Crowdsurf & Turf Meets: Pet Dress
One of the benefits of Lockdown is that here at Crowdsurf we’ve been able to spend more time searching for talented artists and creatives that we believe aren’t being shouted about enough and bringing them to you. A key example of this is Pet Dress.
As soon as we heard “It’s Your Mind” from Pet Dress we knew we were about to fall in love with whoever or whatever ‘Pet Dress’ was. A bit more research and we found out Pet Dress was a solo project from Mackenzie Howe of California based Indie Folk group The Wild Reeds. Take a listen to a couple of tracks below from her “Fear Of Breakdown” EP and get to know this talented individual.
I am absolutely loving Fear Of Breakdown. How are you feeling now this is out in the world? How long has it taken from the first idea of this project, up until the release?
Fear of Breakdown is really just five songs written over the last few years that felt right in succession. I have more that are unrecorded, but these were recorded in Oct 2019, and early 2020. I had always played with the idea of releasing a solo project, and I had recorded an EP before I joined the Wild Reeds, but I didn’t have the time or energy until TWR slowed down this last year, to record on my own. I’m proud of the EP because it forced me to make decisions without a band behind me, and I was allowed to self produce and explore my own sound. I don’t think anyone ever arrives artistically, but I think it was a good first step.
As you mentioned The Wild Reeds, that is where people may know you as one of the members. As well as this you’re a member of Grady Strange’s band, did the current situation help you find time for Pet Dress or was this always an ambition of yours?
I started playing Pet Dress shows in 2018, but didn’t have the time to record my solo music until 2019. I honestly haven’t written much or recorded since quarantine began because I’ve had trouble feeling inspired. I think I’ve just always wanted to play in bands whether it’s with a group of people sharing their creativity or performing my own stuff.
These songs came from a pretty dark place? “It’s Your Mind” for example is such an empowering message and I think the story behind it is powerful in itself?
I did write a few of these during a gnarly depression. “It’s Your Mind” could be interpreted two ways: on the one hand it’s really empowering to learn to think for yourself when you’ve been manipulated not to, and at the same time if you suffer from anxiety it’s empowering to realize it’s ONLY your mind talking at you. “Can’t Stand It,” is also about anxiety. “Real Girl” is the oldest song on the EP and it’s more like a character piece tinged with irony in a doo-wop setting. And Believer is the “sad” one in the sense that it came from a real place of desperation; calling upon the spiritual realm to restore your hopefulness when nothing else could.
Continuing from what influences your writing, what/who influences you sonically?
I have a lot of sonic influences. It’s probably apparent that I love the 60’s/70’s, but grew up in the 90’s. I’m equally influenced by artists like Suzi Quatro and Lucinda Williams, but I also end up writing melodies reminiscent of Weezer or Third Eye Blind. In the studio I tried to aim for unhinged and honest in terms of sounds and performance. Some of my favorite sounds come from the McCartney solo records, T. Rex, and Lesley Gore.
Do you hope to perform these tracks live when it’s possible and are you hoping to record more tracks?
I was able to perform most of these songs live for much of 2019, and I’m dying to play live again but with the current situation it could be awhile before that’s a reality. I do plan on recording more, I just want to have enough songs for a full length album. Music is an integral part of any movement so I’m trying to give myself some time to write about the way the world feels right now.
Quickfire Questions:
Do you have any other talents? (cooking, skateboarding, juggling, magic etc.) As far as other talents go... I’m not “really good” at anything but I do like to thrift/flip/sell clothes. I also love true crime, and I’m learning to surf.
Favourite movies? Beetlejuice, Do The Right Thing, and American Movie.
4 essential items you have to take on tour...
vitamin C, my journal, throat coat tea, good boots.
If you were curating a festival, who would your three headliners be?
Assuming I can pick artists dead or alive, my festival headliners would be The Kinks, No Doubt and Tupac.
Karaoke song of choice? Sheryl Crow “If It Makes You Happy”.
The best gig you've ever been to?
Dr. Dog puts on a great live show. Ohhhh but Neutral Milk Hotel is probably one of my top concert experiences.
How can people listen to you & support you?
The best way to support me or any artist is to actually purchase their music instead of just streaming, and most of all... support Black artists!