The Skinny On... Carla J. Easton

Ahead of her upcoming live performance at Summerhall this month, Carla J. Easton tells us why she'll never forgive George Lucas, and what made her vomit on 27 June

Feature by Carla J. Easton | 11 Aug 2021
  • Carla J. Easton

What’s your favourite place to visit?
Paris. It's a good place to get lost. You can wander for hours and hours. I like going places where taste is a big part of the experience. Paris has lots of flavours.

What’s your favourite colour?
Yellow. It's happy.

Who was your hero growing up?
My Great Aunt Kath. She was my best friend. She was both glamourous and homely. Fierce, independent, stubborn but incredibly loving and kind. She chose a different life and path from her sisters which made me realise, from a young age, that was perfectly okay to do.

Whose work inspires you now?
I took part in a writing residency (from my bedroom via Zoom) in March of this year. It was organised by Howard Bilerman (he produced my album Impossible Stuff) and was for alumni of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada who had taken part in previous 'real life' residencies. We got to have lectures from Sharon Van Etten, Tamara Lindeman, Beverly Glenn Copeland, Basia Bulat and loads more songwriters.

The one that stood out for me was Mary Margaret O'Hara. It was the one Zoom lecture that didn't record and I WhatsApped Howard later saying I was so thankful it DIDN'T record. I can't remember most of what Mary was saying, which was a lot, I just remember how I felt while she was talking: completely and utterly inspired to be myself. Mary is the epitome of someone dancing to the beat of their own drum with zero fucks. I admire her in ways I can't articulate.

I found an original pressing of her only album Miss America and became utterly absorbed and hooked. When you make an album as good as that you don't really need to make another one, or you can wait and do it completely on your own terms. It's such a seminal piece of work that I think the conversation about it should still be ongoing. Mary changed my life a bit this year.

What’s your favourite meal to cook at home?
I like the ceremony of cooking steak. I like sealing in all the juices and having to time everything perfectly. I like cooking with friends or partners. I'm definitely more a sous chef than a chef! And it's defintely more fun cooking together.

What three people would you invite to your virtual dinner party?
Yoko Ono, Frida Kahlo and Yayoi Kusama. I think they are three incredible human beings who have never compromised themselves or their work and that the conversation would be insightful and inspiring. And fun!

Apart from your upcoming Poster Paints album, which album by another artist are you most looking forward to coming out this year?
I really love Clair's album Earth Mothers that just came out. It's a wonderful and comprehensive piece of work that reminds me a bit of Virginia Astley's From Gardens Where We Feel Secure, but instead of English country gardens we are thrown into the urban extremity of Glasgow. It's not rusting gates swinging or distant church bells, but something more tangible – the sound of a city in the early hours after the night before juxtaposed with that late-night fear. I like the textures of all the components used – a siren and a creaking, a hushed whisper and a scream. I think it's a really exciting album.

What’s the worst film you’ve ever seen?
I'm a huge Star Wars fan and always have been. But I will never forgive George Lucas for Episode III. Darth Vader is one of the most dangerous villains in cinema history. As a child he is the stuff of nightmares. The scene where he breaks free of his shackles screaming 'noooooooo' at the point where he transforms from Anakin to Darth reduced the character to pantomine depths of danger. It was – and still is – unforgiveable.

How have you stayed inspired during the multiple lockdowns and various restrictions that have been in place for the past year and a half?
I think my initial reaction was 'adapt' rather than 'accept' in terms of music-making. WEIRDO was ready to release so I thought just do it and then move onto writing new work. I enjoyed the challenge of making music videos and artwork in lockdown. During the residency (mentioned above) I became aware of and started Morning Pages. This has been a great process and tool for writing. 

I love collaborating and that has been hard but doable; Poster Paints became a bit of a lifeline. So strange to write and record an entire album's worth of songs without ever being in the same room as each other – it's only very recently we were able to go into the studio together to track some vocals. Prior to that, pretty much all the vocals have been recorded in my wardrobe in my bedroom.

But it was also simple things I found inspiration in. I fell back in love with my record collection. Walks – both listening to music and just listening to the sound of the city. Coffees in parks with friends. Look after and help my mum – she's had two strokes during the last ten months which has been hard – make sure she is safe. Gardening. Fall in love. Try and learn the guitar. And also learning how to do nothing and being okay with that. I'm still struggling with that. I'm used to having no free time. I feel guilty doing nothing but recognise it's actually good for you.

What books would you read if you got the ping alert to your phone and found out you had to self-isolate for the next ten days?
The Elegance of The Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery and Tales of The City by Armistead Maupin. I've read The Elegance.. about five times and every time I do I discover new details in it. It's a really beautiful book exploring language and philosophy. I read the Tales... series a couple of years ago and got immersed in the world. I wanted the characters to be real so I could be their friend.

Who’s the worst?
People with hidden agendas/liars.

When did you last cry and why?
This morning during therapy.

What are you most scared of?
My mum having another stroke because it would be awful and the outcome would be full of uncertainty.

When did you last vomit?
27 June. It was my niece's 10th birthday. That morning I had my second vaccine, although it's probably more to do with running around after four nieces and playing with them on the trampoline all day in blistering sunshine and not the vaccine.

Tell us a secret?
During lockdown I started a Certificate in Floristry as a means to keep creative and learn something new and am taking part in the World Skills UK competition. I made it through to the second heat and am awaiting my results.

Which celebrity could you take in a fight?
I don't know. I'm pretty short and small. I think most people would take me.

If you could be reincarnated as an animal which animal would it be?
A cat. I like to be left alone but will seek out company when I feel like/need it. But I also really like otters.

You’re playing Summerhall in August! What are you most looking forward to about the return of live music this year?
Drums! I never thought I would say I miss the sound of a snare drum soundchecking but I do. I really do. I can't wait to finally play WEIRDO live – a whole year after release! I am looking forward to sub bass synths blasting out a PA and rehearsing with my band and the elation after performing and loading in and soundchecking and ALL OF IT.

I can't wait to see an audience and speak to them in real life and not through a screen. I can't wait for a live performance to be this one snapshot in time of people being in the same place at the same time and it existing only in memories. I can't wait to sing. I have forgotten how much I love singing.


Carla J. Easton plays Summerhall, Edinburgh, 18 Aug
carlajennifereaston.com
posterpaints.com