1/23/2024 0 Comments Vienna teng augustineThat song came from the idea of writing about my grandmother, but I wasn't sure how I was going to pull it off. What was your inspiration for "Grandmother Song"? Did the rhythm drive the songwriting process? That's really what we were after, and I am pretty proud of how that part turned out. I really like the idea of an album where it can be rock one moment then chamber pop the next, or some songs are intimate while others are really big and epic. You can tell that they're capable of writing in all these different styles, and it's just a matter of what they choose to carve out as their identity for any given album. And the songwriters I've admired most like Paul Simon, Billy Joel and Tori Amos just have such a range. I've always enjoyed albums that are all over the place-in a good way. I'm proud of the fact that it's a really eclectic mix. What were you most proud of production-wise? During these times, I wondered to myself, "Am I trying to get my way because it's my album and it has to be done my way, or am I actually blind to what the right answer is because someone else thought of it?" We would have discussions in which I'd feel like the song didn't sound right, but he said it sounded fine, or vice-versa. I think the hardest part was putting my ego aside, because it does get kind of tricky when I'm trying to do something I've never done before and I don't know whether my opinions are valid at all. What was the greatest challenge you faced as you produced this album with Alex? Basically, Inland Territory was the title I came up with that I didn't hate. So when I put all of those things together, I thought it should have a title that included the word "inland." I also wanted something that would conjure up maps and exploration. And of course, it's also a very introspective album with some very personal stuff on there. This was also the first album where I started thinking more about political things, which was not something I had delved into too deeply before, so I wanted to give some sense of that kind of awareness. Maybe I don't think about them or are not even aware of them-they're hidden in plain sight. I was thinking about my family history and how there were all these events that essentially set up my existence. There were a number of themes in this music and I was just trying to figure out how to unite them all. Well, titles are actually the hardest part for me in terms of the album creation process. What does the title of your album, Inland Territory, mean to you? When we were through with the album, it really felt like I'd put much more of myself into it than I ever had before. He believes that whenever you are creating a statement, you have to look at everything from the songwriting to the mics you use during the recording process to the clothing at your photo shoot. I really owe a lot to the producer I worked with, Alex Wong, who's a good friend of mine. At the beginning, I wrote songs just because it was something really fun, but in making this album, I got involved in everything-from the instrumentation to the artwork. Paying attention to the different parts of making something artistic has been a real learning process for me. I started out as a software engineer and wasn't really involved in the arts for a long time. It's more about figuring out what statement I wanted to make, and being really active in all parts of the process. Vienna Teng: When I say "truest expression," I don't necessarily mean that it's autobiographical or that there isn't fiction in it. How did this fourth album end up becoming your most personal? LAist: You've said that your third album, Dreaming Through the Noise, is your most fictional album, and that Inland Territory is the truest expression of who you are. LAist caught up with Teng earlier this month to chat about the new CD, her background in computer programming and the Vienna Teng Trio's gig tonight at the Roxy. Throughout the 12 tracks, she pushes her own boundaries to paint new chamber pop landscapes that highlight her strong vocals and signature instrumentation. However, further inspection reveals this record to be her most introspective. At first glance, it's a surprising title given that Teng has spent most of her life on the East and West Coasts. Earlier this month, Vienna Teng released her fourth studio album, Inland Territory.
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