Q&A: PRELOVED HEADS INTO THE FOREST TO RECORD DEBUT ALBUM “WILLOW”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY ELLA ASSELSTINE ☆
RECORDED IN A “STUDIO” WITH NO WALLS OR ELECTRICITY, WILLOW IS PARED BACK AND DEEPLY PERSONAL—Miki Watson, the singer-songwriter behind the project Preloved, spent the past three years crafting the album while on various camping trips in the Ontario provincial parks. Using a DIY studio set-up—they packed an acoustic guitar, synth, portable battery, and propane lamp—Watson set off on a solo journey of discovery that would result in this nine-track debut.
Producer for the indie band fanclubwallet, Watson used their solitude as an opportunity to look inward. The framework for Willow began to take shape not long after they lost their childhood dog, Cas, in 2024. Their time with Cas forms a central pillar of the album, with the beloved pet forming a representation of Watson’s coming of age. They reveal that as you grow up, you must eventually experience heartbreak. Alone in the forest, Watson let themselves fall into the familiar producer role, drawing inspiration—and background ambiance—from the chirping of the birds and the hum of the cicadas.
The title track “Willow” is a touching dedication to Cas (“You’ve been away a minute/ To me it’s been a lifetime”), while “Granite Hill” takes inspiration from Watson’s time in nature (“The fox on granite hill / Steps off to make its kill”). Complemented by gentle acoustic guitar and soft synth, the nine-track album comes together as a nostalgic culmination of Watson’s meditative musings and stripped-back production.
Read on for Preloved’s chat with Luna, where they discuss the inspiration behind their debut album, recording music in the woods and a potential solo tour.
Photo by Cole Yearwood
LUNA: This is your first full-length solo project under the name Preloved. Why did the time seem right?
PRELOVED: It’s been such a long arc for me, making my own music. I started doing it when I was 13 or 14 under a different name. But when fanclubwallet started to gain momentum, my solo work naturally moved to the backburner. Though other projects took priority, the idea of doing a solo project was always there in the back of my mind. There was a period of time when it was weighing heavy in my mind, like I have to do something—but making it happen was really just about finding the time. That’s why I ended up making the record while camping.
LUNA: You’ve produced music for a number of other artists. Was your production process different when doing your own album?
PRELOVED: When I am doing production for work, it’s an ongoing challenge to make art financially feasible. So when I was producing my own work, it was so freeing and fulfilling to not have to compromise on art and just have it be the way I want. Not to say compromise is bad—it’s responsible for some of the greatest art of all time—but it can be frustrating to constantly make something the way someone else wants it. I definitely needed this for myself, just being able to make exactly what I want to make.
LUNA: And on your own timeline as well.
PRELOVED: Exactly. And that’s why I made a point of not trying to rush the album. I was like, I know it’s weighing heavy in my mind, but I don’t want it to be something like “I gotta finish it and get it out as soon as possible.”
LUNA: You worked on the album over three years and recorded it in the forest. Why did you want to record in an unconventional setting?
PRELOVED: I’m not trying to exaggerate—it was recorded partially in the forest. That was really just the byproduct of not being able to find the time. Before I even had the idea to make the album, I would go on solo camping trips to provincial parks around Ottawa to unwind and relax. It was really just the natural outcome of needing a solo creative outlet, and time to myself to unwind. They’re very interconnected.
It all started with an 8-track digital Taskcam recorder, which runs on batteries. From there I was, like, “Wait! What if I just borrow my mom’s portable battery, and just use it to charge everything I need?”
LUNA: You’ve described your music as indietronica, a genre that blends indie with synths, drum machines, and digital production. Was this a stylistic choice or did recording in nature limit the number of instruments you could take?
PRELOVED: Actually, a lot of the percussion on the songs I made while camping is just me stomping the ground for a kickdrum, hitting a table or my keys. It was really just using what I had around me. I also used a microKORG analog synth, which is an instrument that is kind of associated with that indietronica sound. It also runs on batteries, so I could bring it. Like you said, it was really just using what I had access to.
LUNA: I can imagine that building a studio in the woods was a challenge. Describe the setup.
PRELOVED: I had this camping table and chair, and a big battery that my mom lent me. My computer was plugged into that, as well as a little Focusrite interface. I had a mic stand, the synth, an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar.
LUNA: Did you face any significant technical challenges producing music outdoors?
PRELOVED: You would be so surprised, but none at all. I guess I just got really lucky, and rain was never a problem. Bugs, I’m also really lucky—I don’t really react to mosquitos, so they didn’t bother me too much. Really, the only hard thing was carrying all the equipment; the car camping sites were 50 metres into the forest. It was nice to have my car, but also feel semi-secluded. There were a couple times I had to stop recording when park staff came by and made noise doing maintenance on the sites, but, overall, there were surprisingly few interruptions.
LUNA: How did this setting influence the sounds and themes of your music? I know there are some lines on the album featuring foxes, birds, sunsets, and lakes.
PRELOVED: I reference nature more than I ever have in my previous writing. I have a strong artistic connection to certain places, and they are usually outside. I feel like I write from those places. A lot of themes are me writing from a specific setting, and figuring out how that setting plays into the lyrics. Musically, it was so much easier to get into a meditative state because the setting was distractionless and timeless. Being in that zone makes it really easy to be creative.
LUNA: Did you hope there would be ambient forest sounds in your recording or did that just happen?
PRELOVED: I think maybe I wanted birds, but I don’t think you can really hear them. That was the one thing I thought it would be cool if it made it in. At the start of the song “Heading Out” when the guitar fades in, you can hear cicadas. But it wasn’t like something I was hoping for. Although I do, in the future, want to lean into it more—try sampling different outdoor sounds.
LUNA: Speaking about themes… You talk a lot about how this album was shaped by your dog’s passing. How did that experience expand into this project?
PRELOVED: The project is a lot more coming-of-age-y than I thought it would be. It sort of follows my life up until now. During the first two years I was writing the album, my dog was still alive. But even before he passed, the album already focused on him. My childhood dog growing old… He’s such a strong representation of my childhood and adolescence, and then becoming an adult. While also having such a deep love and investment in him, he’s the perfect central piece for the album. Elements of grief and loss come into play, as well. I’m surprised there’s not more music about pets.
LUNA: You’ve recently wrapped a tour with your band fanclubwallet. Can we look forward to seeing you perform some solo live shows now that you have a solo album?
PRELOVED: I hope so! I am trying to book a tour. It might end up being a fanclubwallet x Preloved tour. We’ll see!
