ECLIPSÄ Interview: FIERCELY INDEPENDENT & FIERCELY UNIQUE
Introduction
Interview
TTM: Were you doing music before I was before you became ECLIPSÄ?
ECLIPSÄ: So I started doing music when I was in high school and I was going by my real name, obviously. And then in college, I had some sort of ‘weird time’ and I changed my stage name to “Azula”. That was fun, and then I changed it back to my real name, and now I’m ECLIPSÄ. But with everything, I’ve done different things, it’s been really weird, but I like the vibe that I’m going for now, so hopefully I will stick with it.
TTM: This incarnation that you’re in now, is like an amalgamation of all of those past experiences and past inspirations pouring into one now, I suppose there’s a lot of growth there?
ECLIPSÄ: Yeah, definitely. I mean, with my stage name before ECLIPSÄ , I was making, Taylor Swift-esque music – country, soft, sad, love songs. And now I’m kind of going for the more… not necessarily angry. I mean, I’ve got a few songs coming out after my EP, which are definitely more shoe-gaze, kind of like rocky, angry vibes, so I’m definitely channelling my energy in a different way.
TTM: You’ve said that one of your goals is to create a safe space for everybody, create a community. Are you going to do that through your music, or is that something that you’re going to be more like socially part of?
ECLIPSÄ: I think a bit of both, because my music is very personal. I write about a lot of stuff that has actually happened to me and the people around me.. And so through my music, definitely, but also I’ve got the TEARWAVE MUSIC MAGAZINE as well. That’s kind of like my label. I’m not signed, but that’s kind of what I call it. And I’d love to create, like a collective, or create my own, like indie label for independent artists. I’m hoping to do that further on down the line.
TTM: It’ll be really exciting, maybe a couple of years down the line seeing how far you’ve developed the community!
ECLIPSÄ: I’ve always wanted to create something more than just the music, and I think creating like a community or a collective would be really fun. With my music magazine, for instance, I run it all myself. I’ve got, like, a couple of people who helped me write the articles, but apart from that, it’s all me, so I like to have that control. Especially because, in my past, I’ve not really been in control of a lot of situations. So now this is me taking back my control?
TTM: And how has it been creating the magazine? How has it been pouring all of these inspirations into both your music and the magazine and really finding people to connect with and explore their inspirations as well?
ECLIPSÄ: It has been really fun to talk to people and network, but also not really network at the same time. It’s really weird, and it’s definitely weird for me for once not being the one interviewing people instead!
TTM: What inspirations would you say are going into this EP? You’ve said that you’re working on past life experiences as well. Has it been like difficult exploring those experiences?
ECLIPSÄ: A lot of my songs as I’ve said are very personal. A lot of the stuff has actually happened to me, and I’m now promoting my song “Going Under”, which is coming out next month, and that is all about sexual assault and feeling betrayed. And it’s hard. I wrote that song ages and ages ago, but like listening to it now, it’s hard to actually think, that actually happened to me, and this is what I’ve made.
And it’s hard for me to push it out, because it’s a good song, and I love the song, but because it’s so deeply personal, it’s like, there’s kind of a mental block? Like, do I really want to let people in that much? But then I think, no, it will be good, if I can connect with other people through it.
TTM: I’m really sorry that you went through that. I think it’s so it’s so difficult. But isn’t it amazing that through such a tough time and a bad situation, you were able to have the strength to turn that into something artistic, and something that you can have chance to reflect on and come out the other end a stronger person. Is it difficult to write? Is it a time consuming process? Is it something that you find, easy to do? I’m always stunned at how somebody can translate an experience like that into something so artistic and so vulnerable.
ECLIPSÄ: I think sometimes it can definitely be a hard process, because when you’re writing about life experiences, especially traumatic ones, you kind of have to censor it a little bit. Yeah, so like it’s finding the words to censor it, but not censor it at the same time, just finding the right words, that’s difficult. Overall, I think I’m kind of lucky with just being able to get it done. I can write a song in probably about half an hour. Give me half an hour and a beat, and I’ll do it.
TTM: I think that’s what you’ve got to remember as well. It’s very easy to get caught up in the mean things people say and the negative things people say, because unfortunately, people are always going to be like that. I think the real thing here is being able to find an audience, and even if it’s just one person who has found that music and related to it, I think that’s the magic of being able to create something like this.
ECLIPSÄ: I do agree, too many artists to just look at the numbers and everything. I think people really need to actually, instead of looking at the numbers, look at your art, because a lot of people will release music, and it I don’t look at the numbers with my EP, because the people who do listen to my music consistently listen to my music consistently.
TTM: How do you stay motivated each and every day to go through these processes?
ECLIPSÄ: I think what keeps me motivated is probably seeing my music friends going out and doing stuff, and I’ve been full time working since I was 14, and I really just want to do something that I love, which is what I’m doing now. I’m working full time, but at the same time, I’m doing my music, and I just I can’t wait until I can take my music and live.
TTM: Are your friends proud of you and your family? Because obviously this is a big thing, you know, making music and putting music out there, it takes a lot of bravery to do. Are they proud of you?
ECLIPSÄ: Yeah especially my family, my mum, she’ll be like, “Oh, I’m playing your songs at work, my customers really love it.” They definitely do support me a lot.
TTM: Have you had chance to, um, perform as ECLIPSÄ?
ECLIPSÄ: Not yet, but I want to. I work full time, it’s going to be hard, especially, to find the time to practice and then actually take the time off to do it. And also, I haven’t been on stage for about two and a half years now, and I’m really scared to get back out there, because I’ve never performed my own songs before. I’ve only ever done covers.
TTM: ECLIPSÄ, the rock clubs are going to love you! You have such a definitive look already that feels very authentic, are you proud of being able to celebrate yourself in this way? The imagery is just so brilliant. How does that feel? How does that feel to be so authentic?
ECLIPSÄ: When I was in high school, I wasn’t really like I was now. I did stand out a little bit, but I think that was just like my personality, rather than my looks. But since then, I’ve really became how I want to look, if that makes sense. Like I’ve got the piercings and all the tattoos and everything like that, and I really want to get more tattoos to stand out even more!
TTM: What would you say is the thing that you are most proud of?
ECLIPSÄ: Developing as an artist, I’ve done everything myself, and I will continue to do everything myself.
TTM: Do you think we’ll see another incarnation of yourself? Do you think we’ll see that evolution? What is it that you hope to do with your music?
ECLIPSÄ: I just hope to inspire people to be themselves, to be honest, because I’ve always been myself, but I think especially in high school it’s all cliquey, right? Everyone is focused on being the most popular and stuff like that, and it’s just so boring. Just stop. Just be yourself, and you’ll find the people who you’re meant to find. And I think my music is very me, so I think anybody who listens to my music will hopefully be inspired just to be themselves. Don’t be the sheep. Be the shepherd.