In this interview spotlight, I chat with Don’t Call Me Shirley about the latest music, challenges, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

I am from Amherst, MA. But the majority of the record was created in Philadelphia. The music I make is mostly guitar-based, and there’s a strong sense of ambiance throughout. Space-rock/Alternative vibes for sure. 

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?

Hearing U2’s “The Joshua Tree” made me want to be a rock star, but what made me want to seriously create was hearing Radiohead’s “In Rainbows”. That’s when I first experienced what music can do to a person. That experience was so important so I’ve just been chasing that. 

How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?

This is my first solo project. Before Don’t Call Me Shirley, I was in a hard-rock band in high school. We put out a couple of EPs and that was a terrific learning experience. I wanted to see what I could do production-wise on top of building as a songwriter. It’s also just cool to work on a project like an album. You have an end goal that adds a whole other level to just writing songs. It’s challenging but satisfying. 

Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?

Well, being able to get my music out to people through the internet is great for making it easy for people to hear you. I think the listener’s convenience does affect them checking you out or not. Especially since playing live isn’t an option during the pandemic, I’ve still been able to let people know what I’m doing. The flip side of that is promoting exclusively on social media doesn’t seem that great to me. Every new artist and band is doing the same thing, same posts. Trying to find a vein of distinction and individuality feels nearly impossible when promoting on social media. It’s also really unhealthy so it’s tough having to rely on it.

What was the last song you listened to?

“The Remedy” by Puscifer. That song is dope. 

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

I prefer the accessibility of streaming, but once an album reaches a certain height for me, it receives “vinyl approval” and gets added to that collection. 

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

Well, I utilize Apple Music. But as an artist, I prefer Bandcamp far and away more than the others. That platform is full of hidden gems. It’s like the underground of the internet music scene. The ability to purchase music and support independent artists keeps alive the idea that it’s a lot of hard work and the release of intellectual property should be worth something. 

Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?

Best places are Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/listenDCMS, Or Twitter: https://twitter.com/listen_dcms

For music, people can listen on Bandcamp: https://listendcms.bandcamp.com/

Or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5H30yrhdqPnioDQTHQG53g?si=tPkfRoV-SPCrNlz5XPcjQg

Anything else before we sign off?

It’s been awesome to see people responding to the album. It makes it feel more complete, and I appreciate everyone who has listened!