This series of blogs is called IN PASSING, and in it I'll be interviewing bands/artists I love and trying to shed further light (in the small ways I can) on their music to give anyone who may come across this a reason to listen to them. I want to focus on smaller music that deserves more attention than it gets. All blogs in this series will include an unabridged (yet, slightly edited) interview with the artists and a small write-up from me. As always, send music, shows, suggestions for artist interviews, and anything ever that you want to talk about or see covered to [ fosterhildingmusic@gmail.com ] or DM me on Instagram.
In March of 2024, Kiva and I, alongside Dead Mothers Collective, were honored with the incredible opportunity to document a really beautiful show at Non Plus Ultra in Los Angeles, California featuring Apesma, August, Sad Gods, and Big Brown Cow. If you'd like to watch the full documentary, you can do so here. We interviewed Big Brown Cow (Alex) about his devastating and vulnerable vocal-led pieces.
Since Kiva and I both asked questions, my lines will be left-justified and hers will be right-justified.
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| photos courtesy of Elijah Seger. |
How has being an artist changed you?
I'm significantly louder than most people on planet Earth. I'm a lot louder than I was when I wasn't [an artist], or maybe I've always been but I just wasn't cognizant of it or something. My whole life revolves around what I'm gonna do next--projects, this or that, so really it's changed everything. I can't even pinpoint a particular few things other than, I'm way louder than I used to be.
Does spirituality play any role in your music?
Oh yeah, of course.
What role would that be?
I guess the music is somewhat devotional. I was raised in a Catholic household--I'm not really part of that creed anymore, but it's kind of just been a topic of mine and in my life for as long as I was autonomous. I feel like everything I do one way or another is just trying to grapple with that because I really don't know much about the incorporeal or whatever. I only know what's in front of me, so I'm just trying to grapple with the question of it, really. But, yeah, I would call it devotional.
What else informs or inspires your music?
I've always been inspired by a bunch of really awesome music that I draw very heavily from. I get really inspired by being around really nice people and people who support me and vice versa like my friend Sylvie in there--she just played and I feel very encouraged to play, myself. I don't know, just being around good people that treat you nicely.
How do you think your time in Sprain informs the music you're making now?
It's always kind of the same, in a way. Whether it's with the box, the guitar, or whatever I have, I'm just trying to get onto paper or recording or into the air whatever I'm thinking about. For whatever reason, I feel compelled to do it. I mean, there's no difference between the projects outside of the sound and the songs, which is big, but at the end of the day, the impetus is still the same--just kind of trying to figure it out. Just doing something. I have to do something, right?
What is the relationship between yourself and your listeners? Do you think you owe them anything for listening?
A lot of the time I actually, depending on how normal the people are and how they treat me, I actually become friends with them--just by playing with other people. Most of the time it becomes a relationship if it's good. I try not to talk too much to people I don't know--people who maybe try and message me on the internet. I try and make sure there's a boundary there because I'm kind of private in my own way. I don't really feel like I owe them anything and I don't really feel like they owe me anything. But, I really am thrilled and very enthusiastic that anyone listens to me at all. I feel very, very blessed.
Is it ever difficult for you to reach the emotional highs that you hit when you perform live?
Every show is different. I actually don't have too hard of a time to get there, it's more like a mental state. Most of the time I'm just closing my eyes, but a lot of the time if the sound is weird and I anticipate things too much and get myself all excited about how it's going to be instead of just having no expectations... It's mostly self-sabotage. I would say it plays a role. It's not super hard for me at this point. I've been doing it for a while.
Do you only want to be known as the artist or do you want to show other facets of who you are?
I mean, I'm just a pretty regular guy, honestly, all things considered. I work in a coffee shop, just hang out with my friends and then, you know, in addition to that, like everybody else, I happen to make some music and just--that's just what I enjoy doing. You know, that's what I do because I really get a lot of satisfaction out of that. But I don't really feel super compelled... I'm kind of like more of a shy kind of like reserved person. And I like to have fun. I have a lot of fun. And getting crazy with my friends. But you know, when I'm not around them, I feel more reserved. So I mean, yes and no, it's kind of the things are very connected. So it's just inseparable to a certain degree.
Thank you, Alex, for a set I'll never forget and agony I never knew I could experience in song. Thanks, everyone, for reading.
-Foster
See Big Brown Cow with The Hollywood Johnny Experience, Little Trooper, Apesma, and Grincement on August 9th at Coaxial.
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