INTERVIEW: WILLA KAPLAN
Photo courtesy of Open Folk LA
Singer-songwriter Willa Kaplan is a refreshing addition to the world of indie folk. With her ever-expanding discography, the LA-based artist has her feet planted on a strong foundation of lush, acoustic dreamscapes. Her most recent release “In the Iris” is swimming with poignant lyricism and warm vocals–qualities that can also be found skillfully threaded throughout her previous work. We had the opportunity to sit with Kaplan and chat about Fleabag, her fascination with the harp, and the kind of artist she plans to be.
How would you describe yourself as an artist in three words for newer listeners?
I’d say honest, driven, and authentic.
Is there a song of yours that speaks to yourself as an artist right now?
I think the one that's coming out, “In the Iris,” is probably to date my most reflective of where I am now as an artist. I like songs that are grand and big sounding, but have an intimacy to it at the same time. I was listening to a lot of music like that around the time I wrote it, and so I felt like once I had finished the song, I'd achieved what I set out to do.
I feel like the new song swirls with sweet harmonies and hard-hitting lyrics. Can you talk to me about how the writing process for that went and when you knew it was finished?
Yeah! I wrote it sometime in December of last year. Usually, if I'm writing a song––if I've started it, I'll finish it. This one came really naturally and smoothly, which doesn't happen all the time. It felt like it was bubbling a little bit, and then it just came out. Those are the best times.
I’ll first write it as a poem, which sometimes helps me start out what I'm going to write about. Then I'll pick lines that I think are the best. And in the poem––I kind of hated all of it––but there was this one line that was the first of the chorus: “kindness lying in the iris.” I liked that and so I just ran with it.
You mentioned writing the song like a poem first. Do you often get inspired by poetry, movies, or films at all? Is there anything that informed, not only the song that's coming up, but just you as an artist in general?
I am super inspired by movies and TV––always have been. I have a song called “Television” that's kind of an ode to how much it's affected me. Poetry too––I read a lot of Allen Ginsberg as a teenager. I [also] watch Fleabag. Every time I rewatch that show, I end up writing something even though I've seen it a billion times.
I don't think there was anything specifically with this song, but I think it all accumulates over time. [“In the Iris”] has more of a cinematic feel compared to other stuff that I've written. When I finished it, I could envision it in some form of media which I don't think I had before with other songs of mine. That was cool.
That’s perfect because I had a question asking if there is a book or TV show you would like to write music for or hear in a trailer or an episode? One that you feel like your music kind of fits into?
If it were still on, on the air, I think I would pick [Fleabag]. But you know the show Shrinking? I think that show is so good at needle drops with songs in the episodes. That’d be a dream to have something synced––I think that's a great one. There's that episode where Jason Siegel is biking to “I Know the End” by Phoebe Bridgers. So good.
Is there an album or artist that made you realize you wanted to pursue music in the first place?
I’ve kind of had that bug in my brain since I was five. It never really felt like a decision––I always was just doing it. I don't know if there was a specific artist or album, but the older I got and the more serious I got about music, I think the person who inspired me the most in a surreal way [was] Jeff Buckley. Every time I saw him perform in videos, I was so mesmerized. “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” from his album Grace is one of the best-written songs I've ever heard. It fully sweeps you away immediately. Whatever that did to me when I heard it––I want to attempt something like that in my life. If I can make myself feel that way, or make someone else feel that way, that'd be a dream.
Do you ever find yourself wanting to step into a specific sound as an artist, or do you follow wherever the song you're writing at the moment leads you?
As of now, I have a pretty clear goal post that I feel like I'm working towards. Even though I've been doing it for so long, I'm always trying to, in real-time, grow to the highest expression of what artist I want to be. My favorite comfort zone is folk music because it's just me and the guitar, which is where I started. I love that music so much. Right now, I'm trying to expand and push myself and use more instruments and more electric guitar.
Do you play any other instruments besides the guitar?
I play a little bit of piano, but I feel like I can't even say that. Guitar is my main instrument.
I think Hozier, to me, is such a great example of someone who does both really well. He'll have such a heart-crushing, intimate folk song, just him and a guitar. Then the next one will be a rock song, and it's so grand and rich. I just love that.
Is there an instrument you would someday want to incorporate into your music besides guitar?
I'm really fascinated by the harp because it looks so incredibly difficult to grasp in my head. Do you know Joanna Newsom? One of the best harp players. Every time I see her play, especially with all of her wordy lyrics––which, I'm a pretty wordy lyricist too so it's nice to see that––she's playing the harp. I just think it's so cool. Not that I could do that myself, but I would definitely like to incorporate harp.
As a songwriter, you're placed in a position of vulnerability and introspection a lot of the time. I personally like your song “Great White.” I think you pour a lot of honesty into your music. Have you ever found writing about how you feel difficult, or is it more of a habitual thing to let things flow despite what you might find?
I think when you asked me the first question, “honest” came to mind first because I've been writing since I was a kid, and so for whatever reason it came naturally to be super vulnerable and honest from the get-go. My difficulty is once that happens––because I don't think I filter myself when I'm writing––then I have to go and play it live in front of people. That’s the hurdle to jump because you have to be like, “Okay, I did this. I was honest. It means something to me” and I have to let that go. People hear it how they hear it, and it's a personal reception for each person. You just have to take your hands off. But that's really hard to do.
Do you like playing live at all? Or, is that something that you want to do in the future when more music comes out?
Playing live right now is the top thing that I am doing, and want to continue doing. Above writing and recording and all that, touring and just playing have become my favorite part of music. I'm always trying to do it as much as possible, and also use it as a vessel to continually get better. For better or for worse, the impact of touring–– I think, not that I've toured yet–– but that you're doing it night after night [with the] same set, you are getting better at your craft. I'm so interested in that thing.
Do you have an artist that you've seen live and are fascinated with their stage performance and how they sounded, or one that impacted you?
I think every time I see any artist, small or big, I always take something from it. I watch a lot of videos, honestly. That'll even inspire me.
But in person, I just saw Christian Lee Hudson play. He's such a great instrumentalist and storyteller, and to see both those things at their best at once––it was so magical.
If you had to headline a festival and you got to choose which artists were in your lineup, do you have three or four artists that you would be like, “This would be the perfect festival lineup.”
I feel like I'm thinking about that subconsciously 24/7. I love Wolf Alice. They're one of my favorite bands. I think their music translates so well live. So I'd say them.
I've also been listening to a lot of Julia Jacklin. Her writing is so perfect. Also, I really love Alice Phoebe Lou. What a performer. What a voice.
What do you want listeners to take away when they listen to your music?
I hope to have any sort of reception to my music. That in itself is the thing I would be lucky to have. At least for me, what I love about music is the ability to get lost in a song and lost from your own brain for three minutes. If someone needs that and can do it with a song of mine––that's all I could ask for.