Agnes Uncaged: Interview With Julia Eubanks on the New Album, CYANOTYPE

Interview Contributed to by Krista Vilinskis of Elephants and Flowers Media. 

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Agnes Uncaged, formerly “Creeping Charlie,” has received acclaim across the Midwest for their guitar-driven, cinematic indie rock. Julia Eubanks was hailed as “one of the Twin Cities most promising young songwriters” by critic Chris Riemenschneider (Minnesota Star Tribune) and the group lead First Avenue’s Best New Bands of 2022!

Agnes, a rabbit apparition, came to Eubanks on a hike through the French Alps and she felt her fearful aversion to releasing music dissolve. Like the rabbit superimposed over the mountain scape, Agnes Uncaged’s lyrics elicit a dance between the surreal and literal. Sisters Julia (Vocals and Guitar) and Esmé Eubanks (Bass), Jack Malone (Drums), and Cole Benson (Guitar) balance grittiness and prettiness to conjure a world of nostalgia, drawing inspiration from ’90s Pacific Northwest grunge.

Cyanotype, (produced by John Agnello- Sonic Youth, Dinosaur J r. – and mixed by Brian Deck – Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine) is a blue impression of white-hot moments in early adulthood. The album continues the band’s signature hooky guitar parts and narrative lyricism with a more matured sound. Philosophy Test elucidates an ironic multiple choice exam and explores the dangers of accepting objective truths shaped by me and thousands of years ago. Guitars on Paperdoll form a crunchy wall of sound behind a description of a two dimensional relationship. Agnes Uncaged presents a new era with ambitious record that won’t be pinned down, and doesn’t need to be.

Interview With Julia Eubanks of Agnes Uncaged

Agnes arrived as a rabbit apparition during a hike in the French Alps. What did that moment unlock emotionally or spiritually for you that hadn’t been accessible before?

Having this vision felt like unclogging an artery. I am constantly writing and creating, but I had reached a block in releasing music because I became fearful of letting songs go. Seeing Agnes was an easy surrender and a direction forward.

Was there a lyric or song on the album that surprised you once it was fully realized?

I rewrote the song Garbage Truck twice, I can’t remember what the first version was really even about– but when I leaned into this story of being in Paris during a trash strike and wondering if the person you are with is seeing you or seeing through you, it all came flowing.

“Philosophy Test” critiques inherited truths and unquestioned frameworks—were there personal beliefs you had to unlearn while writing this record?

In many ways and most aspects of my life I am not a perfectionist. With my music, I sometimes can fall into feedback loops where I want to constantly evolve the song. I learned to let them be captured moments, another reason why the name Cyanotype came to me for this record.

What is unique about creating music with a sibling that couldn’t exist in any other collaboration?

Total comfort and unconditional love. Every room I walk into ready to be extremely vulnerable, I have my built in best friend by my side. We can give each other totally honest feedback. Esmé will tell me when something isn’t landing or ask what I’m getting at with certain lyrics. She’s a great bassist and a lot of the hooks of our songs are in her basslines.

What does success look like to you internally, separate from metrics or acclaim?

I always say writing music and performing it is so close to who I am and exists outside of any sort of external forces. Success internally is the flow state I get into while writing or when we are playing live and the band melts together into one force.

How do you hope listeners feel after sitting with Cyanotype all the way through?

A lot of these songs describe specific moments in a way that engineers relatable feelings. I hope people listen to this album and feel a bit of complete escapism, but also feel seen.

FOLLOW AGNES UNCAGED:

Website: https://www.agnesuncaged.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnes.uncaged/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Creeping-Charlie-100064318891051/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agnes.uncaged

Stream, Save and Purchase CYANOTYPE