A CHAT WITH AUTUMNAL

BY KATHERINE CHUNG (SHE/HER)

Autumnal is an up-and-coming ‘fuzz folk’ band that strives to make the music scene more queer and environmentally friendly. The musical group consists of Annalee Knies on guitar and vocals, Geneva Hein on synth and vocals, Justice Murray on bass, and Nina Dorighi on drums.

They've developed unique sounds infused with a do-it-yourself echo that effortlessly complements their carefree demeanor. In the past month, they won the Sonic Spotlight contest, highlighting young artists from Colorado under the age of 22. Autumnal is wrapping up their first tour of 2024, and I had the opportunity to have a conversation with them discussing their DIY musical approach and the influences shaping their sound.

“FAE” BY AUTUMNAL

First off, congratulations on Sonic Spotlight 2023! I love your DIY approach to music. What is your DIY approach?

Annalee: Well, we’re not like on a label or anything like that. And I guess we try to do it all ourselves, like our merch, we make shirts and spring print them. We make little bracelets and collage letters, and it’s all our fandom. Same with playing shows, we work them ourselves. Try to play more DIY shows where it’s less corporate and more community-based.

I’ve also listened to your new song, ‘Fae’. It’s similar to a specific sound. It sounds like Maya Hawke. If you could experiment with a different sound this year what would it be?  

Geneva: We’ve been delving into the shoe gaze kind of era a little bit. Some of our newer songs are getting a little harder and heavier, which is kinda fun. I think that’s the direction of each new song we write. It's a little bit louder.

Speaking of your DIY approach in songwriting, I noticed that your song, ‘Radio Silence’ has this voiceover monologue. Artists are starting to do that, even mainstream pop artists. I was wondering what the story is behind not the song but adding the little voiceover.

Geneva: So the story behind the song is, I accidentally called no show at the radio station I worked at and there’s a lot of other meaning in there. But that voicemail is the call that I got from my boss who was like “Hey, there’s no one on the radio right now. Where are you right now? You’re supposed to be here. What’s happening?” So I found that voicemail and I put it in there. And then I called him like a year or two later when we recorded the song and asked him “Would it be okay if we used this voicemail? Also, I’m very sorry that I no-call or show.” And he was very excited about it so it worked out well.

That’s cool! The main reason why we are here is because we want to talk about your song ‘Girl at a Party’ which is your queer song. Most people ask what the story is behind the song but I am going to ask if you could create a PRIDE festival who would be on it? But it doesn’t have to be folk or indie, it can be any genre you want.

Autumnal: Maybe, Caesar. Dodie! 100 Gecs, maybe, and ooh! Japanese House.

I also read in your bio that you're striving to make your space and concerts more queer and environmentally friendly. What exactly does that mean and how do you do it?

Annalee: I guess Fort Collins, where we are from, is already generally. Like kind of curating a community where it’s kind of just the norm. And we’re lucky to be in a scene that is mostly in the norm. But kind of like when we play in new cities and new communities, I think kind of like playing ‘Girl at a Party’  is one thing and showing that solidarity I guess. Then in terms of our environmental part, like I said, our merch is thrifted. So we’re using shirts that already exist and the ink that we use is recycled. When we were talking about bills for our other shows, Annalee tries to get other fem, queer musicians on the bill so that we’re not playing like just a show of straight white men every night. We try to keep a diverse bill. Like a mixed crowd.

What would you like to say to people, struggling with their identity? Either with queer identity, environmental concerns, or both? Or people who don’t know and want to come to shows and be free.

Annalee: I guess maybe one thing is like, you don’t have to be a hundred percent sure about anything in your identity. You don’t have to know “Oh this label is me.” Or like you can kind of be fluid. Because I feel like we kind of identify in more like a fluid type space where it’s not like we super vibe with one label specifically. I think that some people might get the message that you have to identify as something to participate in these spaces and you don’t. You can be questioning, or you can be 100% sure you are something. Allowing that fluidity to be in question is very good.

Check out Autumnal’s music and socials here for more updates and contact information!

Website: https://autumnalmusic.weebly.com/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2wrKe3kSJL5wvBvVkEIm9Q