CARLY SHEA Drops Single 'PERSONAL POP STAR' | We Talk NYC & Travel
Carly Shea is an NYC-based musician creating songs that fluctuate between house-inspired pop and alternative soul. Her songs are a reflection of the ups and downs of living— from enjoying careless nights out to contemplate the bigger picture. What began as a songwriting hobby in Brooklyn basements became a more serious pursuit when Carly met an A&R from SONY during the 2018 Grammys and received sync offers soon after. From there, she travelled between Mexico City, Los Angeles, and NYC to craft a catalogue of unique pop music and accompanying music videos. After a period of wondering if music would conflict with her role as a talent agent, Carly finally put her music first and released her debut single “Lemonade” in January 2020 with critical acclaim from the like of WONDERLAND.
Her newest release, “Personal Popstar” continues the rising artist’s musical progression, integrating Hyperpop/PC Music elements into her established pop sound. The accompanying music video for “Personal Popstar” is a series of snapshots from a night spent at a nearly abandoned 1980s honeymoon resort. Publications such as Wonderland Magazine and Obscure Sound have lauded her tracks for “creating new universes” with its “powerful hooks and crystal clear vocals” and “bright pop infectiousness.”
Could you tell us a bit about you and how you got involved in music? Did you study music?
I grew up knowing that I had a family who was musicians back in NYC during the ‘80s. For a while, the extent of my own musical involvement was choir and jazz band in college. I only started getting more serious about music when I came to NYC. When I write, it’s usually all from my own thoughts. My brother is a much more serious musician when it comes to approaching music from a formally educated standpoint and he’s encouraged me to get into theory. But for now, all my ideas come from thin air.
As an emerging artist, what are your music career goals do you want to remain independent or get a management or record deal?
My main goal is for my music to reach listeners who really connect with what I’m making. I’d be lying if I said part of my goals in getting there didn’t include partnering with a label who supports my art. But from working on the other side as a fashion agent, I know that you don’t sign just to sign. It has to be a team that sees the potential in your work and really pushes alongside the artist to get to that next level.
What has been your experience of the pandemic?
It’s been ups and downs for sure. I’m very lucky that I haven’t gotten sick or known anyone who has been seriously ill, but I know so many people can’t say the same. The start of the pandemic was personally a bit crazy for me; I was able to get out of my lease and drove down south to rent a house on a whim with a friend. I’ve been back in NYC for a few months and things are definitely different. It’s really easy to feel alone these days.
You said you went to Amsterdam and loved it, it is a great city. Where else in the world would you love to travel to?
Ah, love Amsterdam. Besides that, I’ve heard Spain / Japan are both really cool places to check out. I’ve also read a lot into Bhutan and the culture of homestay there. It looks beautiful and I know they cap tourism so it’s not too many people visiting at once.
Your music videos all have a quirky DIY aesthetic and you mentioned having fun with them, which has been your favourite video to shoot so far and why?
Thanks! Yeah, glad that it translates as quirky DIY— a large part of that is not having had a major budget to work with. My upcoming videos are a bit more mainstream, but looking back on all the ones I’ve shot, they’re really a slice of life. It’s been a lot of fun as many of them have been shot on a whim with friends. But I’d have to say “Waste My Time” was my favourite to film. It was the first video I shot and it took so much planning, running around at all hours, getting caught in the rain. It was truly an adventure I’ll never forget and a video that is a snapshot of my time in NYC.
What is ‘Personal Pop Star’ about and what inspired it?
I wrote the chorus of “Personal Popstar" on the floor of LAX waiting for my overbooked flight to start boarding. That specific trip to LA was focused on music meetings and writers’ sessions. A lot of it was good, but I definitely encountered a ton of smarmy people. The stereotype of creepy men in entertainment sounds like a cliche, but spending time in LA made me realize that there’s truth to it. I was pretty grossed out and angry about one particular person who disguised themselves as a mentor, but they tried to act super inappropriately. I didn’t know what I was writing at the time would turn into a dark pop song, but I did know I had to get the line “stuck in my personal hell, no I’m not doing too well, said I’m your personal pop star” down in my vocal notes.
You said your time in NYC has been dramatic in another interview, what’s the craziest thing that’s happened while living in the city?
Oh man…I mean there’s a lot. The crazy stories I have mostly focused on the people I’ve met in the NYC social scene and in entertainment. I can’t give specifics, but I’ve run into a lot of people who are recognizable figures who act in ways that sometimes seem normal and other times make you question what planet they’re on. You never know who you’re gonna run into here.
Who are your favourite artists?
I love classic artists like Steely Dan, Byrne and Barnes, Hall & Oates. When I’m not listening to that or jazz, I’m really into this new wave of pop. So, Rina Sawayama, Slayyyter, Roy Blair, Tinashe, Remi Wolf.
What inspires you to create music as an artist?
My feelings, haha. And I get lines/melodies stuck in my head that eventually spin out into stories about my experiences. So if I have a melody in mind that matches with a line like “so we fall, through a daydream, real but nothing at all” it might end up telling the story of a romantic daydream I had like in my track “Forever.”
As an emerging artist, many people support larger acts to gain a following who would you love to support while touring?
I would love to support someone like Charli XCX or Rina Sawayama. They’re such incredible artists who are on the cutting edge of pop. And I love the supportive community that their fans have for one another and how they connect with the music on a deeper level. I’d love that.
What was the first music in any format you brought?
So, I can’t quite recall which CD came first, but it was either Songs About Jane by Maroon 5 (the best Maroon 5 album to date, IMO) or Seal IV by Seal. I’m a big CD person and still collect :)
What are your top food spots in New York?
So hard to choose! Okay. Best noodles, get Ramyun at Jeju Noodle Bar. Best gyro is at Turco. Best tacos are at Los Tacos No 1. If you’re feeling sad and want to drown your sorrows in ice cream, head on over to 16 Handles. I’m a coffee addict and for caffeine, it’s Black Stone Rosters. And last but not least, for great Italian food and an incredible at-home atmosphere, one of my favourite places in the city to be is Mama Mia on 44th Street.
You said you struggle to promote yourself on social media, why is this?
I haven’t cracked the code on how to make it work. I honestly wish I knew. I think part of my problem is staying consistent with the apps, but I guess I really don’t understand why some content gets a lot of traction and other posts go under the radar. I’m working to get this figured out.
What do you think makes you stand out from other artists?
I’d say my music stands out as I don’t totally adhere to one genre. I’m pretty split between this darker sort of pop like with “Personal Popstar,” but then future tracks are more alt R&B. I also feel like I write toplines that don’t follow normal musical progressions. I try to keep things a little off-kilter.
What’s next? Have you got any live streams or socially distanced gigs coming up?
I might! Nothing specific planned out, but I’m hoping to start to do some live streams in the coming months. If you want to keep up on that, I’ll be posting music updates on socials @heycarlyshea :)
Interview by John Burbidge