ANNABELLE CHAIRLEGS

Hi Lindsey, and thanks for taking the time out to speak with us at Musicology.

 What are some of your earliest musical memories, and how did they plot the course of your musical journey that has brought you to where you are today?

Music has always been everywhere in my life. My family loves music, my mom would sing opera at home, my dad would play guitar and sing his favorite songs. Me and my sister would sing and dance for hours on end. I got into songwriting and playing guitar a bit later but I think everything that surrounded me from birth influenced where I am now. It is endless.

Now residing in Austin, Texas, in what ways did your native New Jersey shape your signature sound?

I am not sure in what ways it has influenced my sound as a whole. On the latest album in particular- a lot of the songs take place in New Jersey- I had a lot of fun thinking about how the guitar or drums could sound like a train flying by at the Harrison Path Station or what tone would be best for a drippy ice cream at the Jersey Shore – not just any beach but a beach with some edge and some attitude and so much beauty.

Austin is almost a byword for a vibrant and bustling music scene. Was this a mandatory step in elevating your music by virtue of being surrounded by so much competitively creative talent?

It was not part of the plan at all. I happened to be learning how to play and write, and record as I landed here, and I just ended up staying. Lucky for me to land in such a vibrant and supportive, and fun community for music for real.

Starting with Watermelon Summer, an album that bolted out of the gate. How does it sit with you almost a decade on?

It was a special time writing and recording those songs. While I love those recordings for lots of reasons, I do wonder what they would be like mastered or some maybe even re-recorded. The album isn’t mastered – I had no idea that was a necessary step, so it’s quite quiet. Haha, I don’t have any stems to remix it because it was done on a digital recorder and live mixed, then deleted So yeah, ten years later, I’d love to master it and put it on vinyl and add some bonus recordings!

In The Sad Machine series, these snippets, vignettes and thought experiments were wonderfully accompanied by some drawings and quotes. Can you elaborate on the origins of this project?

The Sad Machine Series has become collections of sad songs I record on my Tascam244. It’s just a little something to share some more intimate recordings from home – Part 2 will be here one of these days!

Can you explain the interaction between your artistic side in terms of art and drawing, and that of your musical side? Where the two areas overlap in a mutually helpful way, and where the two diverge into their separate creative outlets?

I love to create. Sometimes I don’t want to record or sing or play, but I do want to sit outside and write and doodle. I love doing all kinds of projects. It keeps things interesting. It has been so fun to build the world of Annabelle Chairlegs over the years because it allows me to explore so many things and also pushes my self set limits as an artist.  Music video concepts, recording, design, and acting. There have been a lot of times I have had to rely on myself to make things happen with limited resources or funding. I see that now as a blessing. If the intention is there and the desire to do it is there – you can do anything you want if you really want to.

Gotta Be In Love was another incredible album, and for you, what was it that you wanted to explore in this album that you hadn’t in your previous works?

I wanted this album to be intentional. And that is not to say the past ones weren’t- but over the years, the more I have recorded and collaborated, I have learned so much about how to communicate what is wanted and also trusting the vision or the inner voice. Fully approaching the work with more confidence and intention.

There are lowlights and highlights in any career. Can you share a little of both for us and how they were informed by your past and have impacted the way you approach your craft?

There is always so much going on, whether it’s in life, in the world or in the band. A lot of life has happened during my career in music. I think it is important to remind yourself that the lows influence the highs. Every experience is a gift, and there is something there to learn and oftentimes something to write about.

Enter Waking Up, your third LP. Crafting it is as much about expressive, and boundless inventiveness, as it is refinement and a honing of the skills. Where along the spectrum did this album and its making fall?

I am a big, big fan of vulnerability and flying by the seat of my pants. I wouldn’t say a lack of planning is the vibe, as I went into recording this album with 90% of the songs completed. But I do think everything sort of comes and flows and works out if you are focused on the work and what you are trying to say or convey. If you mean everything you do or play or everything you say you can’t go wrong.

Can you detail some of the events and notions that went into the foundations of this record and the songs that reflect those moments?

I recorded an album a few years back, and it didn’t quite feel right. I was reworking some older songs and some newer ones, and I decided to rip that album in half and rebuild both sides. The original album I had done was going to be called Heavy Sleeper and very much existed in a dream world, which this does as well, but with some real life zapped into it and after some new songs and old, re-imagined ones, it became Waking Up.

There is a cheek and eloquent quip to your lyricism. Is this, in part, an outward projection of your global assessment or simply your clever methodology of peering under the societal covers?

I am not sure. I think every song has a different life; they come from different places and experiences. I will say this album in particular IS a bit more cheeky. I wanted to have more fun and not take things so seriously, or as serious as I have in the past. This has a bit more of the sass and sarcasm that is true to me and my experience in real time.

Known for your lively performances, can you explain what it is that you feel you bring to the stage? Does that derive from what you aren’t seeing in other live acts? And how do you specifically try to engage with the audience?

I love performing. I am not sure I can define what goes on or how it compares to other acts. I used to be terrified to sing in front of people or perform in from of people – I was in acting school ( yes, even though I was afraid lol ) and I remember my face turning red and I would tighten up and feel emotional – I wouldn’t even be able to make it through a song or monologue without feeling like I wanted to cry or run away and hide. I spent a lot of time talking about it with my acting professor at the time- I was like, ” Why am I doing this to myself? And I realized I was desperate to do it, but so afraid. He told me to start focusing on what I was saying and who I was talking to in every moment, and that way I would never be thinking about how I suck or how I am afraid or how I will fail. And sure enough, over time, that became my practice. Mean what you say and play what you mean.

What does music give you that nothing else does?

Damn. I think music gives me life. Music has brought me art and expression. It has expanded my world not only internally but externally. I’d have to say it is the one thing that gives everything meaning and purpose. And it is also just pure magic. A combination of sounds can move you to amazing places we don’t fully understand.