Paperwhite
After being completely obsessed with their single “By Your Side”, I just had to feature Paperwhite on my music blog. They’ve just released their four-track EP Reach. Combining electronic and pop, the duo delivers atmospheric melodies and catchy records. Reach is the perfect summer EP you don’t want to miss.
Listen to Reach now on all major streaming platforms.
Photo credit: Dillon Puswald
Hi guys ! How are you? What's your story?
Ben: Hi! We describe ourselves as a dream pop band. Katie and I are siblings so we’ve been making music together for a long time. Paperwhite started when we converged our two musical tastes. Katie comes from more of a singer, songwriter background and my interests being electronic music production. Through the years we’ve found a balance of what feels new and exciting from a production standpoint, but also timbres that match Katie’s voice and her storytelling.
You're about to release your EP Reach - how does it feel like to release this project?
Ben: Coming to the end of a release cycle always has a duality for me. It’s sort of a relief to be done with all the production, mixing, mastering, tweaking, planning, scheduling, etc. but then at the same time it means we have more time to write again, which is always exciting to dive back in.
Katie: This one has been a long time coming so I’m particularly excited for it to be out there in the world. I feel like the process of releasing this EP has been like opening a door that has been closed for a while. I’m excited for the creative release that comes from being on the other side.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this project? When did you start working on it?
Ben: With this EP and new chapter for Paperwhite we definitely had some specific ideas for where we wanted to take the project. From a production standpoint, I wanted to bring in more organic and acoustic textures, even if they are a bit processed and manipulated. I think maybe another producer would hear Katie‘s voice and her songs and think this needs piano, guitar and a real ensemble, etc. so I like that the texture is there, but we can take it into a more surreal and larger than life space.
Katie: Some of these songs we started years ago and never finished and then other’s are brand new. I think all of the songs inspired a sound/feeling and then it suddenly became clear that they were all meant to be released together.
What's the story behind each song?
Katie: “The Space Between” and “Unfold” were originally one song that we decided to split into two. “Unfold” is about exploring a relationship and uncovering what’s within it. "The Space Between" is a reference to a line in the pre-chorus in "Unfold": “You know the space between us, I felt it in a dream once." But the group vocals in “The Space Between” actually create the lead synth line for “Unfold,” so it has a bit of a double meaning.
“By Your Side” references some kind of complex relationship that we’re not sure is good or bad. It takes a closer into the duality of relationships with others or even with ourselves.
“This Feeling” speaks about that indescribable feeling you get that allows you to know that everything will be okay.
Finally, “Looking Back” speaks on the idea that the world is changing. We’re not sure what’s coming next, but even with all that uncertainty, we’re still looking for hope.
Ben: Katie and I have been talking a lot about how music can be an escape and how our music has trended that way for a while in terms of themes. With the idea of Reach being the name of the EP, we just both love that idea that there’s something around the next corner. We’ve both become parents since our last release and our lives have changed in pretty substantial ways, so I think this is a message to ourselves that we can still dream big, and be bold in our decisions and ideas.
What was the biggest challenge about making this EP? And any favorite memories from the making of this project?
Ben: If I’m being honest, it’s just finding the time to finish everything. Like I mentioned, we both have little ones around the house, and we both work as media composers and musicians in other avenues. It always feels like a lot to juggle, but when we do get to sit down and spend time on it, it feels like the most rewarding thing that we’re working on.
Katie: It’s true! The ability to create in the first place is the biggest challenge and also the greatest reward. We used to have a lot more time to write together so all of my favorite recent moments are when something suddenly clicks and Ben and I both feel this wave of excitement. Like, okay this is working!!
What message do you want to deliver through this EP? What do you want people to feel when listening to it?
Ben: Our goal is always to transmit the feeling that we get from a specific song to other people. A lot of times when we’re working on music there’s a point where we sort of hit the core of whatever the song is gonna be. Whether that’s a melodic hook or an instrumental bed. It gives me a feeling of “oh I like this”. Or sometimes it just makes me have a physical reaction to dance, or move. There’s probably some really good neuroscience explanations to this, but somehow music can do that. It can transport one person‘s emotion to another.
Katie: Totally, I think a lot of the feelings that we’ve written about are complex so we’re hoping our audience finds themselves in there.
What's the story/inspiration behind the artwork of Reach?
Katie: The artwork is a collage of the artwork for our three singles, “Unfold," “By Your Side,” and “This Feeling.” To us, the concept of Reach has to do with connection, longing and hope. All of our songs together create that feeling so it felt right to do that with the artwork as well! Shout out to Stephanie Reiman for absolutely killing it with all of the artwork for this project!!
What are your thoughts on today's social media? How does it impact your career?
Ben: It can be strange and frustrating at times, haha. The way we’re trying to approach it right now is by thinking about how we can best serve our listeners and the people who might become listeners. I don’t like the idea of just spamming people with trending audio or trending captions. We’re trying to do it in a way that helps transmit that emotion that we were talking about before.
Katie: It’s really challenging, to be honest. We don’t really have the desire to be content creators and it’s frustrating how connected that is to music right now. We’re experimenting with how to do it in a way that feels genuine. We love connecting with our fans and creating this world together, so if we can do that through socials, that would be pretty amazing.
What biggest lessons have you learned since the beginning of your career?
Ben: In the context of Paperwhite, I think it’s been so helpful to finish things and release them and put them out there. Even if it means you listen back to them and think “I would change this” or “I would change that," or maybe even feeling a bit cringe about it. Going through the whole process helps inform the next batch of songs. If you only worked to finish songs and then just start a new one. I don’t think you’d be as informed about what you’re creating. If you let others react to it and watch yourself react to it as well, it changes your experience and connection to the music.
Katie: I agree completely. To release music is to allow the song to live outside of you. The more music you release the more you learn and grow, that’s why we’re so excited to be back and releasing music again.
What advice would you give to artists out there?
Ben: I know it’s cliché, but just be yourself. There’s so many people out there that will resonate with your music or your art even if it’s a crazy niche thing. Then the goal just becomes about finding them. I also think it’s important to know that success as an artist in the music industry does not happen quickly. It’s a gradual ramp up. So trust that you’re headed in the right direction as long as you’re putting the work in.
Katie: Yes, be yourself and trust yourself. Trust that there is an audience, trust that your voice matters and that someone will connect.
In your opinion, what would make the world a BETTER place?
Ben: Empathy. It’s the human condition to just be stuck in your own head like you’re the main character in the movie. As soon as you can break that wall, I think humanity transforms into what we’d like it to be. It would really go a long way to solving some big issues like climate change and the AI revolution we’re headed into. I think empathy would guide us into making the right decisions there collectively.
Katie: It feels like we’re forgetting about community. I think empathy and community go so well together. Thinking outside yourself, having a deeper understanding for the world and people around you, building others up. If we started doing that within our small communities, I truly think it could change lives.
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