Q&A with WATERBED

Your debut album, “Forever” was released last month. How has it been to see this project you’ve been working on for so long take shape and be introduced to the world?

Crystal: Very strange and surreal, but in a good way.

Cat: It's been incredible. We've been through a lot of intense ups and downs these past few years not only as a band, but personally as well. So it really feels like a triumph for us to have it out in the world. This album has been built up and torn down more times than we can count. Just a few months ago we finally came up with a concept that we really connected with and after that all of the pieces just fell into place. It kind of feels like we just gave birth after a 72 month pregnancy.

When you write music, what do you hope to achieve?

Crystal: My main goal when creating is to capture a vibe. Once I get an inspiring idea--the goal is staying true to those energies that arise at the beginning of an idea, while interpreting and translating those vibrations through my lens. Bringing energy from spirit to matter. To me writing and recording are almost synonymous, they usually happen simultaneously. I prefer a production to come together in one or two days. Most vocals on our songs are the first take, sometimes improvised--lots of 'Neon' was made up on the spot. Sometimes I visualize the whole song from beat to lyrics, other times it's just a rhythm to start out, and we build it from there. As long as it's organic and we both love it.

Cat: Pure bliss.

As a duo, you’re very reliant on the flow of energy between the two of you. How do you maintain a healthy relationship as musical partners, and why is that important?

Cat: I think honesty is the most important. We are really blunt communicators which helps out a lot when we're creating. If we're feeling an idea we let the other one know. But we don't waste any time building on an idea that we're not both in love with. When we're creating we like to flow like water, taking the path of least resistance.

Crystal:  There must be mutual respect and trust. As a bandmate I love to stay in motion, to always create, especially in the face of disagreement. That is when the magic really happens. The best ideas I have are often born from a fiery desire to destroy dissatisfaction and complacency, to raise vibrations.

What drew you to creating music?

Crystal: Music felt like magic to me when I was younger, and still does to this day. I love scaling the dichotomy of divine discovery and conscious manifestation. Songs are so many things to me. Songs are doses of vibration. Songs are energetic snapshots. Songs are like recipes, and I always wanted to innovate, to integrate new flavors and ideas that differed from what I was hearing. Making music transports me out of this world. It feels like a more familiar, friendly place.

Cat: I love how music always felt like an escape. Like an inward journey. Different songs awakened different parts of myself. I've always wanted to be the provider of that experience for others.

How do you hope to see yourselves grow in the next few years?

Cat: Exponentially, physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally

Crystal: I hope to grow in unfathomable ways, all growth is welcome. Touring, releasing music, connecting with more people in person at shows and festivals. We aim to reach all of the Waterbed lovers who don't know we exist yet.

What’s something that you’ve always wanted to talk about in interviews, but that you’re never asked about?

Cat: Waterbed's birth chart ;)

Crystal: I'm hoping someone will catch wind of the myriad of Waterbed conspiracies. I’d love to hear what people notice or wonder about in the details of our music. There's so much beneath the surface.

Listen to WATERBED on Spotify and Soundcloud, and find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!