Interviews

Southern Californian duo Introverted Funk bring the boogie and the sunshine rays with a must have 7” on Star Creature. On the week of the release of 'Tell You & Fan Out' we get the chance to talk to Veronica Rosa and Daniel Valle.

Thank you for taking the time to talk. Where are you this moment and how are you spending the day?

Thank you for inviting us to chat. We're currently at our home studio/office in Los Angeles. It's a Monday here so that usually means we're getting our errands done and planning out our week.

Can you introduce Introverted Funk to our readers?

We're Introverted Funk(I.F.). We're a duo (Vero & Danny) who met working at a coffee shop in Los Angeles, CA. We bonded heavily over funk, disco, boogie, and rnb. We both collect vinyl and that contributed to our bond. We made music separately and eventually started making music for fun together. We showed the music to some of our friends and they encouraged us to put a band together. We started playing shows in the local LA scene in 2018 and here we are.

Where are you based currently?

We are currently based out of Los Angeles, CA, West Adams to be exact.

What is it you love most about the city in which you live?

What we love most about LA is its diversity and strong community. Despite everything the city has faced, Angelenos keep showing up for each other with love and support. During the recent fires and now the I.C.E raids, the community refuses to back down against injustice.

Through it all, artists in LA continue to reflect the times and create. We know that holding onto joy, even in the midst of struggle, is a powerful part of how we get through it.

What is the current state of the music scene where you are?

The music scene in Los Angeles is still vibrant and full of talent, but it's definitely going through a challenging time. We don't want to sugarcoat it, but it's becoming harder and harder for artists to make a sustainable living. When we first started performing, we were getting paid fairly.

Even as fans of live music, it's tough. Ticket prices are high, drinks are expensive, and venues are taking cuts from merch sales, which used to be a lifeline for smaller acts. The economics of it all have shifted.

We've seen more artists throwing backyard shows or community-based events instead of touring because travel costs are just too steep.

We still try to support the scene as much as we can, but the local indie economy is definitely feeling the pressure.

There's still so much creativity and community here and we love being a part of it.

Who are the icons who have inspired the music that you make?

Our musical taste is vast and changes all the time, but we can give a nice list of artists that we have loved over the years.

Manchild, Bloodstone, Heatwave, Prince, Janet Jackson, Daft Punk, Teena Marie, Rick James, Barry White, Candido, Marcos Valle, Airto Moreira, Dam-Funk, Marvin Gaye, Patrice Rushen, Hiatus Kaiyote, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Michael Jackson, SAULT, Azymuth, Rufus & Chaka Khan, The Rah-Band, Solange, Nile Rodgers, Aaliyah, Mariah Carey, Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam, SWV, Jamiroquai, Roy Ayers, and Rod Temperton to name a few lol.

But we take influence from a broad range of genres including house music, metal music, rock, ambient, hip hop, rnb etc.

How did you come to meet Tim Zawada and Star Creature?

We met Tim through our friend Aaron Frazer. We were in a session and we asked for advice on how to get our music pressed and he linked us up. We happened to be heading out to Chicago one summer and we set up a meeting to chat. We really bonded and it was refreshing to feel his energy and enthusiasm for music. We made sure to exchange info, and when we got our masters back, we made sure he was the first guy to send our music to.

Why did you feel the label was the right home for your release?

We’ve been fans of Star Creature ever since our DJ friend, Phunk One spun their records for us one time while we were hanging out. After that we became avid followers/fans of Star Creature. We felt the label was in alignment with our artistry. After meeting with Tim, we knew right away that he would give us the creative freedom to be ourselves. What really sealed it for us was the sense of community that comes with being part of the Star Creature family. He just gets the grooves.

Give us an overview of your new release.

We’re putting out our debut 7” with two tracks: "Tell You" and “Fan Out.” “Tell You” brings that smooth, feel-good boogie energy. “Fan Out” is a fun disco jam inspired by Nile Rodgers, Heatwave, and some of our favorite ’70s dance vibes. Just something to move to and feel good.

How long did it take to come together? Did it flow easily, or did it take some time to perfect?

Our writing process is kinda all over the place, lol. Some songs come together in a day, others take months. It really depends on the vibe. Creativity comes in waves. Some days we’re locked in, other days we just have to be patient with ourselves.

We usually start by demoing everything ourselves, then bring in our bass player Alonso to add his magic. After that, we bring in the rest of the band and head into the studio to record. Once everything's tracked, we move into mixing, which we were super involved in with Jose Cruz. That part honestly takes the longest… getting everything just right and tight. After mixing, we go into mastering, and then came the wait for the vinyl press. All in all, the whole process took about a year.

Finally getting to hold the record in our hands and hear it on wax was surreal. All the time, energy, and love we put into it came full circle.

Tell us about any other artists involved in the release.

An important component to what makes our sound is the group of musicians and producers we work with.

Alonso Santana is our incredible bass player who can effortlessly bring any bass line we write to life with his skill and groove. His versatility and feel make him an essential part of our sound.

Caleb Tischburn is a multi-faceted drummer, who really gets our style and delivers an amazing groove. He played on Fan Out and is also on the upcoming EP.

Don Brown is a drummer long-time friend who lent his talents on “Tell You”. He has an amazing sense of feel and pocket and in that track he really brings it to life.

Jose Cruz is probably the 3rd ghost member. He is the guy that helps bring our audio vision to life. He is an amazing musician and engineer, who helps us with the analog aspect of our recording. We recorded “Fan Out” in his studio which is known as Moneycat Recording in Hawthorne, CA. We tracked everything to tape, ran every stem through a “secret sauce” pre-amp, and made sure to give each final mix a real tape bounce.

Mike Altier, who runs Blac N Gold Studios in Whittier, CA, was a huge help by generously giving us studio time to record “Tell You.” He also engineered the session, playing a big role in bringing our demo to life. We’re truly grateful for his support and expertise.

Do you take some time - after you have made a track – to leave it alone for a while to evaluate?

Yes, we definitely do! Usually, we like to step away from a track for a bit after finishing it so we can listen to it fresh later on. Sometimes when we’re working so closely to a song, we need to give it some space to breathe. We tend to give ourselves a deadline to avoid overthinking things and losing the magic. Plus, with so many tabs open creatively, we want to keep the momentum going and keep putting more music out.

Do you find the feedback of others is important to you in the production process?

Yes, feedback is super important to us, but at the end of the day, we mostly trust our gut. Over time, we’ve built a community of artists and creatives we really respect and trust. When we hit a wall or feel stuck, those are the people we turn to for honest input and fresh perspectives that help us sharpen and refine our vision. Ultimately, we surround ourselves with folks who get that the biggest ego in the room isn’t ours, it’s the song itself.

What are some of the challenges in putting out music currently?

One of the biggest challenges we face when putting music out these days is navigating the ever-changing world of social media. It’s a powerful tool for connecting with people, and along the way, we’ve built a really dope online community that we’re super grateful for. That said, sometimes our online presence falls off because, well, life is lifing. Finding the right balance between both worlds is definitely a work in progress.

What drives you to create music do you think?

Some people can afford therapy and we make music. Lol.

Our drive to create comes from a need to be heard, especially as introverted, different, not type A people. Music is how we process the world, express what we’re feeling, and hopefully make others feel seen too.

We make music to connect, to disrupt, and to hold space for joy. And deep down, we want to make something that lasts, something that lives beyond us.

What other artists do you think are making great music right now?

There are so many artists killing it in the game right now and we’re so excited to be part of this era.

Some of our current favourite artists are including but not limited to:

Cleo Sol, SAULT, Sparklmami, Catriel & Paco Amoroso, Kxwledge, Kokoroko, The Altons, Durand Jones and The Indications, Thee Sinceers, Brownboyz, Aaron Frazer, Kendrick Lamar, Larry June, Hiatus Kaiyote, Dabuell, and anything from the Space Grapes Label.

What was the last record you purchased?

Danny’s last bought record was Don Beto - Imaginacao

Vero’s last record was Air Power - Be Yourself

What has been a highlight of the last year for you guys?

Our biggest highlight was doing our first Tour. We went on tour opening for The Altons and Thee Sinceers. It was an unforgettable experience and we hope to do it again soon.

What can we expect next from Introverted Funk?

MORE RECORDS and MORE DANCE PARTIES.

Check out the latest release from Introverted Funk.