Q&A: Honeywhip
WITH A NAME JUST AS SWEET AS THEIR MUSIC - Honeywhip invites into their warm soundscape. With songs that are gentle and inviting, they manage to pull us into their music, that sounds like a warm hug from a loved one. Still in the early stages of creating music, Honeywhip only has three songs out until now, but the importance lies in quality, not quantity– and they have already proven their worth as artists and their dedication to their growth. Read below to learn more about the origin of Honeywhip, their inspirations and their latest track “Feels Good to Laugh”.
LUNA: You guys have a cool origin story as you started in Tokyo, but are now based in Los Angeles. Would you mind talking a bit more what lead to the creation of Honeywhip?
HONEYWHIP: We spent about a year living in Tokyo when we started Honeywhip. We kind of went on a whim… We didn’t know a ton of people or the language very well, so at the beginning it was pretty isolating, but also an incredible experience and very fruitful creatively. We really love it there now, its sort of our second home. We were actually supposed to go a couple weeks ago, but we had to cancel because of COVID… Anyway, I started writing a ton of songs over there, but it was really hard to finish anything because we couldn't make any noise in our apartment (people are very quiet and respectful there, and the walls were super thin). So, it wasn't till we moved to LA a while later that we finally got around to finishing some of the songs.
LUNA: What are some of the key sonic elements that make your sound yours?
HONEYWHIP: We do everything at home, so our sound is pretty much built from what we have here. A Telecaster, an old Fender P Bass, a Juno 106 and DX7, an old out of tune piano our landlord left behind, and a weird silver tone acoustic from the 70s. We want things to sound warm and inviting: a world you can really sink into and become immersed in.
LUNA: Your latest track “Feels Good to Laugh” touches on making peace with isolation, which is especially relevant at this time. Can you share more about the creative process behind this track?
HONEYWHIP: The song was started a while back, during a period when the two of us were separated. Just tapping into the loneliness I was feeling at the time– but when the COVID stuff started happening and we were quarantined, the song took on a different kind of life and meaning. It became more about the weird stages or cycles I was going through, being isolated. Having trouble waking up and starting the day, wanting to see people, feeling like I was on the way to losing my mind– in the end, it' a song about acceptance, though. That’s what the title line refers to. Just giving into the surreality of this new existence and trying to find some levity in our day to day lives.
LUNA: Do you find yourselves having a common theme or narrative when writing?
HONEYWHIP: I think because of the way this project started, and because of what’s going on now, a lot of the songs are kind of grappling with these challenges of isolation, and finding peace in the chaos and uncertainty. We only have 3 songs out, so I’m not sure what the future holds, but a lot of the songs I've written so far deal with these kinds of ideas and feelings.
LUNA: Are there any individuals or artists, both musical and non-musical that have shaped Honeywhip?
HONEYWHIP: The Blue Nile, specifically their record ‘Hats’, is a huge one. Kate Bush. Frank Ocean. Directors Wong Kar Wai and Hong Sang-Soo, also are big influences.
LUNA: What’s been inspiring you lately?
HONEYWHIP: We’ve been making a playlist of stuff we’ve been listening to lately, which is getting updated a lot right now since we’re stuck in the house and listening to lots of music.
LUNA: How are you taking care of yourselves during these crazy times?
HONEYWHIP: The biggest thing honestly is just trying to stay healthy– exercise, meditation, eating well. Just making sure to prioritize that stuff everyday, even when we don’t want to. Also trying to be okay with not writing an amazing song every day, or frankly getting any thing done at all. We feel like there’s a crazy expectation to be super productive right now, and it’s just not always possible because of your mental state or a slew of other reasons. Also, watching lots of terrace house.
LUNA: Now that “Feels Good to Laugh” is out, what can we expect from Honeywhip next?
HONEYWHIP: More music! We have a lot of songs in the works right now. Not sure if they’ll be singles or an EP or what, but more will be coming soon for sure.
