Q&A: Conner Youngblood on the Journeys That Lead To New Single “Running through the Tøyen Arboretum in the Spring” and Upcoming Album
CONNER YOUNGBLOOD IS BACK WITH NEW SINGLE “Running through the Tøyen Arboretum in the Spring.” The multi-instrumentalist and singer is known for his deeply emotive and experimental folk sound, his new single showcasing the best of his sound. This track, inspired by a reflective moment in Oslo, Norway, captures the essence of Youngblood's ability to blend personal experiences with evocative soundscapes. The single precedes his highly anticipated album, Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly, set to release on September 6th.
Despite its somber origins, the track features an upbeat musical arrangement, showcasing Youngblood’s talent for juxtaposing emotions and sounds. With a unique recording process that included clapping, playing a Persian santur, and sampling children practicing karate, the song is a testament to his inventive approach to music-making.
Youngblood’s new album, Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly, epitomizes the bedroom-pop genre, having been entirely recorded and produced at home. The album features lyrics in multiple languages—Spanish, Japanese, Danish, and English—reflecting Youngblood’s linguistic prowess and global influences. Fans can expect a rich tapestry of sounds, from vintage Soviet synthesizers to the gentle strumming of a banjo, each track offering a unique glimpse into Youngblood’s creative mind.
Known for his passion for wildlife and nature conservation, Youngblood’s music often reflects his love for the natural world. His involvement with the WWF and his diverse range of hobbies, from baking to rock climbing, add layers of depth to his artistry. As he prepares for the release of Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly, Youngblood hopes to connect deeply with listeners, offering them an album that is both introspective and uplifting.
Join us as we explore the mind of Conner Youngblood, discussing his latest single, his innovative recording process, and his hopes for the future of his music.
LUNA: Your new single “Running through the Tøyen arboretum in the spring” is quite evocative. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this track?
YOUNGBLOOD: It was initiated while visiting Oslo, Norway—sadly for a friend’s funeral—and I had just some quiet moments alone to go running throughout the week in the Tøyen botanical garden and think to myself. The song is a patchwork of some fragmented thoughts I was having while on those runs. Musically speaking, I wanted it to feel a bit more upbeat than the background story and lyrics might suggest. I clapped a lot, played a Persian santur, and sampled some children doing karate. Plus, I watched Formula 1 the entire time I was recording it.
LUNA: You’ve mentioned that the song comes from a place of reminiscing and sadness. How do you channel such deep emotions into your music, and what is the process like for you emotionally?
YOUNGBLOOD: Music is just one of the easiest places to express emotions that I otherwise would keep to myself. I hope “sadness” isn’t something people come away with while listening to my music. Introspective and reflective, for sure, but sad… I hope not. It’s not really up for me to decide the listener experience, but let it be known, I don’t think of my music sad at all. (I now am sitting here thinking about every sad thing I have written about…) But to sum up the answer to the question, I think it is just about being honest with myself and at the same time, exploiting my emotions in the most positive and creative way possible.
LUNA: Your upcoming album, Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly is set to release soon. How does “Running through the Tøyen arboretum in the spring” fit within the overall theme and sound of the album?
YOUNGBLOOD: I honestly feel like each song has its own little world and I approached most of the album one song at a time. So, in a way this song fits into the whole project, but at the same time, I don’t think any of the other songs sound like this one. The are lyrical themes that carry over—mainly a few tree shout outs—but I was certainly trying something completely different here on this song.
LUNA: You recorded and produced this album at home, which epitomizes the bedroom-pop genre. What challenges and advantages did you find in this DIY approach to making music?
YOUNGBLOOD: Time. Either the luxury of endless hours or too much. I mean, it has been 6 years since my last album, yet, I loved every moment of recording this. Zero rush, a lot of money saved, and getting to experiment without the confinements or pressure of how many hours I have left. I enjoyed getting to know Protools as a means of expression versus just a software, and learned how to appreciate mistakes more. Going back to the question of time—I will say that I can obsess a bit over trivial things while recording and next thing you know I have been messing around with a kick drum sound for days and haven’t even written a word. Going to a studio forces me to have all of my priorities straight and a game plan on how to finish a song as efficiently as possible. Like, I will literally write out step by step how to approach recording a pre-written song in the studio. But at home, the recording just starts and I see where it takes me.
LUNA: Your music features lyrics in multiple languages. Can you share more about your multilingual approach to songwriting and how it influences your music?
YOUNGBLOOD: I had been taking language lessons every morning while recording this album and eventually the two worlds just came together. I think it was just a fun way to challenge myself and share something with my tutors. Mentally and lyrically, it was really refreshing to have entirely new word banks at my disposal. And I had no preconceived biases like, “ehh, that’s corny” or “ahh, I’ve heard this too many times”, nope, I just went with whatever came to mind first and wrote the songs in a judge-free zone.
LUNA: The instrumental arrangements on this album are described as surprising. Can you give us a sneak peek into the kinds of instruments and sounds we can expect to hear on Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly?
YOUNGBLOOD: There is a healthy amount of just good ol’ guitar, but like I mentioned previously, unlimited time gave me ample time to experiment and try some new instruments out. I think I played saxophone (badly) for the first time, messed around on santur, sprinkled in a healthy amount of vintage soviet synthesizers, various drum machines, some upright bass, and tried my best to make it all make sense.
LUNA: You have a diverse musical background, having learned to play a wide range of instruments. How do you decide which instruments to incorporate into a particular song or album?
YOUNGBLOOD: Sometimes it is just guess-and-check, other times intuition, sometimes whichever instruments are closest to me or easiest to turn on, while other times I take a look around my room and decide which instrument hasn’t gotten enough attention lately. I took banjo lessons growing up and used it in so much of my earlier work and haven’t recorded a song with it in years. So, expect more banjo soon.
LUNA: In addition to being a musician, you’re also a passionate WWF activist. How do your interests in wildlife and nature conservation influence your music and lyrics?
YOUNGBLOOD: I had already written several songs about birds, trees, and national parks before I was lucky enough to have opportunities to collaborate with US Fish and Wildlife and WWF. So, getting the opportunities to work on initiatives with them was incredible and very fitting. My music is just a reflection of me, the stories I want to tell, the places I’ve been, and the places I want to be. And many of those stories and places revolve around nature.
LUNA: You’ve picked up a variety of hobbies like baking, ballet, and rock climbing. Do any of these activities influence your creative process or provide inspiration for your music?
YOUNGBLOOD: I wish. If anything, I use those things to get away from music for a bit. So, in a roundabout way, perhaps, getting my mind off of music helps me come back to the music feeling refreshed. But who knows. Either way, running is the true love when it comes to extracurricular activities.
LUNA: With Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly releasing soon, what are your hopes for this album, and how do you see it shaping your future as an artist?
YOUNGBLOOD: I just really hope the people who’ve enjoyed my music and supported me in the past enjoy the new album. I feel like I owe them one. In terms of shaping me as an artist, I hope it leads to me feeling more and more confident taking risks while producing, mixing, and writing.
