In this interview spotlight, we have a virtual pow wow with Flowers On The Fence to discuss music, motivations, the new project, and more.
Full Q&A, links, and streams available below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I’m from San Ramon, California but have been living in San Francisco for the last 4 years. I’d like to think of the music I write as some sort of soft indie emo rock… A friend explained it as “a genre called “tecate, fog, coffee, surf, stick and pokes, and E-40” and I think that’s pretty accurate as well.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
As far as the sound of my music, I would say the music and art I’ve surrounded myself with throughout the last chunk of years have inspired me and mixed with my style of songwriting. Music, art, and being (trying) to always be honest in my music.
Friends motivate me. Dreams motivate me. Writing a horrible song motivates me to find a better one. Getting to this weird place of wholeness when writing motivates me.
Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?
Words influence me quite a bit- poetry, lyrics, conversation with friends… So much can be said with words whether explicitly or implicitly.
My older brother is a huge influence of mine, always has been and always will. When I was writing ‘Tepid Dreams’, a lot of literature I was reading in school and outside of school influenced me. I spent a lot of time reading The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud to in some way make sense of my head. Skateboarding has always influenced me since I was like 12 because of the way it’s made me approach things in life. And people who are honest because I want to be more honest.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
This record is different than the EP I released in 2014 in a lot of ways. In 2014, Flowers On The Fence was new to me, writing music in that style, both lyrically and instrumentally. The EP was a small step in creating the sound and style and feel of Flowers On The Fence and I think the new LP ‘Tepid Dreams’ is two-plus years of constructing and progressing that sound and style and consciously writing songs that bring a listener from one place to another.
Personally, when writing and recording ‘Tepid Dreams’, I set out to make the most honest record I could personally make. That’s it really. I mean, I wanted it to sound certain ways and be sonically pleasing but yeah, just honest. But I’d hope that the songs and the album as a whole take a listener from “Point A to Point B”. Wherever it is that they’re going.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
I don’t really know. I mean it’s helped me to release my music and spread it around. But it also allows everyone to do that so there’s a lot out there. Harder to be heard I guess? I think it’s helped more than hurt. Since I write and record and release everything independently I don’t really have any larger support promoting the music so things like social media have allowed me to promote it. But I get uncomfortable promoting it sometimes. Technology is a trip.
How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?
Streaming services are cool. Gives people an easier access to music on a larger level.
I do love the physical format of music. Vinyl and cassette are cool- I made some cassettes of ‘Tepid Dreams’ and that was a fun process. I like physical forms of music because you have to be more intentional with what you’re listening to. I’m not gonna put on a vinyl record to listen to one song. Or put on a record and walk around the house. For me, it makes me slow down and really listen. Sometimes we need that.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
Everywhere, search Flowers On The Fence on Spotify or iTunes annnnd all of these:
- www.flowersonthefence.com
- Instagram: @flowersonthefence or @coryjosephteese
- Soundcloud
- Bandcamp
Anything else before we sign off?
My first LP ‘Tepid Dreams’ comes out on September 30th! Check any of the links above to listen or grab a cassette or a CD or a T-shirt or a button for your shirt.
Tecate forever, be more honest, tell your friends and family you love them more.
Thanks MTM!
