We had a chat with Montana electro-soul duo Desperate Electric following the release of their multi-faceted new single ‘Stay’.
With their uniquely soulful brand of synth-laden alternative pop, Montana duo Desperate Electric have been gradually building steam over the last few years, showcasing their nostalgia-tinged sound and the rousing chemistry that the outfit possess.
Their latest single ‘Stay’ is just the latest in a line of releases that showcase the deftness and effortless danceability of their fun sound. The disco-synth feel to the track does a convincing job of covering up the darkness that permeates the sound, with repeated listens uncovering a more murky and desperate narrative. This makes for a multi-faceted listening experience that works on a number of levels, and the sincerity and rawness of the sound ensures that there is a real feeling of authenticity and a candid honesty that resonates much further. We had a chat with Desperate Electric to find out some more about them and their sound.
Who TF is Desperate Electric?
Desperate Electric is an electro soul duo from Montana. We want you to feel alive. Weaving melodies through the triumphs and tribulations of life, growing up, and relationships, the pair use their electric disco soul to tantalize crowds across the nation. Desperate Electric’s high energy live show makes you feel good; their lyrics are playful and honest, exploring themes of both vulnerability and resiliency. Groove with them as their thoughtful composition glides along an emotional roller coaster.
How long have you been making music?
We have been making music together for about four years, and we’ve been in our current formation for about three!
Why do you make music?
Truly, because we can’t do anything else. We feel so pulled to create, it’s almost involuntary. We make music to work through our own feelings and experiences, with the hope that it may help somebody else, or resonates with somebody who needs to hear it. It’s a release for us, and we can’t imagine not doing it.
What are your biggest influences?
Ben’s biggest influences span from Paul McCartney, to Kurt Cobain, to Frank Ocean. We have an affinity for wild chord progressions, jazzy harmonies, and riffs. Kayti spent her childhood listening to a lot of country music and classic rock. We love to write the stories of our life, which I’d say is really reflective of her musical upbringing.
What would you say have been your best moment so far?
I don’t know if we can pinpoint one ‘best moment’. The best feeling in the world is setting goals and hitting them, so any time we hit a personal milestone it feels pretty good. Our favorite thing is getting out to tour and play our music for new people.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
We self-describe as ‘electro soul’ — we bring together elements of funk, soul, r&b, rock, and electronic music to create a sound that’s incredibly versatile. We use a combination of live instrumentation and produced beats to create a fusion sound.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
We have some bucket list venues that we would LOVE to play at—Red Rocks in Colorado, The Kettlehouse Amphitheater here in Montana—some festivals are on that list too. Honestly, it would be an absolute dream to be able to make and play music full time, be able to pay all of our bills and live comfortably and tour half the year. That’s the goal!
We love your new single ‘Stay’, what more can you tell us about it?
We’re so glad you love it! We really love it too. ‘Stay’ is the third single we’ve released this year, and pretty derivative of a specific event that happened in our lives a few years ago. We love making songs that have pretty intense, real-life lyrics, while the music is a groovy, synth filled dance party. Ben wrote his verse and the choruses after a weekend of absolute debauchery with some friends. He was really asking me (Kayti), “why’d you stay?”. ‘Stay’ is really about loving somebody through the worst parts of themselves and reckoning with generational bad habits.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
We’ll have two more singles coming out this summer, followed by our new album in September. After our album release we’ll be touring the country until the end of November, which we’re really excited about!
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
Ooohh that’s hard! I don’t know if we have one single biggest fan. We’re incredibly lucky to have really supportive friends and family. If I had to choose, I’d say our good friends Matt and Connor may share the number one fan spot.
