Party Nails
It’s been a while since I last featured Party Nails but I’ve always had some huge respect for her music, her talents and the things she stands for. To me, Party Nails is one of of these true artists who makes music for the right reasons. She’s talented but not only, you can tell she truly loves what she does and she always has something real to say in her music. Her most recent single is no exception. It’s called “Same Old Song”, and it’s about the co-existence of our inner child and adult selves. It’s about healing as adults. Co-produced with Ben Greenspan, the new single offers a different sound for Party Nails. Fusing indie rock, the new single is definitely promising.
She has a new album coming up so soon, so let’s make sure to keep an eye on her !
“Same Old Song” is out now on all platforms.
Photo credit: Naz Massaro
Hi Elana, how are you? What have you been up to since our feature? (I first featured you back in 2018 and you also wrote a piece about touring a while ago...)
Yes! I love your blog. Thank you for having me on it. Since our last interaction I’ve made an album and looked for a good home for it, which was a long process. I also have been producing and mixing at my studio, Top Coat, in Los Angeles.
You've just released your new single "Same Old Song" - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
Sometimes I’m not sure what a song is about until after it’s been written and worked on for a while. “Same Old Song” was like that. There wasn’t a moment of inspiration or a vision for it, it was more like a quiet little flutter of a thought that came out of my mouth only when I sat still long enough to hear it. Over time I came to realize the song is about the co-existence of my child and adult selves—all of ours, really. Our kid self is always inside of us. What do we wish we could say to them? How strange it is, to tell my kid self that I’ve been drinking and thinking and crying (the lyrics of the post chorus)…but that’s precisely the feeling I feel inside, like I want to acknowledge how strange it is to be candid with our child selves, to attempt care for them while also understanding they possess a deep well of wisdom that we need in order to heal.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this particular song? When did you start working on it?
I started writing it on guitar, and would spend hours and hours in Ableton seeing what made sense to add or take away: bass parts, harmonies. I was doing some work with my friend and co-producer Ben Greenspan who was very supportive of a folksier direction for Party Nails. Time passed. We recorded the original guitar part with a rubber bridge guitar, and had virtuoso player Vixen play lead. Ben did a lot of pretty sound programming and the Mellotron sound. The final touch was Anna Crane played live drums at my studio, Top Coat, where I also mixed the song.
What's your favorite lyric on "Same Old Song"?
“Do you have to ask permission to be this way?”
What made you want to release "Same Old Song" as a single?
Something happens inside of me when we play this one live, it feels like an energy where it needs to explode out of me. I think knowing this feeling happens with this song is why I wanted to share it as a single, and not just as an album track. I don’t know though—I feel pretty intense while I’m performing all of my songs. I wish they could all be singles, (laughs.)
What's your goal for this song? What do you want people to feel when listening to it? What message do you want to deliver?
I want people to feel enveloped by sound and empowered to sing along loudly! I hope that, along with the fun, there is a catharsis when listening to this song too.
What can you tell us about your upcoming album?
I’ve been waiting a long time to release this album! It’s a mix of the sound of “Same Old Song” and my more electronic pop stuff. I’m very proud of it. I mixed the whole thing too.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The better you get at being an artist, the more you take on financially, emotionally and creatively. It’s just part of growing. It’s also incredibly challenging because the more visible and skilled you become, the more people treat you like you are magical rather than just a person working very hard. That unwitting devaluing of the work involved can be confusing to carry. The best part—growing and evolving—is also the hardest part.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Oh good lord. If I could, I would take money from the top 1% of earners in the music industry and give it to what ought to be our middle class. Like in American society at large, our music industry lacks a middle class. Without a middle class, we have simply desperation (at the bottom) and the often boring perspective of those who have always had plenty (at the top). I think a proper middle class would be a net gain for everyone, culturally, and would heal a lot of our issues as a society. I would love to give money to all the amazing bands who are building community on their own, without the help of the industry. Those bands are good for our hearts and minds.
How's it like to be a woman in the music industry? What advice would you give to women out there?
Good lord! It’s nuts. My advice is to trust your gut and get good at all the things you are interested in. Don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t matter or you shouldn’t concern yourself with it, or to just focus on singing or whatever. That’s all bullshit. Also, women can be sexist too.
Photo credit: Naz Massaro
What biggest lessons have you learned since the beginning of your career?
By far the biggest lesson I’ve learned is about fear. If you allow fear to become part of your creative process or small business, it’s game over. You must cultivate a sense of safety and urgency in your practice, otherwise you’ll paralyze yourself over and over and over again. Make moves, make adjustments, and keep moving.
In your opinion, what would make the world a BETTER place?
If the world’s wealthiest people were expected to give back to our communities in real ways, the world would definitely be a BETTER place.
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