PRIMITIVE HEART: interview around the new album, 'No Fear in Love'
Primitive Heart is releasing the new album, ‘No Fear In Love’ today. You can find the music, a gem of synth / dream pop, on the artist’ Bandcamp page or on the label Shoredive Records
We spoke with Dani Mari and Rosana Cabán, the two artists behind the music, as they tell us more on the new album and the songwriting process
Most photos (unless detailed otherwise) are from Fuel Heart Productions.
Could you tell me how some of the songs were written and their meaning?
Most of the music I write is very personal. This particular record is the rawest record I have ever made. I wrote it after a breakup that led to a lot of obstacles and big changes in my life.
Was the writing an easy process or difficult?
The writing process with Rosana Cabán was very natural and easy. I didn't prepare the songs before we started in the studio. I came to the studio with only a few song styles and lyric ideas. Rosana was able to translate the sounds I had in mind and combined them with many of her own music styles and ideas.
Who were the musicians and artists you collaborated with for the music and the artwork?
All of the music on the album was performed by Rosana Cabán and myself.
Jess Fenton mastered the album.
My dearest and talented friend Elizabeth Thorpe took the photo at her residence in Port Townsend, WA. I added the extra effects for the final version.
'Fear in Love' has mesmerizing lyrics. Can you tell us more of what's behind them?
The idea of 'No Fear In Love' came from the desire to live and love fearlessly. It is my belief that fear of the unknown can slowly deteriorate any relationship.
The time you lost is locked in your head
I was a ticking clock floating in your bed
You’re a sheep clothed in a wolf
I’m a bird with a lion’s heart
Easy to walk away when you’re almost dead
There’s no fear in love
There’s no fear in love
And I’m afraid
Shadows follow they’re not the shape of me
Fame becomes a place that sets you free
Monsters locked in glass jars
Release your mind from broken scars
Melt your thoughts to help you find your key
There’s no fear in love
There’s no fear in love
And I’m afraid
The sound of the album is excellent, Can you tell us more on how it was recorded and all the post recording work?
Rosana Cabán A lot of the production was done with Dani in the room while she tinkered with other parts or wrote lyrics, so in some cases the writing process was in tandem with recording and production which gave us room to make changes and experiment as we went. Post then became just about mixing.
I have my go-to delays and reverbs, but the mixing process was pretty typical. With tracking- sometimes we used the vocal booth, sometimes we didn’t.
We went back and forth between a vintech audio 1272 mic pre, a universal audio 4-710, and just direct into an Antelope Orion for the vocals and synths.
Sometimes I worked on drums on my own in my apartment with a maschine and headphones, then I would bring the parts back into the studio with Dani and we would put it all together.
How did you meet the artists that helped you on the album?
I came across Psychic Twin's song "Strangers" on Spotify and was immediately hooked. I noticed that they were playing at the Northside Festival in Brooklyn. I was mesmerized by their performance, stage setup and Rosana's drumming style.
I asked the band to teach a workshop for an organization I co-founded called Female Frequency. (Female Frequency started by creating an album made entirely by women and now we host workshops about music production).
They showed us the equipment they chose for their live show, how they executed it live, the recording process and ended the workshop with a live performance. They even let us try out some of their equipment! A few months later I approached Rosana about working with me on my solo album for Primitive Heart.
I'm a huge fan of her beats and production and she is a great human! It has truly been a dream come true working with her.
Photo by: Angelys Ocana (goodpeaoplebadhabits.com)
Can you explain your songwriting process?
My songwriting varies from project to project. I typically hear a word or lyrical phrase that inspires me to write a song leaning towards the theme of those words. Then I will sit down with an acoustic guitar and work out the chords and structure.
For Primitive Heart, I worked out the chords and structure with Rosana in the studio. In other cases such as collaborations with Violentene, Beatastic, Xeresa, and Omega Vague I have added vocals and vocal melodies that fit with the instrumentals that they send me.
In the folk world, Reverend TJ McGlinchey and I collaborate on a project called Lovers League. We sing each other's songs as duets, so the writing is more influenced by how the harmonies work together.
In the horror world, Johnny Butler and I collaborate on a short film and music project called Cruel Beauty Productions. We write songs inspired by horror films that inspire us and then make short films related to the music. The lyrics hint at the films we are writing about. Johnny combines saxophone and other woodwind instrument melodies with my vocals.
Our last two short film trilogies were inspired by Dario Argento's movies about witches (Suspiria, Inferno and Mother of Tears) and Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes, Last House on the Left and Nightmare on Elm Street.
If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?
Rosana Cabán Bjork all day. I would play some weird hybrid electronic/acoustic drum setup and use sampled field recordings as the patches for the electronic drums, or sample those choral singers she uses and play them back like an instrument. Anything like that I guess. Why? Because I like that she encourages a bit of dissonance for the greater good of a dynamic composition, and she takes the art of performance so seriously. I admire it.
Primitive Heart I would love to collaborate with Chelsea Wolfe. I'm a huge fan of her songwriting and vocal style. I also appreciate that she has played folk and experimental goth music.
I cut my teeth as a songwriter in the Philadelphia music scene and have been working on electronic and experimental music in Brooklyn. I was initially hesitant to make the leap from performing and writing folk music to electronic music, even though I listen to electronic music more than folk music.
I'd love to learn about her experience making the transition from folk to what she is performing now.
I'd also love to learn more about her effects pedal setup and how she uses them for her voice and guitar. It would be a dream to sing with her. Her voice is magic.
Album cover by Elizabeth Thorpe
You have a Vinyl coming out. Can you explain the hurdles around getting this format done?
I love vinyl and always wanted to have my own album pressed on vinyl. I was able to achieve this through the support of friends and family and Nico of Shore Dive Records and Meghann Wright of GrindEthos.
Vinyl can be costly and shipping can also add an additional unexpected cost. I worked with Jett Galindo at Bakery Mastering and Gotta Groove Records and they helped me through the process. The vinyl looks great and is available in blue or red. It's also available at Rough Trade in the UK and NYC and at shorediverecords.bandcamp.com .
We have had vinyl orders all of the United States and in the UK, Denmark, Canada, Luxembourg, Ireland, Switzerland, Scotland, Israel, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, and the Netherlands! I'm grateful for all the support!
What are your next artistic plans, any other music already?
Rosana Cabán and I are finishing up an EP for Primitive Heart that will be released next year. I've also been performing with Angela Tornello and we are working on writing songs together. There will also be a few remix EPs of No Fear In Love released in the next few months.
Roland Marckwort and I have been writing new music for our project Violentene and expect to release it sometime next year. I'll also be working on the next horror short film trilogy with Johnny Butler for Cruel Beauty Productions and music with Omega Vague for a new project. Josh Steingard and I also have a dance-pop EP coming soon for our project Dwight Remington.
Can the fan expect concerts and if so where will you go?
My album release is this Sunday in Brooklyn. I'll also be performing at a festival in Brooklyn on November 2nd. I have more show announcements coming soon for Philly and the West Coast and will be back in the UK and Germany soon.
