Los Angeles based dream-folk/bedroom-pop artist Chase McBride is here to prove to that the City of Angels is more than just hard rock and hip hop. In his recently released LP Pink Lemonade, McBride took in his own observations of his surroundings and created a nine-track masterpiece. After having a chance to read our interview with McBride, sit back and relax as you hear his take on the intricacies of Los Angeles life.
The Young Folks: Now that your LP Pink Lemonade has been out for a bit now, how do you feel now that it’s been making its rounds across the internet to new and old listeners?
Chase McBride: It’s always exciting to send a new body of music out into the world. The creative process can feel cyclical and uncertain at times, but pushing yourself to commit to the idea of recorded music being “complete” is a healthy step in the process. I’m proud of this body of music, the dear friends who collaborated on it, and the public reception we’ve had so far.
TYF: I read that much of this LP was a bit inspired by your time in Los Angeles. Was this initially the direction you wanted to go or was it something that just clicked and knew you had to do?
CM: Before I started in on this album in earnest, I was bouncing around Los Angeles writing with various producers and musicians. I hadn’t spent much time in the city prior to those trips, so I was getting a first look at all the overlooked corners that make the city so endearing. I was fascinated with the immense spread of the city and all the different cultures and people that call it home. After watching the documentary “City of Gold” about the revered LA food critic Jonathan Gold, I couldn’t help but indulge some of my attraction to the city through songwriting.
TYF: While observing LA, what are some of the things about the city of dreams you learned by being a fly on the wall?
CM: I think at first blush it’s easy to write LA off as a vanity-center for pretty people chasing their dreams of stardom. But that’s just a small part of the larger population that inhabits the city. There are so many different perspectives coexisting in a massive urban sprawl that it seems like the possibilities for inspiration and growth are endless. It feels like you could spend your whole life trying to understand Los Angeles, and not even get close.
TYF: What experimentation took place in this album versus previous albums you released?
CM: The recording process was a little different with this record, and that’s largely due to the producer Andrew Heringer’s influence. Andrew likes to move fast, and seamlessly jump from instrument to instrument while tracking to allow for a very fluid creative process. We didn’t spend more than a day writing and recording each song, which should give you an idea for the pace of our sessions. Our goal with moving so fast was this “First thought, best thought” mentality where you try to capture the joy of playing something for the first time and hope that the feeling of excitement comes through in the final recorded document.
TYF: How was it teaming up with Andrew Heringer for this?
CM: Andrew is a unique producer in that he’s very good at directing a project without making it feel like he’s influencing the ideas too much. Watching him work with so many different artists, in so many different genres, it’s clear to me that he can fill in the gaps wherever he needs and he has an extremely accurate, extremely versatile ear. He’s a great producer.
TYF: What do you expect or hope listeners to feel like after giving Pink Lemonade a listen?
CM: I hope that people can float away from their lives for a little bit and get lost in some of the imagery of these songs. The intention was to give enough detail, while leaving things just vague enough for people to be able to place their own meanings into the songs. There’s quite a few easter eggs hidden throughout to keep people coming back for multiple listens.
TYF: What are your hopes for the new year?
CM: I’m excited to continue exploring songwriting and musicianship. Between my home in San Francisco, and my regular trips to Los Angeles, I’ve been meeting a lot of musicians and collaborating in new and exciting ways. I just bought a 12-string guitar, and I’ve been stuck on the early Jimmy Buffet albums, so that will likely play into my next project. Onward!
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