Allie Crow Buckley for French Fries Magazine

Interview: Alexander Mays

Photography: Katherina Acevedo

Lush floral pastures are explored in Allie Crow Buckley’s upcoming album Utopian Fantasy, an ode to mythology, the foxglove oeuvre carefully denotes orchestral interludes with dizzying vibrations. The artist, hailing roots from California, is no stranger to the outdoors and started documentation for this album amidst the quaintness of the English countryside. Swaying between different corners of the globe, she weaves and melds her music with an ethereal sensitivity. Imagine a Nevermore sprouting bouquets of lilac. The vastness of Buckley’s landscapes differs significantly from the brooding qualities of her previous EP Moonlit and Devious where a stronger sense of yearning was evoked. With an inquisitive undertone, the new record explores feelings of vulnerability, with both a blissful prose and an anthemic grandeur. Buckley’s voice is the paintbrush complimented by an impending strum; and speaking with candor, the artist sat down with us to provide some thoughtful insights into her latest work. 

What are some of the main themes that you explore in the upcoming album Utopian Fantasy?

Some of the themes that occur throughout the record are vulnerability, sort of submission to chaos, allowing things to be as they are. The reemergence into the world. And, yeah, you know, the sort of psychedelic inward journeys that we go on in times of seclusion, that sort of healing process.

Since your debut album, sonically how do you think that this body of work differs? How have you progressed artistically?

I think that this record has a very different identity than the other two, I sort of say that So Romantic, my first EP is water. Moonlit and Devious is earth and this record feels more like air. So, I think that sonically, the bodies of work sort of represent those elements. With this record being air you know, a lot of it was written secluded in a cabin in the woods so it's a lot of an internal monologue and things that I was working through. In the airier realm. So, I think that this feels a bit lighter than perhaps the other works. Moonlit and Devious was sort of darker, more rooted, and so artistically I think I’ve progressed in you know sort of trusting myself and going with the flow and whatever that vision dictates.

What type of imagery comes to mind when you imagine vulnerability?

Well, there are a lot of themes of vulnerability in this record so for me when I read the word or see the word, I'm called to the myth of Cupid and Psyche and sort of thinking about Psyches vulnerability in reemerging into this world, this new strange reality that was made for her, you know, yes, she was saved from sudden death, but she has to sort of be okay with this new reality and all of its strangeness. So, for me at the moment, that's what vulnerability means, you know, to just be okay, and with big changes and being open to adapting.

If the last album was more moonlit, would you say that this one is more sunlit?

Great question. I love that. I would say that this record is more sunlit. Absolutely. And as I said earlier, you know, the elements are a big part of it. It was such a different chapter of my life writing moonlit and, you know, it's been wonderful seeing how this record differs, how it feels, but still having a lot of the same sort of through lines. But yes, especially sonically, I think, they're very different.

There are also lot of floral undertones in your music. How much of this do you think plays a role in your work? Do you have a favorite flower?

Yes, I think that nature has always been a huge inspiration for me. So have my surroundings, my environment and because most of this record was written in the English countryside… in the woods, I was very inspired by that sort of landscape and I think that that comes through in the record, whereas you know, in my previous work Moonlit and Devious a lot of that was written about a town, an ancient town in Tuscany where I felt a bit darker, more rooted. So, I think that my surroundings are a huge part of my inspiration and how I write, and I do love flowers. I really do, I always have. I love arranging flowers, and it’s just been incredible spending more time in the UK…such incredible natural flowers everywhere. Oh my gosh, okay, my favorite flower I would say is probably foxglove. I would say foxgloves.

As an artist, how would you describe your ethos? How do you like to approach your work?

Good question? Let's see, I think I would describe my ethos as both whimsical and dark.
In terms of both sonics and lyrical content, I'm very inspired by mythology, elements by my environment, nature, poetry, so yeah, I think whimsical, and dark is how I would describe it. I suppose my art is sort of an all-encompassing part of my personhood, so for me, it's more of a daily practice and a life spent creating various art forms. So, it's more of an entire essence, and being filled while constantly creating as well.

What other artists do you feel most inspired by? Who have been the greatest influences on your career thus far?

Let's see, my most favorite artists are Joni Mitchell…I love Black Sabbath, I love Led Zeppelin; I love Todd Rundgren. In terms of career, and those who have inspired me I just feel that all of these different artists have, not just musical artists though, but poets like Robert Graves, mythology, you know…mythology is a huge inspiration to me. Painters…I have such an incredible community of creators, I feel very inspired by them.
Yeah, I think those people are the ones who have influenced me the most.

What does a perfect day look like for you?

Let's see. I think a perfect day for me is waking up in the forest somewhere and going for a long walk, coming back, and having some sort of warming soup and listening to some music, writing a bit maybe. Finishing the evening off with a glass of red wine and looking at the stars, I mean, there's so many wonderful, perfect days but that is sort of the first one that comes to mind.

How important is the role of humility to you and your work?

Well, I think that as an artist, you are sort of in service in a way, as you are creating this art and you are putting it out into the world and allowing yourself to be vulnerable and share so much in the hopes that it may touch someone's heart. So, I think that inherently that has a form of humility attached to it, you know, that you humbly offer your art to the world, for them to consume, to take it or leave it, you know, I think that that takes a lot of humanity in order to do that.

Lastly, what can we hope to expect from you in the future? Any upcoming projects?

Well, I'm hoping to continue to make projects around this record. I would love to do some sort of dance project because I have a real affinity for dance, dancing, something like that. Maybe another visual video project could be fun, and I think I will also be making a perfume for this record as I've made a perfume for all my projects prior, so those are some exciting projects that I have coming up.