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Interview with
WALLICE

(7th June, 2021)

Interviewer – Dave Bruce

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Photo – Jerry Maestas

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“’Hey Michael’ one of my favourite new tracks of the week” – triple j, 2021 with Richard Kingsmill

“She’s established herself as a keen lyricist with a knack for pop culture references and shrewd observations about the surreality of young adulthood.” – NYLON

“Driving hooks and lyrics that punch you in the gut…Wallice is well on track for a breakout 2021.” – Pigeons & Planes

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Has music always played an important role in your life? 
I started playing instruments in school when I was six and haven’t stopped since. After a year of required recorder, I ventured into trumpet and cello and in high school picked up guitar, piano and voice. Neither of my parents are musical, but their music taste from long car rides when I was little has stuck with me.

When did you start writing your own music? 
I started writing really bad songs about unrequited love when I was about 12. I played some basic chords I learned online on my keyboard that I’ve had since I was two years old.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think fans resonate with your music?
I think my sound might be described as 90s Weezer meets Big Thief. The most frequent comment I receive on my music is that people love my lyrics, which makes me so happy to hear because to me, that is the most important part of a song. I also try not to take myself too seriously. I write a lot of little jokes within all the songs, because that’s what makes me happy.

Your debut EP Off The Rails comes out June 4th! Can you share the origins or inspiration behind writing the EP?
Half of the EP was written in my grandparents’ house in Utah over two separate week-long trips, and the whole EP was written within six months, so I was in a similar headspace for that whole period of time. Obviously this last year was wild and uncontrollable, and I think “Off the Rails” perfectly describes it and encompasses so many feelings that all the songs on the EP fall under.

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What was writing an EP in lockdown like? 
The first few months of lockdown I was so unmotivated to do anything that 6 months in, all I wanted to do was be productive. The process of writing the EP was just like any other song I’ve written with my producer marinelli. Since I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with this project, there was no pressure to finish an EP or album, and instead we just wrote some songs that we ended up loving and happened to fit together nicely because they were genuine and from a short and specific time period. marinelli is one of my best friends, so working with him wasn’t too different than normal because he was one of the few people I consistently saw through the year.

How did you overcome the challenges of being stuck at home and writing music?
I’m so grateful to be able to write music and have my mom support this freak (me) my whole life. It was an amazing outlet this last year, and I can’t imagine how much crazier I would feel without it. Also, luckily I was able to still work with marinelli, and we both had more free time than before Covid. We could just focus more on music.

Is there a song on the EP that you are especially proud of writing, or which you are keen to hear people’s opinions on? 
Currently ‘Headache’ is my favorite, but it’s hard to say. I just love the end of the song and how it finishes off the EP on an eerie and unresolved note, and also the key change at the end makes me happy.

Do you have any plans for live gigs this year? 
Yes I do!! They’re still in the works, but I’m hoping to be able to start talking about it soon. I can’t wait to play live. My band and I started rehearsing last week just in case anything comes up/love an excuse to play music with my friends.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
Probably Thom Yorke from Radiohead. I’ve never seen him play live, but I’ve heard how insanely good he is and I’d love to be a part of that for even just one song.

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What is next for you in 2021? 
Another EP (which is crazy to think about because this one is barely out) and definitely playing as many shows as I can. This last year was really hard for a lot of people, but I’m so grateful it gave me an audience and I just want to keep working and writing more music and meeting more people!

Do you have any long-term goals or aspirations for your music career?
I want to always strive to be a better musician and constantly grow. I never want to feel stagnant or doing the same thing over and over. I would love to play SNL one day and some cool festivals that I’ve never been to, like Coachella and Summer Sonic or Fuji Rock in Japan.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
I’ve only played some tiny shows in LA a couple years ago, but the real-time engagement from fans while playing and it’s just so fun.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – In Rainbows by Radiohead
Artist – Radiohead and Lana Del Rey
Movie – Isle of Dogs
Place to visit – Positano or Kyoto
Venue to play – N/A but I want to play the Wiltern
Food – Sushi
Drink – Iced matcha with oat milk
Person in History – Right now it’s Mary Ford – she and her husband, the famous Les Paul, pioneered multi track recording in the early 50s which of course changed music forever (see below).
Tattoo – I want a little cowboy hat or a cowboy boot on the back of my arm

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Follow WALLICE
Instagram – Youtube – Twitter

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Press Release 4th June 2021 below

WALLICE
releases debut EP
‘OFF THE RAILS’

OUT NOW

STREAM OFF THE RAILS EP HERE

LISTEN TO NEW TRACK ‘DRAMAMINE’

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LISTEN TO OFF THE RAILS HERE

OFF THE RAILS
EP Tracklisting

Off The Rails
Punching Bag
23
Hey Michael ft marinelli
Dramamine
Headache

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LA-based artist Wallice shares her debut EP Off the Rails, which is out now. The EP arrives after an array of impressive singles which have earned her wide critical acclaim from the likes of BBC Radio 1, 6Music, Pigeons & Planes, NPR, The FADER, Sunday Times Culture, triple j and Vogue, where she featured in an editorial shoot alongside Ant Clemons, Empress Of, Kaytranada, Sir Chloe, and more. She was recently announced as part of Spotify’s inaugural Fresh Finds independent artists program, more information here.

The EP release sees the release of two new tracks, including new focus single ‘Dramamine,’ as well as closing track ‘Headache’.

Wallice first made her mark with debut single ‘Punching Bag’ late last year, an instantly relatable lo-fi anthem on unrequited friendship. This was followed by ‘23,’ a tongue-in-cheek contemplation on the urgency to come of age, then ‘Hey Michael,’ a hilarious and cutting observation on the perils of modern dating and questionable friendships. Wallice’s most recent single was EP title track ‘Off The Rails’ a song which serves her signature wit and razor sharp lyricism on an indie-pop platter of perfection.

On the release, Wallice reflects, “Off the Rails is all about growing up and being in your early 20s. It was produced and co-written with marinelli, who I’ve known since I was in 6th grade – we’ve been really close friends for years now. The EP was created during quarantine – between August 2020 and March 2021 – in both marinelli’s childhood bedroom studio and in my grandparents’ house in Cedar City, Utah. It was a time we were all going stir crazy, overthinking and re-evaluating our lives. I think you can hear that in the music and see where I was coming from lyrically. Even outside of quarantine, I think I encapsulated the feelings of being in your early twenties and living at home. Kinda feeling like a loser sometimes – which is okay! It’s scary to grow up. I hope that when people listen to any of the songs on the EP, they don’t feel alone in feeling whatever it is they are going through, and that it brings some peace to some similar aged people that listen.”

23-year-old Wallice began writing songs in middle school, contemplating secret crushes over instruments she learned to play in the school band, and armed with her trusty ipod maxed out by Weezer, Black Eyed Peas, Radiohead and Lana Del Rey. With Adrienne Lenker, Vampire Weekend, Men I Trust and The Drums on her current high-rotation, elements of both her past and present influences distill in Wallice’s sound – which feels sweet and nostalgic with a rowdy edge. Wallice’s distinct and emotive voice led her to the New School’s Jazz Vocal Performance program in New York City. After a year, she decided to pack her bags and head back home to California to focus on her own music. Wallice linked back up with her childhood friend marinelli, who helped her develop a clearer direction for her voice and style.

Wallice has quickly become known for blending bedroom pop with the energy and ethos of indie rock. Her unapologetic, funny and often self-deprecating lyrics have seen her tracks embraced as hyper-relatable Gen-Z anthems, and her debut EP is set to further solidify her place as an important young voice.

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AMNPLIFY – DB