Interview with wispy cauliflower
In celebration of the release of their new album "A Mildly Entertaining Fiesta"
Way back when I was in high school, I had a tumblr interview blog called Interviewtion (yikes). Since I’ve started to focus more on this Substack, I’ve known that I want to start regularly interspersing interviews alongside the reviews I post here. So here’s the first one!
wispy cauliflower is the project of Samuel McGrath, who is based in the small town of Palmer, MA just about half an hour up the road from where Little Lost Records is located. For the past few years, he has released a wildly prolific amount of music - recording and mixing everything himself.
This past Friday, he released A Mildly Entertaining Fiesta, which is his most focused album to date - clocking in at a tight 12 songs. The album has a wonderful bedroom psych-pop sound that gives me a warm nostalgic feeling because it reminds me of my own late-high school and college musical friend group. We all wanted to listen to (and make) weirdo pop - and we all did that whenever we got the chance! Especially in CT there are about a billion examples I could name: Eddie Golden, Furnsss, High Pop, Skating, Stove, and so many more. But all of that is a story for a different post - mainly I’m just saying that this is the kind of music I have a deep-rooted love for.
There’s something special about when someone makes music just for themselves because they feel a compulsive need to (but hey, it would be great if you listened)! Sam does exactly that and his love for the music comes through so clearly on this album. There are a billion little lovely flourishes in the stereo mix and it’s a record that’s best enjoyed with headphones on - from the Beach Boys-esque harmonies at the end of You’re Still Here to the dense orchestral MIDI arrangements at the end of Never Enough. The highlight of the album is the endlessly catchy single, Happening Again that I’ve been humming to myself on repeat for the past few days. Honestly? This album is just fun to listen to, especially if you’re a fan of psych-pop artists like Of Montreal then you’ll find a lot to love here.
How long have you been playing and making music?
I started playing guitar when I was 9 after seeing the scene in Back To The Future when Michael J. Fox plays Johnny B. Goode. I started writing around 13-14 not long after.
From what I can tell, you mix and produce your music yourself. How did you get into learning to record and mix? Was it out of necessity?
You are correct! It was out of necessity and curiosity really. I didn't really know anything about it but at some point, my music teacher recommended my dad buy me a 4-track digital recorder. I'd been recording through multi-track apps on my phone and I guess he knew it would nurture me. I never really sat down and learned how to mix intentionally though, I think the amount of time I spent making music kinda stacked up.
By my count on your recent albums, you’ve released over 80 songs in the past two years. You’ve been incredibly prolific over the past few years, how do you manage to make so much music?
My life has pretty much been music since early in high school. It just consumes me. Sometimes I think a part of it is my ADHD. I get really hyper-focused when I'm creating. Most of the time the bulk of a song is done in an entire day. I get to my studio and write the song based on whatever idea I have and start recording. Usually I'm there for 6-8 hours and most of the song is done. It used to be that I'd finish the song that day, mixing included, but now because of time and wanting to make better quality music I revise a lot and touch up. I just create fast and love music.
Do you have any process for editing down what you release, or do you pretty much release everything you record? How do you go about choosing which songs go on an album?
For the most part I don't finish a song unless I like it, and if I like it enough usually it ends up on whatever album I'm making. It's usually just a feeling I get. Same with track listing and titles. It just feels right and if not it's off the album.
Who plays on this new record? I know on your earlier records you play everything yourself, but did you recruit some help this time around?
I've had a few guest appearances on records before. On this record particularly, my manager Raiden plays 1 of the 2 drum sets on Summers Song Reprise. Happening Again also features Amanthi Beam with a co-lead vocal and also a bit of arranging.
How was the recording process for this album different from your previous albums?
I'd moved my recording space a few months into this record so that was a big change. I spent a lot more time on it in general. I recorded a decent amount of these tracks at the old studio but when I finished moving I re-recorded some drums and vocals. I remixed each song over and over. When it came to the mastering process I mastered the entire album in one project file and that was when I created the fade-ins. I also recorded a few parts over the final masters. It was just constant revision making sure everything sounded right.
Where do you find new music to listen to?
I find new music everywhere. I work as an activities assistant at a nursing home and I hear songs on the oldies station all the time. I love going through record collections. Sometimes I find weird ones at flea markets. Sometimes it's just a recommendation or I'm looking through catalogues from artists I already love or have just discovered from anywhere.
Who are some of your favorite bands/artists? What about their music inspires you?
I love ELO, Harry Nilsson, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, and so on!! Particularly this one record Hickory Holler Revisited by O.C. Smith has been huge for me this year. Judee Sills self titled album blows my mind (especially the last track Abracadabra). The Temptations album Sky Is The Limit also blows my mind. I seem to have a fondness for bigger arrangements with strings/horns/choirs. There’s one record I love by the Move called Looking On worth checking out.
What I love about ELO is their huge arrangements. Harmonies and doubling instruments. Out Of The Blue for example is this barely stitched together masterpiece because Jeff Lynne put so much on the tracks the tape couldn’t handle it. You can hear parts where he cuts takes together. Everything’s sort of muddy as well, I’m assuming because they bounced the tape down over and over. It’s wild.
What is the local music scene like in Palmer, MA? Any other local bands that you’re really into right now?
The scene in Palmer is sort of quiet. I don’t hear much about anything happening. I know at the historical center on Main Street we have open mics once a month. I’ve gone out to Fiskdale and Brimfield for most open mics over the years. I haven’t heard of too many bands from this area honestly. I tend to keep to myself and am mostly a studio freak. I’ve been working towards bringing my music out to a live audience but I’m forced to either stick with a 3-piece guitar, bass, and drums - or by myself with an acoustic.
You can listen to A Mildly Entertaining Fiesta here!
Written by Conor Ryan. If you’re interested in submitting your music for future features, please send an email to littlelostrecords@gmail.com!