Q&A: Deb Never on AUDREY NUNA Collaboration, her Live Performance & more
Digitally published by The Luna Collective, August 2022. View original publication.
DEB NEVER’S LIVE PERFORMANCES ARE ANYTHING BUT “CHUMP CHANGE”. - The Asian American pop rising star showed the world just how explosive her live music experience is over the weekend at 88Rising’s Head In The Clouds Festival. Bouncing around the stage with recent “chump change” collaborator Audrey Nuna in a joint set, Never brought new light to her naturally low lilting voice turning into energetic riptides of sound in a live festival setting.
We last spoke to Deb Never in the Spring of 2021, and since then her sophomore EP Where Have All the Flowers Gone? cemented Never’s status as an artist you need to know. With her recent collaboration with Audrey Nuna on chump change including “sardines” and “multigrain”, as well as an upcoming EP, Never is poised to take over the world with her distinctive vocals and expressive lyricism.
We received the chance to catch up with Deb Never prior to her Head In The Clouds set to catch up on her new releases, the excitement of pre-show jitters, and what comes next for the sonic catalog of the spark plug that is Deb Never.
LUNA: We're here at Head in the Clouds and you'll be performing with Audrey Nuna later - how are you feeling?
DEB NEVER: I'm excited. I'm really excited. Normally I can't tell if I'm anxious or excited but I know I'm excited this time.
LUNA: Last we talked was Spring 2021 as you were wrapping up your EP. We’ve already heard new music from you including your collars with Audrey - how would you compare new music you're working on to your last project?
DEB NEVER: I feel like every project is like an evolution of the last thing. This EP definitely has more energy. The upcoming project definitely has elements of my past projects, but I want everything to just be an evolution of itself because I learn throughout the whole process.
LUNA: Lyrically, are you drawn to any themes or narratives with new music?
DEB NEVER: It's all about life experience or what I'm going through at the time. So it really depends if I'm happy one day, or if I'm going through it the music will reflect that. I feel like for some reason my music always sounds sad - I'm convinced it's just my natural inclination of my voice. Everything just sounds sound even if I try to make it upbeat.
LUNA: Your live show allows listeners a whole different listening experience as you bring an energy like no other - what track is the most different in a live setting?
DEB NEVER: I would say, "Sorry". The production is very subdued, but when you're listening to it live you want to fucking jump!
LUNA: Moving forward, are you keeping that live element in mind when you're making music?
DEB NEVER: I think playing live influences it and makes you think about music in a different way. I'm so used to making music in my room, so what I would make ends up sounding very intimate. But after playing live, I think it gives you a perspective of how it would sound with more energy and a full set up.
LUNA: What do you kind of like about the festival setting versus playing a normal venue show?
DEB NEVER: I haven't done too many festivals so it's hard to say yet but I think it's something about having to win over a crowd that I like. They might not be there to see me, but I'm gonna have fun. Even if you're like a mile away, you're gonna hear me. So get involved! I think there's a sense of comfort it brings me afterwards. Before I get so much anxiety but afterwards it's like I got over the hump of playing to people who have no interest in me. In an obstacle that I kind of enjoy.
LUNA: Yeah that's not an easy thing to do. Since you're performing with Audrey that is a whole different kind of approach I'm sure. How did that idea of performing together in addition to making music come about?
DEB NEVER: It was an idea that we had already from when we made the songs. We got along so well and the synergy with our music and just how we make music really worked well together. We had the idea of performing together loosely when we made the songs, but then I think 88Rising also probably had the same idea, so it was perfect.
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