fit sonically with the world we were building out there. Ben, Jos and I got to all work on it together at one point in Nashville which was a really fulfilling collaborative experience.
Were there any highlight moments while you were crafting this song?
It was snowing heavily the day we started reworking the production in Nashville, and I just love the juxtaposition between the sonic lightness of “Beacon” and the winter landscape it was made in.
What pop culture moment represents your songwriting process?
Fiona Apple 1997 MTV VMA’s “speech: “This world is bullshit. Go with yourself.” (my best friend has go with yourself tattooed).
If Beacon was part of a movie soundtrack,in what film would the song be featured on?
Uptown Girls! A lot of the music video was inspired by that movie. I love the nostalgic elements of it, and visually we took a lot of inspo shooting at Coney Island. But thematically I felt really tied to the movie and Brittany Murphy’s character dynamic with Ray / reckoning with both wonder and loss/ confronting reality while holding onto childlike hope. I think there’s a lot of that in this song
What were some of your main inspirations while crafting the song? Songs, sounds, concepts, etc.
Coney Island, biking through New York at night, sitting on my fire escape. Sonically and lyrically I am consistently inspired by Elliott Smith, Pavement, Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Soccer Mommy, etc
How did you come about creating the visualworld for this track?
I envisioned it immediately at some sort of carnival or fair with a boardwalk , and thought of movies with elements of that- uptown girls, Her (probably my favorite movie) and Adventureland all came to mind.
How do you want your listeners to take away from Beacon?
You can be vulnerable ands scared & self assured simultaneously.
What would be the best way for someone to listen to Beacon for the first time?
In their room getting ready to see their friends or driving.
What are some emerging artists that everybody should be listening to?
Not emerging whatsoever or new but I’ve been pretty much exclusively listening to Sparklehorse so that’s the first thing that comes to mind