Essential 8: Cliffs + Caves

Courtesy of the Artist

Cliffs + Caves - the mother-daughter duo of Lindsey and Claire Justice - unabashedly share their deeply personal and relatable stories through songs that resonate with listeners of all generations. Their newest EP, Capsize, due January 11, 2019, dynamically demonstrates their unique blend of indie-folk music created from intimate lyrics lilting over smooth musical progressions.  Partnering with producer Chris Jacobie (Penny and Sparrow, Jarrod Dickenson, Duncan Fellow) in their home state of Texas to complete the project, the result is a five song showcase of the musical ingenuity that is created when artistry runs in the family. The duo recently released their first single from the project, "Right Side," and here Lindsay answers their Essential 8 where she talks about their songwriting process, shares the story behind "Right Side," and talks Red Rocks, Ruston Kelly, and more.

Please choose one song and tell the story behind it.
The first single we just released from our new EP Capsize is a song called “Right Side” that Claire wrote after a break up. I’ve been encouraging her to write lyrics for years, so I was thrilled and really proud that we finally got to record a song that she penned the lyrics for. Claire is only 16, so she actually wrote it about the only boyfriend she’d ever had from back in 8th grade. Claire said, “This is about my first relationship.  We were close friends before we started dating, but after we started dating I realized I wasn’t comfortable with it.  After ending things, it’s awkward- no matter how hard you try to make things smooth. That’s the thing that was sad was the friendship lost, because after being close for so long it’s hard not having that person you tell everything to and are so at ease with. But after a while, you wake up and you feel better that you made the right decision.”

When/where do you do your best writing?
We have a ranch outside of town in Hallettsville where we keep cattle and our two horses – that’s our favorite place to write together. Claire and I go on walks in the woods and down along Sandy Creek and we sit around a campfire at night. It’s just the perfect quiet space to be creative. Of course it doesn’t always work out that we’re there for writing, but getting off by ourselves in a place where we can feel connected to each other and nature is prime. We jump on those rare moments where we aren’t distracted by the pull of regular daily life, all the responsibilities like Claire’s heavy load of high school work or busy sports schedule, or for me- endless emails, meetings, and laundry. Feeling away from all that and getting off by ourselves is key.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
For me, writing the majority of our lyrics, I find that my best writing comes from direct personal experience, when the feelings are fresh and just happening. I think it’s important to make time to be alone and sit back into whatever the feelings are- and thoughtfully process as much happening during all the different kinds of moments of life- big and small.

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Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
Everyday life- it’s a magical adventure constantly unfolding. Sometimes, I’m moved by a comment that someone makes at a dinner with friends or a phrase I hear during a podcast or a line from a sermon at church – something that connects with my spirit in a way that I have to get it on paper.

What is your dream venue and why?
Oh, we definitely dream of playing at Red Rocks in Colorado someday. I took Claire to see Ben Howard there for her 13th birthday- just the two of us on a special mother/daughter trip. To be surrounded by all those giant brilliant red rock formations, nestled under the stars – that amazing view and the sound and the electricity in the cool air… it’s unlike anything we’d ever experienced. We both left there saying SOMEDAY we would love to play there.

Is there anyone you would you love to collaborate with?
Wow, I’m not sure how to narrow that down! I was lucky to grow up listening to so many female singer/songwriters whose brave individualism and impressive musicianship deeply influenced me- like Shawn Colvin, Bonnie Raitt, Patty Griffin, Tracy Chapman, The Indigo Girls, Tori Amos. I love those kinds of artists that aren’t chasing what the culture tells us should be popular, but they simply offer themselves, their own honest art – and in turn THEY change the culture. It’s incredible how people sense a real thing happening and crave the truth of that kind of music. More recently I think we see that in artists like Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, and Sylvan Esso. It would be mind blowing to collaborate with any of them.

Do you have a favorite (or first) concert you have ever attended?
Claire’s first concert is my favorite concert- because of how it affected her by giving her the desire to learn how to play guitar. My husband and I had tickets to see Ben Howard in Austin on a school night, but we couldn’t find a babysitter, so at the last minute we decided to take our young kids along with us. Claire was only 12, but her eyes were glued to Ben the entire time. She was mesmerized by his fingerstyle guitar playing – and from that night on she was searching for every YouTube video she could find to learn how to play like he does. I love that a concert- live music, can literally have a life altering impact on a person!

Is there a recent release you cannot stop listening to?
We’ve been listening to Ruston Kelly’s new song “Mockingbird” a TON lately. That whole album Dying Star is really beautiful. We met him at Austin City Limits Festival and got to see him play his whole set –still can’t get over how incredible he sounds live. Ruston is such a giant talent.

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