An Interview With Neptune’s Core
With powerful lyrics, captivating music, and a passion for storytelling, Neptune’s Core is one of the next big things to come out of the Midwest. We spoke to the band about their musical beginnings, songwriting, and learned more about their highly anticipated EP, Called Upon, due out this summer. You can read the interview below.
NEPTUNE’S CORE FEATURES TWO SETS OF SISTERS, SOFIA AND HANNAH RICHTER AND JACKIE AND KAITLIN CYWINSKI. PHOTO BY SAM MONENDO.
How did you come up with Neptune’s Core as a band name? Is there a story behind it and the band's inception as a whole?
Sofia richter: Honestly, we were just going for a name that sounded bad ass. Late one night, we were sitting outside tossing ideas around for what we should call the band. We all liked outer space. One of us suggested Saturn’s Ring, another suggested Neptune’s Core. And something about Neptune’s Core really resonated with our sound. So we took it and ran with it, and now it’s a bad ass name that’s totally us.
Since beginning Neptune’s Core, what is something you’ve learned on your musical journey that you’ve applied moving forward into this new era of music?
HANNAH RICHTER: I think when I first joined Neptune’s Core I couldn’t really take criticism even if it made the songs better but more recently I have been way more open to the collaborative process. In general, I play and write my parts so the song sounds good and if one of the members of the band doesn’t like a part I wrote or has a different idea, I think it is important to consider it.
jackie cywinski: I’ve learned to think more openly when writing new parts. Thinking freely allows you to be more creative when writing your own songs, but also is a key part to writing with other people. You never know how something is going to sound until you try it, so it’s always worth a shot to try it out.
Songwriting can be a very vulnerable experience. Do you ever find it challenging to write such personal lyrics? If so, how do you overcome those challenges?
jc: Writing lyrics, especially emotional lyrics, can be extremely vulnerable. It’s difficult to write a song and dig through your own emotions, but it’s even harder to share them with others. The first few times we played “Shot In The Heart” I was so nervous and felt so vulnerable that I’d make up excuses not to play it. Sharing emotional, deep lyrics with people can be extremely difficult, but over the past few years it’s become much more natural and more of a rewarding experience than intimidating.
sr: The aftermath of songwriting is hard. The best songs come from the deepest places, but it takes a lot to share those feelings with the world. I wrote “Inside” a year before its release. Writing it was in some ways easy. I wrote it because I felt the need to. I needed to release the complicated array of emotions I had built up inside of me. I let the melody, the form, and even the lyrics come to me naturally, and it felt good. Finally, I could express what I was feeling. We’ve been playing the song non-stop for the past year because we love playing it. We’re proud of its complexity, of the emotions it shows. When I play the song, I don’t think about the lyrics. Because if I think about the lyrics and the state I was in when I wrote them, it’s too difficult. I let it all out during the songwriting process. I put everything into the songs I write. But when performing these songs, I remind myself that maybe I’m not in that place anymore. Maybe I am “better” and I can still sing these songs, knowing that I’ve changed. “Inside” will always be a song that resonates with me. And it’ll be a song that resonates with others too, which is why we put it out there.
Your music is very clearly an amazing expression of yourselves that truly connects to your audiences. Outside of music, though, what’s another favorite form of expression for you?
hr: A big way in how I express myself is probably my style. I mean it’s nothing crazy but it’s something I get to choose and make my own which I really love. -Hannah Richter
kaitlin cywinski: In my daily life I try to be active and spend a lot of time outside. This helps me destress and connect with myself. Being outside is healing and it helps stimulate me and allows me to put my best foot forward with the band and all other aspects of my life. I’ve also taken up a love for cooking!! It’s so rewarding and delicious!
We’ve gotten a taste of Called Upon with your latest single “Inside” which talks a lot about keeping emotions bottled inside. What emotions do you hope to invoke in your listeners with this latest project?
HR: Personally, the main emotion I want listeners to feel is that they are not alone. Called Upon tackles a lot of intense feelings that everyone experiences and oftentimes when you feel those emotions you feel like you have to figure them out on your own. But that is not at all the case. Called Upon shows people that not every battle has to be won on your own and that it is perfectly normal to not be perfect and have everything figured out. How I see it, Called Upon is an anchor that anyone can come to not feel alone.
SR: I hope this music makes people feel. Sometimes I struggle with allowing myself to feel emotions; it’s one of the reasons I write songs. Music is a magical thing that opens people up and allows them to feel things. I hope Called Upon allows people to tap into their emotions and feel heard. Writing these songs helped me heal in a way; I hope this music is healing.
My biggest hope is that listeners will hear our music and feel less alone. Even though it’s normal to struggle, it’s so easy to feel alone. Putting negative emotions in a beautiful song gives a powerful voice to one’s struggle and creates beauty out of it. I hope that this EP helps other people know they aren’t alone, and bring beauty into their struggles.
Called upon, the new ep by neptune’s core, is out on August 25.
Your latest EP, Called Upon, is due out on August 25th. What does the title mean to you as a group?
HR: Called Upon can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but how I always kind of interpreted it was that you are faced with a lot of expectations and biases you are supposed to live up to but sometimes you just can’t meet them. This EP kind of shows people it is ok not to live up to those expectations. So, Called Upon to me is a title that represents choosing your own path rather than going down the one that other people have paved for you.
SR: The full title of Called Upon is Called Upon To Bring It Forth But Unable To Deliver. I see it the same way as Hannah. It’s about being unable to live up to expectations. And it’s about coming to terms with that and being on a journey toward a sense of self-love.
With six fresh songs coming out on Called Upon, tell us what it was like creating this project.
HR: While creating the EP we definitely experimented a lot. We worked with Doug Malone from Jamdek Studios who helped us get out of our comfort zone with all of the crazy cool instruments and tools he had. For example, we use a lot of Hammond organ and we also warp a lot of stuff through a Leslie throughout the EP which we would have never thought of if we didn’t have them on hand. In general, we used a lot of new sounds and instruments to really give the songs a new layer.
SR: It felt like the possibilities were endless! It was the first time we truly unleashed creativity in a studio. We didn’t go to Jamdek just to lay down the tracks and call it a day; with Doug, we explored all kinds of new sounds. We didn’t walk out of that studio with just several incredible songs; we walked out with a whole new vision on the recording process. Creating this project was the time of our lives. We had so much fun being together and experimenting. And that experimentation really paid off. We couldn’t be happier about these six songs! They really showcase our growth as musicians and people.
You’ve been praised as helping to aid a rock resurgence in Chicago. How has it felt to see such a positive response to your work?
HR: Quite honestly it doesn’t feel real. You never realize the impact you have on other people until they come up at the end of shows or run into you in public and they say something. I’m just glad people enjoy the music just as much as we enjoy making it!
JC: It feels so so so amazing. There’s not a better feeling than putting something we created out into the world and seeing that people actually enjoy it. The best is when people, especially young girls, come up to us after shows saying we inspired them to start music. Making a positive impact like that feels unreal and incredible.
SR: It’s an amazing feeling to know that we’ve had an impact on the Chicago music scene. Chicago is full to the brim with inspiring musicians and people. To play a role in its supportive dynamic is a beautiful thing. We love Chicago and we love its wonderful people!
Later this summer you’ll be playing Metro in Chicago. What song from the new EP are you most looking forward to playing live?
HR: I would have to say “Unloved,” our second single. I say this because it is so powerful and even more so in person so I’m excited to hear it up on that big stage with so many people watching.
JC: I would say “Inside,” our first single. Inside is such a fun song to play live and move to. It feels so amazing to release on stage and see the audience release with us. Near the end of the song, all of the instruments and the power kicks in, and it’ll be so fun to see how that sounds on the big Metro stage!!
SR: I love playing “A Widow’s Tune” live. A hush falls over the crowd and we all enter a trance. It’s an eerie, powerful song that takes me to a different place. I lose myself in the music. The same goes for “Unloved.” Both songs have subtle, quiet beginnings. And when the audience quiets down to match the intimacy, it’s magic. “Unloved” crashes when the band joins in and sends jolts of energy throughout the room. It’s thrilling and painful and it’s the reason why I’m up there. Playing it at Metro will be a dream come true.
Following the release of Called Upon, what are you looking forward to next?
HR: Well, I can’t reveal too much but we have been working on some pretty awesome songs recently and I’m just excited for people to hear those, too.
JC: We are cooking up some new tunessss!! We’ll be playing some of them at the Metro for everyone to hear, so I’m excited to see everyone’s initial reactions to them. Nothing set in stone yet, just keep looking out for new stuff!
SR: The new songs! We’ve been writing more and more, and it feels like the sky's the limit. I love creating with these people! Our connection is the strongest it’s ever been. I can only imagine what will happen next! More places, more people, more music, more adventures. I can’t wait for the four of us to experience it all together! I love these guys.
Photo by Sam monendo