A Chat With Korda Korder About “Everything You Ever Wanted To Be”
Q: Hi! When you first sat down with an acoustic guitar or synth to start writing ‘Everything You Ever Wanted To Be’, do you remember the exact emotion or idea that got the ball rolling?
A: It started with the title and not the music. I have a bunch of song titles that are not songs yet. I find that can help inspire. The initial chord sequence was a loop I’d found and then I expanded it to the full song. The words were quite easy as the title kinda dictates where it will go.
Q: The lyricism digs into that space between the person we project to the world and who we actually are when we’re on our own. Was that coming from a specific personal moment for you, or just general late-night reflection?
A: Definitely a personal lyric. But also a note to anyone to keep going.
Q: When you write a song that ends up having such a massive, layered atmosphere, do you hear all those textures in your head while writing the chord progressions, or does that get built out later?
A: That definitely comes later. I usually end up with too many layers on a song. I find leaving a song for a few weeks and coming back to the mix allows you to listen again and make decisions on the mix. And remove what’s not needed.
Q: Your vocal melodies melt right into the instrumentation rather than sitting sharply on top. As a writer, are you crafting lyrics to fit a specific rhythmic vibe/sound, or do the words come first and dictate the melody?
A: Songs hit you in many different ways. A phrase, a chord sequence, a loop, a drone. There’s no set way, and also that helps keep it fresh. I’d probably get bored doing it one way only.
Q: What was it like the first time you brought this draft to the rest of the band or the room? Did it change much from your original bedroom/demo vision?
A: It never got given to the band. That only happened afterwards when it was played live. So the song really only developed in the studio. That’s the way all the songs are formed. In my studio.
Q: You write these really intimate, reflective songs, but then you’re taking them out to massive showcase stages like SXSW and The Great Escape. Is it ever surreal taking something written in a quiet space and blasting it out at full volume to a packed room?
A: It’s a kick hearing the songs being played by the band. As we have different versions of the live band it’s always interesting to see where they take it. I try not to be too precious about that and let the musicians do their own thing.
Q: Radio legends like Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens have been spinning your tracks and hyping the songwriting. As a creator, does that kind of early validation change how you approach writing the next tune, or do you tune out the noise?
A: It can be pressure when you are writing as you don’t want the quality to lower. That can be a hard thing. So a lot of songs get put to one side. Sometimes leaving things for months and going back can give some perspective on tunes. Sometimes.
Q: There’s this great bittersweet, restless energy running through your writing. Do you find it easier to write when you’re feeling upbeat and energized, or do you do your best work when you’re in a quieter, more reflective mood?
A: There’s not a pattern to my songwriting. It just hits when it wants to. Sometimes you sit there and nothing works. Sometimes it falls out. Go figure.
Q: Releasing this through Little End Records—how has that environment been for you as a songwriter? Do they just let you run wild with your creative ideas?
A: That is our own company we used for one single. So yeah, we let ourselves do what we like! We are still looking for a label.
Q: When someone reaches out to tell you a specific line in ‘Everything You Ever Wanted To Be’ really hit them, what’s that feeling like for you as the writer behind it?
A: It’s always nice. You don’t write for that though. But if the music connects with people then that can only be a good thing.
Q: It’s already been a huge year, but looking ahead to the rest of this year, what’s next on your plate as a songwriter—are you sitting on a vault of new tunes for an album, or taking a break to recharge?
A: Currently trying to write new tunes. Hoping to release more tunes this year but we’ll just have to see what materializes. An LP would be good at some point. I will have to see how that works out. There is a lot of material but I’m more interested in new songs. There’s no rush at this point.
