FEATURE:
Spotlight
PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Jaramillo for The New York Times
Wallice
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IN a series of Spotlight features…
PHOTO CREDIT: Elaine Torres
I am looking at artists who are tipped for great things this year. One artist I have known for a while and followed is Wallice. The amazing American musician released the E.P., Off the Rail, last year. With incredible singles like Wisdom Tooth capturing a lot of love and attention, I feel 2022 will be the time when Wallice is marked out as an international superstar-in-the-making. There are some really interesting and immersive interviews that were conducted last year. I am going to pull in a few of them. Ahead of the release of her exciting and wonderful debut E.P., CLASH chatted with Wallice.
“About to release her first EP ‘Off The Rails’ (on June 4th, no less), she's crafted a collection of songs which weaves personal light-hearted fun and pop culture with familiar testing circumstances. We sat down with Wallice to learn more about her beginnings and the elements which motivated guidance upon the six tracks.
Speaking to Clash, it seems that there was a defining moment in Wallice’s life which drove her towards a career in music. When hearing Lana Del Rey’s ‘Video Games’ she fell in love with the sound and aesthetic. Although not her biggest fan anymore, it is what initially sparked the fire. The cultivated songstress grew up in Topanga, LA, a creative, hippy-occupied town. This artistic energy must have impacted the young multi-instrumentalist, as she tells us: "In public elementary school I learnt to play the recorder and trumpet. When I was nine, I started playing cello, I played that for 10 years."
Though she didn’t harbour her passions through a home based-influence, commenting: "I didn’t grow up with a piano in the house and my parents playing. But I was always very drawn to it."
Wallice emphasises a gratitude for her parents' ongoing support. "My mum never said ‘maybe you should get a degree in accounting just in case’ she always said ‘do what makes you happy’. Even my dad, who is a very Japanese businessman in his outlook would say ‘life is short, do what you want to do’." Only recently has music become a career for her, it has been a journey. With this in mind Wallice provides a strong message for her audience: "If you just don’t give up and it is what you love, it will happen eventually!"
This is a signifier she conveys through her music. "In the lyrics I am very self-deprecating, and I make a lot of jokes," she explains. "But I think it is in a way that says don’t take yourself so seriously because life is so short, we are all going to make mistakes." This is definitely evident in '23' and ‘Hey Michael’, perfect pieces of exuberant hands in the air, jangly guitar pop. Wallice highlights: "It is OK to be young and dumb as long as you try to grow. I think that goes along with the life is short, do what makes you happy, message."
Her parents instilled a diverse range of culture in her from a young age which naturally manifests itself in her music. Japanese 80s pop has been on Wallice’s radar, she correspondingly mentions the jazz scene there. "When I went to Japan there were a lot of jazz clubs... Japanese culture still really likes jazz which I think is very lost in most of America except for New York. But even then, it’s a dying art form."
Wallice’s roots hold great significance to her. "My mom grew up in northern California but she lived in Japan from when she was 18-21 and learnt Japanese," she comments. Amazingly her parents met in the US although her dad is originally from Tokyo. Growing up, her mom would make her Japanese dishes and her dad would speak to her in Japanese. Though she grew up in America, she draws from Japanese culture and places it into her life. Her coming EP cover is inspired by 80s Japanese movie posters and album covers.
Ever since she attended a performing arts high school most of her life has been based around music. She later studied vocal jazz at college but decided it was not the right pathway ‘I personally went there to become a better vocalist in general because jazz is such a technical genre that once you get a grasp of that you can do almost any genre." At the college there was a divide between instrumentalists and vocalists which is why Wallice was not wholly enthused by the landscape. "The instrumentalists were more across the board. I kind of wish I went for guitar, not that I’m good enough!" she chuckles modestly. We know this is not the case as we can hear beautifully jazz-influenced guitar playing across the EP.
Making the bold decision to drop out of college, she reminisces about her short but sweet time in New York. In track ‘23’ a fake ID is mentioned and in the music video you can spot Wallice’s very own. She importantly emphasises: "I didn’t drink when I lived in New York but I had this ID so I could go to my friends' shows at bars!" Wallice connected with some cool faces who had mutual taste. The New York music scene was bustling around her, she references studio Figure 8 in Brooklyn which had the likes of Big Thief and Buck Meek recording there. She clarifies that her friends in New York "have more of a Saddle Creek records sound which doesn’t really come out of LA".
PHOTO CREDIT: Lily Craigen
I am quoting big chunks of interviews, as I think Wallice is a really intriguing interviewee. Someone who has this amazing passion, personality and drive, she is super-talented but modest at the same time. It is no wonder Off the Rails was well-received and won some positive reviews. The songs are in the Pop mould, yet they do not sound like anything else. Hard to pin down and define, Wallice is an artist who stands on her own. Still Listening spoke with Wallice last year and asked her about plans going forward:
“We really love all the singles from this EP! Are you particularly proud of any specific songs?
I am really excited for ‘Headache’ to come out. It’s the closing track of the EP, I’m not releasing it as a single. I can’t choose a favourite of the singles though, because they all mean so much to me. ‘Punching Bag’ is the song that started it all and brought a lot of new listeners and fans to me, then ’23’ is so autobiographical and close to home and will always mean so much to me. ‘Hey Michael’ is just so fun and lighthearted and the video was so fun to make. ‘Off the Rails’ is similar — I love that video too and the song is important because it is the title track to the EP. I love the guitars in that song so much. I guess it’s hard to choose!
We love your new music video for 'Off the Rails'. How involved in the creative process are you?
It is really important to me to be heavily involved in the creative process. Jerry Maestas directed the video and he came up with the “Life is a Simulation” concept, but I styled the shoot and helped develop the overall creative direction. Jerry and I worked really collaboratively on all aspects of the video.
What do you hate right now?
Feet, little dogs that bark too much, having to change the sheets on a bed!
What do you love right now?
Sushi, looking at expensive homes for sale online, plants, and cowboy gear!
Is there any new music from 2021 that you’re enjoying?
Today I listened to this song, ‘Back of my Hand’ by Bachelor (a band made up of Jay Som and Palehound), and I really like it. I also have been listening to the new artist Q – the new Japanese Breakfast tracks from her upcoming album – and all my friends have some killer music.
What else can we expect from you in 2021? Any more releases planned?
I’m starting to write songs that will probably end up on my second EP. I don’t have any specifics right now; I’m mostly excited for this first EP to finally be out in the world soon!
Do you have any final life lessons or tips for our readers?
I think it’s really important to do what you love in life. I’ve had a lot of people look down on me for pursuing music with no backup plan, but I know I wouldn’t be happy studying nursing or accounting or something that’s considered a “real job.” Even though I am young, I’ve worked hard on my music for years (even though I’m considered a newcomer), and I feel like hopefully the work is starting to pay off. I am reaching more listeners and getting better at writing music and playing so this can be a “real job” soon!”.
I want to bring in an interview from NYLON. We learn more about Wallice’s musical path and the evolution of her sound. Lockdown and the pandemic has been strange for all artists regarding the way they work and promote their music. Wallice spoke about this, in addition to creating an original dynamic and aesthetic in her music videos:
“Whether her face is smashed into a birthday cake or recoiling at a hit from a boxing glove, Los Angeles’ Wallice can make you hang on her every word. The 22-year-old singer and multi-instrumentalist may have just a handful of songs out, but she’s established herself as a keen lyricist with a knack for pop culture references and shrewd observations about the surreality of young adulthood.
I know you’ve been making music and playing instruments for years now, but when did you find the sound that you’re currently delving into as Wallice?
I wrote so many songs from 17 to 21 that were all more indie pop. I really loved Lana Del Rey; her and Lorde were the main influences on me. That music was just on SoundCloud before. I had a couple people who loved that music, especially my mom. Back in October, I released “Punching Bag.” That one’s still pretty indie pop, but leaning towards where “23” and “Hey Michael” have gone in the indie rock world. For so long, I grew up listening to Radiohead and Weezer and Dr. Dog. Those are all more alternative rock, and I wanted to make songs that sounded like that.
How has it been to be gaining career momentum during this period of quarantine? Has there been any silver lining to spending more time writing and shooting videos, or has it been frustrating?
I would say silver lining. I’ve never been on a tour, but I have some friends who are tour musicians and I know it’s so tiring and exhausting. I can’t wait to do it, but I think this last year has been really nice in that I would go to my grandparents’ house in Utah when they weren’t there with my producer and my boyfriend, who plays guitar well, and we would be there for a week and write three new songs. Then we went for another week a few months later and finished those songs.
Looking at the videos you’ve done for “Punching Bag” and “23,” there’s a surreal aesthetic to them. They’re DIY-ish, but not overly so. Have you always been the type of person to think about how visuals can enhance your records?
I’ve always been very visually creative and have a very strong opinion on what the visuals to the music should be. When I start writing a song, I usually have some sort of concept already popping in my head of what the video should be or what the art should look like. I like to be very involved. For the “Punching Bag” and “23” videos, I bought the tablecloths from Jo-Ann’s the morning before.
Do you find that critics writing about your music have correctly gotten what you are trying to portray with your songs?
Every time I see even a tiny blog tag me on Twitter, I’m like, “Oh my gosh. It’s so exciting.” It’s so new that I haven’t seen anything and been like, “That’s incorrect.” The only thing that was funny is a couple blogs said “L.A. newcomer Wallice,” which I know they mean a newcomer in the industry, but I’m like, “I was born here!” [laughs] But I knew what they meant”.
There are a couple of other interviews that I want to put here. 2021 was such a busy one for Wallice. Her debut E.P. garnered a lot of interest and praise. Her latest single, Wisdom Tooth, was not part of Off the Rails. It makes me wonder whether there will be another E.P. or album this year. NOTION asked Wallice about what comes next, and what it was like (recently) signing to Dirty Hit:
“Wisdom Tooth” has just dropped – a coming-of-age tale that was written the day before your wisdom teeth came out. But the song also has a double meaning about how growing apart from someone can be a necessary form of growth. A lot of your music centres around themes of friendship and growing up – did you always intend to make your music relatable or were these topics you needed to get off your chest for your own personal sake?
I have been with my boyfriend since we were 16 and he is really wonderful– I don’t have too many love life complaints. I do however turn my tumultuous friendships into songs that sound very romantic, like “Punching Bag” and now “Wisdom Tooth”. I wrote this song the day before I got my wisdom teeth out because I was so nervous. The doctor called me in the middle of my writing session and said I would have to get a bone graft because the hole my teeth would be leaving was too big. He didn’t think my jaw would be able to fill it naturally, so they filled the holes with other peoples bone powder which sounded pretty gnarly. I don’t think I set out to necessarily make relatable songs, but I usually make a song based off of a real feeling and expand upon that. I’m so happy that my songs are considered relatable though I think that’s what many lyricists always want.
Before you started releasing music and using writing as a form of catharsis, how did you tend to process emotions and experiences?
I’ve been writing music since I was 13. It started with a boy who didn’t like me back in middle school. I’ve played various instruments since I was six, and I think even instrumental music is so expressive and has that same catharsis that comes with writing lyrics and songwriting in general. I don’t necessarily remember a time where I wish I had an outlet for my emotions because I’ve always had music in my life. I also always grew up with my mom being a hobby painter or ceramicist, so art was in my house from a young age. I’ll always be grateful for that upbringing”.
You’ve recently signed to Dirty Hit – that must have been such a big bucket list goal ticked off! How did you know Dirty Hit was the right home for your music and for you as an artist?
I think every artist has the dream of signing to a label when they are young/first realize that they want to be a musician – maybe before they even know what “signing a record deal” means. The music industry is very hard to break into because there’s not one specific path that guarantees success, and every working artist has reach their success in a different way. Approaching being an artist can seem daunting and it’s hard to know where to start. I’m so grateful to have found Dirty Hit as my home – I had quite a few meetings with some wonderful people at different labels, but everyone I met at Dirty Hit was so cool and everything they stand for as a label aligns with my own business values. They are an indie label that I feel really puts their artists first. I also have loved the artists that they work with for years now, so it’s so exciting to be a part of their team.
You’re playing at The Great Escape next year in Brighton. What can people expect from your set and what kind of energy do you like to bring to your gigs?
I’m so excited to play The Great Escape! I just played my first festival this month, and I would say it was my best show yet. I try to bring a lot of energy onstage even though it leaves me out of breath singing by the last song. I’m currently working on my second EP which is almost done, and I’m so excited to play these songs live. They have so much energy and are my favourite songs I’ve made so far. My bandmates are some of my best friends, and it’s so fun performing with them on stage. I hope that energy translates to the crowd. I also just recently went to England for the first time and I had an amazing time – I can’t wait to go back next year!!
Which artists shaped your sound back then? Who are you most influenced by now?
I feel like my music taste hasn’t changed much since I was in high school. I listened to mostly Dr. Dog, Radiohead, and a lot of jazz standards and bossa nova. Slightly more recent additions and big influences on me are Japanese Breakfast, The Drums, Big Thief, Sam Evian, and Mitski.
What’s next? Are you working on an album or EP at the moment?
Currently working on my second EP with marinelli which we’re finishing up by the time I go on tour in January! I’m so excited for this new EP, I think it has so much energy. There’s one song in particular I can’t wait to release and make a video for. It’s my favorite song I’ve ever written”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Lily Craigen
It does seem, as an artist, things have come together pretty naturally and quickly for Wallice. Her songs on Off the Rails sound like they come from an artist who has been writing and recording for a lot longer. The most important thing for every artist is performing live and connecting with the fans in the flesh. This is something that was raised in an interview with The Forty-Five from late last year:
“Aside from that traumatic tooth extraction, Wallice’s 23rd year has had its other trials – including getting used to the unpredictable nature of life on the road. Given the pause on live music over the last couple of years, she only just played her debut shows last month, supporting Chloe Moriondo at five dates in California and Arizona. “It was so fun, but at the first show in San Francisco, I finished my set and got off the stage and just wanted to cry because I felt terrible,” she says, citing bad sound and feeling like she could have performed better as reasons behind her dissatisfaction. “But after so many people came up to me who didn’t know me and had come to see Chloe and were like, ‘That was so good!’”
Playing live has given Wallice the chance to envision the fanbase she’s been building recently in real life for the first time: “I see graphs and numbers and Spotify data and I can’t even imagine seeing those numbers [in front of me] – I feel like they wouldn’t even fill a room, but then my managers are like, ‘It literally would fill this venue’. I’m just like, ‘No, that’s crazy!’ But at my last show in Phoenix, the whole front row was singing along – I was like, ‘How do they even know who I am?!’”
Songwriting might take a little more brainpower to get right, but Wallice isn’t exactly struggling when it comes to making great songs you want to dance around and shout along to. ‘Off The Rails’ proved she had the Midas touch when it comes to encapsulating young adulthood in rushing earworms, while her second EP – which will arrive next year – will add more strings to her bow.
“Not that I have reached fame at all, but it’s [about] acting like you’re a big shot and checking your ego and stuff,” she says of the themes that run through the songs she’s written for it so far. “One of them is my favourite song I’ve ever written, called ‘Funeral’. It’s talking about being at your own funeral. One of the lines is ‘The crowd’s gonna lose control’ – it’s like you’re playing a show at your own funeral. A lot of the songs go along with that [theme] of feeling more important than you are.”
Although she seems destined to actually be quite important indeed, Wallice is too grounded to get carried away with the praise and attention that comes with being a certified rising star. Her main focus for the next few years is making sure everything she puts out is something she’s proud of, rather than trying to capitalise on momentum or chase trends. “The word ‘authentic’ is really cringe, but it has to be used here,” she says with a self-deprecating eye roll. “It’s so pretentious, but I just wanna stay authentic to my craft”.
An artist that I have a lot of respect for, Wallice is going to have another massive year. I hope that she is able to tour and bring her music to the U.K. After a 2021 which saw a debut E.P. and some excellent singles, a lot of new fans have come her way. Given the popularity Wallice has accrued and the natural talent she has, we are going to hear music from her for…
A lot longer yet.
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