Interview: Deep Talk

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Christina: I think I was always fascinated by music because I wasn’t introduced to cool bands or albums by my parents, who worked a lot. I’d just have 30 minutes of radio on the drive home or snippets on TV. I remember stumbling on an MTV awards show when I was 10, seeing Linkin Park, and finally hearing the sound that I had been looking for between songs on Delilah (a classic radio station that focuses on nostalgic love songs that my mom loved). I started singing after my dad bought a bunch of singing classes but was too busy to go. Instead of cancelling, he had me attend and ever since then I’ve never really stopped. Maybe because it started as this ephemeral, distant art it continues to captivate me.

Now, though, I realize both of my parents are actually really musically minded - my dad joined the local opera and my mom a singing and guitar group. They just didn’t have that capacity when I was a kid.

Jordan: Honestly? “Weird Al” Yankovic.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Christina: I do a a variety of work with Scary Little Girls, a British feminist theater company. They expose me to so many histories and political thought that I think slowly seeps into my music.

Otherwise it’s a lot of books! I’m reading “sisterhood of the yam” by bell hooks which is starting a lot of ideas around a woman’s work and erotic mysticism. I also just finished “Crying in H Mart,” which really makes me want to learn (and maybe one day sing?) in Cantonese.

Jordan: Generally I try to go to tons of concerts and explore the food scene in my city. Lots of media consumption.

How long has your band been around?

Jordan: We started collaborating in summer 2019.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

Jordan: I live in Portland and Christina’s in San Francisco, so most of our music is written by sending things back and forth and adding and adding. That allows us to experiment a lot more. We’re not limited by time or number of musicians in the room. It’s kinda artificial but freeing.

Christina: I’ve just started diving into the local music scene - the downside of starting a band during a pandemic is that you can’t really play shows and hang with other bands! The San Francisco scene definitely has been influenced by the classic folk and hippie Haight music as well as punk from the Berkeley side of the bay. I’ve loved going to a few local shows and discovering bands - mostly indie or garage rock - that I genuinely love. You can hear the growly, fuzzy influences in our upcoming releases this year.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Christina: Deep Talk came from a classic shared word document and weeks of agonizing. To me, it reflects how the songwriting process needs an altered state of mind - usually in the middle of the night, when you’re having DEEP TALKS.

Jordan: It just sounded right to me! Sometimes you just know.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Christina: We’ve only played 2 shows so far! Honestly our first show was pretty epic. It was put on by local non-profit and musician-led Big Leap Collective. The show was at the farm sf, which is an outdoor stage next to an old punk venue (including old posters) and is also, I think, some sort of non-profit? There’s chickens pecking at oysters decomposing for compost, and it’s right next to a nursery. The gig included chickens running around, booths for local artists, and a packed dirt floor of friends and fans.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Jordan: The Farm was awesome. Hope to play there again!

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Christina: Big Thief, Courtney Barnett, Sharon Van Etten

Jordan: That would rule. Seconded.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Christina: To new bands - socialize with your music community. There’s so many great bands and they need fans and support - just like you!

Jordan: Keep pushing yourself and don’t be too self conscious.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Christina: To my younger self - consistency! Make a plan! There are so many half-baked ideas and some of them were good - I wish I had the focus to complete them.

Jordan: Don’t buy all those Beanie Babies.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Jordan: I’m really proud of Stare. The first minute or so of the instrumental came out pretty much fully formed in the first hour of working on it. I felt right away that it was something special, and much more so once Christina added vocals.

Christina: I really like “I Drove By” (next single out June 17) because I had written the first verse and chorus while visiting Jordan, and when we tried it out later that day there was an instant feeling of “this is a great song.” I feel like our litmus test is if the song is stuck in both our heads for days later, it’s good. “I Drove By” definitely passed.

Jordan: Yes! Another one where it felt like an instant favorite.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Christina: It usually starts with either instrumentals from Jordan or vocals and a chords from me. Probably only 30% of these don’t babies turn into full songs, and that’s mostly through taking turns adding layers, rearranging, arguing over which versions we like, and all that.

Jordan: It’s disorganized and surprising and lovely. It’s so satisfying when the pieces fit.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Christina: I just want to inflict any aching feeling I’ve had onto the world, haha.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Christina: Absolutely! Mostly around social media because we both hate it but know it’s good for us. Like most relationships it’s a give and take, sometimes Jordan picks up where I’ve dropped the ball or I put more time on difficult things (like social media). When it comes to music, we may disagree on a certain arrangement but will usually make some changes, let it percolate on both sides, and keep coming together until we both like it.

Jordan: No.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Jordan: We recorded four more singles that we’ll be releasing throughout the year, and otherwise want to play as many shows as is feasible. We’ve got three coming up at the end of May in SF.

Christina: May 27th at the milk bar in SF, May 28th at Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland, and then “I Drove By” comes out June 17th so you should follow us on Spotify to make sure you don’t miss it!

Also please follow us on Instagram ha.