‘Clay’ is the latest offering from Lithuanian-Canadian artist Aistis. The 11-song alternative folk album emerged during the final touches of his upcoming release ‘Caviar For Seagulls.’ Through a blend of reality and fiction, ‘Clay’ is set to stun listeners with his exploration of the cyclical nature of complicated relationships, painting an atmospheric soundscape of a character ensnared in romantic complexities. We talk with Aistis about the phenomenal album release…
Can you share the inspiration behind the album title ‘Clay’ and what it represents to you personally and artistically?
The inspiration behind the title contains multitudes. It is meant to represent malleability and how clay, the material itself, can take on different shapes and forms. Disguising itself, changing, morphing. It is also of the earth, natural. Outside of this, it is an inside joke between myself and someone very close to me.
‘Clay’ explores the cyclical nature of complicated relationships. How did your own experiences and emotions shape the narrative and themes of the album?
The album is a direct exploration of personal experience manipulated by fiction and fantasy, to blur the lines of what is real and what is not, hopefully arriving at something larger than reality itself. This seems to be a throughline in my writing. It is all personal and related to me, but embellished with theatre and creative liberty.
In your creative process, you mention blending reality with fiction and using multiple voices. How did this approach impact the storytelling and emotional depth of ‘Clay’?
When exploring and trying to understand personal relationships, there is an inherent bias in my re-telling/perspective on everything. My projection of personal emotion, feeling, etc. I thought it would be very antiquated and cliche to only explore from this angle because when emotions are heightened, often memory is affected and your recounting of events may not even be true in the first place. It became a lot more interesting and fun to take elements of reality and have multiple narrators with intentional fiction, because that may be closer to a true re-telling than if I just tried to recount my perspective, if that makes sense? It also made it a lot more playful, which is something I love to explore in music/art.
How did you arrive at your unique brand of alternative folk? And how has it evolved with this album?
I think alt-folk is just a blanket term for being able to include any type of instrument in any lyrically driven music (laughs). I don’t think about genre much, and I just want to make something different than the last thing I made. To continue pushing myself creatively and go in new directions. Those are the artists I’ve always admired the most. It is far more interesting and rewarding that way.
Can you discuss some of the specific musical techniques you used and how they contribute to the album’s atmosphere?
I recorded most of the album in my home studio which has quite a lot of limitations. It is a glass building that is not treated or soundproofed, with weird sonic reflections happening all over the place. Sometimes limitations can create interesting opportunities to try unconventional things. A lot of the production style came from impulse and using what was available. A lot of vocal layering, doubling of instruments to make things sound bigger, more lush, hide certain imperfections, etc.
Given that ‘Clay’ emerged during the final touches of ‘Caviar For Seagulls’, how do you see the two projects connecting or diverging in terms of themes and musical style?
The freedom of written and sonic expression on “Clay” was only possible through the creation of “Caviar For Seagulls”. Caviar is the first time where I felt creatively uninhibited and willing to lean into absurdity/playfulness. It is maximalist and much larger in production, with longer track-lengths, etc., so even though I made it before Clay, it felt more fitting to have it come out after. “Clay” feels like a nice lead in and precursor to it.
Your lyrics are known for their wit, candor, and emotional truth. How do you balance these elements to create songs that are both deeply personal and universally relatable?
Humour and pain are synonymous to my life. If you are writing truthfully and honestly, I think people will connect. You can hear and feel when someone is expressing themselves honestly and the same applies to when someone is phoning it in. There’s no hiding authenticity and I think it translates. At least that’s my spiritual philosophy on music/art.
If you could create a playlist with three of your songs and three songs from your biggest influences, what would you pick?
Hmm, that’s tough. If we are limiting it to “Clay”, since I would maybe pick a song or two from “Caviar”, I would have to say “Plateau Botticelli”, “No More Surprises”, and “Lover of Creation”. I would pair these currently with “Broken Finger Blues” by Richard Swift, “Idiot Wind” by Dylan, and then I’d throw in “Chateau Lobby #4” by Father John Misty. Maybe “Bluebirds” by Adam Green since I recently fell in love with that song.
When you’re not making music, what do you love to do to unwind and stay inspired?
Going to the movies, eating out/drinking wine, going for a run, playing basketball, reading, drinking coffee while walking. A lot of hanging and trying to take life slow (possibly because summer is short here in Montreal so you gotta soak it up while you can). Visiting my family as much as possible. Barbequing. Traveling as much as I can.
Looking back at making this album, what’s been the most unexpected lesson or piece of advice that’s stuck with you?
Impulse + preparation = uncharted personal territory. Be playful and you will be rewarded. I thought about David Bowie’s quote on creativity a lot while making this album and I hope it shows:
“If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.”
That’s such a great quote, Aistis. Thank you so much for talking with us.
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