You can tell everything you need to know about the music of Maddy Ellwanger from her press images. Everything she goes for in her dense, multi-layered albums is there, from leery, Gonzo weirdness, to a peculiar mix of nostalgic innocence and the lingering, ever-so-subtle taste of darkness. Records like Hunny, her latest, are like tonally complicated, succulent little things, as invigoratingly discombobulated as a full-on bout of the ‘Macarena’ going down at a Swinger’s Club.
Not, mind you, that this is all some kind of alluringly odd distraction for Ellwanger. “I honestly always knew,” she says, when pressed to reveal when the call to be an artist first lured her in. “There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be a full-time musician.”
Watch the clip for ‘Hunny’ by Maddy Ellwanger below
Did you grow up in a very musical household?
Maddy Ellwanger: It wasn’t an overly musical household when I was really young … I remember my mom singing every second she could get the chance – she still does – and my dad playing guitar occasionally, but to me it never felt like an overwhelming amount of music at all times. It wasn’t until I really started becoming interested in music when I was around nine or 10 years old that I remember it changed drastically. Next thing you know, it felt like we were constantly getting new instruments and microphones and music equipment. As the years went on, the amount of things having to do with music would double and triple – and that’s been the main focus in our house ever since.
What was high school like for you? Did you enjoy it?
ME: The best word for me to use to describe my high school experience would be “short”. I actually dropped out when I was 14 to pursue music. I don’t have too many memories, but [those] I do have were pretty bad. I never had a good time in school. Academically I was more than fine – I never got a grade below a B – but socially I was a mess and I had a lot of trouble getting along with people my age.
At what point did you decide that you wanted to become a full-time musician?
ME: It wasn’t necessarily a decision. I honestly always knew. My parents have always supported me in every single thing I do, so I’ve always had a very strong belief in myself. There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be a full-time musician, and that I was capable of being a full-time musician. Luckily, I started playing music and performing so young that I could really learn a lot at a young age and use that to my advantage.
Was Roscoe your first record? How did you find the experience of making it?
ME: Roscoe was technically my first full record. I did have a four song EP come out before that. The experience was definitely very interesting, and frustrating, and confusing. Not only was I writing full songs for the first time, but also teaching myself to play so many new instruments as well as teaching myself how to record for the first time too. I had never used any sort of recording equipment before and had no idea what I was doing [laughs]. I don’t think I’ll ever have a harder time creating a record than I did creating Roscoe.
When you’re writing songs, do you imagine how they might translate to the live environment?
ME: For me when I’m writing songs it’s never planned out: it’s a very go with the flow type thing. I’ve learned over time that I can’t force myself to write a song or have a certain vision before it’s done, otherwise I end up disappointed.
You have a real visual sensibility. Were you interested in movies and filmmaking before you were interested in making music?
ME: I can’t say I’ve ever been attracted to one more than the other; I’ve always just loved anything creative, whether it’s singing, filming, acting, sewing, painting… The list could go on and on. I chose music because it allowed me to do all those things at once. As a musician, I get to do it all.
A song like ‘Loverboy’ is so layered; there’s such density to the sound. Do you fiddle around with songs for a long time before they’re finished?
ME: Recently I do mess around with different sounds a lot more, to a point where it’s probably a little excessive. I’ve become obsessed with layering as many sounds as my recording equipment allows. But every song is different. For example, I wrote my song ‘Hunny’ in under 15 minutes. The lyrics just popped in my head and I ran to my guitar and recorded myself singing. Whereas ‘Loverboy’ took me over a year to write just the lyrics.
How do you know when a record is complete? Is it sometimes hard to let go?
ME: I can’t really explain it. When I know I just know. I really don’t ever get nervous or scared or sad to let go of a record; most of the emotion that went into it is gone by the time it’s ready to come out. If anything, I’m just excited to be done with all the tough work and get to the fun stuff like hearing what people think and performing it.
Hunny, your latest record, has this real edge of melancholy to it. Was that something you had in mind for the project from the outset?
ME: That’s a very good way to describe it. I never have a vision for what I’m writing, I let it happen naturally, so it definitely wasn’t planned, but that’s definitely how it turned out. I was going through a lot when I wrote it and was in a very confusing, odd point in my life which led me to feeling very depressed and melancholy for a good two years.
My true emotions come out through my music and my art, and it’s hard for me to hide. If I’m feeling sad I’m gonna sing sad. I haven’t written anything in a very long time, but I think it’s because I’ve been pretty happy recently and I don’t think I’ve ever written a happy song before. So as much as I’d love to I’m not sure where to even start?
What was the last great movie you watched?
ME: Killer Klowns From Outer Space. I’ve seen it a billion times.
Tell me something you’ve never told an interviewer before.
ME: I hate pizza with a burning passion and no matter how many people hate me for it I refuse to feel bad about it.
Hunny is out now.
