In Conversation with Arctic Lake
Photo Credit: Scarlett Casciello
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have a songwriting process?
[EMMA:] Normally, Paul comes to me with a chord progression or a produced idea, and then I’ll go ahead and wail a load of melodies over the top while manically speed typing a bunch of lines that come out of the ether somewhere haha. To be honest, it changes, we don’t have any set rules, we just go with how we’re feeling!
[UNPUBLISHED:] What are you most excited about regarding side by side we lie awake?
[PAUL:] Just to have the songs out in the world! We’ve been holding on to them for what seems like forever so it feels great to finally be able to share them properly. The reaction has been great so far so we’re very pleased!
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have a favorite song off the EP?
[EMMA:] I both love and hate “Hesitate” - I kind of hate it because it still sort of triggers me and makes me emotional which I find frustrating and I’m getting slightly terrified of singing it live, but I love how it turned out. So much pain went into and I think something beautiful and raw came out - Paul nailed the production. It’s definitely my favorite. It took a lot for me to put that stuff into a song and I feel proud that I was able to.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What’s your best memory in the recording studio while you were making a song?
[PAUL:] Any time that Emma cracks out her Gollum impression is a good day, it’s uncanny and I have no idea how such a beautiful singing voice can make such a horrible sound. Also, the 932 swear words that will definitely come out of her mouth while recording anything usually bring a smile to my face.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How has your music style changed since you first started making music?
[PAUL:] We’ve been making some more upbeat and fun songs in the last few years, as well as the slow emotional stuff that has been our bread and butter. That’s been really nice to not only just make a different style of music but also to add to the live side of things and bring some dynamics there that we weren’t previously able to.
Photo Credit: Scarlett Casciello
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you like your music to be left up to interpretation or do you want people to take away a very specific intention when they hear your songs?
[EMMA:] When we first began writing, my lyrical style was definitely more ambiguous, I hated discussing what the songs were about, I felt like it was robbing people are their own interpretation and I guess, fundamentally, I was scared to be open. I’m happy to say that songwriting is a journey and I realized that being vulnerable doesn’t make you weak it makes you brave. Now I think I operate somewhere in-between, I think that balance is important for me and for the listeners.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How do you want people to feel when listening to your new EP?
[PAUL:] Happiness, sadness, and everything in between! The songs are a mixture of heartbroken anthems and more upbeat, joyful numbers from different periods in our lives so hopefully, people can relate to the contrasting emotions that we all feel as we go through life.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Who are some of your favorite artists that have been inspiring you lately?
[EMMA:] I’ve been a big fan of Toro y Moi so I've been rinsing his latest singles - I've quite literally had “The Loop” on loop. Loving the new Yung Lean and FKA Twigs single - Twigs always inspires 100%.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Are there any artists you hope to work with in the future?
[PAUL:] There are loads but I don’t want to jinx it by saying, anyone! I think a Disclosure or Flume track would be great at some point.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What is one question you wished interviewers asked you?
[EMMA:] Something food-related so Paul’s brain cells can explode - it’s his true passion in life, I'm sure the inspiration behind some of the love ballads we've done is secretly about a burger or a katsu curry and his ex is just a cover.
