There’s a particular strength in everything that Girlpool creates. Accepting the world as it is, can be quite a feat, but finding beauty in its hardships and annoyances is a whole other undertaking. Tying these thoughts in which some find isolating, have connected people in a way held sacred.
The duo’s self-titled EP made rounds last year, stirring up attention that evolved buzz into devotion. Ones skeptical of Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad’s power were found dying to spread the word after experiencing their show in person. Before we knew it, a mini documentary, ‘Things Are OK”, was created and we were left weak at the knees with a full LP, Before The World Was Big.
Girlpool will play two shows at Middle East, after selling out their originally booked Middle East Upstairs show set for October 6th. Limited tickets are now available for their Middle East Downstairs show on October 5th, but before they come our way, they took some time to chat with us.
AP: You have said that you share an organic writing experience where both of you contribute fairly equally. Is there a particular lyric or instrumental that the other has written that caught you awe before it became a part of a song?
Cleo: It’s often that we share a thought or doodle with each other and feel in love with it. Sometimes the essence of what we make on our own end up slipping into what we create together in many kinds of shapes/forms.
AP: Have your songs taken on a different meaning for you since their inception?
Harmony: The songs grow and change for each of us with each day. Every time we play them feels new and different because of the new contexts our lives are taking in that moment, effected by both the environment, interactions throughout the day, as well as mental headspace of each of us.
Cleo: I don’t feel like the word ‘meaning’ incapsulates a product of a song. It feels like pockets of feeling. Sometimes the dips feel really massive and deep. Other times songs feel flat. I think it’s beautiful that those spaces change.
AP: As a whole, ‘Before The World Was Big’ sparked ideas that I tend to think about a lot, but never knew how to communicate. When I first heard the full album, it was definitely a eureka moment. Is there an album that has done this for you?
Harmony: Either/Or by Elliott Smith; it touches on so many philosophical ideas that I feel like are often overlooked in everyday life, in short. For example, the track “Ballad of Big Nothing” has a chorus stating, “you can do what you want to whenever you want to, you can do what you want to there’s no one to stop you,” which could appear obvious and simple, but I feel that people forget the complex beauty of choice and option in day-to-day living.
Cleo: Tons of music gives me that feeling too. I love that.
AP: All of the songs on ‘Before The World Was Big’ solely feature you two with bass and guitar, but there have been instances where you have included drums on “Crowded Stranger”, within your live show. Is there a reason why you have decided to include drums on this particular song?
Cleo: It seemed like it would be fun at a show we played in Chicago. Provokes a really great head nod and I love the head nod.
Harmony: Haha, Cleo, yes!
AP: How has your friendship evolved over the existence of Girlpool?
Cleo: It’s evolved in every single aspect of our connection and it is so thrilling.
Harmony: We are both growing and constantly reflecting on our internal personal growth, which inevitably effects our relationship. It is very exciting and beautiful to explore new feelings and ideas with someone in different environments and I feel blessed that it is Cleo.
AP: A lot of your songs speak of uneasiness and trying to find comfort amongst it all. How do you both find comfort when you’re on the road?
Cleo: I have been focusing on the power to curate my condition. To find ‘the ways’ I love and live with them.
Harmony: I find comfort in remembering that even in what we “have” to do and “have” to go based on the route, there’s a lot of gray area and options that are important to remember. You don’t have to eat at the nearest place, you can go out of your way to get something that would really make you feel more content and comfortable. If you need to you can stop and take a break. For me it’s all about recognizing how to take care of myself and do my best to check in with Cleo and make sure she is feeling taken care of as well. It’s important to slow down sometimes and check in with yourself mentally, gage what you need.
AP: There has been a lot of discussion of how to make safer show spaces. Have there been any moments in particular that you have been made to feel uncomfortable at a show? Is there anything that you think could help in the effort to create safer spaces?
Cleo: People are soft and hazardous. We all feel it. More of one of the two things on certain days, maybe more of one thing for many months or years. And there are explicit levels that some people exorcize and some don’t have the particular desire at all. A room full of people carrying their something with them. It feels really special when we play music and the softness is gifted by all of us together, the space gets totally immersed. That is my favorite.
Girlpool is playing on Monday, October 5th at Middle East Downstairs and Tuesday, October 6th at Middle East Upstairs. Both shows are all ages and $12.00. Guests include Eskimeaux, Ian, Told Slant, and Gracie.