Story, pictures & Interview by Ericka Clevenger @erickaclevenger
Lindsey Elise French, the shape-shifting power behind Neggy Gemmy, doesn’t simply make music—she builds dimensions. The rising star within the digital pop scene, identified for her hanging sense of duality, hands-on manufacturing fashion, and rising momentum within the stay music world. She writes, information, and mixes every part herself, crafting songs that mirror her multifaceted id. Her music blends shimmering, high-energy beats with uncooked, emotional depth, capturing the push and pull between vulnerability and power. With a presence that’s each enigmatic and magnetic, Lindsey radiates a quiet depth that pulls you in.
Her world is a handcrafted ecosystem of glitchy magnificence, emotional maximalism, and pure sonic instinct that lies on the coronary heart of her sound and her rising cult attraction. We met up in Los Angeles for a photograph shoot that shortly become an journey—full with getting kicked out of a lodge foyer for being “too suspicious” (learn: too iconic). What began as chaos ended up golden, as we relocated to a second spot that felt much more becoming for her album’s noir-pop power.
Along with her new album, She Comes From Nowhere, out June 20, Neggy Gemmy is again together with her most uncooked, radiant, and imaginative work but. We talked sonic rituals, haunted devices, mysterious ladies, and the way to say one thing “stupider” on objective—in one of the best ways.
How did the title Neggy Gemmy come to life? What’s the story behind it?
Up till my final album, I used to be going by ‘Detrimental Gemini’, and I began this undertaking in like 2011 or one thing loopy. In order that’s a very long time to hold on to a reputation that you simply arbitrarily picked within the first place by writing 50 phrases on a chunk of paper and choosing two of them! Some individuals began calling me “Neggy Gemmy” for brief, and I laughed rather a lot once I first heard it. It feels like nonsense, and I like that it doesn’t have any direct connotations or associations, so I simply modified my title to that.
How would you describe your music to somebody who’s by no means heard it earlier than?
I often say one thing like Oh, it’s like indie digital. Then they are saying Oh, like EDM? and I say No, the other of that. After which they are saying Oh, like Foster the Folks? After which I faux to be choking on one thing and excuse myself demurely.
What’s your inventive course of like? The place do you often draw inspiration from?
First, I gather numerous previous samples. I’ve a bunch that have been ripped from previous pattern CDs from the 90s. So I like to start out by getting my arms on previous bizarre stuff. Then I prefer to click on by means of previous drum samples or presets on synthesizers, or samples, till I discover one thing I like. A track just about at all times begins that means. I make every part in my studio at house, I prefer to take my time. I often simply maintain including layers to a track instrumentally, and if it goes someplace, I’ll add lyrics; if I believe it’s not going wherever, I’ll simply drop it. I believe I will need to have inspiration so I’m at all times looking out and accumulating extra music. For the previous couple of years I’ve been accumulating previous exotica music, international movie scores, jazz, and soul all from the 50s and 60s. I put it multi functional playlist known as “Contortionist Jazz Exotica.” Anybody can discover it on Spotify. That sort of music has actually impressed me just lately. I like the grit of previous recordings. And so they simply don’t make ’em like they used to.
It’s actually cool and spectacular that you simply write, report and blend your individual music. Have you ever at all times completed that?
Thanks! I began writing songs once I was an adolescent however I wasn’t at all times a solo artist. I was in several bands the place it was a gaggle effort to make the music however the bands would come and go. Ultimately, it was simply me, so I needed to both quit or learn to do every part myself. I gained numerous independence and freedom by studying the way to do all these items alone but it surely’s been an extended journey.
Any recommendation for somebody who needs to place out their very own music?
I believe it’s a captivating time to be alive and be capable of make artwork. It’s by no means been simpler to be unbiased of main labels and all that. I believe being a part of a neighborhood, particularly if you’re simply beginning, is essential. Artwork is a dialog; it isn’t made in a vacuum. so one of the best artwork is formed by outdoors affect and when you lose that your work is stale and boring. Don’t simply put out something you make. Self-editing is essential; be sure it’s good!
You co-own a label known as 100% Electronica along with your companion, George Clanton. How’s that going? I see the bumper stickers round city typically. Are you actively working with new musicians?
yah the label goes good! We think about it to be extra like a skate group, it’s actually informal. We don’t search for anybody to be on the label, we have now some cool concepts for our subsequent releases, however they don’t contain the everyday artist/label relationship. We’re not keen on making or breaking anybody or turning them right into a star. We’re simply attempting to concentrate on our personal respective musical careers, and the label may be very a lot second to that. it’s an effective way to share music we love and likewise be sure that our personal catalogs are adequately managed.
I like that every of your albums appears to have a definite theme. Does the music form the idea, or does the idea come first?
I don’t actually consciously do it this fashion, however the music shapes the idea. I like excited about how I heard david lynch speaking as soon as about writing Twin Peaks. he mentioned he didn’t actually know what was going to occur subsequent or how one thing was going to finish, he simply saved making it up as he went. I like believing that one thing can nonetheless be a cohesive and compelling story even in case you’re simply creating it as you go. Themes and concepts current themselves alongside the way in which. I believe the unconscious will get an opportunity to peek by means of if I enable myself to work this fashion, and there’s every part you need down in there.
We used your mother’s highschool guitar as a photograph prop, which I beloved. Do you typically write with particular devices? What sorts of instruments do you flip to if you’re writing?
Sure! I attempt to maintain on to devices. I believe bodily, they maintain power and have energy. I like their historical past. I’ve my mothers flamenco guitar, my flute from the fifth grade, and my first acoustic Washburn guitar from once I was like 13.
I get pleasure from incorporating bits of historical past into my music. However once I’m writing, I’m actually simply jacked into the pc listening to the identical 16 bars on a loop whereas attempting out completely different synths and vocal melodies. It’s not very romantic if you get all the way down to it. If I’m caught, I prefer to seek the advice of the KLF “guide,” and I undoubtedly used the “that’s the way in which uh hu uh hu” trick at the very least as soon as efficiently on this album.
You’ve already launched three wonderful singles from this album—are you able to give us somewhat backstory on every?
Thanks! Certain, Mysterious Woman, I shaped across the drum pattern. It’s simply very distinct and swingy, once I heard it clicking by means of my assortment, I ended cuz it stands out. And the drums impressed every part. 90s britpop band “Saint Etienne” has been one in every of my favourite bands currently, and so they pattern numerous previous tunes to get these stunning orchestral actions. I attempted to attain that form of sound utilizing string synths with a number of tape emulators and distortion to get that previous grit. Anyway, the mysterious woman elicits this sort of catwalk, and naturally, I wrote a track that describes a gorgeous woman taking place the road and the kind of ideas she conjures up. Polly Pocket is a track I wrote some time again but it surely didn’t appear completed so i set it apart. I’d nonetheless play it at exhibits typically, and mates would say Hey, what was that one Polly Pocket track? i believe it’s my pal James who completed the track. i can nonetheless hear him saying “that track fucks”. So, I needed to end it; I figured one thing about it resonates with individuals. Its a really private track about simply usually struggling in life as an outsider or a fuckup. I assume it’s relatable.Blue Eye See Via is the ultimate single of the album. It’s a trip-hop jam about my cat, if he have been to show right into a bat at night time and fly round. I’ve been listening to numerous Cibo Matto currently, and The Cardigans. i can catch myself listening to another person’s music and admiring their confidence to say one thing ridiculous. I bear in mind considering I wish to say one thing stupider. It’s cool lol. I by no means wish to take something too significantly.
What are you able to share about your upcoming album She Comes From Nowhere? The place did the title come from?
I’m actually excited for everybody to listen to it. I actually tried to maintain the spontaneity alive on this one and never overthink or overwork something. It’s a really impressed album and feels actually true to me. I wasn’t considering an excessive amount of about like is that this random as fuck or what is that this even, simply trusted no matter I used to be doing and ignored these ideas. The title describes me, I assume, as I’m on this album as a personality. I’ve a made up previous movie in my head the place I’m a mysterious girl who exhibits up on the town one night time and nobody is aware of me and I can’t communicate however bizarre issues begin taking place round me in like a twilight zone sort means.
I like the vibe and imagery from the Album. Do you prefer to create characters in your albums?
Sure, every album has its personal persona and model of who ‘Neggy Gemmy’ is. Visually and sonically I used to be impressed by previous movies and pulling previous radio exhibits or live shows from the web archive to pattern. Steadily a theme for this one simply appeared to come back collectively and I went with it. I’m a fan of so many various sorts of music so I can’t assist however wish to experiment with making all completely different sorts of songs. However I do attempt to maintain some constants by means of the album. I believe there’s a slight James Bond factor
taking place. There’s additionally numerous vibraphones.
Lastly, what can followers anticipate within the coming months—any exhibits, releases, or surprises we should always mark our calendars for?
Sure! I’m throwing 4 album launch events across the US this week and subsequent to have fun. I’ll be djing with George and another mates and performing a number of songs from the album.
ON TOUR:
Fri-Jun-20 San Francisco, CA Public Works
Sat-Jun-21 Los Angeles, CA Los Globos
Fri-Jun-27 Chicago, IL Sleeping Village
Sat-Jun-28 New York, NY Child’s All Proper
CONNECT WITH NEGGY GEMMY
The put up FROM NOWHERE, WITH FREQUENCY NEGGY GEMMY IS NOT FROM HERE appeared first on LADYGUNN.
