Cristina Peck started off her Belmont career last year with the band Dr. Eatsme and the Cannibal Kid. The group has since parted ways, but Cristina has rebounded quickly. Here, Cristina talks to TowerMix about her exciting current project, maturing in style, influences, and the Belmont scene.
Nashville, TN
United States
Genre: Indie / Alternative / Electronica
Album(s): Benches, Parade, Melodic Memories, Wind
Website: http://www.myspace.com/cristinapeck
KATIE: What have you been working on since the demise of Dr. Eatsme and the Cannibal Kid?
CRISTINA: I began recording a new album this past summer, ‘Wind,’ which I hope to release by the end of this year. Grooves and beats are very important to me now more than ever. In ‘Wind’, I’ve aimed to create a collection of songs that groove to get people moving. Some themes of ‘Wind’ deal with emotions, like excitement, confusion, loss and happiness, all pretty much related to love! The album is self produced at my home studio. I record my songs using a Korg 1600 digital recorder mostly, garageband, as well as protools more recently.
I have also been collaborating with singer/songwriter/producer, Josh Stoddard, who just moved to the Nashville area from New York city. He has great expertise in his field and amazing stories to tell! Our project together is called Bennu. Bennu is the soul of the Egyptian sun god, Ra. Josh has unveiled a different sound of my voice I forgot was there. He’s teaching me to sing soft again, as if I were in a choir, and I’m liking the challenge! I enjoy trying different styles and using my voice as an instrument. Our style so far is very CHILL, easy listening music. It is very relaxing to sing and listen to.
KATIE: While the Dr. Eatsme members have clearly moved on, would you consider re-forming?
CRISTINA: It was really great playing in Dr. Eatsme and the Cannibal Kid. I feel we all had a great relationship with one another in that band. We just had so much fun playing music and writing together. The five of us met so quickly at the start of the year and formed Dr. Eatsme by October. And we would just always talk about how amazed we were that this was really happening, that we were so quick to find each other and start a band. Everyone just wanted to play music and so we did, and had such great times I’ll never forget. Over summer we drifted apart, musically as well. But we’ve left the relationship with open ends; perhaps we will reform again one day. Things are always changing, I don’t doubt we’ll have another jam again. We had too much fun together!
KATIE: Do you think your style has changed since coming to Belmont?
CRISTINA: Yes, my style has really changed since I’ve started college at Belmont, but then I have a hard time settling into one style of music anyway. Recently, I’ve been very interested in combining electronic keyboard sounds with more raw sounds like that of a tape. I am playing a lot more with keyboards and rhythms now, rather than writing with a guitar as I have done in the past. I’m into improvising with complete vocal freedom. I don’t like being too in control of what words and melodies come out when I’m writing, so improvising works out well for me. Improvising is like free writing; it allows you to think freely and can bring to light what is really on your mind. It’s kind of like the first sketches of a painting. Since I’ve been at Belmont I’ve really become more focused on words and their importance, being very inspired by all the great writing teachers I’ve had at Belmont so far. I’ve decided to major in writing as well as Studio Art!
KATIE: Who would you consider to be your main influences?
CRISTINA: A lot of my writing influence comes from movie sound tracks I’ve heard growing up. I remember the soundtracks of movies I used to watch when I was nine years old and still see how they influence the melodies I write. Some soundtracks which have really inspired me more recently include Great Expectations, Le Vie en Rose, and The Jacket. When I was younger I was in love with a song many found very annoying, which I completely understand since the song was very redundant, but the repetitive melody made no difference to me; I had the song on repeat for 3 years straight anyways. The song was called “Blue” by Eiffel 65. I also grew up listening to The Talking Heads, The Gin Blossoms as well as Pink Floyd, and The Beatles- all music my parents listen to. My main influences now include Bjork, My Morning Jacket, Animal Collective, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Brian Eno, Air, Arcade Fire, and many more. Lately I’ve been listening to Voce, a vocal choir which is great music to paint to.
KATIE: How would you describe your sound?
CRISTINA: Sometimes I wish I could just listen to myself for the first time to actually know what I sound like! I feel like in everything I write, melody is very important. Melodies are like waves; flowing. A lot of times I like to compose a strange or intricate melody over a simple chord progression. I think I may sound like a tropical Umbrella Bird who is singing loud in a cathedral, obsessed with the reverb. (By the way, I have no idea what an Umbrella bird sounds like)
KATIE: You’ve never performed at Belmont. Why is that? Have you considered doing a show here?
CRISTINA: Actually, I have played solo at many writers nights hosted by BUSA, the Belmont Songwriting Association and more recently at the Back to School Bash this fall, hosted by the Watercolors. I’ve also played with Dr. Eatsme and the Cannibal Kid at the Arts For Life event last spring. But other than that I have not been very involved in Belmont shows. I would love to be a part of the events and showcases featured here at Belmont. I find they are great opportunities to see and meet other musicians. Perhaps I am not in the music loop here at Belmont because I am a commuter and I’m not a music major, but I am definitely interested in the music scene here and in Nashville.
KATIE: Are there any Belmont bands that you’re particularly excited about right now?
CRISTINA: Yes. I am excited about and for Michael Ford Jr. and the Apache Relay. My friend, and the violinist, bassist, xylophonist, etc… in Dr. Eatsme and the Cannibal Kid, Kellen Wenrich, is the violinist in Michael Ford Jr. and the Apache Relay. The band has a beautiful unique sound. I’ve also been curiously excited about a band who’s name remains anonymous to me. I heard them play last year at a party. They had an electronic/ ambient sound and the keyboard player wore a mask. They were great entertainers and got the people to move.
