Carlosh Garzat - You Would Have To Love Me and Interview @Carloshgarzat

Tell us about yourself and your music? My stage name is a combination of my names and initials; my mother would write "Carlosh Garzat" in all-caps and label my school supplies with that name when I was a kid. Growing up as an only-child in a somewhat unusual family in a suburb of Monterrey Mexico, I kept so many thoughts to myself, which eventually became lyrics and archaic production experiments in the early days of the Internet. I like to think I was very mature for a child and that I can still be quite childlike for a young adult. These contradictions are intrinsic to my upbringing and the society I was raised in - Mexico is a country full of stark contrasts that at times feel surreal, raw, and somewhat melodramatic, like its world-famous telenovelas. Being an introvert, my music is the creative outlet I use to express my inner worlds. My songs are all autobiographical and are divided into 'eras' that portray the stages I am going through. My first EP, "Deconstruction", was about finding my identity as and individual and breaking away from that "Mechanical" (one of the singles) persona I used to portray as a teenager. My new EP "Agoraphobia" is a reflection of my vulnerability and my struggles with mental health issues, hypochondria, and anxiety. I believe this record is a testament that music can cure the artist as well as the listener. 

How would you describe your sound? My sound is pure pop, with an "indie" touch. It's very eclectic; I try to follow the templates created by the great pop icons like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Kylie Minogue, and Bjork, who within their pop realms have always experimented with multiple genres and sounds. The structures of my songs are very radio-friendly but the ornamentation can sometimes be a bit left-field, especially in songs like "Submerge" or "Perfect Possession". I try to approach each song as its own entity and provide a sound that works best for its message and mood, while still working as a system with the rest of the songs on the EP it belongs to. It's easier to compare my individual songs to certain artists, rather than my entire catalogue to someone else's. As a whole, I'd say my music sounds like Madonna or Rihanna, but there are certain songs that sound like Gary Numan, The Weeknd, Aqua, Cut Copy, and early Charli XCX. 

Talk about the experience making your single? The process of making my new single "You Would Have To Love Me" was quite interesting. In this case, I came up with the title first, around 3 years ago, and then I had its chorus stuck in my head all that time. I finally was able to sit down with my co-writers in September of last year to complete the melody and provide structure to the song. The actual song is about being confident in love and not allowing someone back into your life unless they are willing to love you. Interestingly, the day I recorded the song at the studio, I bumped into the person I wrote the song about casually at a restaurant. It was quite fortuitous. I believe the song is quite empowering, anthemic, and it's somewhat unusual for a guy to sing about that. 

What are you currently working on? Any new projects? Shows? My current record “Agoraphobia” is focused on raising awareness and reducing the stigma of mental health issues such as hypochondria and anxiety. I am finding ways to express these personal experiences through music video narratives and we’re currently working on two videos for the first two singles from "Agoraphobia". The first video, "You Would Have To Love Me" was shot in New York City a few weeks ago, so I'm in the process of selecting footage and editing the video. The second single will soon be revealed, but its video will be shot in the upcoming weeks in South America. It has an interesting narrative that use a central symbol to express the idea of letting go of someone's memory and moving on with your life. In addition to that, I have started writing new songs for a third EP, and I would also love to perform live at some point. Hopefully the project will gain traction and that will happen eventually.

What has been your biggest highlight in your music career this far? Before I started releasing any music, my only objective was to bond with at least one listener through my music, anyone who could appreciate the thought and detail that went into each one of my songs and that I spent years crafting. My highlight has been being able to bond quite strongly with a group of loyal fans, especially through my Instagram feed. I have experienced a lot of support from people from very different backgrounds and have found how similar we all are in ideologies and musical tastes. On another note, I was also quite lucky to debut as a performer at Orlando's The Social venue to promote my first EP "Deconstruction". I had the chance to be on the same stage as many artists I look up to, like FKA twigs and Prince. I think ultimately my biggest satisfaction has been to be able to share my thoughts through music and having a one-on-one relationship with the people who enjoy its messages.

Name your ideal collaboration: mainstream or independent artist(s)? I think Charli XCX is a brilliant songwriter; she's so in-your-face and effortlessly cool. "True Romance" is still one of my favorite records to date and I think our voices and styles could complement each other. There are so many artists I admire and look up to; it would be a dream to be able to record with Melanie C from the Spice Girls (I'm a huge fan of her solo career). Annie, The Sound of Arrows, and Name The Pet are also some Scandinavian acts I would be thrilled to be able to collaborate with. 

Name something random that people do not know about you? My close-friends know how much I love documentaries and foreign films. I'm a bit of a nerd. I can become obsessed with certain topics and dive into as much content as I can when I'm in bed late at night. I follow Xavier Dolan’s career closely and love how he captures French-Canadian culture; I used to live in Montréal so watching his films takes me back to that time. Another topic I became interested in recently was "La Movida Madrileña", which was a countercultural movement that occurred in Madrid in the 1980s as a result of the liberation from the Franco regime. I became fascinated by how society radically opened up to androgyny, sex, and liberal ideologies in the underground scene and its particular impact on music. I was also very obsessed with typography at one point and watched a documentary I highly recommend, "Helvetica". I love learning about different eras and cultures and wondering what my life would have been in those scenarios.

What’s one thing you have learned or discovered while being in the indie music scene/industry? As an indie artist, I believe that the most important lesson you need to learn is that you have to make music for yourself. There are so many new acts out there, and a lot of them are trying to find a spot in the mainstream and, hence, trying to imitate others. I think everyone has a voice and can craft their own unique message. My advice to other indie artists would be to make sure you are crafting a genuine message that comes from a place of truth; that way you will always feel pleased with the result, regardless of whether it finds commercial success or not. It's hard finding an audience, but whenever you find a new listener who loves what you do, it's like you have made a friend who has peeked into your soul and heard your true voice. 

What can we expect from you in the future? I am in the early stages of writing new music for my third EP. I already know the direction I want to take for my next record. I have started to write some lyrics and melodies and hope to be in the studio next year. I also want to enjoy promoting this current record “Agoraphobia” with a few singles and hopefully finding new audiences to join my musical journey. Thank you for this opportunity!

December 26, 2016 6:25pm ET by One Percent PR  

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