Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Crawdad Coolers

Raise a Little Hell is the current Crawdad Coolers project — a high-energy blend of New Orleans brass band fire, zydeco groove, swamp blues, and outlaw Southern storytelling. Built on second-line rhythm, horn-driven arrangements, and raw performance energy, the project is designed to feel like a live show captured on record.

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

My earliest memory of music is tied to rhythm and live sound — horns, drums, and street-level energy that felt like it was part of everyday life. It wasn’t something separate or formal; it was just there, shaping the atmosphere around me.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

I’ve been writing lyrics since I was about 16. Over the years, like a lot of artists, I spent time trying to find my niche. Early on, I was writing things I liked, but I also found myself trying to write what I thought other people wanted to hear — or what I thought would fit what was on the radio at the time, across different genres.

In the last five years, that has shifted. I started writing more exclusively around the city I love, New Orleans, and everything clicked. Instead of trying to fit in with a format, I started writing for myself and for the culture that inspired me. That’s when it really took off creatively.

Now, I feel like there’s a piece of me in every song — not as an idea, but as lived experience, energy, and perspective.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

Raise a Little Hell came out of a creative shift during the development of an earlier project. As the material evolved, some songs naturally pushed in a more unfiltered, high-energy direction. Instead of forcing everything into one concept, the decision was made to let it stand on its own as a separate project with its own identity.

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

New Orleans brass band energy meets swamp blues, zydeco groove, and outlaw Southern attitude. It’s rhythmic, horn-driven, and built for movement — music that feels alive and rooted in storytelling.

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

If the groove isn’t right, nothing else matters. Feel always comes before perfection, and the rhythm must lead everything else in the arrangement.

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

Live instrumentation is at the core — horns, accordion, bass, and percussion-driven rhythm. The focus is always on capturing performance energy rather than over-processing the sound.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

I tend to gravitate toward independent artists who keep roots music alive in a modern way — people who prioritize rhythm, storytelling, and live energy over trends.

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

Everything comes from lived experience, observation, and culture. The humor, grit, and celebration in the music reflect real moments and Southern storytelling traditions.

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

I want listeners to feel energy, movement, and connection. Even when the songs are playful or gritty, there’s always a human heartbeat underneath it.

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

Authenticity always wins. You can’t fake rhythm or emotion — people feel it immediately when it’s real.

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

Any stage that celebrates live roots music and high-energy performance. Festivals built around blues, jazz, zydeco, and Southern culture are the natural fit.

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

Someone who understands rhythm and storytelling at a deep level — artists who can bridge tradition and innovation while keeping the music alive and evolving.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music?

Streaming Link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0aeKiRdOP3Ti3AKVdr6nO5

Artist: Crawdad Coolers
Producer: William “Mr. Big” Zambrana
Current Project: Raise a Little Hell

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

The goal is to keep expanding the Crawdad Coolers sound Each project is meant to feel like an experience, not just a release.

Looking ahead, there is also development underway on a Halloween-themed project called Voodoo Blues — a Southern gothic concept built around swamp folklore, voodoo imagery, and haunted Gulf Coast storytelling, continuing the evolution of the sound in a darker, cinematic direction.

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

That Crawdad Coolers isn’t confined to one sound or mood. The project moves between celebration, grit, humor, and Southern gothic storytelling — but always stays rooted in rhythm, character, and energy.