Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I grew up in Minneapolis, MN and started playing guitar young. My dad was into music and played a lot of good stuff around the house and in the car that I got into. Minneapolis has a pretty rich music scene and has been home to some of the greats like Bob Dylan, Paul Westerberg, Craig Finn, Husker Du, and more recently Adrianne Lenker from Big Thief. I started playing in bands when I was about 13 and have been writing and performing ever since.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: Always self-taught.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Taupe’?
A: I spent most of my life playing in hardcore and post punk bands. Taupe was the first attempt at something different, but I think some of those influences still show up from time to time. I think there were a few different songwriters that I can point to as being the main influences for Taupe. I was always a big Pedro the Lion fan and liked David Bazan’s solo stuff a lot. He has always been a fantastic songwriter but I really dug his 2016 record ‘Blanco’. I think that record is his finest lyrically and I liked his experimentation with synths and big ambient parts. That same year, Andy Shauf released ‘The Party’. I still listen to that record probably once per month. I was amazed by his ability to put together a concept record about something as simple as a party and have it completely captivate me. Different songs shine light on different characters and the songs weave together and reference themselves in a really cool way. Big Thief, who is maybe the band’s biggest influence, released their first record in 2016. It was their next record ‘Capacity’ that really pushed me into superfan territory. I think I view Big Thief as many viewed The Beatles in the 60’s. I think everything they have released has been near perfect. Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek both have solo records that are great, and they frequently feature Mat Davidson on pedal steel, vocals, and fiddle – he’s released several records under the name “Twain” that have also influenced our stuff.
It took a long time to come up with a name for the band. I’ve always found that to be a particularly difficult part of making music. I landed on Taupe because I wanted the songs to be, at their core, stripped down, well written songs. I knew I wanted to add a lot of layers of guitar and effects, but I also hoped they would work with nothing but an acoustic guitar. Taupe is a color that you could paint a wall if you wanted to add other elements like art, curtains, interesting furniture, etc. It is a color that is easily complemented with accents and that matched what I wanted out of our songs.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘In the Gloaming’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Not exactly. The songs were written during a time where I felt especially down and I think they all convey that in a certain way, but there is no broader story line. I’ve always been fascinated with concept albums and I would love to write one someday, but it is difficult because you are restricting yourself from the start. I think a lot about where songs come from – sometimes I’ll pick up a guitar and just play a lick that is perfect for a song or wake up with a line of lyrics out of nowhere. I imagine writing a full concept album would be so difficult because those little thoughts or ideas that appear out of nowhere would have to be cohesive throughout the whole album. Maybe someday!
Q: Can we expect an album from you in the near future?
A: Yes – we actually have demos nearly done for the album and will be recording it in March 2023. It’s a full length record and will feature a lot of different instruments and sounds.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I sort of mentioned this before, but I think our goal has been to have well written folk songs that are added to with interesting layers. The band jokes that my lyrics are all about natural wine and California native plants. They aren’t exactly wrong… but most of the lyrics are centered around existential questions and life and experience. I also tend to make the lyrics intentionally hard to interpret. Sometimes I’ll use metaphors that are maybe a bit of stretch or something I think others won’t really pick up. I like to let the audience interpret the lyrics however they want, because who cares what I meant if you can find something meaningful in them.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: This is a good question and one I often ponder. I think art should be about individual expression. Expression is always shaped by influence and I think in this world or at least in this country it’s easy to be influenced by things that have nothing to do with art. I think that when one begins to expect a specific result from their work, they immediately begin to consider how their work will be perceived. They want it to be perceived in a certain way, therefore they shape the work to attempt to get the result they want. I’m not saying that this outcome is always a negative one, but I would rather put my focus on putting something out that is exactly in-line with what I want to be putting out. This may be an impossible task but I try to keep it in mind with my work. I don’t expect to be able to make music full time – I have some friends that do, but none that are making the art they want to make. I’d rather keep working my 9-5 and put out records that I’m proud of.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: As I mentioned earlier, I have no idea where songs come from. With ‘In the Gloaming” Some songs started musically and some lyrically. There wasn’t a template I followed. I wrote them mostly on an acoustic guitar, then worked with a couple of friends that did drums and bass. Once we had the acoustic guitar, drums, and bass done, I started layering with guitars and effects. I was listening to a lot of George Harrison while I was writing the leads. On ‘All Things Must Pass’ He uses this cool warbly harmony effect on several songs. I was able to get a tone that was reminiscent of that and used it on the leads throughout the whole EP.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I think what’s most difficult is sticking to a project. I’ve been in many bands to this point in my life and sometimes I think about where I’d be if I had just stuck with one. I tend to get deep into different styles of music and then feel the need to start a new band since my influences change. I think that with Taupe I’ve hit something that I can mold overtime as my influences change.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: It just felt great to release a finished EP. I’ve released a few records now throughout my life and it’s just so satisfying to see it come together. I also feel that ‘In the Gloaming’ turned out exactly the way I wanted it to. Listening to the masters for the first time was so exciting and gratifying.
