Bootleg Recordings

Hi!! Was wondering what ur opinion was on bootleg recordings was. I know it would differ from artist 2 artist, I like to record concerts I go to and make little cassettes / CDs for myself and friends that like the bands (not selling them or posting online, also subject to requests from artists at shows if they ask for certain things to not be recorded and such), but always am worried that artists wouldn't like this :/ What's ur opinion on bootlegs, do u vibe with them or not :3

Nah I think that’s cool. Bootlegs mean u have fans that wanna listen to bootlegs. Which is awesome.

TV Boyz

hey karly, are you team dean, jess or logan? also wait are you team edward or jacob..... have a nice night :)

girl….. there is only one answer anything else is stupid and WRONG

also I wasn’t a big twilight girl but if I had to pick I gotta go Edward…

but might be just because I am a Pattinson-a-holic

Editing Software

Q: I love your website! Im wondering what you use to edit your youtube videos? You inspire me a lot(sewing, music, videos, decorating) and i just watched how to with john wilson so now i want to film everything hihi. I had premier pro through my old school, but i don't go there anymore:(
<3
Also maybe this is an annoying question sorry, but i wanna know if you ever got my letter? Because if you didn't ill try recreating it. (It had a drawing of the band and it was from sweden and i sent it in november maybe?)

A: So basic but I use iMovie cause it came predownloaded on my computer.

Also yes I did get your letter!! It takes me a minute to get the energy to respond to the stuff I get in the PO Box, it gets overwhelming sometimes! I actually jussssst sent your letter like a week ago so you should hopefully get it soon. I kept forgetting to get international stamps.

Small Venues

Q: Recent fan (newport folk transformed me from causal listener to big time fan) and i was wondering if you intend on staying in smaller venues? you guys are definitelyyyy big enough to play places like hob boston but i would kill for another 3sartspace or space in portland show (i was front row!!). i loveee smaller shows whether solo or not and would kill for you to play 3s again (i missed it the first time)

A: Hell yeah, Newport was cool!!! I was feeling so dissociated that day, and for some reason when I feel that way I Ill do some experimental make up, hence the clown face. I had a great day though and it was so surreal to be there.

We’ll definitely play smaller venues when we can, sometimes you can play multiple nights at a smaller venue instead of one night at a huge one. You can’t do that all the time though or else your tour will be sooooo long. Regardless, we simply sound better in a smaller room, and it feels much more connected.

We recently played this huge room in Tokyo at a convention center to like 3,500 people… and it was a cool experience but also it didn’t feel real in a way I wasn’t super into. We were also INCREDIBLY jetlagged to be fair. Not saying we wont play stuff like that again (especially inevitable at festivals) but I will always prefer the feeling and sound of a smaller room over something like that.

Lyric Writing Process

Q: hey karly, i wanted to ask about your lyric writing process. i love the way you weave small moments and unassuming images into a meaningful collage. i know you’ve mentioned richard brautigan as one of your influences in this before!

i’m wondering how you go about your writing? does it just flow when you sit down to write? do you pick an image/line/theme and go from there?

lots of love from manchester, uk. wednesday songs mean so much to me and my girl friends over here :)

A: Yooooo the writing process I most suggest is something I stole from Jake which he stole from David Berman. Everyday (or in my case whenever I feel like song writing, usually once a week or so) write 20 lines. They dont all have to be usable or good because once youve done this 5-10 times you can just pick out the best shit and weave it together for a song.

Doing it this way really takes the pressure off yourself to write a complete song in one sitting, and also makes it so you can really hone in every line until they’re all words you’re truly proud to be singing. It takes dedication and patience, but if I’m being honest I think patience is something a lot of songwriters lack. Really sitting with and caring about your words makes all the difference in the quality of the lyrics.

I suggest starting by writing everyday just to build the muscle and then after a while you’ll be able to just sit down and write when you feel “the itch”, which you’ll become sensitive to the longer you write.

As far as writing specifically about memories, the way I do this is by picking one memory I want to talk about and try to write all 20 lines of a sitting about that memory. I write out every possible thing I can remember spanning across all the senses. If it is a painful memory it can often be a painful process to re access that stuff so prepare for that. Usually whats left is a really vivid and visceral description of that event.

Then I’ll go back in and weave in some unrelated lines from other writing sessions that fit the tone to keep it fresh and not suffocate the memory.

I also collect a lot of lines from other books, movies, and stuff I hear my friends say and can weave that in as well when it fits the tone. I’ve found references to be a really good method for listeners to relate and empathize with whatever I’m singing about.

Hope this helps !

Bath County Bumper Stickers!?

Q: You sent me a letter reply a few weeks ago and it came with a bumper sticker that says "every daughter of god has a little bad luck, sometimes bath county, VA" and I NEED to know if that was custom merch or if somewhere in bath county actually sells these and that's where the song inspo came from???!? I'm assuming it's custom made tho. Btw I plan on getting a frame for it soon (can't put that on my car, it would get ruined and it's precious to me) so I'll send pics when I get it framed!! Love from Raleigh!!

A: Hey!! That was actually fan made! Someone sent a bunch of those to my PO box and once I gave some to my bandmates and fam I sent a few out to people who wrote me! I think Alan and my mom both have one on their car rn :)

I wish I remember who made them!! If you are reading this and made the Bath County bumper stickers message me in the contact box so I can credit you!! Plus if you have an Etsy link or something I’m sure more people would want them <3

Crocs

Q: u r #1 for making this website!
do u like crocs? as a fellow north Carolinian I see them as CRUCIAL for summers here. For wading, quarry adventures, and they are also there for when you need to run outside. You are very fashionable I can see you rocking camo Crocs. so do you see crocs as the fashion staple that they are??? #bless

A: I think they are deeply functional af for sure. I have the furlined ones for winter although the fur is so matted and compressed so they aren’t what they used to be. I think Jake bought them for my birthday in like 2019.

If I need something waterproof tho I usually prefer a classic foam slide. I’m not very outdoorsy tho soo I bet slides aren’t great for wading n stuff.

Will Merch Updates Still Be Posted on Instagram?

Q: heyyyy! i love the merch you make on your store and have been on the lookout to get some soon. ik you said you wont be on insta, so i was curious if news abt new stuff being added will still show up there? or should i just get in the habit of checking the store.
btw i loveee the concept its a sick sustainable and creative way to make merch. you rock for that

A: Yoooo! Yeah I’ll send my management info for merch drops and blog updates to post on my behalf on Instagram etc!

So if that’s where you look for news about Wednesday n stuff it’ll still be there, just won’t be me posting it.

Edi 2/24:

I also have a email form on my homepage now where you can sign up fr site/merch updates

South Carolina

Q: Thoughts on south carolina?

A: It is the lesser Carolina!!! But I still fuck with it.

We had a really fun show a the Botanical Gardens at Clemson once. We met the Lowertown people that night.

One of our most infamously terrible shows was at the Windjammer in Charleston… I’m writing about that show in more detail for something…..

Commissioned Wednesday Merch

Q: hi there karly, my name is jacob and i’m on the bigger side (3xl) i was wondering if for extra money i could commission a wednesday shirt from you in my size, lemme know cuz that would be super awesome!

A: Hey!! Yeah I’d love to make something for you.

I made a listing on my merch tab for commissions.

Just send something that you know already fits ya to my PO Box ! Add a note if you want specific colors for the letters.

I’m happy to do this for anyone that has a size I don’t typically make a lot of merch in (anything that doesn’t fall under the Sm-2XL size range. I’m opening 10 commissions on there right now and will add more when I finish those and I have time.

I will try to get it back to you asap, but depending on how many I get expect at least a few weeks (just in case).

Does My Dad Do Taxes Still?

Q: Hi Karly! A year ago (it may have been longer) you mentioned that your father does tax preparation and provided some contact information. Is that something that he is still doing and can he do this for someone from out of state (New Mexico)?

A: Oh helll yes I lovveeee getting the nepotism in action for GEORGE! I just got this text from a friend a few days ago for proof that you’ll have an awesome time.

Email hartzmantax@gmail.com to get in contact as long as you are not weird!!!! <3

How I Made My Website

Q: Hey Karly wondering what platform you used to make this website. Losing my mind to socials and this has me feeling really inspired, first time i've felt that way online in a while... B)
Thank u! - Jane

A: Yooooo! I already had my squarespace account for years to sell my merch but I finally got around to really personalizing it and once I started I couldn’t stop! So that’s what im usin. It is sooo fucking fun to have a little corner of the internet for yourself.

I actually put a section on the site (the resources tab) for how to make ur own website! Squarespace is easy but a lil pricey for some people especially if you aren’t selling stuff on i to recoup the $. But Neocities and tumblr are free! I mostly just got off tumblr cause they technically owned my blog whereas I own the domain for this one! :) which feels cool

I highly suggest surfing through neocities sites for more inspiration they are so COOL

On Sparklehorse

Q: Huge fan of your music and was wondering if you have ever listened to Sparklehorse and if so do you have a favorite album by him? Thanks and have a great day!

A: Oh hell yeah dude

call me basic but I love VivaDixie….

my fave Sparklehorse songs are “Cow” “Hammering the Cramps” and the “My Yoke Is Heavy” cover on Distorted Ghost.

The last one is originally by Daniel Johnston and me and Jake reference it in “My Voice is A Little Horse” from the Guttering EP.

This documentary on Sparklehorse was our main reference for how we wanted to do our “Rat Bastard’s” doc. It is a joy to watch. Makes ya love him even more!!!

Where do I See DIY Going

Q: Where do u see diy going? For a lot of us it often times feels like this ebs n flows but the state of the world is so crazy and the rise of recessions pop makes it feel like diy is doomed. At the same time, astrology people have convinced me that diy and small art is on the come up lol. What r ur thoughts on how diyers can grow with or without the help of labels/mgmt etc? Any advice for small artists trying to make a living off of music? Also love your art and hope to see more Wednesday shows in tx this year!!! Peace and safe travels

A: I still think all the most interesting bands come out of DIY backgrounds. You just inherently learn so much from having to be resourceful and you get so much out of the experimentation and process of figuring out how to even write and make recordings. Plus it’s nice to have time to learn and grow into your full potential as a band before a ton of eyes/expectations are on you. My DIY touring days were grueling but I wouldn’t trade the experiences both good and bad for anything!!

Plus I think getting into playing music with just the pure intention of like…. playing house shows and having fun with your friends is madddd underrated in our grindset ass world. But I get it too cause like you gotta survive!!!

DIY definitely aint doomed…. people will always be making music and expressing themselves in any condition. Is touring gonna get more and more costly and inaccessible?? Maybe?? but if the musics good and youre nice to people you’ll find it’ll get you very very far. People will wanna help u out !! At least if they are truly tapped in to the DIY spirit.

I think that shit is especially gonna be flourishing in smaller more affordable towns. Like Greensboro is where I live rn has a few cool DIY spots cause its slightly on the more affordable side of living…. but idk I’m not a city girl so I can’t really speak on the state of DIY in cities really and truly.

Advice for small artists : for real think long and hard about your lyrics…. I feel like I hear bangers but if the lyrics suck i’m like “damn what this person tryin to say”

Like not saying it has to be “good” writing?? But just…. care???

Like not all the lyrics in BRAT for instance are “good” but it rocks because you can tell Charli gives a fuck about sayin what shes sayin!! idk…. people just connect with people that care

And yeah just to reiterate…. the best advice I have to DIyers who want to make a career is be nice and kind. Build up your hometown scene and bring them up with you. Create a community. Make genuine connections w people not just network. And of course find ur own voice and style, no one really wants music that’s just a carbon copy of some other band in the long run (in most cases).

Hope to be in TX soon (I know of at least one thing thats planned atm but idk if it’s near where ur at cause its a big ass state). Peace

Opinion on Philadelphia

Q: Ok so I’ve been to a couple of ur shows in Philadelphia (I love ur music a lot one time accidentally listened to how can you live if u can’t love on repeat for 8 hours) and kind of get the vibe that u don’t like the city of Philadelphia… which I don’t get because I live here and I love it and if u don’t then u haven’t been to the cool parts of it. But idk was wondering so here to ask if u like philly :p

A: I like Philadelphia!!!! I lovvvvve the handpulled noodle places there and we always have a great time at the shows there cause we have a billion friends there.

The past couple shows at Union Transfer and my solo set at The Unitarian Church were sosososoo special. Philly is just usually our first day of tour for some reason ?? Soo i’m usually just warming up and feel kinda unsure

I think if you do get the hater vibe from me there it might just be because the stimulus in big cities is still overwhelming to me even though I looooove to think I’m cured of my big-city fears.

My first times there were rough because I was DIY touring and my sleeping conditions were always a little challenging. Sleeping on floors or in chairs sometimes even.

The show at Ukie Club where that guy got punched was kinda traumatic…….

But nah I’ve grown to love visiting there a lot.