Fantasy, fairytale and folklore - An Interview with American Songwriter Kramies
We speak to American songwriter Kramies about how he creates his entrancing tapestry of fairytale and folklore influenced music. We discuss his creative process, gear used, recording, creating a visual world for your music, promotion and more.
Artwork by Lady Viktoria
Eimear O Sullivan, Musicngear: Fantasy, fairytale and folklore are themes that run throughout your music; what are some specific works of art that have had a huge influence on you?
One of my first memories, when I was very young, was going to see The Nutcracker Ballet. I vividly remember hearing ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the eerie kind of beauty that song created. It made me fall in love with the combination of tales and folklore. Soon after that I once again fell in love with Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’. I must've read that book 100s of times and seen the stage performance many times as well. Also, what really captured my imagination was the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien and ‘The Hobbit’.
I always wanted to be a book writer, but music seemed to fit my restlessness easier. I’m much more influenced by books and folklore than music, so when I discovered I could combine the two I never looked back.
What does your overall creative process look like?
I somehow go through unpredictable fazes, where it’s like getting fed information from the trees or being struck by lightning. Usually, I have to live a while before things drop into my head. I have a hard time sitting still and it tends to bring out a bit of my darker side. So I start by traveling or sitting in the woods. The woods are the most healing space while waiting for stories to come.
I have a few spots that are always ready for me to start writing. In my house, I have about 7 Guild guitars all tuned wildly different, and a piano ready for whenever I hear something. I’ve learned after years of doing this not to force myself to write and not to play instruments just to fill the time. It’s much better to keep it special like a favorite holiday.
Usually, I write things in strange tunings and play the same progression over and over till melodies float into my mind. Once something stays around I start to hear it when I wake up in the mornings and I’ll become obsessed with it.
I’ll also start to look through old paintings, and go to museums or page through old world books.
I tend to try and keep things really simple since I don’t know much about modern technology.
I have a hard time sitting still and it tends to bring out a bit of my darker side. So I start by traveling or sitting in the woods. The woods are the most healing space while waiting for stories to come.
Photo taken at Cleveland Ohio studio with Chris Keffer
Gear
I have an old Tascam 8-track, two AKG microphones. That’s how I demo everything. That’s where it starts. I really believe that if you can record with the bare minimum, use lower quality older equipment, and your songs still stand out and get you excited then that’s all you need to write and demo. The joy you feel when you’ve accomplished a demo on shitty equipment after coming out of a long winter is what it’s all about.
The lyrics are my favorite part. That’s where the writer in me lives. That’s where all the art and the walks through the woods come into reality.
Once I’ve demoed a song and I feel confident and I’m ready, I am fortunate to know wonderful studios, producers, and friends who throw proper microphones in front of me and let me float through the studio like a happy ghost. I get to the point where I can’t sleep and my head runs wild. But thankfully that seems to work. I think it’s really important when creating/recording to take your spirit and anxieties to the edge where bits of Mad Hatter-ness exists, yet to know yourself enough to pull back at the right moments.
I love being in a studio - surrounded by blinking lights, microphone stands and faders, just knowing that something is being created out of thin air.
Photo taken inside a Castle in Ireland demoing songs
As an artist who conceptualizes the music and the visual world behind it, what are some useful resources you would recommend?
I love working with other artists like Lady Viktoria who painted the last few covers.
When I’m creating an album or single I use artwork as a visual to get me where I need to go musically. When the song has finally taken shape I’ll ask one of my favorite artists of that time to do a piece of art. I send them the songs and completely leave it to them to make their magic since I already love what they do.
I love art, books, fashion, and those sort of things that make an artist out of life. I think they are all meant to be together from beginning to end and I try to pull that off visually every time I make things.
The lyrics are my favorite part. That’s where the writer in me lives. That’s where all the art and the walks through the woods come into reality.
What is your process for promoting your music once completed?
You know, I was signed to a handful of record labels when I first started, but as things grew and I started to come into my own sound, all the medium to bigger labels wouldn’t want anything to do with me. I was not normal to them and they couldn’t figure out how to market me, but hysterically enough, once I did it on my own and had a bit of success, all those record labels started reaching back out to me and I just don’t seem to care hahaha. That’s the way it goes.
I strongly recommend building your own team. I have a very strong team of PR folks, Radio firms, managers and even a person that helps with interviews and the scary World Wide Web internet thing :)
It doesn’t mean I won’t sign to another label in the near future if it makes sense but you can do the same thing that the labels do without being locked down to someone else’s timing and opinions. I am pretty much a lone wolf and I enjoy all the work so I keep the team small (although it seems to be getting bigger every year)
Honestly, the older I get the more I realize I don’t know anything and there’s no right way or wrong way to do things. Don’t listen to anyone, dig deep and be yours and let it come to you.. It’s whatever works for your journey. It’s all the hard work leading to small successes that build up over the years that make a creative career, and if you’re willing to go through it all then that’s your recipe. Having good friends, and a strong team of creative people with way more knowledge and experience with things is the key for me.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Aurora… I can’t stop listening to Aurora. She’s my favorite. I’m actually covering/remaking one of her songs.
Joanna Newsom has one of my favorite songs called “81”.
Poppy Jean Crawford is super cool.
Allison Lorenzen is fantastic.
I’m also really into Led Zeppelin III second side which is probably the best second half of an album ever made.
David Bowie- Hunky Dory
Basically, any artist who lives art, fashion and creates things with a unique whimsical life vibe - life artists.
Connect with Kramies
Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Spotify
About Eimear O Sullivan
Eimear Ann O Sullivan is a multi-genre music producer, audio engineer and vocalist. After receiving a Masters in Music Technology from the CIT Cork School of Music, she went on to operate as a producer under the name Blakkheart. Her releases have received critical acclaim from Ireland's biggest music publications, such as District Magazine and Nialler9, alongside receiving heavy commercial radio airplay. She currently works in Cork recording studio Flashpoint CC. Previous clients of hers include the likes of Comedy Central’s Dragony Aunt star Candy Warhol, rapper Darce and Outsider YP. (Photo credit @Fabian Boros)
Contact Eimear O Sullivan at eimear.o.sullivan@musicngear.com
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