Interview: The Chelsea Curve talk ‘Inconceivable’
The Boston trio’s sixth ‘Singles Scene’ release chews on some big words
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LISTEN: ‘Inconceivable’ on Spotify / ‘Inconceivable’ on Bandcamp
The Chelsea Curve’s debut album set for Winter 2022 release via Red On Red Records
LISTEN: THE SINGLES SCENE, TRACKS 1 TO 6, VIA BANDCAMP
Photo credit: Reuben
BOSTON, MA [August 25, 2021] -- Due in part to its geography, history, and overall vibe of the populace, Boston has always been the most British city in America, even after all those squabbles a few short centuries ago. UK bands often begin their national tours here, mod dance parties reigned supreme for decades, and even Fred Perry set up shop in our iconic shopping district along Newbury Street in the Back Bay. Boston music has also drawn a lineage across the Atlantic as well, our garage and indie scenes pulling style and sound that connects British Invasion to Cool Britannia, and the latest to reflect and enhance this brand of casual cool are The Chelsea Curve.
Named for the treacherous stretch of Route 1 highway just north of Boston, The Chelsea Curve have spent the better part of 2021 releasing a string of mod-pop and garage rock earworms dubbed The Singles Scene. The sixth and latest track is “Inconceivable,” a stylish dash of sophisticated guitar-pop that hit streaming platforms on August 25.
“Inconceivable,” as well as the five tracks that came before it, two more set to arrive over the next two months, and five additional unreleased tracks, will be featured on The Chelsea Curve’s forthcoming self-titled debut album, set for Winter 2022 release through independent Boston label Red On Red Records. publi*sist caught up with The Chelsea Curve bassist and vocalist Linda Pardee to discuss “Inconceivable,” the ongoing Singles Scene, and just what the band has coming up next.
publi*sist: Congrats on the new single! What is “Inconceivable” all about?
Linda Pardee: This song came about when I was trying to find five-syllable words to fit the rhythm of the melody and ended up making fun of myself for it. (Inconceivable, inexplicable, disingenuous, etc.). It turned into a song about someone mocking another for using big words. Is the one being sung about trying to show off or being something she’s not? Or does she just have a decent vocabulary and the narrator is unfamiliar with these words? The movie Idiocracy came to mind.
How did “Inconceivable” come together, and what was the creative process behind it?
The working title for this song was “WWPWD?” -- What Would Paul Weller Do? I had a piece of song that had a decidedly British feel, and was listening to a lot of The Jam (naturally). The verses felt like Blur. The bridge part came together nicely and we tipped our toes briefly -- ever so briefly! -- into Style Council territory.
Creatively, this song and the latter half of the singles scene series were written without the chance to play them live to work them out, due to the pandemic. So, Tim [Gillis, guitarist] and I focused on writing and recording demos of these songs weekly, critiquing them, and re-recording them the following week. Once the structure was in place we got together with Ron [Belanger, drummer] for his input and arrangement ideas. We were working towards a studio deadline, having booked the studio time in advance and challenging ourselves to get it done. Thankfully, we did without too much nail biting!
How does “Inconceivable” reflect The Chelsea Curve's creative mindset and output in 2021?
More than ever, we are embracing British sensibilities. Let’s face it, we are Anglophiles at heart. Love the mod sound and style, the humor, the cleverness, the cheekiness of the Brits.
Most pleasantly, The Chelsea Curve have been well received on many a UK station, which leaves us smiling! “Inconceivable”, as well as the remaining singles, really sum up where The Chelsea Curve are at in 2021 as these are the newest songs we’ve written.
How does “Inconceivable” fit into The Singles Scene as a whole, and how does it fit into the LP?
“Inconceivable” accelerates the second half of The 8 Singles Scene releases, which began this past March and will wrap up this coming October. The second half represents all new material, which has never been played live ‘til just now.
We are still figuring out how the record will be set up, as it will be comprised of the eight Singles Scene songs plus five new tunes. I’ve always pictured the album as the Singles Scene collection coupled with a brand new five-song EP, rolled into one package. If you’re new to The Chelsea Curve, you can buy the album as a whole in one fell swoop, or if you’ve been collecting The Singles Scene all along, you can just buy the five new tracks on the record. Something for everyone!
Time for the origin story question: How did The Chelsea Curve come together, and what was the original goal of the project?
Tim and I fronted a punk band in Boston for a few years until it ran its course. I began writing new material in a direction that would lead to The Chelsea Curve. I could think of no better songwriting partner than the one I knew - Tim, so off we went. Ron was already on our short list of drummers when he reached out to me to ask if I’d be in his new band. I told him no, but asked if he’d join my new band. And happily he did. And that’s how The Chelsea Curve was born!
Our goal was to find our own updated mod imprinted sound and style and attract like minded fans and bands. We felt this approach would lead to larger audiences and bigger stages. Plus, we all love wearing fancy footwear!
With the album in mind this winter, what do you guys have coming up next?
“Inconceivable” leads the last three of The Singles Scene releases that end in October, prior to the album release at the start of 2022. To bridge the gap between the singles and the album, The Chelsea Curve will be bringing the ‘Singles Scene’ to life with a set of intimate residency shows at the end of the year. Cool guest bands and DJs! Proper venue! Early Cocktail hour start time! A good hang! All details will be forthcoming this fall. Swing it!
Please direct all press inquiries to The Chelsea Curve at thechelseacurve@gmail.com or Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co.
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The Chelsea Curve are:
Linda Pardee (bass and vocals)
Ron Belanger (drums)
Tim Gillis (guitar and vocals)
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‘Inconceivable’ single artwork:
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