ESS SEE: Ordinary Woman

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ESS SEE coming to Chicago 09/05-09/07

Interview conducted on August 22, 2019

by Dan Locke

ESS SEE (Sarah Cobb) began producing her electro-pop demos in 2009 alone in her bedroom at night—honing in on uniquely addictive and seductive melodies often featuring themes dealing with identity, intimacy, and femininity. Embracing lyrical influences St. Vincent, Emily Haines, Carole King, and Garbage, ESS SEE delivers a heightened sense of vulnerability and intimacy in her songwriting. Her rich, often theatrical, live performances engage audiences with eye-popping costumes, humor, and an electric presence. Waiting For The Sky To Fall is the follow up to ESS SEE’s debut EP, Ordinary Woman which was released in 2017.

Her latest album, Waiting For The Sky To Fall, dropped on August 23rd. Here’s the smart link to the album https://ampl.ink/WnNK8

Dan Locke: You grow up in Arkansas. What was live music there like?

ESS SEE: My parents were pretty strict but every now and then I’d get to go to shows at Vino’s Brewpub – they were the only place that let people in under the age of 18. Other than that, I’d go to every show possible at our larger venues to see nationally touring bands. We had a festival every summer called Riverfest and I’d spend 12 hours each day hopping between stages, catching every show I could. Once I could drive, I’d travel to Memphis for shows and for the Beale Street Music Festival.

Since you are from Arkansas, I am going to ask you about a few bands from Arkansas, and I would like you to tell me something about each if you can.

Johnny Cash – Who doesn’t love Johnny Cash? A legend. Cash is the perfect balance of grit, talent, and cool. He oozed realness, both good and bad.
Evanescence – I had an Evanescence demo tape in high school. It was insanely beautiful. Amy’s voice is otherworldly. Sadly, it melted in the door pocket of the car in the summer heat. I wish I still had it. I actually bonded over Arkansas with Amy at a bar in Brooklyn recently. I didn’t tell her about the tape.

Glen Campbell – Ironically, Glen Campbell is one of my guitarists, Charlie Rauh’s all-time favorite artists. I think Glen is probably partly responsible for solidifying our relationship. We’ve covered “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” at one of Charlie’s shows and now we’ve most recently started talks of covering some of the tunes he recorded with Bobbie Gentry. TBD.

Grandpa Jones (Hee Haw) – Grandpa jones is a great example of the music I grew up with on my mother’s side of the family. A lot of her family plays Southern gospel/bluegrass/ old-time country. We are related to Jimmy Driftwood (who, like Grandpa Jones, also lived in Mountain View, AR) by marriage and I got to meet him before he died. I wonder if they were friends?
Black Oak Arkansas – I was recently berated for not being deeply familiar with Black Oak Arkansas. Upon further review, they had excellent hair.
Billy Bob Thornton – One summer, I worked at a store called the Drug Emporium. Billy Bob’s mom came through my checkout line and she was nervous. She kept looking outside and then told me that Billy Bob had been angry with her for stopping because people wouldn’t leave him alone in the parking lot.

Beth Ditto (Gossip) – Beth is one of the coolest women alive today. She’s my current favorite Arkansas musician. She’s been a huge influence on my music, fashion, and attitude. I dream of opening for her. I’ve been a Gossip fan since college, and now I can’t get enough of her solo music. I recently saw her at Brooklyn Steel and she was phenomenal and has a super comfortable and charming stage presence.
The Pointer Sister – I had no idea Anita Pointer lived in Arkansas! But after googling this, I’m enlightened. THAT’S WILD. I’m so PROUD.

What was your musical influence growing up?

I grew up with a lot of music in the home. My parents had an extensive record collection that I’d dig through. I initially listened to lots of “golden oldies” – pop music from the ’50s and ’60s (lots of Motown / Elvis / Beach Boys). There was also a lot of country, and classic rock. I fell in love with Carole King and spent hours perfecting my impersonation of her (that’s what most pre-teens are doing at home alone these days right?). Once I hit my teens it was a lot of Radiohead, Garbage, Fiona Apple. By college, it was bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Le Tigre, Gossip, Peaches.

How old were you before you started to spend your time writing songs in your bedroom?

Hmmm, I guess I was around 25 when I started creating more electronic music in my (literally) tiny bedroom. But I actually started writing songs in high school once I took up guitar. I never really learned how to properly play the guitar. My lessons turned into me bringing in songs I had written, and then my teacher, Ben Harris, would play them for me once I had taught him the chord progressions. I would sing. We actually made a little EP of those songs (never released). It was recorded in a studio above what used to be Juanitas in Little Rock, Arkansas (now South on Maine). I think I was 19.

What were some of the names of those songs?

Dirty Old Man
Ghost
E-I-O
KnowBetter
Downtown
Move

You begin producing your electro-pop demos in 2009 alone in your bedroom, at night. What was your bedroom studio like? What instruments did you use?

My “studio” was SO SMALL. I think my room was only 7×8. The desk was in front of the closet. You couldn’t scoot out the chair or it would hit the bed. All the equipment was very basic beginner level guitar center purchases. I had an M-Audio interface. A cheap midi keyboard (I think it was $100), an Akai condenser microphone, entry-level monitors, and garage band.

Have you revisited any of those songs?

Yes, both “Kryptonite” and “New Age” made it on to my EP “Ordinary Woman” and “Dance In The Dark” (written in 2011) will finally see the light of day on my new album “Waiting For The Sky To Fall”!

How did you come up with the name Ess See?

It’s my initials spelled out phonetically.

How was it to receive an Honorable Mention award for your song “Touch Me” in the 2016 International Songwriting Competition?

That was really cool. I was just getting started as ESS SEE and trying to find every opportunity I could to get my music heard. I entered that contest and was really affirmed and encouraged by the result to keep going.

Why did you call your debut EP “Ordinary Woman”?

That was the title track of the EP. That song took me forever to write. I had to dig deep to finish it and when I finally did, I felt really proud of it. It’s anthemic, it’s empowering, it’s bold. Then, on my way to the studio to record it, I passed a junkyard and saw a set of female forms that someone had discarded. I took it as a sign and bought all 10 of them, took them home and photographed one for the cover.

Who do you compare yourself to?

I look up to artists like Emily Haines, Amelia Meath, Annie Clark, Debbie Harry, Shirley Manson, Peaches, and, of course, Beth Ditto.

What are your feelings about shows like American Idol and The Voice?

I think they are great platforms for talented singers. I don’t watch them.

I like your video “NPR Tiny Desk Contest Fast Cheap Easy”. Did you submit it to NPR Tiny Desk?

Thank you! We made that video for the NPR Tiny Desk contest in 2018. It didn’t win but it was featured by NPR as the title track in their “Desks of the 2018 Tiny Desk Contest” overview video, which was pretty cool.

How did the song Hero do with NPR?

Haha, great question! I’m not sure.
Maybe they will like it when they hear it on “Waiting For The Sky To Fall” under its new title, “What Happened To You?”

Tell me about the video “Get Around”?

This was the first music video I’d ever made. I had no idea what I was doing, but a friend of mine arranged for us to shoot at a nightclub in Brooklyn, so I just gathered all my friends and went for it. The other shots are mostly in my living room. I love that video because I think it encapsulates so much of where I was in the process of becoming an artist at the time. It’s kind of all over the place but full of energy. All my friends are in it too, so it’s fun to watch and realize how many people rallied around me and showed up to be a part of it all.

Are you ready to perform in Chicago?

I can’t wait to perform in Chicago! This will be my first time. We’ll be performing in Chicago three nights in a row – I feel really fortunate to be able to spend an extended time getting to know the city and the people.

What food can’t you wait to have during your stay in Chicago?