The lush and captivating melodies of Kacey Johansing, a San Francisco-based indie-folk songstress, will soon be wafting into the world from her solo debut album, Many Seasons, via Porto Franco Records. Photographer Cecilia Austin spent a day with Johansing, snapping a few shots and discussing the source of her ethereal allure.
Kacey Johansing: “Many Seasons”
Kacey Johansing: \”Many Seasons\”
We often see you perform with other bands (Honeycomb and Michael Musika). Is collaboration an important part of your creative process?
Very much so. I’m really excited about the music that friends from my community are making. It’s really hard to turn down the opportunity to play music with people that you admire so much. It’s overwhelming at times, but I think that being involved in musical projects other than my own is very important for my sanity and also for my creative process.
I’ve always been drawn to collective creative projects. It’s really powerful to be a part of something that multiple individuals are contributing to and passionate about. I also love being challenged by learning to play different instruments.
Yeah! How many instruments can you play?
I can play all the basic ones, like keyboard, drums, guitar, and a little bass. Drums is a new thing for me, which is really exciting. I would love to learn to play something completely different from what I’m used to, like the trumpet or the clarinet. I also have the pleasure of playing with a vibraphonist (Andrew Maguire). Vibes are an incredibly beautiful instrument that I have always been drawn to.
Are you self-taught?
For the most part. I studied a bit as a child and played in bands throughout high school. I also attended music school in Boston but found it to be too competitive and industry focused, so I left after two years. I’m grateful for what I gained from formally studying music, but I have also greatly benefited from the musical immersion I’ve had since living in San Francisco.
How did you begin playing out in San Francisco?
I began playing out by going to open mics. It helped to break the ice.
How do you feel about what’s happening in the SF music scene right now?
I’m really excited about it, and am I’m honored to be a part of it. I’m super excited about any community coming together to represent something special and unique.
I think that what makes the music scene in this area so special is our inherent connection to the natural landscapes that surround us. You’ll often find incredible bands playing in eucalyptus groves just north of the city, or perhaps in some haunted lodge on the coast near Big Sur. It’s magical.
How would you describe your music to people who’ve never heard it before?
That’s always a difficult question to answer. I would classify it as indie/soul with strong roots in folk. It’s pretty eclectic. I’ve always had a broad taste in music and am constantly developing as a musician. [Because] the album took nearly 3 years to complete, the feeling changes quite often.
Is there a common theme that holds together all these songs?
Yes, a few themes. San Francisco…water…transition and transformation.
What settings (either physical or emotional) do you find to be the most creative for you? Where do you draw inspiration from?
For songwriting, well, it’s all about timing. I have very little control over it; if I try to control it or force it, the creative flow stops. I also need space to create. You’re not going to make anything if you don’t make space for it. So I definitely need privacy, because songwriting is a very personal and vulnerable process. It can be a huge challenge. You put so many judgments on yourself.
Most of the songs that I write come out and I go, “Whoa! How did I do that?” It’s such an amazing feeling afterward. Usually, they come out as a full package like a little baby. (Laughs) They’re always developing inside.
So is being inspired about songwriting different from being inspired with drawing up a melody?
I think being a musical person, melodies are always running through your head. Like…I’m doing the dishes or riding my bike and I hear a melody. They are always spinning around in my head. But songs come from profound experiences that I’m going through, and what I’m feeling needs to be expressed in a song.
Is it mostly an overwhelming feeling of sadness, loneliness, or even happiness?
Sadness, yes. Sometimes happiness. It’s usually sadness or longing, a pining feeling. A few of my favorite songs have been farewell songs. When I’ve lost something, I know I’ll never have it back again. Many songs help me gain some sense of closure.
I have a couple of favorite songs from you: “Angel Island” and “Sleepwalk.” How did you come up with the title “Angel Island”?
“Angel Island”: I met a couple of students who were from England. They lived in San Francisco for a year. We became super close. On their last weekend here, a group of us went to Angel Island and camped.
It was a goodbye song. I was saying goodbye to those friends and also saying goodbye to that era. It was a very special time, and I’m really fond of that song. It’s also an homage to San Francisco.
Can you tell more about “Sleepwalk”?
“Sleepwalk” is kind of meditative. I feel like the message is pretty direct, but it’s about me pining for somebody and conjuring a presence in my head. I wanted the dream to come true.
It takes place in this shadiest section of Market Street. I used to live over there, so I guess that’s why I can visualize it so well. It didn’t become fully realized until my friend Nathan Blaz (Geographer, Honeycomb) helped me arrange the string parts. “Sleepwalk” is my favorite song on Many Seasons.
Will you be touring to support your debut album?
Yeah, I [toured] the West Coast during the first week of May, and I’m going to Europe in June. I will be on tour with Honeycomb. We’re going to try and collaborate as well as play separately. We hope to tour together as much as we can at this point.
In the future, if things take off for Honeycomb or for me, we may not be able to. Who knows? I would like it if we could always tour together, because we share musicians and, most importantly, we are like family. I’ve also been fixing up an old school bus, and I’m super excited to fill it with all of my favorite musicians and take it up and down the coast!
– Q&A and photos by Cecilia Austin