In the soulful melodies of her latest single, “Waiting,” California-based artist CALYN weaves a narrative that transcends the confines of conventional love songs. With a raw and relatable story about the emotional rollercoaster of a breakup, CALYN invites listeners into the complex world of heartache and self-discovery. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the artistic process behind “Waiting,” exploring the inspiration, challenges, and revelations that shaped CALYN ‘s musical creation.
1. “Waiting” arouses a rich emotional landscape. If you could choose a visual artist to create an album cover based solely on the mood of the song, who would it be and why?
If I could choose any visual artist to create my cover art for “Waiting,” solely based on the mood, I would have to say Billie Eilish. I know her specialty isn’t necessarily visual art, but I think she would be perfect for the job being that she has done exactly that for some of her own cover art.
2. Music can often serve as a time capsule. Looking ahead, what do you think will remind you of the era when you wrote “Waiting,” and what stories might you tell about it in 10 years?
I’m not sure if I can pinpoint something specific that might remind me of the era that I wrote “Waiting”. I’m sure I’ll have a lot to say about it in 10 years, simply because I feel like “Waiting” is going to act as a checkpoint in my career.
3. If “Waiting” could be translated into another form of artistic expression, such as dance or film, what might that look like, and who would you love to collaborate with to make it happen?
If “Waiting” could be translated into another form of artistic expression, it would probably be a corny sad/rom-com movie you would find on Netflix. I’m sure the intention was for me to say a director or writer of some sort when asking me who I’d love to collaborate with, but I’m for sure going to have to say my sister.
4. If your songs could collectively symbolize elements of nature, which element would you assign to “Waiting” and how does it embody the characteristics of that element?
If my songs could collectively symbolize elements of nature, “Waiting” would have to be either water or space. There’s no specific reason as to why that is, other than the fact that it just feels that way when I listen to it.
5. Can you tell us about a particular moment or turning point during the creation of “Waiting” when you felt a shift in your artistic approach or a deepening in your personal narrative?
Being that “Waiting” wasn’t written in one session, throughout the whole creative process I had a few shifts in my approach. Lyrically, it kinda went back and forth between a sad love song and a sort of “moved on” song.
6. What philosophies or mantras do you hold onto for motivation, especially during moments of doubt or creative challenges?
Having doubtful moments is definitely not uncommon when you’re an artist trying to make a way for yourself. To hold onto that motivation, I usually try to remind myself of the goals I have accomplished so far, rather than the ones I haven’t.
7. If you could go on a musical retreat to any place in the world to gather inspiration for your next project, where would you choose and what elements of that place do you think would seep into your songwriting?
I think if I could go on a musical retreat to any place in the world, I would go to Fiji. I imagine the environment to provide such a strong sense of peace. I would hope that being somewhere so slow-paced would allow me to slow down and appreciate all of the good in a project before highlighting the bad.
As CALYN continues to carve her path in the music industry, “Waiting” stands as a testament to her ability to capture the essence of human emotions and translate them into a musical experience that resonates deeply with audiences worldwide.