Don’t think we have forgotten the piss counter for Bleeds. I’m fully expecting (at least) 2 more uses of the word by the time the full album drops. Loving it so far!!
A:
For the uninformed: each Wednesday album increasingly uses of the word piss
This was by accident but happened nonetheless
I regret to inform you that it is only used once on this album ( I think? ) and it’s on WOund Up HEre which is already out
my condolences
Q: Hey!! I’m moving from nc to chicagooo real soon for college. I was wondering if u have any advice on college living? Moving out and living on your own tips?? Love you lots :3
A: So cute that yall ask me about stuff like this, I feel like an older sisterrrrrrr(╥﹏╥)
Ummmm my best advice is don’t put too much pressure on finding a friend group ur first year. The people you initially hang with will probably completely 180 as you discover what you’re into/ what you like to do!
That being said, go out do shit that you’re interested to find people you get along w. Doesn’t necessarily have to be school related but def entangle your social shit with your hobbies so you find people that fuck with the same stuff you do
If you’ve wanted to start a band, try it! A lot of people wanna do that shit in college (yours truly for instance)
Take some classes outside of your major
Try to go to lots of house shows/ house parties. going to house shows when youre out of school makes you feel like a creep, I miss house shows :(
See a lot of music, movies, plays, whateva and go out if you got all ur work done cause after college your energy/availability for that shit goes down 2000%
Don’t date the same person for all four years
Try to eat all your food groups and exercise, you’ll feel a lot better in general if you do that when u can
ummmmmmmmmmmmm call ur parents every once in a while
best of luck ! xoxo
Q: okay i know yall said the line "wound up here by holding on" was from a poem but i cannot find that post anywhere... maybe i'm missing something idk. but i was just curious about what that poem was/who wrote it!! thank u so much
also i'm obsessed w this new single i haven't been able to stop listening to it!!!!! hope to see yall in louisville ky soon..... haha i wish
A: It’s referencing a line from my friend Evan’s book!
It’s available here :
https://bookshop.org/p/books/thickets-swamped-in-fence-coated-briars-evan-gray/20730799?ref=hearingthings.co
or here
https://asterismbooks.com/product/thickets-swamped-in-fence-coated-briars-evan-gray
Also I loooooooove Kentucky….. we’ll be there as soon as humanly possible
Q:
First time caller long time listener here, i had a question regarding your stories. Your songwriting is very heavily laced with real stories from your life, which I love.
I have two question surrounding this. 1. What’s your protocol to clear that story with everyone involved? Because obviously sometimes these stories do not paint people well, I wanted to know what you have to do to be able to write about these stories. Do you have them sign something? Do you text them? I have no clue.
2. How do you decide if a story is good enough to include on a song? Sometimes the things you include in your writing are mundane, but they work in some weird way. Do you have a checklist or system you use? Or is it whatever fits the rhyme scheme? I’d love to know.
That’s about all I have about this but i might ask again if i think of something else. By the way if you could email me an mp3 of Pick Up That Knife that would be swell, ive been obsessed with that song since I heard it at the august asheville show. Thanks for reading this and thanks for making music, cant wait for everything that happens
A:
I think every situation is kinda different with this. I have not always asked people permission, but it’s always felt much much better when I do.
For example, I ran into the kid from high school who had overdosed on benadryl from “Chosen to Deserve” at a show once (he didn’t know I was playing lol) and we had already recorded the song but it wasn’t released. I was basically like “yo I hope that’s okay” and he was like “of course, I love that” and it was cool. Plus he’s doing really well in life so it’s like not kicking him while he’s down or something. Plus I don’t often use people’s real names so there is no real harm that would come from it.
Usually it’s best to have the finished product ready to show them so they can see the inherit beauty that lies within the story of theirs that you’re telling??
Idk I’m still figuring out this process though.
For your second question, idk, I just know when a story would make a good song… feels very natural. I think that is a part of my process that’s just always been there. I def have a list going of stories I wanna get to telling through song one day. I’ll never get to all of them…. at least in song form hehe.
I’m not gonna email you that, crazy!! But don’t worry you won’t have to wait too long for dat one in particular
Q:
I'm a new fan and have been obsessed with Rat Saw God. When you are writing/recording a song do you ever think "this song is too long, weird, whatever" to put on an album?
This question was inspired by "bull believer" . The second half is amazing, especially when you start yelling (goosebumps every time) but I can see how it might not appeal to casual listeners.
A: One of my biggest suggestions to songwriters is never ever ever think about reception or the audience when making your music. It will nevvvvvvver serve the music or your fulfillment with it. I know it’s easier said than done but it is soooo important.
“Bull Believer” is a song I HAD to write, cause it helped me confront a wall I needed to get over to keep writing. I had been trying to write it for years and once I got it right there was nothing in the world that would’ve kept me from releasing it so I could perform it live and have the release that screaming gives me.
If people don’t fuck w that song or think it’’s too long I couldn’t care less cause it’s giving me what I needed so badly.
Q: hey! I’ve noticed in some of your posts you’ve touched on giving up certain things (like sugar) and also have lowered your screentime, I was wondering if you could expand on your experiences with figuring out that kind of thing for yourself? I’m hoping to get to a place where I can give up added sugar and weed but I’m 21 so everything feels like the end of the world lol, but also social media is kind of pressuring people into living “better” rn? idk. how has taking control of certain things like that affected your life? ofc only sharing to the extant that you’re comfortable, thanks in advance <3
A: I gave up sugar after working in a chocolate shop and a bakery where I was constantttttly eating sugar in a way that felt really out of my control. I feel really uncomfortable when I feel like anything outside of my own explicit decision making has power over things I do. So i’ve given all sorts of things up cold turkey just to see what it’d be like.
I tried giving up sugar with a friend like 8 years ago and it felt so good I just stuck with it. Just lots more energy, better skin, sugar started to taste really “chemical-y” after a while. All that being said I eat sugar accidentally all the time…. it’s in everything. It’s crucial that you forgive urself when you do that. Plus alcohol is sugar basically…. and i do consume that shit frequently…. I feel satisfied with the general intention being there tho.
You know what “living better” feels like to you! Is it when you go out with friends and get a meal or a drink? Is it when you get a good nights sleep? Is it smoking weed and listening to a record front to back? If a habit of yours continuously makes you feel shitty, try going without it and see how it feels! If it makes you feel better with out it try sticking with it but also forgive urself if ya stumble. If it brings you happiness and doesn’t cause serious harm though, idk, just weigh the pro/cons.
The best thing that has come from my practices with cold turkeying off of certain things is that it’s put me more in tune with my needs. Sometimes I’ll take breaks from alcohol, or weed, or certain behaviors as I need to without the intention of doing it forever and it’s nice!
Idk not an expert but thats what i got
So in my eyes, bleeds would be yalls fourth album (describe, plagues, rat, bleeds) but I have seen several articles call it 6th, and I guess those people would be counting yep def (lol) and mowin the leaves as albums. What # album do YOU consider bleeds to be... help us settle this one
A: oh hm…. idk I actually have never really thought about this in depth.
Technically I guess six, but spiritually 5 to me! I feel like I wasn’t super solid on our identity as a band and in myself as a songwriter for Yep, Def. I feel like our true sound wasn’t really formed in any sort of way til IWTtDYS and even then it had such a long way to come. Yep, Def was more like a school project or somn idk.
I do consider the covers album in there cause that album for real showed me what a Wednesday song is, cause there was still an identifiable thing we did on those that felt “us” even though I didn’t write those songs. That alb revealed a lot of stuff to me about our dynamic as a band. Plus people ride so hard for that alb and I think that’s so goofy and special for a covers album <3
but I’m cool with people counting it however they please according to what they think!
I really wanna see yall live. But unfortunately no GA show. Make things happen. pu.
Also I collect CDs but im pretty sure yall dont got cds of ur other projects. If yall ever make some lmk. Would love to have them. Ur stuff is awesome. Good luck in life :
A: There’s shows in the South and Texas and literally all the places that people are bummed aren’t on this first run that are already booked/in the process of being booked.
These are just the first run of shows that are announced….. patience my sweet babies
q:
Hi Karly!
Over the past couple of years you have become one of my favorite artists ever (saw you play Jake's show at brooklyn steel the other day making you one of my most seen musicians now) So so so grateful for your work !!
I'm moving into a new apartment in a couple of weeks so I've been thinking a lot about what I can do to make my new place feel like my own.
For you, what are your absolute must-haves? what kind of beer do you keep stocked in the fridge? coming back from tour what kind of things are you happy to see when you get home?
rock on >:D
A: You asked me this a really long time ago, but it got lost down in the depths of my email lol. Maybe ur already settled in by now but I’m gonna answer anywayz
My main must have is to have shit up on the walls…. I do that as soon as all my furniture is moved in. That is immediately what makes ur house feel homey. People thought I had been living in my house for like a years when I has only moved in like a month previous and I think that mostly has to do with stuff thats hung up… I think because a lot of people put off doing that specific thing.
IMO you dont need a frame for everything also, I just tape shit to the wall a lot of the time
I think rugs are also crucial if you got wood/non carpeted floors. It’ll really tie the room together ;)
Getting the necessary shit to play music and watch movies helps.
My fridge stays embarrassingly barren most of the time… I have to clear it out so often when I go out on tour so it’s a force of habit. I usually make one huge vat of soup or some type of salad/rice dish and just eat it for literally every meal until its gone and then I do it again.
I don’t keep beer in my fridge cause I try not to drink when I’m not on tour… but I do have some liquers on top of my fridge (I love fernet and nonino and averna and cynar they are my weakness) I usually only drink them on special occasions though.
When I come back from tour I’m excited to see literally everything in my house (minus the dust) but especially my cat Girl Girl <3
Q:
as a fellow memory having gurl who draws back into the past via mental/physical experiences and/or nostalgia (do you find yourself to be more nostalgic than the usual guy?), do you ever find that a large portion of your brain is being used to store these memories and your short term memory and processing of new experiences is just not firing on all cylinders?
Or maybe... do you struggle living in the present when the past in so in reach and comforting to crawl into?
I ask because... you resonate, your drawing in on memories resonates, and I find myself doin it a lot - and I wonder if it impedes my currently abilities to make new memories. Maybe my brain is just rotting. Or maybe this just happens as we age.
A: I try to only really think deeply/nostalgically about my past when I’m writing cause it is so wrought with extreme emotions and I can think more critically about stuff I’m further away from…
I think I would get a lil overwhelmed confronting past versions of myself if I thought about my past outside of my creative work. I look back fondly on moments from my past but I would neeeevvvvvverr wanna go back in time to experience most stuff from that time.
I don’t it impacts you negatively like ur saying to be nostalgic about the past. I think other things are much more likely to impede our ability to make new memories…? Mostly like, getting older and having less energy (or more critical thinking) to go out and do crazy shit.
I feel like (I think most people can relate to this also) the memories that come up for me against my will are always the most embarrassing and painful ones, and having that shit come up makes me physically wince its so uncomfortable.
I think something I’m more prone to do nowadawys is fantasize about the future. Sometimes I’ll meet someone and immediately start imagining our life together as a married couple growing old together??? Honestly I’m trying to get out of that habit though, I don’t think it’s the healthiest expectation to put on someone.
what is your beverage of choice for these situations:
- before a show
- after a show
- first thing in the morning
- out w/ friends
A:
Before a show: probably like a ginger shot or coconut water cause I feel like shit on tour from eating like shit/being tired and it revitalizes me a lil
After a show: I don’t really drink anything other than water after I get off stage, but on stage i drink Casa Migos tequila (stole this from the Truckers) or Fernet
First thing in the morning: I drink a mug of microwaved water lol…. supposed to be good for you. Then I drink mushroom coffee cause I’m mostly weened off caffeine.
Out with friends: When I’m out i’ll usually drink fernet if they got it or just like a tequila or vodka soda. I wish I could drink beer cause I like the taste but it hurts my stomach for some reason.
Q:
Dear Karly,
I’ve been listening to Elderberry Wine on repeat since its release and it’s made me so excited for the new album!
I’ve just finished going through my Saturn Return and am about to turn 30 and the shifts and changes I have experienced throughout the last 2 years have felt like a real journey towards self actualisation and getting closer to who I’ve always wanted to be.
I guess my question for you, as someone of a simile age, do you fuck with the concept of your Saturn Return and what have your findings/feelings been so far?
A:
Yoooooo I’m definitely going through some transitional and highly transformative years, but I’ve always had trouble of seeing them in an astrological context. For whatever reason that lens never stuck with me. BUT I def think the late twenties/early thirties is like life defining shit.
I made a ton of changes in my life in the past couple of years once I was really able to think critically about what I wanted/needed from my life. I was able to take those needs seriously enough to put in the work to orient myself towards what I learned about myself in those years.
Every year/month/day that passes I solidify into my sense of self more and more and I am sooooo grateful I’m not steeped in the uncertainty that pervaded my early/mid 20’s. Aging so far has been such an incredible process. I’ve learned sosososososos much ESPECIALLY this year and that shit HURTS but it also feels so GOOD to know. Still learning of course… but damn is it easier to navigate life with a fully formed brain.
Q: i have been to total wine, bestway, and even called local wineries in the area but to no avail. please please where do i purchase some of that elderberry wine?! my girlfriend and i want to listen to elderberry wine while drinking elderberry wine!!! also i was wondering if you had any tips and tricks for getting yourself into the greensboro music scene specifically, im in a band and we want to play shows! (also i should mention that we did a show at app and did all wednesday covers bc we are your biggest fans ;) anyways, thank you for being epic or whatever :p
A:
This is blasphemy but….. I’ve never had Elderberry Wine………………………….
Xandy’s dad got some somewhere recently but I have no idea where. Maybe Dm him and ask. Xandy, not Xandy’s dad.
For Greensboro music scene I’d send your recordings to Etc, and Flat Iron and be like “hey if you ever need openers were locals”. Also I just met the person who runs house shows at Swag House (@swaghouse_shows) and they seem to be really organized widdit and are throwing all sorts of shows n stuff maybe DM them too!
Idk many more spots other than that cause it’s like UNCG kids throwing most of the shows probably and I would feel like 1,0000,000,,00,00,0,000000 years old/ very creepy tryna connect with those folks
OMGGG also did anyone record the Wednesday cover set??? Send it to me biytch!!
Q:
Hey Karly,
This is M**** K***(dont wanna dox u lol) from Greensboro/Richmond. First of all, I am really loving Elderberry Wine. It’s my favorite song of yours to date and I’ve had it on loop on this rainy Richmond day.
I was curious about what your opinion on living in Greensboro is after living elsewhere and moving back as an adult. I’ve always had conflicting opinions of my hometown but I am also its biggest cheerleader and have been thinking about it a lot lately.
A:
Honestly, I go back and forth with it. I love living here but sometimes I have to confront old versions of myself unavoidably here.
I know for a fact I never wanna live outside of North Carolina (if I had to for some reason I would not leave the south…. I would be in like eastern TN or Mississippi or Kentucky or something)
Greensboro mostly just rocks rn cause it’s great to be in a place I’m so familiar with when I’m not on tour and I can hang with my parents and my best friend from growing up. A lot of my high school buds are still here too.
Idk how long I’ll stay, I miss Asheville a lot sometimes. I needed to get out of there for a minny though and Greensboro’s been awesome for now!
I LOVE the idea of repping your random ass hometown with a vengeance which is why im so dedicated to being like “GREEENSBOROOOOOOOO woooo” anytime we do something. It made me who I am today or whateva, so I’m so thankful for this place.
Q:
Hi Karly! I just wanted to say that as a 17yr old growing up in Asheville, that your art makes a huge huge impact!! My question would be what would you like to tell your 17yr old self? love you :)
A:
Damn,,,,, idk.
I had some p shitty stuff happen to me when I was 17 that I never thought I’d be able to recover from.
I think I would tell myself that everyone who told me that “everything happens for a reason” were wrong.
Some shit is senseless and violent and chaotic for no reason.
BUT I would tell myself that experiencing that loss and pain and healing from it would eventually really inform who I was in adulthood, would help me relate to other people more easily, and would help me channel pain into something that would define my life and help me find my purpose.
I don’t think that shit happened when I was seventeen in order for me to discover that stuff about myself in some divine intervention…. cause I think that centers myself in a pretty selfish way. But…. in a way i’m thankful for the experience looking back.
I guess the short version of this is like: life is gonna be painful and sad sometimes and you’re gonna be like what the fuck is the point???? But then on the other side you’re gonna be thankful that you are capable of feeling a full spectrum of emotions and experiencing love, loss, happiness, sadness, anger, passion, kindness, selfishness, closeness and loneliness at different times in your life. As long as there’s a lil bit of everything that shit is what makes life fucking incredible.
lol idk !!!! damn honestly writing that out was therapeutic af for me… haha thanks for asking ur q
Q: hellooooo!!! i'm starting to look into getting guitar pedals and ur music is one of my biggest inspirations. I'm not super sure where to start. would love if you could give pedal recs or what pedals you use! :)
also... sick website! inspired me to delete tiktok and start journaling lol. finding there r much better things to do than rot on my iphone all day.
A:
I appreciate the ask but all I use it a 90’s ProCoRAT pedal and a tuner. I miiiight get something new soon but I hate when shit gets complicated gear wise.
Jake and Xandy the tone hounds! I think they did an MJ Lenderman rig run down on Youtube though if u wanna check that out should have all the deets!
Q: what’s ur relationship with font and typography? & do you have any go to fonts to recommend? Ignore if you’ve already answered but I’m into ur designs
A: ooooo I was just looking into type faces to use for the designs on our album art etc etc.
RN I’m having a really strong curly-cue phase.
Ive been into the fonts: Beyond Wonderland, Coraline’s Cat, and Emily’s Candy :)
they ain’t very sophisticated but that’s what I’m at!
Q: hi karly! your music has been a big inspiration for me wanting to learn guitar. i bought a squier strat a year ago but really never found myself consistently playing. what advice do you have for a newer player? i feel like musicians were just born knowing how to play but the truth is everyone had to start somewhere. how did you learn and what are some tips or guidance you would give to someone new with the experience you have now?
thanks for taking time to answer! excited for new music when it comes :)
A: girrrllllll I still barely know how to play
My advice is watch youtube videos of other people who’s playing you like and try to copy em!
For writing songs: just fuck around with your fingers in different places on the neck until you hear something that sounds like the feeling you’re trying to get across (plus knowing a few basic chords help, you can learn those from the charts on ultimate guitar)
Also try writing in open tunings and just cover all the strings to make chords if you want a realllly basic structure to try your hand at writing.
lessons are always available too if you have the means but I’ve never actually had one myself, I don’t do super well in that kinda learning environment.
idk if this is good advice but its what I got!
Q: Hi Karly,
What is your favorite insect??
Thanks =)
A: a billion lightning bugs in the woods at night !!!!
hi Karly! wanted to reach out and say your music and art means a lot to me. i'm born and raised in Charlotte (my mom and grandparents are from Asheville!) and now an undergrad at UNC, and after meeting so many people from so many places I'm really starting to appreciate this state and how special it is. your music really ties together so many elements - the good, bad, and mundane - about growing up here and I'm really thankful for its existence.
anyway, here's my question: thoughts on Charlotte? any fun times/weird memories? complete ambivalence? would love to hear haha
p.s. come to cat's cradle! (or literally anywhere in clt/triangle area) i WILL be there
A: To be quite honest, I struggle with Charlotte. Out of all the cities in NC, I can just not get a fuckin read on it!!!
The crowds there have been so odd…. Snug Harbor crowds i’ve played to often talk over sets to a frankly insane degree. Our shows at Neighborhood Theater have been a mixed bag…. idk. I’m open to changing my opinion but I swear every time I’m there I am reaffirmed in feeling that it is just an odd lil place.
Wish I had more nice things to say…. you know I’m ride or die for NC as a whole but yeah Charlotte… idk something just don’t click for me there. I have a million close friends that were born and raised there tho! That is the one thing I can give it!