Nexus Meets… La Palma
The brainchild of US-based musical duo Tim Gibbon and Chris Walker, La Palma merges the sounds of indie-folk with dream-pop. Following the critical acclaim of their debut album in April 2019, the lads have released several well-received singles in 2020. We had a chance to speak with Tim and Chris about their new album Moonflower, musical inspiration and future plans.
What can you tell us about your new album Moonflower?
Tim: Moonflower is our second album which we’re excited to share after working on it for the past two years. A lot has happened over that time period – global pandemic, deep social unrest, the birth of my second kid, my move from Philly to DC and Chris’ move from DC to San Francisco. Moonflower is a space where those experiences dwell, decompose and blossom. While it’s a very personal record to us, we hope it resonates on a more universal level with those who listen.
Did you face any challenges when writing and recording the album?
Chris: For sure, it felt like time was being carved up into a bunch more pie pieces than there had been when we worked on our first album. It had moments of being frustrating and slow but we managed to find our paths.
If you could change one thing about Moonflower what would it be?
Tim: I wish we could add more senses to the album. Moonflower is an audio album, but I wish we could add scent, visuals and touch since that’s how it plays in my head. We’re working on some videos now, but I could imagine some kind of fully immersive Moonflower sensory installation.
What or who inspires you to make music?
Chris: We both take inspiration from any source, often it’s each other. Personally, at this point in my life, I write because I can. I had a long period of about seven years where I didn’t write anything new, I counted songwriting as something that was in my past. So to rediscover that I still have some left in me, I feel super grateful for it and super inspired to keep it going.
What advice do you have for emerging artists?
Tim: As much as possible, we try to keep perspective as to why we make music. We’re motivated because we love creating music together and are driven from an internal place. So for us, success means making meaningful music and enjoying the process along the way. Determining your own version of success feels important.
What are the pros and cons of remote recording and production?
Chris: I think the pros are that it forces us to talk about the music on multiple levels. That was something I never did in my other bands and I find it a critical part of how we work. Communication is key.
Con-wise, I’ve yet to really find any to be honest. I think the things most would consider being cons such as us not being physically in the same space writing and vibing. I’m the sort of person that isn’t super quick on his feet, I need a little room to breathe and chew things over and the remoteness gives me that.
How would you describe your music?
Tim: The scent of a flower blooming in the dead of night, a hug in your favourite sweatshirt.
What do you think is the best way to discover music nowadays?
Chris: For sure, playlists are the new mix cd. If you find one with two songs in a row you’re into, chances are good you’re gonna enjoy the rest and most likely discover a ton of songs you can’t even wrap your mind around how you’d never heard them when they all sound so familiar. You feel me?
Do you have any future plans?
Tim: We’re excited to release the record on vinyl in May. I’ve always envisioned the album in that tangible format and we’ve silkscreened the cover artwork by hand. We’re also building out visuals for the songs, navigating socially-distant performance that is meaningful to us, and following inspiration where it leads us.