It’s funny what a difference a name change can bring. I was always a fan of Creeping Charlie, but I’ve become a quick fan of Agnes Uncaged; the music feels more focused and free at the same time. The songs in the new album (Cyanotype) bring back memories for me but with a much cooler soundtrack. Be sure to check in out on January 31st at 7th Street Entry.
Please tell us about Agnes Uncaged and your music.
Agnes Uncaged is made up of my sister and I, Jack Malone on drums, and Cole Benson on guitar. I would describe the music as gritty yet pretty, some of it is pretty heavy and it’s very guitar driven but we range from more wall of sound style songs to acoustic songs. Cyanotype has a lot of songs about coming of age in the end of the world, themes of climate change and growing up interwoven in descriptions of white-hot memories.
You have a new album coming out (Cyanotype) and a new name (formerly Creeping Charlie) and a new year coming up. What are you hopes and expectations?
Lots! I am thrilled for this new year and to release our new record Cyanotype. This is the year of creating and releasing unabashedly. I feel like the name change enabled me to write and go forward more freely. There is so so much to come, more music, more and more shows, and more videos.
I am so far away from taking a Philosophy Test and I liked school, but your song captures that anxiety of test taking and not knowing what we’re doing. The lyrics drive the story, but the pace of the songs drives the feeling. How did that song come to you? An idea first, or the tune or the lyrics or something else?
This song is based on an experience I had with a high school teacher who was pretty dismissive and misogynistic. I was totally an overachiever in high school and getting back a test that I did so horribly on— and a test on a completely subjective subject matter presented in a totally objective way infuriated me. It got me thinking about whose worldviews are validated and who has to “study them” to be deemed an intellectual. Most times the lyrics and the music are inseparable, but for this the idea came first.
Please talk about Rabbit, the song and the video. From the childhood bedroom to a park that reminds me of a cemetery to Lake Shore Drive and downtown Chicago. They are bits and pieces of life that are both significant and everyday in an interesting way. It reminds me of times with my sister.
Rabbit is a sweet nostalgic song about my relationship with music. Sometimes I feel like I am trying to outrun making music because it could be easier to do anything else, but I cant keep myself away from it. For the video we wanted to have past and present intercut and it’s totally a love letter to Chicago. You are correct about the cemetery! It was filmed at Graceland in Chicago! The director Leila Boisvert did an amazing job and it was actually featured in the Chicago International Film Festival!
Please tell us about the album release.
The album release show is going to be January 31st at 7th street entry with Anything You Want and Gramma. We are going to play through the full album front to back to give a full live listening experience! I have never been more excited for a show.
Mostly Minnesota 