Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with O’Carmody

O’Carmody is the solo project that I began with the sole purpose of
experimenting with production and song writing ideas devoid of the
input or pressure of others. I believe a primary function of music is
to connect people; to bridge gaps and foster human unity. I play in 2
other bands; Ghosty, an indie pop band, and Rosary, a metal band.
Contributing to and experiencing collaborative creation in those bands
is extremely fulfilling and I believe begets better art than what I
can create alone. However, having the space to create alone,
experiment, and nurture my personal relationship with music has been
instrumental in my individual growth and sense of fulfillment.

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

My earliest memory connected to music is hearing my parents sing
jingles they would make up for my sister and I. They were mostly just
for entertainment/ fun however one was created to help my sister and I
remember our address at a young age and it was very effective!

How did your passion for creating music begin?

I started playing guitar at 9 years old and as soon as I began to
learn how to play the music I loved, I remember wishing so badly I
could write/create my own. I attended college as a guitar major and a
big part of my curriculum was writing instrumental tracks. This got me
more interested in engineering/production which also lead to a
heightened interest in song writing. As soon as I started writing
music for the bands I was a part of in college, I knew I never wanted
to stop creating music. I also began recording and producing for bands
and artists other than my own projects. The connectivity and
inspiration of working with other artists further stoked my passion
for recording and production.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

I wanted to make selfish music. I felt like I needed a personal outlet
apart from my other bands and the music I began writing alone was a
bit more esoteric and experimental than what would fit with the other
projects I’m involved in.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your
music before?

I’d maybe just say it’s a chill vibe and sometimes a little
melodramatic. Another whiney white boy indie project. I feel like for
O’carmody, there really isn’t an established “sound”. And I’m not sure
there ever will be. My tastes and influences are ever multiplying and
changing. Because of that, I’m not sure if I will ever land on a
particular style. O’carmody songs are birthed from various sparks; a
new piece of gear I’ve acquired, a life event, and pestering thought,
a sound I heard from someone else that I’m trying to replicate but
inevitably fail at and land somewhere else. I think because of that,
it may never feel distinct, and I’m ok with that.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

When I learned that people were making records in their
house/bedrooms, and they were excellent, I think that fundamentally
shifted my perspective of how attainable it would be for me to do the
same. Recording my own music felt like such a distant goal but
realizing I could do it myself, cheaper and better, it was empowering.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

I think having a dedicated room to create in has been most key for the
development of my creative process. That “room” has almost always
doubled as my bedroom, but for creating healthy habits and knowing I
have a place to go and record an idea when it strikes, that dedicated
area of creation has been essential. A computer that can handle a
billion tracks and a ton of processing on each of those tracks is
essential too. I use way too many tracks and plugins through my
writing, demoing, and ultimately mixing/mastering processes. People
have tried to make me feel bad about that. Like I’m “less than” cause
I can’t get something done with less. I do not care. It’s a means to
an end and that’s how I like to do it. It’s my ram and processing;
I’ll use it however I want 🙂 That being said, my DAW of choice is
Logic. I like that it’s cheap, relatively intuitive, and has great
stock virtual instruments and plugins.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

ML Buch. Music that makes you feel like you’re taking a bath in a tub
full of Betti Spaghetti, Motorola flip phones, and Windows XP.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

Personal heartbreak, heart-mending, and friendship have been key
players in my writing for O’carmody. Most O’carmody songs are just a
personal reflection on such events in my life and instead of telling
the story of what happened and how, O’carmody is a look inward. It’s
my own humble little platform of processing. Some of the music
manifests as serious and contemplative, some of it silly, nihilistic,
or sarcastic. I think that accurately represents how I feel about my
personal experiences on a day to day basis.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I want listeners’ main take away to be that anyone can do this. I’m
just some guy that chose to do it this way. Find your own way. Bake.
Do someone’s taxes. Draw a little cat. Play a sport. Be a good parent.
Build shit. Break shit. Wear some cool pants. Be expressive in
whatever it is. No one gives a fuck about what you do as much as you
do. You’re probably thinking about it way more deeply than anyone
else. So do it the way that you like. Maybe it’s similar to me and
you’ll make little songs about your feelings. Maybe a lot of other
people will really like it and relate to it. Maybe no one will hear it
at all. It doesn’t really matter. Do it for you and it’ll probably
make you a better person. And in that way you’re doing it for everyone
else too.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Music taught me and is teaching me how to learn. If you’re someone who
seeks large moments of triumph and feeling like you’ve summited some
proverbial mountain, then music is not for you. Loving music is being
damned to endless learning. Peaks and valleys,  yes, but also painful
and numbing plateaus. I take comfort in knowing I’m not special for
experiencing any of that. It’s all growth.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

I’d love to time travel and play Woodstock ’99. They’d hate me. I’d
just come out after Limp Bizkit and be like ‘yo can ya’ll relax?’

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would
it be and why?

I would want to collaborate with Gordon Lightfoot. He just seems like
such a weird dude and I know he’d probably say some crazy stuff that
would make me laugh. We probably would make 0 good songs but I would
not care.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music?

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of
your musical journey?

I’m looking forward to making more music with my bands. I recently
moved as well and I’m looking forward to getting more involved in the
local music scene and making new connections. O’carmody has lain
dormant for a little over a year now. But I’m sure I will put out some
new music soon! I never put too much thought or planning into a
release. I’m mostly just making the music to document various versions
of myself throughout my growth as an artist and releasing it for the
world to have if they want it.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope listeners discovers my care for and attention to details. I
hope they’re inspired to try making music themselves our put their
creative energy towards whatever they may be passionate about.