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Artist: Surprises

Album: Natural Disaster

Label: Spartan Records

Reason We’re Cranking It: Filled with such palpable hurt and longing that the emotions tied to the songs become just as much yours as they are brainchild Brooks Paschal’s, “Natural Disaster” is a musical middle that is easily relatable to anyone who has ever been jilted, abandoned or overlooked. Flipping the bird is not an act done without an exclamation point to punctuate it either, so spin this middle finger with as much volume – or exclamation – as your desired devices allow.

What The Album Tells Us About Him: Although there are elements of familiarity by way of Paschal’s musical past, this is not Sullivan, the band he has fronted since 2001. The North Carolina-native has taken a more no-holds-barred, raw approach to his songwriting, spitballing a wide range of emotions that feels edge-of-your-seat exciting and almost improvisational. He is shooting from the hip but also straight from the heart.

Track Stuck On Repeat: “El Salvador” has an infectious energy to it that is inescapable. With the crunch of the first chord to the crisp ingress of Paschal’s vocals, this is the most pleasant of surprises by an artist whose namesake implies that they’re coming.

And that means…

With great writing and a chance to be seen by a loyal and loving fanbase, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” is the kind of modern day television that actors are clamoring to be involved in. For Emily Haine, who made her debut as Elspeth in Season 2, that excitement began to build very early on in the auditioning process. Still ecstatic to have been cast in the bingeable Netflix behemoth, the Vancouver native says there’s something special not only about the series but the production itself.

“There’s something in the air on set,” she shared in an exclusive interview with TrunkSpace. “Sometimes fans stand outside the studio gates to catch a feel for it.”

We recently sat down with Haine to discuss the need for a wild streak, eating pistachios with the shell on, and why she’s advocating for more human honesty in midst of the social media age.

TrunkSpace: Season 1 of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” was a huge success, both with fans and critics. Is there an extra surge of personal excitement when you are joining a series with so much buzz behind it?
Haine: (Laughter) Yes! The buzz for me started with casting. ‘Brina auditions bring out the best talent. Seeing my friends turn up, knowing they’re out there when I go into the room, electrifies me. At the end of the day we all want to be part of a show like this with great writing and the potential for being seen. You gotta be a little wild to do this job. I can put all I’ve got into auditions and hear nothing back. But the no’s only make the yes’s that much sweeter. By Satan’s divine intervention this is one of the times they were into it! I’m still freaking out!

TrunkSpace: Although still grounded in reality, the series is one where anything is possible. From an acting standpoint, is it fun getting to arrive on a set where you can do the kinds of things on screen that are inconceivable in real life?
Haine: There’s something in the air on set. Sometimes fans stand outside the studio gates to catch a feel for it. It’s the palpable tension between exhilaration and working long hours. Somehow the mythical, magical and the mystical come to life when we’re filming. I really can’t explain it.

TrunkSpace: Elspeth is a confident, cool as a cucumber character. In terms of her personality, how has she differed from past roles? What has she allowed you to do on camera that you have yet to be able to tackle?
Haine: I see Elspeth’s confidence as her shield. High school can be like a poker game. Don’t show your hand too soon, especially when the dark arts are afoot. There’s so much of Elspeth’s inner life to explore. I’ve never played a witch before – what up witches! What has she allowed me to do? Maybe reanimation… but I’m pretty sure I do that every morning if you know what I mean.

TrunkSpace: Elspeth ages slower than normal people. Is that the kind of power you would ever want to have in real life, because in some ways, it feels like it could eventually… as others around you become old… feel more like a curse?
Haine: In the industry, and societally, we put a ton of unhealthy emphasis on looking young – I’ve been told by previous agents to lie about my age. There are a lot more roles for younger females. For that reason it’s tempting… but I’ve seen enough movies to know that we shouldn’t mess with the natural order of things, so no.

TrunkSpace: For the viewer, the end product is always the most memorable, but for those involved in the project it must go much further than that. What’s the most memorable aspect of getting to work on “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” that you’ll carry with you through the rest of your life and career?
Haine: My biggest take away is the crystallization of certain beliefs I’ve been harboring. That we do create the foundation of our reality with building blocks in our heads. Think it, be it. Be really super clear on what you want and then work hard for it. Take classes, read books, watch Ted talks, do whatever you can to clear the way for your dream to unfold. Believe in yourself more than anything else and you will shine! Fall down, get back up. Keep trying. It wasn’t that long ago that I was a kid dreaming about being an actor. Now I’m an actor dreaming about acting, playing piano, a claymation horror short I want to make…

TrunkSpace: You used to be in a punk band. What’s the most punk thing about you, now, at this stage in your life?
Haine: Well, as an artist you kind of abandon security and normalcy – this job looks bougie but most of us are living paycheck to paycheck for five minutes of screen time. Is that punk? I eat pistachios with the shell.

TrunkSpace: You recently made an announcement on Instagram that you want to be more transparent about your own mental health so as to create a safe sharing space and to help others not feel alone. People are always there to point out the faults of social media, which we totally understand, but its benefits do stretch beyond self-promotion. Could you feel how your declaration helped others, and in return, did their reaching out then help you?
Haine: Thanks for progressing the conversation. I wanted to create a moment that shattered whatever public perception people may have of me and challenge how I see myself. It’s easy to post flattering pictures and I am proud to share my accomplishments with friends, but what’s beyond that? To pretend that we don’t face hard times is delusional. I feen for that type of honesty online, like Jameela Jamil, she’s one of my heroes! Sometimes the best way out of a dark hole is a big jump. I’m so glad I did it. Your stories, messages, DMs, calls and texts revive me. It turned whatever uncomfortable feelings I had about sharing into easily the best thing I’ve done on social. Because of that I’m currently penning a presentation on my personal experience with mental health for a volunteer advocacy speakers position with Mood Disorders Association of BC.

TrunkSpace: We’re suckers for a good banana bread here, and from what we hear, you have the skills to turn those old bananas into a loaf lover’s dream! Just how beyond ripe does the fruit have to be to make the bread the best bread it can be?
Haine: Ripe enough that you wouldn’t eat ‘em.

TrunkSpace: What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
Haine: This moment right now.

TrunkSpace: Time machine question. If you could jump ahead 10 years and get a glimpse of what your career looks like a decade from now, would you take that journey? If not, why?
Haine: What if I’m not happy? Can I change the outcome? If yes, then fire it up! If not, then hellll nah. I’ll come with you to look at your life though if you want! I’ll bring my laser gun. Pew. Pew. ‘Cause it’s the future.

Season 2 of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” is available now on Netflix.

With a steady diet of Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Gram Parsons growing up, Charlie Collins learned early in her life that it was best to write and sing what she was feeling. That lesson by osmosis is apparent all over her full-length debut “Snowpine” (out today on Mirror Music Group), an album that pulls no punches when it comes to personal reflection and lays it all out on the table – ups, downs and all points in between.

“I don’t hold anything back,” the Australian-born singer-songwriter admits in an exclusive interview with TrunkSpace.

We recently sat down with Collins to discuss finding peace within herself, battling inner demons through song, and how her dad helped her to find the truth in music.

TrunkSpace: “Snowpine,” is due out today. What kind of emotions do you juggle with as you gear up to release new material to the masses, particularly in the case of your full-length debut, because for many listeners this will be their first introduction to who you are as an artist?
Collins: The emotions range from ecstatic to nervous. This record is the most honest I have ever been with my music. It talks about from when I started music from the age of 10 up until now and all the heartbreaks, struggles, highs and lows I’ve ventured upon. I do hope it gives the audience more of an understanding of who I am and knowing that I’m raw, broken, real but how I’ve overcome all the challenges that came my way.

TrunkSpace: In sitting down to listen to your music for the first time, what would someone learn about you through the music itself?
Collins: I don’t hold anything back. Like I literally can’t make up a story. Everything you hear is what’s happened/happening in my life. Growing up on country music such as artists like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Gram Parsons taught me how to write what you feel, sing what you’re feeling, because that’s the only way people can truly connect with you.

TrunkSpace: We read that “Snowpine” happened very organically. You found your way back to the guitar after some time away from it and the songs started to work their way out. What do you think was the key to this being the right place/right time for you creatively?
Collins: I think as a person I was ready to tell my story and open up all the suppressed emotions I’ve buried for a long time. I was at a place of peace with myself and who I wanted to be. I had a shit load of stories to tell and a fractured heart to verbalize them through song.

TrunkSpace: There’s a lot of personal reminiscing on the album. Was the creative process a bit of a walk down memory lane for you, and if so, did you end up revisiting things you would have never imagined you’d be discussing publicly?
Collins: For sure. I never thought I would ever be at a place where I could talk about my depression I struggled with for years. I’ve always been quite closed off so to expose that side of me is quite daunting but also liberating. The first track on the record sums up a lot about the inner demons I battled with.

TrunkSpace: What are you most proud of with the album?
Collins: Seriously, everything. I’m proud of the songs, the way it sounds, the way it happened so naturally and the way it captures how I’ve wanted to sound and everything I’ve wanted to say for so long.

TrunkSpace: We enjoyed the storytelling aspect of “Snowpine” and your ability to establish a compelling narrative in the lyrics and their delivery. What do you think the key is to taking the listener on a journey that goes beyond the music itself?
Collins: I really think being honest is key for me. I remember my dad telling me when I was a kid, “The song you’re singing, what does it mean? Tell me what you’re singing about? Do you feel it?” And since then I’ve never shaken that and carry it with me wherever I’m at.

TrunkSpace: Where are you hardest on yourself as an artist?
Collins: I guess never feeling good enough. “Please Let Me Go” is about that. I have a tendency to compare myself to others and feel inadequate among the sea of musical people. BUT I’m getting better at dealing with that. Hence why I didn’t throw my guitar in a fire pit.

TrunkSpace: Is it possible to overthink a song? Can a songwriter tinker so much that the breath of the song – the thing that makes it special – be exhaled?
Collins: That’s one thing I don’t do when it’s me and my guitar in sync with one another. It all comes out at once. I never go back on lyrics because whatever comes out is what I needed to say. As far as recording goes, that’s why I wanted to record live so we were all feeling at the same time without too much thought. There was no right or wrong, just playing what you think the song itself needs to accompany it.

TrunkSpace: Is there a particular feeling you get – a vibe – when a song is officially done?
Collins: FUCK YEAH.

TrunkSpace: Time machine question. If you could jump ahead 10 years and get a glimpse of what your career looks like a decade from now, would you take that journey? If not, why?
Collins: Honestly I don’t ever think about the future but if I did I hope I’m just still making honest music and staying true to who I am no matter where I am or what stage I’m on.

“Snowpine” is available today from Mirror Music Group.

Artist: Rose Hotel

Album: I Will Only Come When It’s A Yes

Reason We’re Cranking It: Alt-country with a splash of dream-pop preciseness, Rose Hotel’s full-length debut is an eclectic collection of tracks that plays like an anthology. While there’s a theme that holds the narrative together, the individual songs all stand on their own, which makes sense given the musical diversity that accompanies frontwoman Jordan Reynolds. With nearly a dozen creative co-conspirators on “I Will Only Come When It’s A Yes,” including members of Material Girls and Palm Sunday, there’s enough artistic energy found among the nine songs to fuel nine more… each with their own atmospheric storytelling perspective.

What The Album Tells Us About Her: Reynolds’ writing doesn’t just establish a tone but also a mood. With the ability to stimulate feelings as opposed to simply expressing them, she has built a world that the listener exists within and has made “I Will Only Come When It’s A Yes” a communal experience.

Track Stuck On Repeat: “Write Home” floats through you, carrying the listener off on a cloud of delicate vocals and a dreamy trumpet that serves as the perfect punctuation to a song destined for replay status.

And that means…

A self-described disciple of British Folk, John Smith’s latest album “Hummingbird” is a stirring mixture of originals and traditional folk songs, some of which date back to the 15^th century. Discovering the genre when he was 16 years old, the UK-based singer-songwriter points to the album’s title track – a song that related everything that he had hoped to through his writing – as the glue that tied the collection together.

“Without that song I suspect my repertoire of folk interpretations would’ve remained untethered,” he said in an exclusive interview with TrunkSpace.

We recently sat down with Smith to discuss laying low creatively, rediscovering his pen, and why every musician should know their instrument.

TrunkSpace: In sitting down to listen to “Hummingbird,” what would someone learn about you through this particular collection of songs, both as a songwriter and as a human?
Smith: That I’m a disciple of British Folk and I enjoy a love song. All of these are love songs in one way or another. From the deep yearning that goes with unconditional surrender to a loved one, to the bloody revenge exacted by scorned lovers.

TrunkSpace: You finished up “Hummingbird” last year. Are you someone who has to take a break from writing after calling wrap on an album to refuel the creative tank, or is there already a future album in the works?
Smith: I tend to lie low for a few months, creatively speaking. There is a lot to be said for taking a breather. However, with an album release you go on tour for at least a solid year, so there’s not an awful lot of time to really concentrate on writing. This time, a few months in to the release, I’m beginning to rediscover my pen. Songs are happening. I’d like to make another record before too long.

TrunkSpace: You’ve been gigging out since you 14 years old. What would 14-year-old John think about the music you are writing and performing today and would he be surprised by where your musical path has lead you thus far?
Smith: I think 14 year-old John would be glad to know that he won’t be a paperboy forever. I was around 16 when I discovered folk music so perhaps my much younger self would be a little vexed at the lack of shredding in my life. At least he could look forward to owning some nice guitars one day.

TrunkSpace: What are you most proud of with “Hummingbird” and how it all came together in the end?
Smith: The title track means a great deal to me. I managed to say what I wanted to in a song, which is harder than you might think. It was the glue that bound the whole collection. Without that song I suspect my repertoire of folk interpretations would’ve remained untethered.

TrunkSpace: You took a lesson from songwriter/producer Joe Henry that the decisions that we make in our careers and life lead us to where we are at any given point. We could have zigged instead of zagged and ended up in a very different place than we’re in right now. How has that life lesson impacted your creative POV and your writing as a whole?
Smith: It has taught me to trust in my writing process and to follow my gut. I have learned to say “No” to people and things, but more importantly, to myself. I trust myself a lot more than I used to. It’s so easy to want to tick every box, to please everyone around you, but it’s not possible. Nowadays I look at a song as an opportunity to say something meaningful, or something that I at least feel the need to express, because I am able to do it a little more confidently than before. Writing a song and being happy with it is definitely a good time.

TrunkSpace: Where are you hardest on yourself as an artist?
Smith: I’m hard on myself in every aspect. If I’m not, I grow lazy. That said, I’m particularly tough on myself when it comes to my playing. I work hard at it. If people are going to pay good money to watch someone play, then I believe the musician had better know their instrument and treat the audience with respect.

TrunkSpace: We love great music, but within great music we are particularly drawn to great lyrical snippets that help paint a narrative. What is a favorite line of yours that you have written in your career and why does it stand out to you?
Smith: I don’t know really. There’s a line in “Hummingbird” I quite like.

“In these times of constant change / I am holding on for you / The one whose affections I still crave / The one my world clings to”

I hope that one or two listeners will know what I’m talking about.

TrunkSpace: Are albums a bit like chapters of your life? Does it start to feel like, “These are my ‘Hummingbird’ years and those were my ‘Great Lakes’ years?”
Smith: Absolutely. All the house moves, romances, moments of flushness and destitution, they all hang around album releases. “Great Lakes” marks a pivotal time in my life. I went from obscurity to being someone who gets played on the radio. “Hummingbird” has been good to me so far – I’ve played around a hundred shows since the album was launched in Europe. I’m really looking forward to the next chapter!

TrunkSpace: Where and when are you the most creatively inspired?
Smith: Inspiration continues to be the least predictable thing in a life of surprises. If a song falls out of the sky with its eye on my notebook, it doesn’t matter where I’m sat, if I’m relaxed or out my mind with stress. It just comes out of nowhere and I have to try and catch it.

TrunkSpace: Time machine question. If you could jump ahead 10 years and get a glimpse of what your career looks like a decade from now, would you take that journey? If not, why?
Smith: I would. It might help me resist the urge to buy the Neon Stratocaster that I know will alter my world forever.

“Hummingbird” is available now on Commoner Records/Thirty Tigers. A full list of tour dates are available here.

Having never expected to spend quite so much time shirtless when he first signed on to play Gary Green of The Time Bureau in “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,”Adam Tsekhman is ecstatic to have been given the opportunity. Originally intended as a three-episode guest star, the Winnipeg native with a love for comedy has reveled in the expanded role, even when things got full on nipple crazy in Season 4. (No nipple spoilers for those who have not yet binged their way through it!)

We recently sat down with Tsekhman to discuss luring unicorns, Biff buzz, and peering into the future of “The Gary Green Chronicles.”

TrunkSpace: What would 10-year-old Adam think about his future self getting to play in the DC universe? Were you a comic fan and has your fanboy self come full circle?
Tsekhman: 10-year-old Adam would LOVE the fact that he gets to play in the DC Universe, however he would probably be a bit sad that he wouldn’t have any superhero powers. But adult Adam loves that he doesn’t have super powers (easier on the knees and hips). I wasn’t really a comic fanboy growing up. I wasn’t into comics growing up, but I was definitely into the comic book movies that sort of started for me with the Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson “Batman.” I loved that movie and I was hooked!

TrunkSpace: As we understand it, your character Gary Green was originally only supposed to appear in a handful of episodes. When did you get a sense that it would become more than that and did that open up the character for you in terms of getting to explore areas of him that you never thought you’d have a chance to when you first signed on?
Tsekhman: I only knew for sure that I would be on the show for three episodes so when they wanted me to be involved in more than that, my excitement levels shot up immeasurably. I was never really certain how often Gary would appear so I was both eager and hopeful to get more chances to play this fabulous character. This season has been particularly fun and challenging in terms of the areas we get to explore. For example, I didn’t expect to be shirtless so often. It’s very freeing! (Laughter) But I do think we will get to see more emotional depth with Gary – while still maintaining his gloriously sunny outlook on life.

TrunkSpace: As far as your own personal journey with the character, what have you enjoyed most about getting to inhabit Gary and see him developed out more and more over time?
Tsekhman: I am naturally drawn to comedy and I get such a joy out of all of the hilarious situations that the writers have created for Gary. The beautiful thing about Legends is that not even the sky is the limit in terms of where this show can go and it’s so much fun getting to read the scripts that our brilliant writers churn out every week. They are the real superheroes of this show!

TrunkSpace: Anything can happen in a world where time travel and super heroes exist. What’s been your biggest “pinch me” moment on set thus far where you had to stop and go, “Wow, this is really my life now”?
Tsekhman: Yeah, I think being topless, holding a pomegranate and luring a unicorn out of the forest would have to be a “pinch me” moment. Also, getting to work this season with Tom Wilson who is immortalized as Biff Tannen has been incredible. He’s a hilarious and amazing guy full of great stories!

TrunkSpace: Do you find that this business subscribes to the old adage of work begets work, and if so, do you see your portrayal of Gary on “Legends of Tomorrow” opening up more doors for you in the future?
Tsekhman: I absolutely agree with that old adage! I certainly hope that Gary does open more doors. Perhaps a spin-off? “The Gary Green Chronicles” or “The Legends of the Time Bureau.” Wouldn’t that be fun? But, seriously, the attention that the show has garnered will hopefully open more doors. I suppose only time will tell.

TrunkSpace: You have a degree in finance from the Wharton School of Business. Was pursuing acting a serious change of gears for you, and if so, did you have to convince yourself that you were making the right choice? How hard was it for you to take the first step on the path you’re currently traveling?
Tsekhman: Yes, I do have a degree in Finance from Wharton and taking that first step was challenging. I had an investment banking job offer from Lehman Brothers that I chose to forgo in order to pursue more creative endeavors. Luckily for me, my parents were very supportive of my decision, which I recognize is very rare and I’m extremely grateful to them. I was so in love with performing at that time that I may have been slightly delusional to think that I could succeed as an actor. Perhaps you have to have these delusions to choose to go into this industry. Who knows? The numbers are certainly scary, many more actors than jobs. You don’t need a finance degree to recognize that.

TrunkSpace: There’s a lot of rejection and self-doubt that comes along with a career in the arts. That said, does the creative space fulfill you personally more than a career in finance could have ever achieved – even if you had reached the pinnacle of success in that industry?
Tsekhman: I certainly think so. That being said, I did enjoy finance as I had the opportunity to learn more about its different areas, such as how to use something like a goldshell kd box to increase my personal finances. But the fulfillment I get from acting and writing is immense. However, I am sure that reaching the pinnacle of the financial world would be quite fulfilling as well. I am biased because I chose this path and I am ecstatic with my choice. But maybe I would have been happy to stay in finance as well because I would be able to learn more about the methods that are working and which aren’t when it comes to guaranteeing financial stability. Which as we all know, is very important. I have friends who wish that I stayed in this industry for longer, as they wanted to get some expert advice if they decided to über BitQT anlegen (Create via BitQT) an account that would let them trade and buy cryptocurrencies to increase their finances. Unfortunately for them, I’m quite happy where I am but this can be easy for them to achieve without my help. Perhaps my positive outlook on life would have brought fulfillment regardless of career choice. At least if I stayed in finance, I would have kept my nipple intact! (Laughter)

TrunkSpace: What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
Tsekhman: “LEGENDS OF TOMORROW,” BABY!

TrunkSpace: Time machine question. If you could jump ahead 10 years and get a glimpse of what your career looks like a decade from now, would you take that journey? If not, why?
Tsekhman: No, I wouldn’t take that jump because it’s the 10-year journey that is the fun part. Knowing the destination would make the journey less fun and it would take away the mystery and hope that comes from this business. You never know what opportunities might come your way tomorrow and seeing what things look like in 10 years might negatively influence your decision making today. Although, jumping 10 years into the future and right onto the set of Season 7 of “The Gary Green Chronicles” would be pretty cool!

Season 4 of “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” is available now on Netflix. Season 5 will return to The CW later this year.

Artist: TK & The Holy Know-Nothings

Album: Arguably OK

Label: Mama Bird Recording Co.

Reason We’re Cranking It: We knew within the first 30 seconds of “Arguably OK” that TK & The Holy Know-Nothings were going to become our go-to summer band of 2019. As far as debuts go, this one checks all of the boxes – thematically relatable, musically satisfying, and vocally compelling as frontman Taylor Kingman sticks a lyrical landing that is somewhere between John J. McCauley of Deer Tick and a twangy Kurt Cobain.

What The Album Tells Us About Them: “Arguably OK” plays like a barroom singalong with your oldest friends filled with highlights that you’ll reminisce about for years to come. This isn’t a band who puts themselves up on pedestals, but instead, writes at the ground level where the rest of us are standing.

Track Stuck On Repeat: “When I wake up I don’t wake up until I’ve crawled inside a coffee cup.” We’re obsessed with that line and the song it lives in, “Emmanuel,” which is a groove about substances that is itself filled with substance. Love it!

And that means…

Artist: Honeyblood

Album: In Plain Sight

Label: Marathon Artists

Reason We’re Cranking It: Spring springs anew, which is fitting for Honeyblood as various changes mark the band’s latest album, “In Plain Sight.” No longer a duo, Stina Tweeddale is going it alone and doing so with a renewed interest in exploration. Genre-bending, the album mixes in flavors from the past, present and future of music, but still manages to work as a cohesive collection.

What The Album Tells Us About Her: Sure, two heads can be better than one, but when it comes to artistic expression, Tweeddale proves that the quantity of minds doesn’t always impact the quality of the creative point of view. With a clear direction, she has turned the page on a new and exciting chapter, making Honeyblood her own but never turning her back on what – and who – came before.

Track Stuck On Repeat: With a 1960s R&B vibe, “The Third Degree” is doo wop for the digital age. The most sonically unique song on the album, it’s not necessarily a diamond in the rough because “In Plain Sight” is as polished as a big screen blockbuster, but it’s a standout due to its singular specificness.

And that means…

Artist: The Great Palumbo

Socials: Twitter/Instagram/Facebook

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Members: Peter Campbell, Harrison Hall, Will Stevens

TrunkSpace: TrunkSpace premiered your latest single, “World is Wide,” a day before it officially dropped on April 26. What kind of emotions do you juggle with as you release new music to the masses?
Campbell: It always gives me anxiety. I’m a pretty anxious person anyway, so that is definitely heightened during the run up to a release. But, by the time the release actually happens, the song is what it is. I’m proud of and believe in every song we release (otherwise we wouldn’t release them), so I just try to focus on what I can control. And the validation of seeing something go out into the world that has just been sitting in my Google Drive for eons feels really good.

TrunkSpace: Is it difficult to avoid assigning expectations to singles and/or albums? How do you separate the creative from a desire to capture as big of an audience for the art as possible?
Campbell: It’s been difficult in the past, but it’s getting easier. In the end, all you can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other and appreciate the small victories as they come to you.

There’s a saying I hear around the songwriting world. “Don’t write for anyone; write for

someone.” I think about this a lot.

Yeah, I want to capture as big an audience as possible, but in writing, I think it’s important to put the blinders on. Be yourself. Be real. Be specific. Be vulnerable. Not every song will resonate with every person, but trying to write what you think people around you want to hear is a great way to make sure your writing doesn’t resonate with anyone. All you can do is pour yourself into each song, and have faith that you’re not the only person who feels the way you do. Because you definitely are not.

So when it comes time to release the song, all you can do is put it out and hope for the best. If it was written from a real place, it will find an audience.

TrunkSpace: “World is Wide” is from your forthcoming EP, “Into the Dark,” which is set to be released on June 7. What did you hope to accomplish with the EP as a whole, and now that you’re in the final stretch of seeing it all come together, do you feel comfortable that you accomplished those goals?
Campbell: There’s a lot that I hoped for, but the only hard-set goal for this EP is to establish a “basecamp” for this project. This is our first set of releases, so prior to this, we were in sort of a pre-existence. Just being on the map with something that we can be proud of is huge. And even though it’s not June 7 yet, I already feel like this is something that is being accomplished.

TrunkSpace: What are you most proud of with the upcoming EP?
Campbell: The run up to this EP was LONG. I relocated to Nashville to officially start this project a little more than three years ago, and in that time I have had to work through a lot. Relocation carries with it inherent challenges already (money, community, etc.), but also, plugging into Nashville’s music scene doesn’t happen overnight when you’re starting from scratch. I have learned SO much since being here, and seeing this project come to fruition after all that time is extremely validating. Bringing it to life took a lot more time, money, and work than I ever imagined, but now that we’re here, I feel proud to have stuck with it and followed through on this vision. It’s been an empowering experience, and I feel poised to build this project into something really cool.

TrunkSpace: The seed of The Great Palumbo was first planted in Hanoi, Vietnam. Would the band exist today if not for that personal and creative journey? Would your artistic path have been dramatically different?
Campbell: Hm, good question. It would definitely exist… but it would be different, because I would be different.

This is not to say that I became a different person than I would have otherwise been, but I feel like I’m a lot further down that path today than I would have been if I had stayed at home. I’m a big advocate for people living in foreign cultures for extended periods of time because it massively accelerates personal growth. I have a lot to say about this but I’ll do my best to stay on topic…

So – to bring this back to music – my stylistic sensibilities have definitely gotten to be more eclectic through my travels, but that’s surface-level. To delve a bit deeper, I don’t think I started to seriously do business with who I am and how I related to the world around me until Hanoi.

This process is still ongoing for me, and it heavily informs my writing. There is definitely some unpacking of this stuff on the EP, especially around the themes of spirituality and belonging.

TrunkSpace: The band is currently based out of Nashville. For decades it has been a city associated with country music, but there is so much happening there right now that it has become a genre melting pop. What is it like creating in such a creatively rich city? Does that energy feed your own drive?
Campbell: Oh man, I could gush about this for hours. You’re right, Nashville has traditionally been “the mothership” for country music, but there’s SO much more going on here now than just that. The amount that is happening in this city on any given day of the week is staggering. This is a place that punches well above its weight class.

As a musician, moving here can be a bit overwhelming. The level of talent here is off the charts, so it can definitely be intimidating at times, but it also forces you to constantly be growing and improving. Now that I’ve got my feet under me, my day to day is really exciting when I’m fully engaged with what is happening here. It’s a really special community of people, and this talent pool has had a profound impact on this project already. The level of musicianship and professionalism that has been poured into this project already has been really humbling, and we’re excited to be pushing deeper as we move forward!

TrunkSpace: What do you get being in a band that you couldn’t achieve in a solo capacity?
Campbell: This is an interesting question. The further into this I get, the more I realize that it takes a village. Even artists that are “solo” on paper, often have teams of people working with them that can closely resemble what many might call a “band.” There really aren’t many artists that are truly solo, and being one of them was never something I really aspired to.

One big thing I personally get out of it is a sense community and camaraderie. It feels good to be a part of a team. But more to the point, this is not a project that is reflective of the talents of just one person. Even from the outset, it was clear that some form of collaboration was always going to be part of the deal, so it was important to me that the project be structured in a way that was reflective of that, and would accommodate some evolution through time.

TrunkSpace: We talked briefly at the start of the conversation about finding a balance between the creative and the commercial. What are your long-term hopes for the band? What is the best best case scenario for The Great Palumbo?
Campbell: Of course I want this project to be rewarding, profitable, etc., for everybody involved, but ultimately that was always going to be a secondary goal.

The best case scenario is that the music we are making connects with tons of people all over the world, and we get to travel to share that music with them and see the impact of what we are doing in real life. That connection is where it all needs to start and what it all need to come back to.

TrunkSpace: What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
Campbell: Being an independent artist is funny because sometimes it feels like 95 percent of what you have to do to get your project off the ground doesn’t have much to do with your art. It’s mostly repetitive, administrative, financial, logistical, etc. Some people love the nuts and bolts of this world, but for me, it’s all worth it for the magic that happens the other five percent of the time. Late nights in the studio, creating something from nothing, breathing life into ideas and feeling how those ideas connect everybody in the room. This will always be the highlight for me.

TrunkSpace: Time machine question. If you could jump ahead 10 years and get a glimpse of what your career looks like a decade from now, would you take that journey? If not, why?
Campbell: Oh for sure. If the information is available, I want it in my brain.

Artist: Amyl and The Sniffers

Album: Amyl and The Sniffers

Label: ATO Records

Reason We’re Cranking It: Perfectly positioned somewhere between the grit of ’70s punk and the grime of early Guns N’ Roses, Amyl and The Sniffers’ full-length debut packs a pace-the-room punch, forcing the listener to his or feet for an anytime, anywhere magical mosh pit moment. We only wish that we hadn’t been holding a fresh cup of coffee when we started listening to the album because now we have a mess to clean up.

What The Album Tells Us About Them: Like many great rock ‘n’ roll bands to come before them, part of the appeal of the Aussie entertainers is the can’t-look-away-charisma of its lead singer. Amy Taylor is a stick of dynamite who could explode at any moment, so don’t look away or you might miss the best part. That’s not something you can fake, and whatever that “it” factor is, she has more than enough to go around.

Track Stuck On Repeat: Not only is “Gacked On Anger” our favorite name for a song, but it’s also our favorite track off of the debut. Clocking in at a brisk 1:49, you can listen to it a half-dozen times through in the same time it takes you to clean up one cup of spilled coffee. (See above.)

And that means…