Caroline Polachek chats about old people, stolen USB drives, Succession, bad interviews, power outages, Berlin, London, Burbank Whole Foods hot bar, favorite restaurants, music leakers, no label deal, editing videos, working with a team, Debating The Deftones, Lana love, and her iPod Nano commercial.
Establishing a record label to maintain creative control enables quick releases and project direction independence.
Meticulous editing of music videos to craft chaotic yet cohesive storytelling showcases Polachek's hands-on approach.
Recognizing and praising positive aspects amidst criticism fosters creativity and faith in team members enhances collaboration outcomes.
Deep dives
Creating a Record Label by Perpetual Novice
Caroline Polachek, in a move to maintain creative control, established a record label, Perpetual Novice, serviced by The Orchard, a label services program, which handles distribution and manufacturing. This setup allows Polachek to make decisions independently without the constraints of a traditional record label, enabling her to release music quickly and fully control the direction of her projects.
The Process of Editing Music Videos
Polachek's hands-on approach to her projects extends to editing her music videos, exemplified in the complex production of her 'Welcome to my Island' video. With a unique vision for each scene, she meticulously crafted 18 standalone scenes that could also work as individual reveals on social media platforms. Despite the time-consuming nature of editing each scene, the edit strategy perfectly captured her desired chaotic yet cohesive storytelling style.
Columbia Records and Autonomy in Music Creation
Reflecting on her trajectory, Polachek delves into her experience with record labels, notably Columbia Records, where early in her career, she signed a contract after her initial label, canine records, sold it to the major record label. She acknowledges the freedom she currently enjoys in decision-making about her music and expresses gratitude for her team at Columbia for truly understanding her artistic vision and approach.
The Importance of Doing Tasks Personally
The podcast delves into the significance of handling tasks personally rather than delegating them. It highlights the speaker's preference for taking on editing tasks, explaining that doing it oneself saves time and ensures full ownership. The discussion extends to the impact of constant criticism on the brain, suggesting that always being in criticism mode can hinder creativity and turn work into a defensive endeavor. Overall, the episode advocates for recognizing and praising positive aspects amidst critical assessments.
The Power of Faith and Trust in Creative Collaboration
The podcast explores the concept of faith as a creative catalyst in collaborations. Referencing experiences in working with others, it underscores the value of having faith in teammates' abilities, leading to exceptional results. Drawing from examples of successful creative leaders, like Matthew Barney, the episode emphasizes the impact of trust and creative freedom on team performance. Additionally, it touches on the revelation of appreciating individuals' unique talents and the necessity of acknowledging superior skills when collaborating.
Caroline Polachek is a singer living in Los Angeles. Her new album Desire, I Want To Turn Into You, is out now. We chat about old people and weather, stolen USB drives, Succession is back, and they're doing bad interviews, Caroline's power went out the second we started recording, we rate Berlin, what she loves about London, the Burbank Whole Foods hot bar, her favorite restaurant in the valley, music leakers, why she doesn't have a label deal, editing her own videos, the secret third way of working with a team, Chris and Caroline debate The Deftones, TJ tries to penetrate her friend group, her love of introducing people, seating charts, So Hot Your'e Hurting My Feelings flash mob, we gush over Lana for a few, and Caroline tells to story of getting her iPod Nano commercial.
