THE INTERVIEW

FRIENDCITIES was lucky enough to secure an interview with the talented AARON SPRINGS ahead of the release of this new project. Learn a little bit kore about the artist and the project down below :)

voupie: Welcome to Friendcities! I'm Voupie I'm here with Aaron Springs, one of our own contributors, who will be releasing a project very soon er- actually if you're listening to this, it's already out. So do you want to introduce yourself?

aaron: Yeah! My name is Aaron Springs, and make music and I make art and yeah.

voupie: All right, so I'm just gonna get into it, so what is PILGRIM like both of the meaning of the name, and like let's start with the meaning of like why did you choose PILGRIM?<\p>

aaron: PILGRIM came to me- It's funny because it came to me while I was watching the show, OVER THE GARDEN WALL, and in one of the episodes they called the main character a pilgrim because he doesn't know what he is. And they're like- they tell him, "oh so you're a pilgrim, you're a master of your own journey", and ever since then that clicked with me cause I've been- I feel like everyone in a way is a master of their own journey, and they're deciding where to go in life. And it's kind of- I wanna reclaim that word. I don't want to be stuck with what's happened in the past, with Thanksgiving and what not.

voupie: No, definitely and that's a great answer. And I like, also wanted to I guess pick your brain as to what the kind of aesthetic of it all means as well. Like not just the word pilgrim, but like what does PILGRIM mean?

aaron: Yeah, I think it's like kind of elaborating on it, right?

voupie: Yeah, like I guess like what the larger meaning around your project is, and like cause PILGRIM that name like being attributed to that project like I guess altogether the overall impact and aesthetic of your product.

aaron: Well, for PILGRIM, of course it's like the master of your own journeys, and this project is something I've been working on for a few years now, and it's a collection of stories that I've gone through, exaggerated or not, that have contributed to where I am at now. That's where my destination is, leading me to wherever I'm gonna continue next.

voupie: Awesome, and while you were creating this album, what music inspired you? Were there any specific artists?

aaron: There are a ton of artist that I was listening to. This project took like over four years to make- some of the songs, but there's a lot of electronic, rock inspiration. A lot of the stuff from the recent work would be like JANE REMOVER, YEULE, a lot of CRYSTAL CASTLES, maybe? And just like heavier music, like DEFTONES for some of the rock side.

voupie: Over your career, what kind of music do you feel like you're inspired by, just generally when making music?

aaron: A lot of experimental Lofi in a way- alternative would be something that I gravitate towards when making music.

voupie: Definitely, that's a ingredient answer and I wanted to know when people hear your project. What do you want them to take away from it?

aaron: I wanted to people to try to put together a story, or try to correlated with their life in a way. Or and if they can't do any of that, just have fun with it.

voupie: Yeah, it kind of reminds me of LIKE JENNIE where it's like in her song, it's LIKE JENNIE, but it isn't specifically JENNIE, it's supposed to be you. Do you feel like that's like kind of the vibe you're trying to take with this project. Like it's your story, but it's like meant to fit someone else?

aaron: Of course, yeah cause PILGRIM could be anybody, but I'm dictating the story, but you can just take it and run with it as you will.

voupie: Awesome. Is there a certain person or demographic that this project is for?

aaron: I think it is towards past versions of myself that have let up where I'm at right now and it's kind of like a note to myself to keep going. You've had a lot of these almost burdens in your life, or stories, and you'll continue to keep doing it and not to give up.

voupie: Definitely, and is there a song on the project that you are like really excited for people to hear? Or maybe like a song that has a profound meeting to you and maybe you can if you can get into that a little bit.

aaron: So each of the songs is kind of have a good spot for me at the moment. There's- Wait. I don't wanna say too much... Well, I said I'll say it here- There's 8 tracks in total to the full project, but two of the last tracks are gonna be exclusive later on to physical release, and/or SoundCloud. But, each of the tracks have a special meaning towards me in one way or another, so, but the track on most excited for people to hear is probably track 3: IMMOLATE just cause how explosive and crazy it is. It's not something that people have heard from me and the meaning for that song is- it just to me it's like a bad version of yourself taking over you, and you don't want to necessarily let it happen to you, but it's just gonna happen regardless cause' you're just bottling that in. The message is hidden through a story where someone is getting possessed in a way.

voupie: By themselves?

aaron: Yes.

voupie: That's so interesting.! So like, do you feel like that kind of draws on like personal experiences you had, and like, and it sounds like that's for all of these songs.

aaron: Yeah, there's personal experiences tied to most of these songs- to all of them, my bad, but... But some of them have been exaggerated, and it's told through a story or through like a narrative per-se.

voupie: Awesome, and is that like an inspiration that you got from anybody or have you just always been interested in storytelling through music?

aaron: I always loved storytelling regardless of music or not, when I was like in middle school I would write these Wattpad stories, outlandish and weird... But yeah, I always loved storytelling.

voupie: No, definitely. I was on there too. So you have been saying that PILGRIM has been in the works for a while and you said it's been a few years, so like what is that journey kinda looked look? How long is it been? Who is involved? Like is there anybody that you want to thank or any specific like adversities you wanna bring up?

aaron: So, at first I started writing the songs individually. I didn't know it would be led this full project, so each way in a way they're not cohesively together, but in the way they will be. I'm gonna make it work, y'know?

voupie: Yeah, well you're the creator, so.

aaron: You guys are gonna have to listen to it regardless, but they're definitely been a lot of support and help throughout the years. I've seen with my friends like Déesse, there's Chris from Texas, and a lot of the people from FRIENDCITIES that have been supporting me. Ashley as well, you as well, Reece and a lot of support I've been getting recently through the rollout I've been just really thankful for.

voupie: That's awesome. Is there any like particular moments throughout the creation of this project where you were just like wow, like people really care. Like is there like a specific moment you're thinking about?

aaron: It is really been been through the roll out of this project because I haven't seen this much traction with my work in a while. When I first put out my first song, FEEL WHAT I FEEL, about three years ago I got a lot of sport then, and it's trickle down a bit, but it's because I assume it's because my music has been more experimental, per-se.

voupie: Definitely, and so are you like aiming to make like a unique sound or is there not really an aim? Is it kind of just the song of your heart, y'know?

aaron: Yeah I just, it came out of me ,per-se. But there's not a really specific sound that I was going for, but it would be cool if the messiness, the abrasiveness, would come together to form something bigger in the future.

voupie: Definitely, it's just cool. It reminds me that REMI WOLF song where she's like, "I'm Cinderella making babies on the company's time". Do you feel like making these tracks has like felt similar to that? Like creating children and then like now you are gonna be giving your child up to the world, y'know?

aaron: Oh, definitely cause each of these songs has its own little world and I've seen it with the past 4 songs I've put out. They've all taken a new shape or form and I've seen people taken into their lives and they loved it and it's changed them, so I'm excited to see where this goes.

voupie: Awesome. I've liked all your answers and I have a last section here of rapid fire questions.

aaron: ok.

voupie: We're gonna do those and so try, and just give me an answer as quick as you can. Don't think too hard.

aaron: ok.

voupie: all right three songs you want in any playlist.

aaron: BACKSEAT GIRL by JANE REMOVER, PAINT THE TOWN by LOONA, IMMOLATE by AARON SPRINGS.

voupie: video game soundtrack that you think is legendary.

aaron: Minecraft, definitely.

voupie: Do you have a dream collab ?

aaron: A dream collab would be... I think... JANE REMOVER.

voupie: Hoodies or crewnecks?

aaron: Definitely hoodies.

voupie: Girl groups or boy groups?

aaron: Girl groups, all the way.

voupie: Favorite lyrics that you've written?

aaron: I'll show you I'm not someone you should provoke.

voupie: Pants or shorts?

aaron: It depends. I'm gonna go shorts.

voupie: Fandom name?

aaron: SpringBreakers.

voupie: That is amazing. All right. And my last question for you. What's next for AARON SPRINGS and that doesn't even mean like what next project like because I think it's pretty like I feel like it's rude to. Like. Have someone roll something out and be like, so when's the next thing coming out? But yeah, what's the next AARON SPRINGS?

aaron: No, don't worry. For AARON SPRINGS, It's gonna take a little bit of a pause for that project, but there is another project, if you've been keeping up with FRIENDCITIES lore, that I'm gonna start focusing on for a bit and seeing where that goes. That's all I can say.

voupie: Well that's awesome. Well, again Voupie/Andrue and this is Aaron. This has been Aaron. Is there anything else you wanna say before we log off here?

aaron: I hope you all take care of yourself, and I love you all. Thank you.

voupie: Thank you guys for all tuning in and I want you to make sure that you stream the new project by AARON SPRINGS, PILGRIM. Thank you.