Chill hours With Caco
We had the opportunity to sit down with Caco, a phenomenal artist and producer who recently got off of a tour with Nightlife and released their own EP, Patchnotes EP 2.1. We’re thrilled to have been able to speak with them, and even happier that you get to read it!
INTERVIEW CONDUCTED 7/3/24 - C. TUEL
DUAL MUSE MAGAZINE: Hey Caco! So excited to see you and speak with you over at Dual Muse, obviously I know who you are but would you mind introducing yourself for the transcript?
CACO: Hi! I’m Allen, my artist name is Caco, which is my Dad’s nickname that his siblings actually had given him, so it’s a way to connect to my dad under that moniker. I’m primarily a mus prod but I play sax in a couple of bands, and am a chronic shitposter online! Nothing too crazy, stay at home, go outside play music, that’s about it!
DMM: So how did you first get into music? What’s the “Caco Lore”, if you will?
C: My whole family is made up of musicians, my grandparents, parents, siblings - I couldn't really escape it - back in the day - 20 years ago or something like that, my parents forced me to do piano lessons but I never really did any of it. After a couple of years, my piano teacher said she wouldn't teach anymore because of the refusal. So I went from clarinet to oboe, to “We’re not made of money, pick an instrument or a pick a sport”. Hansel and Roger, my older siblings? They played soccer, but now we’re all full-time musicians. After I realized sports weren’t for me, I picked up the sax - I’ve been playing for about 12 years! I had gone to college for it, but it just…. it wasn’t for me. School came with everything - all the other classes - the forced academia - I just wanted to be a musician. So, I dropped out, I ended playing with a couple of bands, and here we are!
DMM: Who are your biggest musical influences?
C: Sweet Jesus. Personally?
DMM: Well, yes!
C: I don’t know - it’s tricky because I make a lot of different kinds of music. There’s like a “host of genres” of the ep I just put out, so when it comes to my influences what made me start making music? Mac Ayres, Braxton Cook, Umi, Mooonchild, Hiatus Kaiote, Jane Remover, Underscores, Coheed and Cambria, I The Mighty… so much! I don’t know! Things that my siblings and college friends have fed me throughout the years.
DMM: Thank you! Lots of new things for me to check out and cover my bases with! Also on a personal Caity note? Love Coheed.
DMM: What themes or messages do you often explore in your music?:
C: Typically, I’m a production-focused songwriter, I genuinely feel that my lyricism is the weakest part of my music and I’m not good at conveying my emotions despite being able to be fluent in the production or saxophone medium. That being said, I think I come across as pretty self-deprecating in my music, which I think I vibe with right now! I’m a shitposter, my goal first and foremost is to make people laugh and have a good time. The messages in my record? Largely progress.
DMM: We definitely are having a phenomenal time with that EP!
C: I took offense to it at the time, but the more I think about it, he was kind of cooking. Said that “You can't really call yourself an artist at this point in your life because you haven't done enough to write about.” I don’t know. I get it now.
DMM: I get how that would be initially frustrating for sure. Even now, that’s like, a tad irritating to me but I get the point that he was cooking up!
DMM: You also just came off of a tour - How was it? How do you approach live performances?
C: Well…. I haven’t actually ever played my music live besides the three times during the Nightlife set. Funnily enough, we were in Jefferson, Indiana, so we were playing “LOUISVILLE” Kentucky. That was the Friday my music came out - the vibes were off that night - we didn’t wear our costumes/stage clothes/whatever you want to call it, but we decided to cut the set, have some fun that night, and Hansel, my older brother, was messing around with the live session. We get halfway through, and they start going “This is Allen’s release day, it’s a surprise to everyone on stage today, but we’re gonna play one of his songs right now.” Thank G-d I listen to my own music. We played the song, it went pretty well! We kept it in order to give him a vocal break. I liked it!
DMM: What challenges have you faced in your music career, and how have you overcome them?
C: The whole independent - doing everything yourself? That’s a challenge. This time around this ep? Almost entirely me. I did all the instruments, I produced everything, I did my marketing, and I did the editing, shout out Summer for taking phenomenal photos! The video, the edits - those were me. I had a friend shoot it, but all of the social media - me. Doing everything myself was a huge challenge, especially finishing everything while on the road and while on tour. It felt very validating because of the engagement of tour, and having something to focus on while you're on the road? You don't do anything to focus on home life, but this really kept me grounded.
DMM: Yeah, I can absolutely resonate! Doing everything yourself can be a hell, but it’s a rewarding one.
C: Yes! I can be so proud I did everything. It’s been a little over a week and I’ve gotten over 10k streams!
DMM: Oh my gosh! Congratulations!
DMM: How do you create your unique sound?
C: I’m listening to a certain artist on repeat at a certain moment in time, and then I open my logic pro session, and I snatch it. I go into splice! I’m stealin' shit. Putting my flavor and sauce, changing the speed and key, some horns included, and adding some more instrumental layers!
DMM: I love it.
C: Del Mar County Fair is an Underscores cover, too!
DMM: Oh?!
C: I love having direct inspiration I can draw from.
DMM: What role does visual art or imagery play in your music and branding? You have such a fun, bright, spacey, aesthetic for this EP!
C: When I put out my first EP in 2021, doing the rollout in 2020, I was talking to Hansel who did the mixing, and mastering, and he told me I had to start up my branding and marketing and all that nonsense. So I printed out this sixty-page packet, took my notes, highlighted, did my cold calls, and did my emails. I didn’t know how to establish myself but I did know that I wanted everything to be pink. I think you can be a pink enjoyer and not love every shade of pink
DMM: I agree! I’m a “specific shade of green” enjoyer.
C: Everything around me is pink, and that baby pink, I feel like that’s who I am. Granted I feel like I really - well, this trying to be person this cutesy soft warm, you can be here, it’s chill, come hang. That vibe.
DMM: It absolutely does feel that way!
C: I think I did a good job, but after a few years everyone associates me with pink. No real thought behind it, just “Is pink okay?” “Yeah!” - and I ran with it.
DMM: What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry, particularly for indie/DIY artists?
C: I think it’s unfortunate how predatory people with money are. I’ve experienced nothing, I’m glad, but it’s not really a safe space to be as an artist. We were talking about a certain label, and how they were offering 30k for their back catalog, it’s worth more than that. A lot of companies work like that - lowball you, try to get you to come in and slave for that. Obviously, that’s not every company, but it’s not my place to be saying much of this - I’m not involved directly but by being around people who are… it just sucks.
DMM: It absolutely sucks. You’re not going to be able to create and garner a safe space for fans and musicians alike. Especially if on your shoulder is corporate greed and predatory behaviors.
C: Yeah. Just that.
DMM: Can you share any funny or interesting stories from your time on the road or in the studio?
C: Yo - so we’re on the road, and when you are, people ask you what band you’re in? We’re always gonna answer Fall Out Boy.
DMM: This is quite literally my favorite thing ever, and the best thing that I think you could’ve answered with.
DMM: I know I asked about your inspirations earlier, but what are some of your favorite albums?
C: In order?
Malibu by Anderson Paak.
Juicebox or Comfortable Enough by Mac Airs. I can’t really tell.
Brand New Eyes by Paramore
Fishmonger by Underscores, that one got me into more of what I do in the hyperpop scene. And then number five? Tricky…. I want to say… Either Soul Lady by Ukika, a K/Jpop record, or That Feels Good by Jesse Where. Either one of those will probably take the number five spot. Definitely my favorite stuff of all time. But Paak? That’s my GOAT right there. Put me through! Favorite song of all time - I don’t even have to think about it.
DMM: Amazing choices! Shoutout Paramore.
DMM: How do you see your music evolving in the future?
C: Well, on record? If Paramore ever needs a saxophone player? I do love playing live. I do love these two bands I’m currently with, and I do think they’re going to grow, I think playing with them has been so helpful for me. Studio work or otherwise? For Paramore… I’m very easy to work with!
I kind of want to do a concept record, something other than what I’m doing now, which is what I call “critical mass”. I’m developing my sound as a producer, but I want to develop my sound as a writer, but I think creating a body of work would help me. 2025 I can have my first LP Debut!
DMM: Yes!
C: I have some other productions in the work, but there are some things with a few other bands, I’m just putting myself out there and I can keep growing as that “DIY Sax Player”! That’s ultimately my goal!
DMM: Lastly, what message would you like to leave with your fans and listeners?
C: I have fans?
DMM: Well yeah, definitely, and us too!
CACO: Thanks for being patient, keep being patient, and I’ll keep getting better. Spin this shit as long as you can it’s only 20 mins, it’s an easy listen. I’m one that takes my time because I do most of this myself, and the fact you’re patient and listening? Thank You. The fact I got 10k streams in a week? I’m so stoked about it I didn't know it was possible, thank you for being here.
DMM: Caco, thank you so much! Where can our readers find you online? Where can they stream your music?
CACO: Well! Everything is easily accessible from my website! Caco.Page - Everything from track listing to press release, Everything is there, literally everything! Spotify too!
DMM: Thank you!