We wonder if Travels With Brindle has ever been to The Cannery Row? She should spread her whimsy there if not. Let’s see what she has to say!
CTRL+Space: First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
I was an English major in college and read a lot of John Steinbeck. My ukulele’s name is Brindle, and when I began playing I was traveling a lot. I named my project Travels With Brindle after Steinbeck’s final book, Travels With Charley, and after my ukulele.
CTRL+Space: Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
For the first 37 years of my life I was a fan. I was one of those kids who could name all the bands on the radio. In high school I interviewed local bands for the school paper, I hosted a radio show in college, and I later made videos for local bands. I got a ukulele in a Yankee Swap and learned to play the year I did an AmeriCorps year of service, and it’s all been downhill from there.
CTRL+Space: How would you describe your sound?
Wistful indie folk pop. I’m probably the only person who doesn’t mind being described as a Sad Girl.
CTRL+Space: Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
I listened to a lot of power pop and Paisley Underground bands as a kid—lots of dB’s, Hüsker Dü, Game Theory, and early Bangles—and have spent much of my practice time trying to chase those sounds on a ukulele. More recently, I’ve been inspired by Alex Lahey and her economic style of songwriting!
CTRL+Space: What’s the last song you listened to?
“Anticipation” by Carly Simon.
CTRL+Space: What’s your source for hearing new music?
My boyfriend listens to everything and will recommend new bands to me. I’ve found some of my favorite bands through him!
CTRL+Space: Who is your dream producer?
I would love to work with Greg Hawkes, who played keyboards for The Cars and has had a second act as the coolest ukulele player ever. He seems like he would know how to record the uke so it sounds like a musical instrument!
CTRL+Space: If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
How long have you got? 🙂 I would love to write songs with Alex Lahey—I think she could teach me about brevity and wit—and I would also love to work with a band of Girls Rock Camp alums. I’m working on an article about the film scores Carly Simon wrote, and it turns out she plays the ukulele; it would be fun to play the uke with her! While this isn’t a collab per se, I’ve wanted to sample the work of Eric Dolphy or Terry Riley in my music.
CTRL+Space: What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
Music found me. I have a lot to say, and writing songs seems to be the best way to say it all!
CTRL+Space: Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
Start with a good title. I spend an hour playing different chord progressions to see what sticks, and then go through things I’ve written in my journals and try to find a melody.
CTRL+Space: How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
The best way to find me is on Instagram. I’m @travelswithbrindle and I have some fun surprises in the coming weeks 😉
Instagram: Chelsea Girl (@travelswithbrindle) • Instagram photos and videos
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7v7VVzgfAFaIT3Ga2oa4Km?si=9YA_EK73RRe1sz-1qNUOCw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swdXmQQ-O0U
Bandcamp: https://travelswithbrindle.bandcamp.com/
CTRL+Space: What’s next for you?
I’m releasing my debut album, Notes from Undergrad, this spring.
Bio:
Chelsea Spear has been a music critic, a show promoter, a college radio host, and a video director… but all she really wanted to do was start a band. Not long after learning to play the ukulele, she formed the bedroom recording project Travels With Brindle. Her melodic original songs and wry, poignant lyrics have attracted a growing audience at open mics and busking pitches in the Greater Boston area. Spear is inspired by lo-fi songwriters and jangle pop acts of the 1980s and ‘90s, and her work has been compared to the Marine Girls, the Raincoats, Courtney Barnett, and Liz Phair. Currently Spear is recording her first full album of original songs, led by a well-received series of 2022 singles that includes “Ivan,” “Linden Street,” and “Something’s Wrong.”
