A Dirty Dozen with CA NEWCOMB from LURID PURPLE FLOWERS – April 2023

According to a recent press release: “Fueled by dizzying song structure and unfettered, turbocharged orchestrations that mirror the uncertainty of questioning what surrounding you is real, “Undone” zooms in on the effects that panic attacks can have. Followings the message of isolation, mistreatment, and damage that we accrue from the pressures of day-to-day life previously delivered on “Mania” and “No Sympathy,” Lurid Purple Flowers’ 2022 EP, Undone highlights the ongoing struggle of having to reach into the darkest parts of yourself to fight off depression. A blistering fusion of post-punk artistry, alt-rock energy, progressive jam band-leaning riffage, and sporadic shoegazing psychedelic rock, the anthemic track is an echo of Lurid Purple Flower’s captivating and unapologetic approach to music, and refusal to be guided by anything other than their own creative compass. The guttural growl and howl of vocalist and guitarist CA Newcomb is matched only by her shredding; bassist Ben Caito’s funk flavor gives each track a kinetic and vertical personality; and drummer Nick White holds the beat down through non-traditional structures.” We get vocalist / guitarist CA (with a little help from Ben) to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

CA: Originally “Undone” was titled “Panic Attack.” The energic fast music is meant to simulate someone going through episodes of panic attacks. The lyrics revolve around that concept as well as all the distorted feedback and screams. A cool detail that one of our engineers Kirsten Roussel came up with for the last chorus, were whispers that pan left and right saying “Am I undone?” It’s a cool little feature you can pick out with headphones on.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

CA: My father was a musician back in the 60’s-70’s and my mother is a die hard Zeppelin / Queen fan. So I grew up listening to all kinds of different music. My father brought home a Fender Jr Strat when I was about 9 years old. He taught me how to play and that was when I fell in love with the guitar.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

CA: I’ve probably seen Woodstock and Song Remains the Same about 20 times. But my biggest influence is and always will be Nirvana.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

CA: Dave Grohl probably. He’s an incredible songwriter/musician.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

CA: Recently I’ve been getting back into Boxing. I joined a boxing team in Allston. It’s a great way to stay in shape and really beneficial for my mental health.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

CA: I’d say we’re mainly rock, with fusion/grunge/funk elements.

BEN: It’s more of a general disagreement, but whenever someone compares us to another rock band with a woman for a lead singer without really listening to the music. It is pretty reductive, I feel.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

BEN: Nick usually cooks, I drink the most, and usually we stay away from acoustic guitars.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

CA: This is random but Ben and I were eating at my favorite restaurant Hokkaido Santouka and the founder of the restaurant Hitoshi Hatanaka walked in and I was pretty starstruck.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

CA: Being able to share your raw emotions with the public is kinda crazy and performing these original songs live is even crazier. We love doing it. When people start listening to the lyrics and dig the music, it makes us feel amazing. If people get something out of our music, then we have done our jobs right. If I was never a musician, I’d probably be an EMT right now. But the dream job, ASTRONAUT.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

CA: I guess no one has ever asked why I do this. And the answer to that is, this is what I know and love. It’s insane how much happier I am after performing live. The power I feel while screaming on stage is a certain type of adrenalin rush I’ve never experienced before. The feeling of being locked in musically with the boys and soloing during a song, is a high I can get nowhere else. Tired of answering the simple small talk questions like, where you’re from, etc.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

CA: I’d go back in time and redo my entire Berklee College of Music experience. I didn’t graduate, but I would have chosen the major that would educate me more in the ways of music production and engineering.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

CA: That’s a really great and hard question, there’s so many albums I love. From going just off the top of my head, I’d pick Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. It’s one of my first memories of music, thanks to my parents. There’s so many moving parts to that album, I would love to see how they managed to think and create everything. As much as I love the nirvana records, I can definitely imagine how those went. But when it comes to something as wild as the DSotM sessions I can’t.

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Category: Interviews