The third winners in our Band Of The Week contest overthrew the British domination seen in the first two weeks (with Viewer and Radio Radio) with mellow trip-hop sound. But wait it’s not totally “mellow” – the first single from their last “Heady EP” – My love 45 is pretty badass and totally in sync with Flowers In A Gun’s spirit.
Black Eskimo is the name given to the artist collaboration between Ingrid Chavez and Marco Valentin. Electronic, mysterious and deep are the first words coming to me in attempt to describe their music. The duo creates diverse songs in terms of songwriting yet they all possess this tangy and sensual 90’s downtempo vibe I really enjoy. Among my other favorites from the two EPs they released so far and combined into one complete work (Part 1 “Deep” released in June 2013 and “Heady” in October the same year) are “Black & Blue”.
and the beat-y “Beautiful”
Started in a small northeastern town and with a heavy influence of spoken word in their music, here is what Ingmar and Marco told me in an interview, including probably the most fascinating (and beautiful) artist name explanation I’ve heard so far.
How did you guys meet and decide to do music together?
Ingrid: We had a mutual friend about 8 years ago that introduced me to Marco’s music. We started writing at that time sharing files via the internet. We wrote three songs together but the project fell apart and we lost contact. I went on to record a solo album called “A Flutter and Some Words”. Shortly after it was released Marco got back in touch with me through Myspace. The timing was perfect because I was ready to start a new project. At the time I was listening to Massive Attack’s new album “Heligoland” and was really inspired to get back to a more edgy sound. With him living in Chicago and me in New Hampshire, we started sharing files again. This time there was no middle man, we were inspired and writing a song a day. We wrote most of the songs for Deep & Heady In about 6 weeks. His raw gritty beats gave me the opportunity to explore different themes lyrically, stylistically I was able to get back to my roots. Marco moved here from Chicago the summer after we started writing the record. He learned how to chop wood shortly after arriving.
You recorded your first album in two separate EPs – Deep and Heady. Why?
Marco: Because Ingrid has a fan base from previous releases, Black Eskimo was a new sound for them to get accustomed to, so we released the first EP “Deep” on iTunes but we also streamed the full EP on Soundcloud while we prepared ‘Heady’ for release and got the physical CD ready for production.
Ingrid: In this day and age, an EP, 4-6 songs seems to be a nice way for artists to introduce themselves. I still believe in the album so hopefully we will get around to releasing this music on vinyl but, for now the CD has both parts.
The name Black Eskimo sounds quite edgy, where does it originate from?
We live at the foot of a small mountain. It’s freezing in the winter and the landscape is a blanket of snow December to March. We live in a house built in 1748. When we think of this music we remember the three winters we spent tending fires ‘round the clock. In the studio here in the house, we wear hoodies, hats and scarves. I wear black. It’s my comfort zone. In the big picture, the name, it doesn’t mean anything but, in our little creative world, we feel like displaced Eskimos braving the weather.
Tell me something about the weekly program on Emancipation Radio that you have – the Black Eskimo Radio Show. From what I’ve read it’s very eclectic and features artists from Ella Fitzgerald to Jeff Buckley to Jay-Z.
Ingrid: Black Eskimo Radio, I’m glad you brought that up. I started that radio show because when I was hanging out in my house doing my daily routine I would post songs that I was listening to onto my Facebook page. I was also a member of a Facebook group called IATP where you could post music and it created a community of music lovers sharing what they love as music. I decided to start a group where I would stream a two hour radio show every two weeks, inspired by the IATP group & I would post the links to the videos of the songs on the group page as the show was streaming. So what it created was a two-hour long hangout on Facebook where we would discuss the song playing in the comments beneath the video in real time. While the show was streaming, if you came in late, you could catch up by watching the videos. It was so much fun. I wanted to present music from different genres so you might find Kendrick Lamar, Jack White and Burial in the same show. It flowed beautifully and everyone listening was engaged. I would spend two weeks searching for new releases on music blogs and iTunes and various music magazine sites. I didn’t know about Flowers In Gun Blog at the time but it is the kind of place I would have visited between shows looking for new music. Unfortunately, I got burnt out on searching for new music and needed to take a break. I wasn’t sitting with music anymore. By the time I finished looking for all of the songs for one show and put it together, it was time to start looking for music for the next show. I plan to get back into it but, for now getting the band Black Eskimo off the ground is my main goal. Black Eskimo Radio Group Facebook page is still alive and well where people from all around the world share the music that they are listening to.
Do you and Marco have other projects besides Black Eskimo?
Ingrid: I have a project with a friend of mine David Hurn that’s ongoing. It’s acoustic based. It’s that raw place I go to when I need it. There is no rush there but it’s real and we have about five songs now.
Marco: I am just working on music with friends and local artists here. We have lots of great music coming soon so stay tuned.
Favorite song of all times for you (one for Marco and one for Ingrid)?
Ingrid: I think it would have to be Lavinia by The Veils.
Marco: Who Will Love Me In The Winter by Van Hunt
Who’s responsible for the beautiful landscapes we see on your covers?
Ingrid: I took all of the photos for the EPs and most of the photographs in the booklet of the CD. I thought I might become a professional photographer at one point. I kind of forgot that I am a singer and I was looking for some way to say something about what’s going on inside. Once I got back into songwriting and singing I realized that nothing gives my soul the gratification that writing a song gives me. There is nothing else in the world like being an artist and completing a new piece. It doesn’t matter if you are a painter or a writer of novels or songs, a poet or a filmmaker or a photographer, if you are an artist you find your medium and it gives you release. Completing a song is mine. I love capturing an image but nothing gives me this sense of completion like putting it all into a song.
What should we expect from Black Eskimo in 2014?
Marco: We are currently working on our live show and preparing to play wherever the music takes us. I am in the early stages of a solo project, so between more great music with Ingrid for Black Eskimo and touring, we are gonna be busy this coming year.
Thanks to Black Eskimo for the great interview and we look forward to seeing them play in New York City, hopefully soon! More about Black Eskimo on Facebook, Twitter @BlackEskimo, Instagram, Soundcloud & Bandcamp.
