Q&A: R E L Returns with a New Acoustic EP, 'in the meantime'
LA-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER R E L is taking a bold step away from her usual "EVOCAPOP" sound with the release of her new EP, in the meantime. This stripped-down collection features live, one-take recordings made outdoors with R E L's dad on guitar.
The inspiration for the project came from a particularly emotional performance of "Hallelujah" at a Jeff Buckley tribute show. Fueled by the raw energy of that moment, R E L and her friends Pop Levi and Luke Muscatelli decided to capture the essence of live performance in the studio.
in the meantime features a mix of covers and originals, including the brand new song "Crying in MacArthur," co-written with Pop and Luke. The EP culminates with the previously unreleased "Green Eyes," a song about hope and perseverance that R E L has been waiting to share for years.
Read below to learn more about R E L’s creative process behind the EP, the influence of her father, and what fans can expect from the future of her sound.
LUNA: The concept of recording live and stripped-down seems very intentional. What made you decide to take this approach for this EP, especially compared to your usual "EVOCAPOP" style with electronic elements?
R E L: You know, as much as I love instrumentation and synths and creating a world to live around my vocals with production, it felt really good to strip that all away for this project. This particular EP was conceived at a Jeff Buckley tribute show I played where I performed “Hallelujah” with my dad. My dad and I have been singing and playing that song together for years now. I had invited my friend, Pop Levi, a producer and artist who was in town from Greece (where he now lives). He brought our friend Luke Muscatelli with him. What’s extra special and sort of funny is that Evan Volk, whose space (In the Meantime) the show was at, and where we recorded, introduced Pop and I seven years ago. After the show, Pop came to me with the idea to record a whole album with me playing live outside, just like what he’d seen me do at the show. He said, “We have to do it - you singing and playing live, with your dad on guitar. That’s your next album.”
Because he was leaving town soon and I wanted to get something recorded before he left, we decided to do an EP for now. We went back to the venue the next week, Pop and Luke brought their friend Edward Quintero, and I brought my dad. They set up recording gear and we started to play. Pop insisted we do one, max two takes of each song. So the project is very real, very human, very raw. It’s the most naked recording I’ve ever released, which at first felt scary, but actually feels amazing. Much as I love my music tools and toys, I found during the pandemic, as I stayed with my parents for a year, that I leaned away from my gear and into the guitar and voice (though I’ve always leaned into voice). My dad is a brilliant guitar player and musician and he and I got to play together often. This hyper-connected internet community we live in is so unnatural and disconnected in a lot of ways.
I know I said hyper-connected and disconnected in one sentence, but that’s it, exactly. We’re constantly connected to our devices, to social media, to the algorithm, to our feed, and we become more and more disconnected from ourselves, our heart, and real human-to-human connection. So this EP feels like a way to honor the human experience - the magic, beauty, pain, joy, adventure of being a human. It’s a very raw, vulnerable, imperfect project, but I think it’s perfectly imperfect for it. What AI doesn’t have is the human touch - this EP is the opposite of AI. It’s naked, without the filters or effects or autotune or AI.
LUNA: Can you elaborate on the story behind the new song "Crying in MacArthur"? What inspired the lyrics and title?
R E L: I had a break up of a year long relationship in November. I was heartbroken for a long while. I really thought he was the one, and he made me think I was for him. Then he got scared and pretty much ran away. After a year of being so wonderful and consistent and present, he essentially ghosted me. So, I mourned the relationship but still ached for a while wishing he would reach out and say something. My inspiration for the song was that longing for him to reach out – to be my lover again, or to apologize or even just to explain himself. I co-wrote the song with Pop and Luke. So, they brought their own experiences to it as well. Pop came up with the title I believe…
LUNA: Was it nerve-wracking to record everything in one or two takes? How did it change the creative process for you and your dad?
R E L: It was and it wasn’t. The past few years I’ve started playing shows just guitar and vocals more often. There’s something really magical about it. I think it brought up some anxiety in me for sure, like “Oh, that wasn’t perfect. We should redo it, I can do better.” But, Pop insisting we keep it natural pushed me somewhere I’m happy I went. It didn’t really change the creative process for my dad and I. We play together for the joy of it. My dad was in bands in high school and college, and has played with me at a couple shows now; he is such a natural player – never professionally trained as a musician, but with such a natural ear and innate ability to play beautifully, and uniquely. He’s a huge inspiration in my music and my life.
LUNA: Tell us more about the creative process of the video.
R E L: We wanted something simple, and evocative. Pop suggested we do a close up shot, one take, me performing the song. We came up with the idea to have me lying in the grass singing. I didn’t want any outfits or crazy makeup distracting from the song. The vibe is naked emotion, vulnerability, raw and real. Natural. My friend Louisa came over, and this was our first time really collaborating! We walked to a college campus I live near, found some grass and shot! She filmed the video, and directed me. We did a few takes. Then I picked one, edited the song on top of it and played with the color a bit. So simple, but I think it captures something real and hits what it was meant to.
LUNA: You mentioned "Green Eyes" is about hope. Can you share a bit more about the specific message you wanted to convey with that song?
R E L: Yes! This is one of my favorite unreleased songs. I started writing it years ago. The production never felt quite right. But I’ve always loved the song. It’s about being an artist, about being young. It’s about feeling the weight of the world and wanting to make a difference and leave a positive mark. It’s about staying up too late. The chorus says, “We’ve got green eyes and warm hearts, the time is right for us to thrive.” I physically do have green eyes, which isn’t a coincidence, but green is also a color of plants, of new life peeking through, green is fresh, green is young. Green is the color of life.It’s the color of the heart chakra as well. To be connected with our hearts and to realize this is our moment to thrive.It’s a song about being vulnerable – letting ourselves be known and connecting with community. It’s an anthem of hope and perseverance. We’re in a moment where things are pretty tumultuous, and painful for a lot of people.
This is a song I’ve sat on for a long time. It’s grown with me. I think it will continue to do so. It’s about vulnerability, creativity, inspiration, drive, believing in ourselves because we believe in humanity, following our callings in life. This is our time, it’s safe to dream, it’s safe to try, it’s safe to love.
LUNA: This EP feels like a new beginning. Can you describe what you envision for the sound of EVOCAPOP Side B and your future music? Will there be more stripped-down elements, or will it return to the usual electronic production?
R E L: This is the first time I’ve released anything so naked – just my voice, one take, live with guitar. With “Crying in Macarthur,” Pop added some drums, but otherwise the EP is just vocals and guitar, live. It feels a bit like jumping off the high dive. Stripping everything back and just sharing the songs raw. I’ve been doing this more though, when I play shows. I recently had the opportunity to play to a sold out room at the Laugh Factory, just me and guitar. That for sure felt like jumping off the high dive!! But it felt right. And it resonated with people. When we were recording, Pop insisted we do the songs in one take, max two. “Hallelujah” we did in one take. I’ve never released anything so raw…yes,
it does feel like the beginning of a new era. Not to say my new music is just guitar and vocals, because it’s not! But there’s an emphasis on authenticity and embodiment in this music. Showing up honestly. This feels like a very expansive period. EVOCAPOP Side B is almost finished…a lot of the songs are done, and some are in the mixing phase, and then there’s a couple new ones I might add. There are some stripped down elements, but there’s definitely still strong rhythmic components, synth, electric (and acoustic) guitar are a big part of the record. A lot of harmonies and vocal layers. I’m so so so excited to share this body of work with the world soon.
LUNA: What are you looking forward to this spring season?
R E L: It feels like a season of expansion and sharing and release! This month I have a few shows, one in SF next week at a new club called The Academy and one in LA May 14th at Hotel Cafe. Then I’m performing as part of a Doors tribute show in LA at the end of the month. I’m excited for these shows and more to follow. I’m also figuring out my release plan for the next six months - deciding what songs to share next, and whether I’m going to partner with anyone or stay independent. I’m also working on more new music. It’s a very creative, inspired season. I’m about to release a body of work I’m very proud of and I feel grateful, honored, and intensely excited to do so. Lots of flowers are popping up and they are so beautiful.
