A Chat with KTJ & CARLY (14.09.24)
With a reputation for infectious melodies, profound lyricism and innovative individuality in the indie-pop scene, KTJ & CARLY share an unapologetic take on life through their music. Already receiving critical acclaim and accolades internationally, the duo is reaching audiences far beyond their US borders. We speak with KTJ & CARLY about their debut album Forever Young, good advice, what music means to them and much more.
OSR: You are about to release your debut album Forever Young on September 26th. What can you tell us about it?
Carly: This album represents a collection of our experiences transitioning into adulthood. It’s been a daunting but rewarding journey, and we’ve poured everything into creating something that feels honest and reflective of where we are in our lives right now
OSR: This is your first studio album, so how did the production differ from recording and releasing a single? What challenges did you have and how did you overcome things?
Carly: This time around, a big difference I noticed between producing a single and an entire album is that it really comes down to the story. A single is like a short film, while a song within an album is just one small scene in a bigger movie. When you’re creating an album, it’s important to keep the big picture in mind, whereas with a single, the single is the big picture. Both approaches have their pros and cons, but creating an entire album is so much more creatively fulfilling than just a single. The biggest challenge was technical. We had a lot of issues with our gear, so the majority of the vocals had to be redone, which was frustrating and set us back schedule-wise. In the end, it made us get more detailed and specific with our choices, which turned out to be a good thing. So, instead of overcoming the problem, we embraced it. We learned to trust the process and not rush ourselves.
KTJ: We have released many EPs before which isn’t too different. Our process is to write as many songs as possible for a concept and see which ones land amongst each other. There were so many songs I was sad didn’t make the cut, but we decided to save them for the future.
OSR: Another production question: is creating an album more interesting and exciting than singles? If yes, how so?
Carly: I think so, yes. Singles are easier to digest for most people, so when it comes to consuming music, I think people tend to focus on singles, at least the average listener. But creating a body of work, with multiple songs that form one project and theme… there’s nothing quite like it, even compared to creating a single.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Carly: To me, music is an inner monologue. It’s what I hear in the world around me constantly, and the lyrics are my stream of consciousness. I think music allows us to share feelings with each other, in ways that simple words often can’t.
KTJ: I think it’s a reflection of life itself. It’s a part of me. Life would suck without music. Doing everyday things without music is empty. There’s no celebration or party without music. Music is everything and more, and it can also be incredibly simple and not hold any meaning. Same as life; it can hold all of the meaning in the world, or we can say “nothing matters, it is what it is”. It’s the most beautiful thing in the whole world.
OSR: What does Forever Young mean to you?
Carly: Forever Young, to me, is an intangible landmark of some of the hardest years of my life so far. This album mainly represents the transition period of becoming an adult. It has been a daunting journey, and this album represents resilience. When I listen back to it, I feel at peace knowing I’ve overcome a lot of the obstacles KT and I faced while writing it. I’m really proud of this project we created. More than anything, it means that if all else fails, at least we put our music out there. It will be a part of the world for the rest of time. That’s the cool part about making music – it becomes immortalized. Even 100 years after we’re gone, someone could find this album and hear about two young twin girls back in the 2020s, singing about their 20s. There’s something quite special about that.
KRJ: No matter how old you are, you’re still that same kid at heart. Problems and bad habits that aren’t addressed don’t go just away with age unless you do something about them. Working for the man is not what we envisioned as children, and nothing’s gonna change unless we make the change. The only thing that is certain is that time is passing. We have to bring back some of the childlike mindsets we had before we were corrupted by intentional education to just make us think like we are all only parts of a machine. We are all more than that. We deserve love, freedom, and happiness.
OSR: What do you hope people take from the album and your music in general?
Carly: I just hope people feel heard. Especially those who feel that no one listens to them, I hope our music can offer that sense of connection. So people know they aren’t alone in whatever they are feeling.
KTJ: Follow your heart and listen and be there for your inner child and intuition. Know you aren’t alone in feeling bitter about the state of the world and where you are in life. It will get better, it won’t always be bitter! And I hope whoever needs to hear this knows that it’s okay to put themselves first over people who are bringing them down.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
OSR: Do you think this is a good representation of your sound at the moment?
Carly: I think so, yes. But I also think our sound is ever-changing, and we never like to box ourselves in. Inspiration is everywhere.
KTJ: All I can say is stay tuned. Our next body of work plays together with this one so perfectly and I’m so excited for the world to hear it, I think it will answer your question!
OSR: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Carly: Whenever someone asks me this, I always think of an interview I saw with David Bowie. He basically said, “Don’t make art for other people, make art for yourself, and then share it with others, they’ll understand it better that way.” He said it more poetically, but that’s the gist. I think the best work I’ve made has come from the deepest part of my soul, where I had to create just for myself. The worst work I’ve made came from trying to follow trends. It’s easy to get caught up in trends these days, so I remind myself of what David Bowie said in that interview quite often.
KTJ: Don’t do music for the money, don’t create music because of what other people deem popular. Just be honest and yourself because when you are gone, the money in your bank account and the clout and cool stuff you have won’t matter, the art you leave behind will be there forever. Not to mention there is seriously a new trend every week. It’s impossible to keep up with. Just stick and stay true to YOU. Eventually, it will align with the trend of the week/month anyway.
OSR: If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Carly: First, I’d quit my day job and just do music! Sounds like a dream.
KTJ: No one would know. There would be signs. I would probably invest some for travelling/retirement and donate some, and then I’d buy a home with a cool studio and farm/garden in Hawaii or something and a giant sailboat. And I’d just live a happy little creative life.
OSR: What can we expect from KTJ & CARLY in the future?
Carly: Lots of new music, live performances, and touring! We’ve also been toying with the idea of releasing an extended version of the album, but we’ll see.
OSR: What message do you have for our readers?
Carly: Stay forever young. Don’t let life’s hardships get to you – release the negativity, you are resilient. Remember to pay attention to your inner child, because that’s usually where happiness starts. I hope this album brings you comfort. 🤍🤍
KTJ: Nothing matters, but also nothing matters! It’s your choice how you want to look at it. Either way, I’m proud of you and you’re amazing, never EVER forget it.
Many thanks to KTJ & CARLY for speaking with us. Find out more about KTJ & CARLY on their official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
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