A Chat with Cleo Handler (02.03.23)
Lying alongside the likes of Amanda Palmer, Alanis Morrissette and Joni Mitchell, award-winning filmmaker, lyricist and musician Cleo Handler is truly something special. We speak with the US-based artist about her album gold, binge-watching television shows, and future plans!
OSR: What made you decide to become a musician? Essentially, what drew you to music?
Handler: Oh, I don’t know. My parents had a band together when I was little and they ran a recording studio in our house, so music was all around me. I was probably doomed from the get-go.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Handler: A good song activates something deep inside of me that feels really primal and cathartic. When I’m pressing repeat again and again on a track and scream-singing in the car or dancing in the kitchen it kind of cracks me wide open, and then I know I’ve found something really great. And in those moments, I feel more alive than ever.
OSR: As a long-time lyricist, do you believe your songwriting has changed over time?
Handler: Fun question! Yes, it definitely has. I’ve always loved wordplay and I still definitely do, but I think I’ve gone through phases of being really loose with song structure, then getting more formal and really trying to learn the rules, then getting to the point now where I feel freer to take or leave the rule book and, instead, just do what I want.
OSR: You are also an award-winning filmmaker. Which do you find more awarding, creating music or making films?
Handler: Filmmaking and songwriting are pretty tied for me. I love telling stories – for others to relate to, and for me to make sense of – and I’ve always felt most electric and connected to others when making that kind of work, in any form. And music has always been a huge part of the way I want to make and share things with the world because it’s a huge part of me and the way I grew up. And for me, whether it’s theatre or music or film, the best stuff comes from the projects where you’re all kind of doing everything, playing make-believe like a bunch of little kids goofing around at a sleepover. That kind of freedom and collaboration can be really rich and surprising.
OSR: What can you tell us about your album gold? Is there a theme or backstory?
Handler: gold is about what’s gained when everything feels lost. But hopefully, it’s also kind of fun. The album (and the 3 accompanying lyric videos) came out of an extremely difficult, disorienting time in my life – a period of pain, loss, confusion, and upheaval. There was a lot that didn’t make sense to me then, and the only way I found I could process any of what I was feeling was through writing.
OSR: What do you hope people take from gold?
Handler: For me, it’s about empowerment and finding your voice when you might feel you’ve lost it. I hope it helps people find the courage to hope, sing, even laugh in the darkest times.
OSR: If you could change anything about gold, what would it be?
Handler: Ooooh, interesting. Hmmm – I had a real blast making the lyric videos and I feel they add a lot of nuance and depth to the storytelling. But there are only 3 of them! If I could, I’d go back and make one for every track on the album.
OSR: The music industry is said to be the hardest in the world to progress. What advice do you have for emerging artists trying to “get on the ladder”, so to speak?
Handler: Oh good question. I guess I’d just say, with both music and film, that in my experience, waiting around for something to happen sucks. It takes away your agency and makes you feel terrible. So if you want to make things, start making them! Don’t let waiting on anyone else’s approval stop you from starting. Once you have a few projects under your belt, you’ll have a clearer sense of your voice and what you want to say. And then people will be more likely to listen.
OSR: If you could binge-watch and tv series, what would it be?
Handler: Oh man. I think the best series for a quick binge is Fleabag because it’s short and brilliant and packs a real punch. But when I’m feeling lazy or craving something to wind down to, I never say no to a sitcom. I love the familiarity of a rewatch and the cosiness of an ensemble cast that works really well together.
OSR: Are there any future plans as a musician?
Handler: You know, I’m not sure at the moment! I’ve been really itching to make a movie musical lately. We’ll see. But I definitely know that there will be more projects – films and music and stories so all kinds – coming down the pike, so feel free to follow along!
Many thanks to Cleo Handler for speaking with us. For more from Cleo Handler, check out her official website, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
