Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with school portraits

This is Cal (CC) and Tess (TC) from School Portraits.

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

CC: Listening to Enema Of The State on a plane to Florida.

TC: Playing music quiz game on my iPod.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

CC: When I learned guitar the summer between 8th grade and high school.

TC: Trying to write songs in my diary.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

We started at the beginning of the Covid pandemic in 2020. Siblings at home with nothing to do, we decided to record an acoustic song. Then we figured we should make it an EP. Then we wanted to do more.

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

CC: Like swimming in salt water, air drying and then going to eat lunch with your friends on a summer afternoon.

TC: Like looking through a box of old photos.

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

CC: How to layer parts and make distinctive choruses. Striving closer to pop song formula.

TC: If it sticks with you, do it. Don’t overcomplicate – follow what’s memorable to you.

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

CC: Guitars, cheap mics, GarageBand. Demoing ideas and re recording them.

TC: The notes app and voice memos.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

CC: Dazy

TC: Audrey Hobert 110% of the time (in my pop era)

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

We draw from where we grew up, Cape Cod, a lot. It’s beachy, beautiful, but seasonal. We drive around a lot listening to music.

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

I hope you feel warm and cozy.

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

To keep trying.

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

CC: The Woodshed Cape Cod, MA

TC: Fenway Park

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

CC: Graham Hunt

TC: Taylor

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

https://schoolportraits.bandcamp.com

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/school-portraits/1511026650

https://www.instagram.com/schoolportraitsband

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

To play shows and make another record.

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

That we’re just siblings having fun making music together.

Thank you so much!! -SP