Having already cemented themselves with a breadth of riveting releases these last few years, LA-based duo Merlot Embargo recently delivered their spellbinding new single ‘All Wrong’.
Capturing more of that warm and lofty folk-pop appeal they are known for, ‘All Wrong’ makes for an incredibly rich and alluring return to form. So we caught up with them to find out more about their origins and influences over the years.
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Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?
Scarlet: My parents tell me I’ve was singing before I was walking. My dad has always played guitar around the house, classic rock songs, country, etc, so I’ve got that music deep in my bones! I’ve also been singing in choirs my whole life, and started finding my songwriting voice in college.
Geoff: I took piano lessons as a kid, but music didn’t really take with me until I picked up guitar in high school, and got more serious about it in and after college, where I learned to read music, learned how to play jazz, joined a rock band, and just generally watched as music took over my life.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?
Scarlet: When I was a kid, I always loved the classic country & western singers: Dolly, Patsy Cline, etc. That, and the girl pop stars of the day like Paula Abdul & Madonna. You know the classic movie tropes of a girl singing into her hairbrush to the latest pop hits? That was 100% me. Current influences are a little more modern, but kinda in that world, too. Brandi Carlile is a good one for me.
Geoff: Some guitarists have one or two players or styles that they really vibe with and emulate, (like John Mayer taking up the SRV mantle, or Cory Wong with the funk) but that’s never been me. I might learn a lick or solo here and there from someone, but I can’t say there’s one player I’ve done a super deep dive into. My earliest influences were rock/pop/jazz players like Angus/Malcom, Grant Green, etc. But honestly I feel most influenced by a teacher here in LA who I studied with right after college, Larry Giannecchini. He was far and away the best music instructor I’ve ever had; I can credit so many small and large things about my own guitar technique, and my musical outlook generally, to him.
As far as production goes, I make conscious efforts to listen to what’s current, but not lose sight of the greats of the past. I’m a big fan of Jack Antanoff, but I don’t want to lose sight of George Martin, too.
Are there any specific artists or bands that have had a significant impact on your music style or approach?
Scarlet: I sort of rebel against this question actually. One thing I pride my writing on is not sounding like anything else. If I hear snippets of other peoples melodies in my music, I change it. Maybe I’m influenced in the negative space? Hah.
Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?
Scarlet: The car crash that started it all is our seminal moment. I don’t need to go into it at length, since the story is out there (on our website, for example), but basically, we almost died in an auto crash outside of San Antonio, Texas, and that started the Merlot Embargo ball rolling. It caused us, and especially me, to wonder what I’d have regretted if I’d died, and the clear answer was not having created and put my own music out there into the world.
How do you express your personal experiences and identity through your music?
Scarlet: Everything I write is just an extension of who I am and what I’m feeling. It’s a way to process my emotions. For example, our song “All Wrong” is about me feeling awkward about relating to people and being something I’m not and trying to fit in by changing parts of myself.
Geoff: I’m mostly trying to honor the emotion of the song in my production. All Wrong is such a melancholy song, and I hope I’ve conveyed that in the arrangement and instrumentation,, while still keeping it interesting and enjoyable to listen to.
Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?
Scarlet: Sure, there are plenty. I feel the double standards, not being taken seriously, ageism, fat phobia, all kinds of things. The music industry can be kind of toxic that way, and in other ways too. The only way I know to “overcome” them, is to keep reminding yourself of what you’re good at, and focus on that and to do more of that. Having a catalogue of music that you’re proud of helps, too. As I write this, I also realise a sort of side challenge is not letting all that stuff make you bitter. That ones a little harder to deal with honestly, but it’s sort of the same answer: focus on the good stuff, be proud of what you do for its own sake. Especially with art, we simply must be satisfied with our creations for their own sake. If For most of us artists, “success” never comes, if we define it only monetarily.
Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
Scarlet: I think we’re just trying to be honest about our lives, and whatever themes or messages come out of that are real, but not necessarily intended. We touch on everything from toxic positivity to feeling too old, to wondering when to leave a relationship, to Black Lives Matter, to depression and mental health. It’s really a bit of a mental download from my brain. lol. I do think there are themes that come out, one of them being the struggles in life, and solidarity with those who are struggling, in small and big ways. But i wouldn’t say that’s normally the focus of the music; that tends to be more storytelling, or exploration or whatever.
Can you talk about your creative process and how you go about writing and producing your music?
Geoff: a typical song goes through a process something like this. Scarlet writes a snippet of it in the car, or in the shower, or wherever, and sends a phone memo to Geoff. Maybe they get together with an acoustic guitar and play through it to get a feel; maybe she writes the rest on her own. Geoff takes it into the studio and messes around with it to mock up a demo. Then he takes it to Scarlet and she absolutely hates it, and says he’s destroyed her song. He disagrees, and they have a big fight about it because in the meantime he’s become rather attached to “his” version. She can’t see why he’s so stubborn about it, and he can’t see why she doesn’t hear what’s clearly better. Eventually they reconcile, one way or the other, and start actually recording the song. Ahem. In all seriousness, except for the drama, this actually is pretty close to how we make music. We are two stubborn, opinionated musicians who have strong feelings about how a song should be.
How do you hope your music will resonate with your audience, especially with other aspiring female musicians?
Scarlet: Funny that you phrase it that way, because I’m still an aspiring musician myself, especially as far as garnering ears on our music goes. But, to answer the question, I hope people are able to relate to the struggles we write about. With All Wrong, the feeling of not fitting it, faking it, is very real. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way from time to time.
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Listen to Merlot Embargo’s new single ‘All Wrong’ below.