Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Sloe Honey
THE RELEASE
Sloe Honey is an artist that emerged from the ethereal confluence of musical influences from the 1980s and 1990s with a mesmerizing trip through time and emotion. Sloe Honey's musical growth can be traced back to her infancy in goth culture and an early love of poetry, which easily moved into producing tunes that mirrored the depths of the soul. She introduced listeners to "sad bastard" music, a genre filled with elements of 90s R&B, hip hop, funk, soul, alternative grunge, and electro-pop, gracing venues from Southern California to Ireland under her prior alias. Though parenthood temporarily slowed her musical endeavors in the 2010s, Sloe Honey's evocative voice made its way onto indie films and television, proving her dedication to the industry.
Take a soul-stirring voyage through Sloe Honey's album 'A Cup of Joe,' which masterfully portrays the highs and lows of a passionate and life-altering romance. From the seductive opening notes of "Stained Glass Masterpiece" to the heartbreaking depths of "Tears In An Uber," this real and unedited musical journey acknowledges the complexity of love and grief with uncompromising honesty. Sloe Honey's distinct vocals and the chronological narration of the album provide a clear picture of a love story that is both profoundly personal and widely relevant, leaving the listener with a profound sense of catharsis and a great appreciation for music's healing ability.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
The first is definitely MY MOTHER. She was a professional singer in a band with my dad and his brother. They did original music and top 40 hits in the 1980’s. Her talent was immeasurable. I learned vocal techniques, a start to honing my unique style, and a beautiful insight into creating and maintaining a good mindset as an artist and performer. I would like to think that her spirit lives on within me, and my voice. She is so dearly loved and missed by everyone who knew her.
The second I would say is TORI AMOS. She was the first artist that gave me the courage to even consider pursuing my dreams as a singer / songwriter. She made being vulnerable look so beautiful, interesting and delightfully weird! I was a bonafide “EWF” (Ears With Feet = hardcore Tori fans) and I bought and consumed everything she had to offer; including all the CD singles with her B-sides and collected them like works of art. I followed her up and down the coast of California on her tours. I proudly wore her t-shirt that read, “Start your summer off right, trim your bush”. I’ve learned so many things from her, and her songwriting process that I still use and carry with me today.
And obviously, FIONA APPLE. I still have a lot to learn from her musical genius (though some aspects of her lyricism and musicality, I fear that I will never attain! LOL), but she is literally a hero of mine. Every time she releases an original song, I feel as though she was in my head and sang all the things I could never express. I kind of see her as my avatar! Her bravery and boldness to be herself 100% of the time is definitely the most powerful inspiration for me.
And the last is not a person, but rather, ART as a whole. I am deeply inspired by films, books, paintings, sculptures, graphic art, etc. I love knowing that I’m a part of this collective of creatives that are driven by a desire to express themselves in this manner.
Were there any personal experiences or stories that influenced the creation of the album, and if so, how did they shape the final product?
This album was my intensive therapy session to help me process my emotions in a positive and non-destructive way. I think we all have break-up coping strategies and one of mine is always to write about it, then to sing about it. And for me, especially with this album, it was absolutely necessary to share it with the world. It’s akin to taking my clothes off, and accepting the consequences. It scared me to no end thinking about how this would be received by the person it’s about. But, I think he probably understands that these songs are a mere snapshot of a moment in time. And now that I’ve got these songs “all out of me”, I have reached the stage of acceptance. I’ve moved forward with nothing but love in my heart for this person, and filled with gratitude that we met and shared this experience together.
How did you approach the selection and arrangement of the songs on this project to create a cohesive and impactful listening experience for your audience?
Despite what is usually recommended, the order of the songs on the album are chronological of the relationship. The progression from being caught completely off guard and bewildered by the intensity of my desire for him - to transitioning into the inevitability of our relationship's demise / downfall. For it is said that flames that burn this brightly in the beginning, quickly burn out and cannot be sustained.
If I were to arrange the songs by my personal favorites, it would be a complete reversal (track 5 would be 1, track 4 would be 2, and so on…)!
How do you see this album representing your artistic evolution or progression, and what new elements or techniques did you experiment with during its production?
I wrote the lyrics of these songs, and the bare bones of the melodies very quickly. And then I did something I’ve never done before - I recorded the ideas into my phone and I developed the melodies over the course of a few months. I listened to a lot of 90’s R&B, Contemporary R&B, classic soul, and contemporary soul while I stepped back from my tracks. I thought it was wild that I had never taken this much time and care to develop my initial ideas. When I came up with the first drafts and listened back, I didn’t recognize myself! It didn’t sound like ME. I felt like I was singing someone else’s songs! Even though I was in the thick of my feelings about the subject matter. I realized it was because this genre of music has always been something that I listened to, but never really leaned into while recording previous projects. I thought it was about time that I made a much more heavily influenced soul album.
Can you share any memorable or profound moments from the recording or writing sessions that had a lasting impact on you personally or creatively?
I’d say working with Skyler Hill (sound design, co-production, mixing) and Chris Vazquez (guitars) has been memorable and profound. I felt seen and understood by both of them, and every part of the process was so satisfying and nourishing for my soul.
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