Music Q&A with Graveyard Club
Photo by Archie Massopust
Graveyard Club and their synthy goth pop tunes will win some fans over with the release of their upcoming album, Moonflower, out June 17th! The band recently took some time to talk about the album, their thoughts on today’s state of the music industry, and more! You can pre-order Moonflower HERE.
Congratulations on the announcement and upcoming release of Moonflower! What does the album mean to you?
Thank you! We are definitely looking forward to getting it out into the world. To me, Moonflower is a bittersweet record. It's kind of about coming to terms with growing older, but also fighting it. There is a lot of nostalgia going on in Moonflower, as with most of our records. That being said - I never really have a singular message with any lyrics or songs - I think people can decide what it means to them. My favorite part of a record is often hearing from fans who explain their interpretation of something.
Like a lot of bands, Graveyard Club did things differently to make recording during the pandemic possible. What is one thing you did during the recording process of this album that was new to you that you would like to carry into the future when recording more music?
One thing that was special about this album is that we had little or no time to really work through the initial song demos like we normally do. Although I much prefer the communal/group atmosphere of making a record together all in the same room, there were some surprises that came out of the process because we all knew less what the other members (including our producer/engineer Andy) were really doing. I think because of all that, the record sounds potentially more organic and less structured.
What’s your favorite song off Moonflower?
I really like both ends of the album - "Nowhere" I think is such a fitting opening track and really encompasses a lot of the sounds/feeling we often try to capture as a band. That song reminds me of being young in the summer. On the other end of the record, Elegy is a favorite of mine because it feels so bare and honest. Theres a certain resignation to it that makes it a fitting closer to the record.
What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
hmmm nothing profound comes to mind. Probably to always bring an extra instrument cord or backup synth plug, which I routinely forget...
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
I think actual "music" has been valued less and less. You can stream the entire catalog of recorded music for like $10 a month, which is wild. Most musicians make little or no money from that. Also, being "successful" or getting noticed seems to be less about making heartfelt, authentic music and more about being a social media personality. However, I think fans are always looking for ways to support what they love and our fans have been really really great. If you love a band, buy a record from them if you can:)
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days? How do you stay positive?
Songwriting for me is a great way to work through a bad day or negative feelings. I also love to draw and paint - so I often get lost doing that and it helps shift my mood away from what is going on. Another extremely helpful thing for me is getting out in nature. I love hiking and will try to find a nearby trail to decompress after a long day.