Cleo Handler On the Making Of ‘compare & contrast’
Can you talk about any specific themes or motifs that run throughout 'compare & contrast?'
‘compare & contrast’ is an album about dating — and about being on your own. It's about tuning into the instincts you may have muffled, and learning to befriend (and believe) them.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this album?
Oh, the whole process was such a blast! But I do remember this one moment when we were recording (at Wild Horizon Sound, in LA), with my engineer/co-producer Claire Morison and drummer Greg Settino, when we realized that the plan we'd made to track all the drums in one day was sort of insane. (We had done that with our amazing bassist Wayne Whittaker, and the songs are pretty short and sweet, but... there are 13 of them (!) and as it turns out, a lot of drums). So we all just kind of looked at each other and froze, wide-eyed, then took it as a challenge and hunkered down. It was a beast of a day but so fun, and just a real testament to all of these amazing musicians for pulling it off. I was super grateful.
Can you talk about any standout tracks on the album and what makes them special to you?
Hmm... well they all hit in such different ways and I love how they fit together to create a whole picture. But I will say that the one that cracks me up every single time is funny seeing you here. It's so honest and really makes me smile, and I think it captures a feeling that a lot of people can relate to. Oh and also the fiddles and pennywhistle on “galway” make me so happy. Those parts were recorded by my family members actually, and they just really nailed what I was going for, and gave the track this sweeping quality and clear sense of place that I love.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I've always loved writing songs, and for me it's all about storytelling. When I'm not working on music, I'm writing and making films or theater, and it all just feels very connected, no matter the medium. I have a pretty musical family, and as a kid, I always sort of unconsciously made up songs, then started doing it more intentionally later, studying lyrics for a long time in the BMI Workshop in NY and making films that used music to tell the story. Then eventually I moved to making and performing my own more indie/alt-rock albums, which has been incredibly fun. But no matter what form the writing/creating takes, I just love the process of capturing a specific moment or emotion and really trying to convey it honestly, to make better sense of it and connect with others through a shared sense of understanding and recognition.
Where do you find inspiration for your songs or musical ideas?
I always draw from real life, from something that my brain has been kind of stuck on and trying to process, in one way or another. Maybe it's something that happened to me or something I overheard or a deep-seated emotion I can't quite place, which I want to name and pin down. Sometimes the perspective is very personal and sometimes it's kind of refracted through the lens of a character or a narrative, but regardless, it comes from life and was probably scribbled in a messy notebook thrown in the bottom of a tote bag or the back of the car.
