Charlie Horse - Sound In The Signals Interview
I recently had the opportunity to interview Charlie Horse. We discussed how they started the band, their recent album ‘Steeplechasers’, lyrical inspirations, musical influences, collaborating with Willmore Records, and more. Check it out below.
Can you tell me how you started the band for those who may be unfamiliar with it? How did you become interested in music?
The band actually started as a project under a different name back on the east coast where we are from. I had the songs for the first acoustic EP just sorta bouncing around in my head, recorded them all live just whatever was a good take. Decided to out them up under Charlie Horse as a sort of solo name. At this point 3 of the 4 of us were planning on moving out here to LA to pursue music more seriously, so we figured we should change the name to something that paralleled our ambitions. The sax player Matt said we should just stick with Charlie Horse, so we did. We think it's relatable, and is a good fit for the style of music we are playing.
You recently released your album ‘Steeplechasers’. Can you tell me about writing and recording the album?
Steeplechasers was recorded mostly in one weekend at (a different) Matt’s house in Ontario, CA. He has a home setup in the living room. We booked a room nearby for 2 nights and then spent about 12-14 hours a day laying it all out. Drums day one Friday, mostly live takes straight through the song. Played along to guitars sometimes, but he would just play them outright to a click. Guitars, banjo, and violin took all of Saturday and Sunday. I went back up the next weekend and did the vocal takes in one sitting, dubbed a few guitar parts, and left some mix notes. Our saxophone player was enrolled in grad school in PA during all of this, but sent in parts recorded at home.
We went back about a month later and dubbed a couple violin parts that needed patching up. That was about it, we worked quickly (maybe too quickly) and once all the playing was done it was just up to the post production fellers to finish it up. It took about 4 months of mixing/mastering etc. We all finally agreed on the tracklist, and gave ourselves the 7/11 deadline. Pretty straightforward process honestly, next time around I think we will take our time, and deliberate while recording, and make edits then, instead of butting heads about stuff in post.
Can you tell us more about the lyrics and what you hope listeners take away from the lyrics and from the album overall?
The biggest theme is identity, the very first line you hear on the album is "Lost dog poster picture of my face...." Which I thought was a nice metaphor to describe the dissociative episode I was having when that song was written. Hence the name Megalomania Superstar. That song has a massive tonal change after the sort of bridge thing, into "I cut my hair off in the shower..." Its supposed to be the comedown from the episode. Where I have taken drastic action to ground myself. Its a very real moment, I remember sweeping up the bathroom after and being frustrated trying to sweep hair off the tile with all the water and humidity.
I think lots of what is written is abstract metaphor for feelings I can't articulate simply. It’s about starting over, trying new things, calling people out, calling yourself out. It’s about shame. It’s about finding purpose, or faith, or something you can believe in. Its about the world going on regardless of what you are doing. Which is a silly way to think because you are just another part of the world that's going on, but it’s easy to see it through the lens of self. It’s about sacrifice and learning that real connections demand sacrifice. It’s about advocating for yourself and giving everything you have to a moment.
"Doughboy" is called that because I had a dream we were playing a show and I was being heckled for not being angry enough, not being passionate enough. Someone said "get angry behind the mic, doughboy!" which in my dream really fucking pissed me off. But I remembered the phrase and wrote it down when I woke up. It’s a call to action. It’s the mantra I say in my head before singing to hype myself up. Some of it seems cloudy when I try to think of how I was feeling when I wrote it. I don't identify with a good part of the writing anymore - which is probably a good thing? It’s nice to keep moving forward, and be able to see those moments in the past through the music. It’s about everything. This sounds corny, but it’s all very genuine. I could go forever, but I will keep it short. If you, or anybody, has specific questions about anything I’d be overjoyed to answer them!
Your band and the album has a great sound. What influences and/or bands were you drawing from while writing the album?
Thank you :) Lots of Lullaby for the Working Class, Fat Evil Children, Dutch Interior, The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick, 22 Halo, and like every band on Kitty Records from Australia, in particular Mouse and Twine.
I really like the song “Garden Party”. What was the writing process like for that song specifically?
I grew up in a huge Irish Catholic family, I had 11 aunts and uncles, like 45 cousins, and an endless extended family. My grandparents would have a garden party every year in the summer, and sometimes 200 people would be there, with a band and a tent and catering and the whole nine. These stopped when I was maybe 9 or 10? But I remember being so captured by all of it, it seemed amazing, and I wanted to be an adult and experience it "for real." My cousins and I would just throw crabapples at each other and f*ck off the whole time, but I always wanted to be a grown up at these things. (stupid boy)
I remember lots of fighting I didn't understand, lots of hushed stuff between certain sides of the family, all the politics they try to leave the kids out of. It’s about remembering these parties and the feelings I was having at them as a kid, but from the perspective of an adult who now understands all the stuff that I was protected from. It’s also about Cassidy T. for many reasons, but most importantly because she can relate to it, and cause her dad sucks. Love her forever that's one of my best friends <3
I think ‘Steeplechasers’ is an interesting album title. What’s the meaning behind it?
It was an old horse race, where they would do exactly what it sounds like, and race towards the nearest steeple. Which we found fitting for the theme of higher powers? Whatever that means. It’s also just horse related and sounds cool.
You released the album on Willmore Records. It has a little bit of a different sound than what people might expect from the label. How did you end up working with them? What made you want to collaborate with them?
Yeah, they put out a lot of DIY Hardcore Punky Heavy stuff, which is awesome, especially here in SoCal / Long Beach that scene is pretty big. We played a show put on by the guy who does Willmore, he came up after our set and was like "I wanna put out your record". He was the first person to ever offer us anything like that. We got shirts, tapes, more shows, and someone who believed in us. Which means everything. The label is also non-profit, any sort of money beyond breaking for the cost of running the label is donated to Long Beach orgs that help people in our city. It being our first chance at support in this way, still very DIY, and ultimately helping our community made it the obvious (and only) choice.
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. Do you have anything else that you would like to add?
You are welcome, again sorry for the delay. Would love to say thank you to you for reaching out. Thanks to Emiro, Tommy, Matt O, Matt S, Billy, Ben, Jacob, Ada, Grady, Miah, Tierani, Evan, Patrick, Brett, and Judcody.
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