Review Fix chats with Sundae Girl’s Laura Kempton, who discusses the band’s origin, goals and creative process.
Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?
Laura Kempton: The band and I met in college through a Music Art’s program where we studied music theory and the business side of the music industry. Emma (Guitar), Marcus (Guitar), and I were in a group project together and started jamming after class. By the second semester we played our first show. College took on a whole new meaning when we could immediately implement what we were learning directly to the band and watch it grow. Billy and Spencer (Bass & Drums) also went through the same program, just different years.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Kempton: It’s Magic! Well, it all starts with a chord progression that Marcus or Emma brings in. I’ll record it on my phone then sit with it on my own to write the lyrics. I like to describe the lyric writing process as an archaeological dig, sifting through moments in time to create a story. I’ll just start writing and eventually the song’s meaning will reveal itself and I can really tune into what I want to express. The real magic happens when Spencer (Drums) and Billy (Bass) bring their musical ideas to the table and finesse each part. It’s like magic because you can feel the song coming alive the more you work on it, and by the end of the session you have something that has never existed before.
Review Fix: What inspires you?
Kempton: Silence can be inspiring. It allows my inner thoughts to become louder and ideas come to the surface that might otherwise never have a chance. Going for a walk with no phone or music – I have no choice but to entertain myself and just might stumbleupon an original idea.
Review Fix: What does music mean to you?
Kempton: Therapy. A commentary on life. When we get together as a band it’s like “Okay what can we do with all this air around us? Let’s make something by bending sound frequencies.†It’s art that can’t be seen but felt.
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
Kempton: I can compare our sound to bands like Blondie or Metric, it’s pop music but with an underlying rock element. The feel of the music is optimistic and playful.
Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?
Kempton: We take full advantage of getting to play on stage and let it all out. If I’m going to have the attention of a crowd, I want to give the audience my full complete self in all it’s imperfect glory. I have moments while on stage singing, looking into someone’s eyes and knowing that they are completely in the moment with us. It’s a powerful connection.
Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?
Kempton: I used the lyric “faces in your dreams†as a metaphor about being careful who you surround yourself with, because their influence can affect your subconscious for better or worse.
Review Fix: What are your goals for 2021?
Kempton: We had to cancel our first summer tour this year because of COVID-19, so it would be lovely to be able to do the tour we had planned and play festivals again in the future.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Kempton: Making more music! I’ve got a studio set up in my home, so we’re starting to demo our new material. Using what we learned from making our current EP, we’ve dialed into a vibe and grove that we want to bring to our listeners on the next record.
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