Macon Magazine

Homespun WE CHECKED IN with three artists who recently recorded al- bums in Macon. While all three have a different story and sound, they all agree: Macon spins magic for their music. Washed Out Ernest Greene is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and front man of Washed Out. Pitchfork dubbed him "the godfather of chillwave." The Perry, Georgia native performs worldwide, and he creates it all from at-home studio in Ma- con. Expect his fifth full-length album to drop later this year. Q: Can you share your process of creating and recording at your home studio in Macon? How does being here affect what you produce? A: I've always done the majority of my writing and recording in various bedroom studios. I think the DIY approach helps foster experimentation. If I was paying by the hour at a proper recording studio or collaborating with other musicians or en- gineers, I might be less adventurous. Practically speaking, the flexibility of working from home is nice; I can be more hands-on with my family or work quickly when inspiration strikes. Process-wise, I quickly write as many song ideas as pos- sible, then] wait for the magic moments when things fall into place. I've crafted 10 songs for the album from around 200 song ideas written in the past couple of years. Some luck is involved, but consistent daily effort creates more chances for these magic moments to happen. Q: What will we hear in the forthcoming album? A: It is my fifth full-length album and it is still untitled at the moment; however, I'm finishing up the last few mixing tweaks now. It was written and recorded in Macon over the last year or so. I have been experimenting with new music for at least the last couple of years but it wasn't until last fall that I settled on a "sound" for the album that felt right. I aspire for each new album to have its own unique sonic identity and this has proven to be more and more challeng- ing as I get deeper into my career. I'm lucky that I don't have to release music regularly, and so I'm comfortable waiting until things naturally fall into place. Sometimes that can take three months or sometimes it can take three years. Q: What is the mood you imagine creating with this al- bum, the feeling you hope the audiences experience? A: The songwriting happened quickly once I found the cor- rect mood for the album. I figured out a tone color somewhere between happy and sad by finding a specific type of chord progression that shared qualities of major and minor keys. That tonal zone has a really nice emotional tension between hopeful and bittersweet. I hope the album moves listeners emotionally and serves as a helpful form of escap- ism. My favorite music always serves this purpose. BAS At first, Christian Gibson, Brian Tyra, Hunter Pettis, Dalton Love, and Charles Fleming came together as a fill-in band when guitarist and vocalist Britton Seprish needed to complete a gig. They blossomed into BAS, a psychedelic, funky rock & roll band who just produced their first record at Capricorn Records, due out later this summer. Q: What can listeners expect to experience when they hear your debut album? A: Christian Gibson on saxophone and keyboards said, "It has screaming lead, funky rhythm guitar, and driving bass, paired with piano ballads and sultry saxophone all drizzled on top of a powerhouse percussive duo. I expect the listener to ride a rollercoaster of emotions through celebratory highs, devastating loss, and everything between." Bassist Charles Fleming continues, "We aim to take the lis- tener through the ebbs and flows of a total experience when we play live.The best part is seeing that happen in real time in front of us. That extends to the artists and friends we bring along, like Sylvia Donaldson, who paints live while we play." Guitarist Dalton Love is the newest addition to the band. He thinks "the mood is definitely heavy and different FROM LEFT: ERNEST GREENE, WASHED OUT. CHARLES FLEMING, BAS. PHOTO BY NATHAN JONES. EDDIE 9V. PHOTO BY CAMERON FLAISCH. 86 maconmagazine.com | JUNE/JULY 2023

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