Q&A: Rare DM on Her Sophomore Album ‘Attention’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY FAITH LUEVANOS ☆
Photo by Matthew Allen - @mallen.wav
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE RARE— and that philosophy burns at the heart of LA-based artist Rare DM. Since the release of her debut album Vanta Black in 2019, listeners have evolved with Erin Hoagg, the creative force behind Rare DM. Though she continued to release singles throughout the years that followed, she admits that her sophomore album, Attention, was long overdue. “I felt the pressure to change things up after releasing singles for a while there, and finally had a reliable collaborator that I could trust with my songs,” she shared.
Through a mixture of divine timing and some friendly encouragement from those closest to her, Hoagg returns with Attention, a 12-track project that pushes Hoagg beyond the sonic confines of her earlier releases without sacrificing her staples of introspective lyricism and shadowy production. Attention offers something for everyone, whether that be a source of catharsis or reflection, serving as the meeting ground between artist and fan.
Luna sat down with Rare DM to discuss the creation of Attention, her musical inspirations, the passion of a solo artist and more. Read the full interview below.
Photo by Matthew Allen - @mallen.wav
LUNA: For our readers who may not be familiar with your music, can you describe your sound for us?
RARE DM: I am an electronic musician, using hardware synths, and very centered around drums and percussion. I make goth adjacent electronica with influences from blog haus, electroclash, ebm, minimal techno and postpunk.
LUNA: Congratulations on the release of Attention. Your previous album was released in 2019, so what made this year feel like you were ready to put out a larger body of work again?
RARE: Thanks so much! It was long overdue; I felt the pressure to change things up after releasing singles for a while there, and finally had a reliable collaborator that I could trust with my songs. I had so much unreleased music needing to be mixed and mastered, and felt the pressure from my friends and fans at my live shows for my unreleased music to finally be out.
LUNA: You mentioned in an interview with Stereogum that you dislike musical labels. What are some better ways that you wish your music were categorized by?
RARE: I think labels are often too much of a box, and I think it's great to avoid that. I would like to always leave the potential for people to be surprised and expect new/exciting things from me. If you are too attached to a label, it will make people form an idea about what/who you are before they even listen to a song. I'd rather be categorized by my sonic qualities, instruments/aesthetics—the feelings they bring. Perhaps a song can make you think of the smell of rain, or the color of the edge of a pane of glass. I'd rather be associated with the vibraphone sound my Casio makes than a specific genre.
LUNA: Who are some of your largest musical influences?
RARE: Interpol’s Turn On The Bright Lights, Ladytron’s 604, The Strokes' first two albums, The Blood Brothers’ Burn Piano Island Burn, Tanooki Suit’s R O U G H L I N E S, Beach House’s Devotion, The Knife’s Deep Cuts, Billie Holiday, taking percussion lessons when I was little/being in jazz band and early Kitsuné [Maison] Compilations.
LUNA: Where did the name Rare DM come from?
RARE: The best things in life are rare! Rare love, rare antiques, rare experiences, rare gems, rare synths. My favorite things are rare. DM is whatever I want it to be... could be Distant Memories, Dance Music, Dark Matter, Dungeon Master. Direct Message. The list goes on!
LUNA: Do your favorite films inspire the visual identity you have with this project? If so, which ones?
RARE: I love the OG Alien, Paprika, Akira, LOTR [Lord of the Rings], Nausicaä. My visual Identity isn't set by any of them exactly, but all of them are super inspiring. I find references all the time in films, but often it's a little scene rather than the entire thing. Howl from Howl's Moving Castle, and Spike from Cowboy Bebop are two of my forever style icons though, as well as the Gelflings from The Dark Crystal.
LUNA: In a world where people are summed up by their resumes, I loved "LA Traffic." Can you walk us through your intention behind the track?
RARE: “LA Traffic” started as a bit of a self-drag, with how hard it is for me to get ready before I go out with friends. When you are finally out and about, there's a new battle to decide where to head next, who's going and, if there's a list, are you on it? Can you get on it? It can feel very life or death in the moment, but it's all very unserious. The song is silly and fun; I wanted the video to capture that essence, too. I think half the battle of being in a creative field is getting people to take you seriously in the first place. The art should be the priority for all, but the reality is that showing up and proving you deserve to be remembered will always be part of the battle. You've gotta want it. Meeting the right people has always been a key to success in every industry, and sometimes getting on the list is how you meet people.
LUNA: With Attention as a whole, what are some of the stronger feelings or takeaways you experienced upon its completion/release? What do you hope listeners take away from it?
RARE: It was wonderful to see how many people were surprised and reached out after the record. I really loved seeing which songs people reacted most to, and it gives me so much hope for the future. I really hope people find at least one song they can find comfort in, whether it is dancing to, laughing with or crying to.
LUNA: Attention is also a self-released project. Being able to do this on your own and fill many shoes, how does this speak to the passion of an independent artist?
RARE: I think so...more so than being an independent artist, it is very challenging being a solo artist. It takes a lot of determination to keep going when you are ultimately the sole member of the project. Being independent and unsigned magnifies that loneliness tenfold. It takes infinite self-belief and resilience to keep it going. That is passion. I love being a solo act. I know what I want for my project, but I am doing my best to build a team and become less lonely every day.
LUNA: Any final messages for our readers?
RARE: Thanks so much for reading and listening. Please come to a show sometime. The best way to stay updated for live shows is on my Instagram.
