White Crate is proud to present WC02, a show on July 8th curated by Mae Powell – generous spirit, jazz pixie, psychedelic indie folk chanteuse, and the Bay’s rainbow-embodied ambassador of peace and magic. WC02 is the second in a quarterly party series curated by Bay Area artists, and for this outing we’re being treated to live performances by Everyone is Dirty, The Breathing Room, Marika Christine, and Arts and Crafts – plus DJ Stanley Ipkuss.
Read on for a special interview with Arts and Crafts.
How did your relationship to music first start?
We have each played music in some form from a young age, coming from a background of school band and piano lessons. We played saxophone, trombone, and violin, respectively, but came around to our current instruments later on, starting bands in the towns where we’ve moved around to, eventually landing in the Bay together and meeting about four years ago.
What’s the biggest inspiration behind your music right now?
Since we make instrumental music, we definitely look to instrumental bands for inspiration. We love Surprise Chef, Don Caballero, Ahmad Jamal Trio, Covet, to name just a few. However, we are music lovers in general and try to listen to a variety of genres so there’s always creativity and fresh ideas in the mix. Between the three of us we like Juke/Footwork, Progressive Metal, World music, Deep House, Post-Hardcore, Hip-hop, Jazz… so there’s influences from our own separate tastes as well.
How does the Bay Area influence you or the music you make?
Two out of three of us grew up in the Bay while the other moved here five years ago seeking out the Bay Area specifically. Being in a place with such a broad diversity of people exposes you to new styles of music and new experiences that feed directly into the music we make. There are so many wonderfully supportive bands and local music fans too who all want to see Bay Area bands grow and succeed, so we are humbled by all the friends who come out to our shows and people who put on such incredible events like this one.
Five songs you’re loving right now?
“Carry it Mongo Man” – Kaidi Tatham
“No. 1 Hum” – Ulrika Spacek
“Baaaaaa” – DJ Earl
“Dillalude #2” – Robert Glasper
“Tech this Out” – Karizma
