New York City singer-songwriter Coyote Eyes releases her soul-bearing new track “Looking For God” today. Coyote Eyes, a moniker for Jo Eubanks, is
passionate about addiction recovery and mental health awareness, and this relates perfectly to the honest themes and tones interlaced within the track. The artist fights for those who have been silenced by their addictions and illnesses, and she uses her music as the mouthpiece for her message.
The genuine lyrics of the song mixed with the artist’s haunting vocals make this track one to remember. Coyote Eyes also enjoys writing and poetry which reflects entirely into the masterful crafting of the lyrics of “Looking For God”. Coyote Eyes said that the track is a “very personal original song about looking for absolution in empty places”.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Coyote Eyes about the new release, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music 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 originally from North Carolina, but have been in New York for about 12 years now – with a brief hiatus in LA somewhere in the middle. I create tragic, vocally-driven pop with cinematic soundscapes. I want my music to hit you in the gut and haunt you in your sleep.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
My mother says I’ve started singing before I started talking. True story. But music has always been my life – I started training at eight. I have this odd mix of growing up a classical vocalist and being heavily influenced by 90s grunge. And what keeps me going – that’s such an important question. This business is hard, I’m sure every artist tells you that. Not just the rejection and redirection, but the downtime. The life of an artist affords just enough free time to fall into existential holes: “what’s the point”, “this will never go anywhere”, “I’m too old”, “if it was supposed to happen it would have by now”. Sound familiar? This may seem vain, but when I’m really in a rut, I play something of my own that I’m really proud of. It reminds me who I am and why I do what I do. Then I go see a good piece of theater or live music. It’s important to connect, not just with myself but with other artists. It’s like recharging a battery.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
Absolutely. This single is my oeuvre, per se. It defines me more than anything else I’ve written or recorded thus far. “Looking for God” exposes me in a way that is very vulnerable, but also very important. It pays homage to a particularly painful time in my life and reaches out a hand to anyone who has felt the way that I did.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
I try and look at challenges as opportunities. In today’s digital age, it can seem impossible not to get lost in the sea of content. There’s so much polarity, right? Followers vs. skill, branding vs. authenticity; it’s hard to know what to focus on and if staying true to yourself will lead to success or lack of reception. That said, when you have something you believe in as much as I believe in Looking for God, it affords the opportunity to create something really special, and hopefully, to make a difference in someone’s life.
My producer, I AM SNOW ANGEL, is a sound designer for Ableton. Without music technology, none of what we’ve done would be possible. It has made the creative process more accessible, allowing me to really experiment with my sound and style. I’ve been given the opportunity to fail, succeed, explore, and grow. Don’t get me wrong, I love live instruments, and traditional production as well. But in my experience, it’s hard to put in your 10,000 hours when navigating around big time studio schedules and budgets.
Technology has also helped me do things on my own I would not previously have been able to. I create all my own album art, teasers, promotional content, photo editing – these are things I’ve been able to learn in my downtime. It may seem silly, but it’s really helped me take ownership of what I’m putting out to the world.
What was the last song you listened to?
“The Dirt” – Motley Crue, “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum, “You Should See Me In A Crown” – Billie Eillish. Just thought you should know how my mind works.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Obviously, there’s no sound like vinyl. I find it so fascinating that the closer we come to mechanical/technologically manufactured perfection, the more we crave a return to imperfection, to authenticity.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I’m grateful for every. Single. Play. So I’m impartial – sorry if that’s not the answer you’re looking for but I’m still so overwhelmed with gratitude. When you want something so badly for your entire life, every little thing is a huge victory. But I will say, I’d love to see Coyote Eyes under some dark pop Spotify playlists soon.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
At this point, I direct people to my personal page: @iamjoeubanks . But Coyote Eyes does have slow but steady following growing under @coyoteeyesmusic
You can also find me at www.coyoteeyes.com
Anything else before we sign off?
The only thing I’ll say is that I hope “Looking for God” helps listeners know that it’s okay to ask for help. There are so many resources today centering around addiction and mental health. I’m also happy to share my personal experiences with my fans. Just reach out!
Thank you guys so much for having me!!
