INTERVIEW: D'Arcy Spiller releases debut EP 'Little Demons': "There were particular memories or feelings that kept lingering and I needed somewhere to put them"

Melbourne based singer-songwriter D’Arcy Spiller today releases her debut EP Little Demons. A collection of five tracks, the songs are dark, deep and beautiful, showing a remarkable maturity for a young artist on her debut release. Indie and guitar pop with touches of rock, soul and blues, the EP brilliantly navigates between driving, insistent beats showcased best on the brash, electric ‘What In Hell’ and warm, tender, relatable ballads exploring the darker side of life, such as EP closer ‘First Scar’. Throughout it all is Spiller’s outstandingly unique, smoky yet tender vocals, with shades of Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse. “I wanted to make something dark and beautiful for everyone else who has those dark spots,” Spiller says of the EP’s creation.

With a nomadic early life, living in four cities across three countries, Spiller studied music at Berklee College of Music in Boston and first garnered attention with the release of her debut single ‘Cry All Night’ last October. The song went on the peak at number 9 on Triple J’s Unearthed chart which led to a national tour with label-mate Fergus James.

There is something special about Spiller’s music that wakens the emotions, that connects and draws you into her world and allows it to become part of your world as well. Passionate, relatable and utterly unforgettable this is music that moves the soul and we can’t wait to hear more. To celebrate the release of Little Demons we recently spoke to D’Arcy to find out more.

Hey D’Arcy! Thanks for chatting to us. How have you been coping with lockdown?!
Hey Women In Pop! Happy to. I’ve been doing okay considering. I’ve had a lot of time to write new stuff and have some me time.

Congratulations on the release of your debut EP Little Demons, it is incredible! How does it feel to have it out in the world?
It’s really exciting and it’s a little weight off my shoulders. Writing Little Demons was like having multiple therapy sessions, in the sense that each track is a story of mine that lingers. So now that it’s out in the world I can focus on writing new tracks about the present or future.

Can you talk us through a little of the creative process behind the EP?
Each track has had its own experience in being written. I wrote the lyrics to ‘Deep Black Sea’ on my balcony at night listening to ‘You Are All That I Am Not’ by Band of Skulls. Then while in LA I had a one of my first writing sessions with Chris Collins and did gang vocals for the first time in a track. The process was actually kind of experimental, you would throw out different things to try but it all came together magically. ‘Cry All Night’ I wrote in the US when I was about 15-16 and I recorded the track at Backlot Studios in South Melbourne, with Mark D’Angelo (owner of Backlot Studio) who did the production for the track. His studio at the time had purple and blueish lighting which gave a really cool ambience that was perfect for working on ‘Cry All Night’. ‘What In Hell’ was like a major therapy session with JP Fung who I wrote the track with in Sydney. I had to go deep into my head to remember moments and how I felt in the US while figuring myself out as a human being. JP and I started the session with a chat over a coffee or two to get to know each other. Then wrote thoughts or key words down that really resonated and then talked about my experiences in America. ‘First Scar’ I wrote with Nick Acquroff from N.Y.C.K. We wrote the track in his bedroom studio. We first started chatting while he played the piano and what flowed out was my story about a particular relationship I had had. It was like another therapy session because I let go. I wanted to release these emotions I was holding on to and Nick was really understanding. It was however, the first track I had to build over multiple days because there was a lot going into it and we both wanted it to be not only beautiful but tension releasing. Lastly ‘Wildfire’ I wrote with Phebe Starr and Xavier Dunn. Both amazing people who work together amazingly! I wanted to work around the two words that kept popping up in my head, which were Wildfire and Dollhouse. Phebe and I wrote sentences that we felt worked around those two words and Xavier was throwing down melodic ideas during. In between the writing we had to go for walks and coffee runs to keep creative juices flowing and whatever melody or word phrasing stuck with us during those walks we used.

What were the inspirations behind the EP?
Past experiences, feelings and people helped me to create the EP. There were particular memories or feelings that kept lingering over me and I needed somewhere to put them. ‘First Scar’ is about a past flame I had in the US who never quite left my thoughts. They were my first real heartbreak I suppose. ‘What In Hell’ is about the way I felt during the process of trying to find out who I am as a person and my beliefs, ‘Deep Black Sea’ is about  knowing something or having a particular feeling about something or someone and having to keep it hidden, ‘Wildfire’ is about never losing yourself in a relationship and to not pretend things are good when they aren’t. ‘Cry All Night’ I was inspired to write after watching the movie August Rush while living in Minneapolis and it was dark and snowing outside. A couple years ago a really close family friend passed away and I dedicated the track to her. Now I think of her every time I sing it and her daughter is one of my closest friends.

Is there a particular message you wanted to get out with the EP, and with your music in general?
I just want people to know that you can be feel sad and vulnerable. It’s okay! (‘First Scar’ and ‘Cry All Night’). I want people to stick up for themselves and be real when things are shit. Pretending isn’t going to bring you forward or resolve your problem (‘Wildfire’). You’ll never know if you don’t say or do, however think of the person before hand because you may do more harm then good. Is what you’re about to say or do good for them or just for your conscience? (‘Deep Black Sea’). Also, go out and fucking explore please!! You never know what cool or weird life changing things are out there. You could find a whole different you (‘What In Hell’).

I understand the track ‘Deep Black Sea’ was recorded in one take. Was it a conscious decision to record that way or was the first take so good you kept it?
I suppose it just felt right in its rawness. I can’t really explain why we only used the first take other than it just felt right. The day just kind of flowed like that. Everything fell into place and I had a lot of fun piecing it all together with Chris Collins.

You’ve lived in four cities across three countries in your life, do you think this semi-nomadic life has inspired or informed the music you make?
I suppose home is a feeling I get or I chase and it’s wherever I feel like I’m progressing, soaking up new ideas or knowledge, meeting people who share a different perspective, or just when I’m being inspired. I have an apartment in Melbourne where I feel comfortable and at ease to rest but I’m not able to write a song because my state of mind is in zone out and relax mode. When I walk beside the ocean near my place, take a drive or I go back to Daylesford and sit in nature I feel a sense of centeredness and all these ideas flood my mind. Then I think about how to express these thoughts and feelings across. I love a good story and I’m definitely always feeling wanderlust.

What part did music play in your life when you were growing up?
I danced before I really took a leap into making music. So, moving to music was always there and I had vocal lessons at a really young age before I could actually read, so I would re-play songs until I memorised them. Some days I don’t listen to music because I don’t know what my mood is. We listen to music that influences our emotions or makes them more intense, at least I do. My parents taste in music really influenced mine I think. They always played Chris Isaak, Edwyn Collins, Gipsy Kings, Ella Fitzgerald or Cat Stevens.

Were there any particular musicians that inspired you when you were a child?
From what I partially remember and what my family tells me, I loved Kasey Chambers, Missy Higgins, Björk and the Gipsy Kings. I use to dance around to Gipsy Kings a lot and sing Kasey Chambers in the car, ‘Pony’ mainly because we had moved from the city to the country.

There has been so much discussion on gender equality in the last few years in the wake of #metoo. What are your thoughts on sexism and gender equality in the music industry?
I think progress is slowly being made. It’s things like The Women’s Music Industry Advisory Panel and the Australian Women in Music Awards seek to raise awareness on the subject and celebrate achievements, big or small. It makes no sense to me that there wouldn’t be equality in this industry or any for that matter. Talent is talent whether you’re in the business side of the industry or you’re the artist. Talent is the thing you do best or extraordinarily. It’s the soul, hard work and personality that’s important not the gender.

What else can we expect from D’Arcy Spiller in 2020?
Expect more music to be made, shows to pop up and I really hope there is some travel to kill my wanderlust bug. Although 2020 has been difficult so far, I’m confident it can only get better from here on. Shit happens but then some good has to balance it out somehow. So, to everyone out there keep putting positive thoughts and vibes out there.

Little Demons by D’Arcy Spiller is out now through 100s + 1000s. You can download on iTunes or stream on Apple Music and Spotify.

To keep up with all things D’Arcy Spiller you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.