Creating Songs that “See” Their Listeners: An Interview with Isabella DeHerdt

What do you believe to be your purpose in life?

This is a big question! However, I feel that I can break it down to a few simple sentences. I believe one of my purposes in life is to make art that gives others a sense of being heard and understood. There are some feelings that can’t be explained in any other way than through a song for me, and one of my purposes is to write songs that “see” those who listen to them, who hopefully feel as though that song was written specifically for them. Another purpose for me is to pass on whatever knowledge I have to those who love art the same way I do! I’ve had the opportunity to teach  K-8 music students, and nothing compares to that feeling when you’re able to give a student a tool or piece of information they need to make their own music. Finally, I want a big part of my life to simply be supporting and spending time with those around me who I love and who love me. I could probably existentially go on and on with this question but I’ll leave it there.

There are some feelings that can’t be explained in any other way than through a song for me, and one of my purposes is to write songs that “see” those who listen to them, who hopefully feel as though that song was written specifically for them.

When did you develop a love for music? How has your musical path has changed and developed over time?

My love for music began when I was 5 years old. I was absolutely enthralled with a small toy piano that my parents had found for me. It played a version of “Let It Be” by the Beatles and I listened to that thing over and over again, unclear as to why it was so intriguing. However, I knew I wanted to learn how to make those sounds too. That was the moment in which the musical roots were planted in my life. I began by playing violin, an obvious choice when one wants to sound like the Beatles, and went from playing choppy versions of lullabies on that instrument to beginning blues guitar lessons in my early teen years. I began to learn how much I loved playing music with others when I went to an all girls rock and roll camp in Goshen, MA, called The Institute For Musical Arts (IMA). There, I met my bandmates with whom I still primarily write and play in our group Kalliope Jones. My style has absolutely changed as I have discovered different genres, artists, and instruments. However, my love for guitar will always be based in the blues and folk styles. In the past few years I have begun to try and mix that with a more pop/rock feel that is relevant and widely listened to by my generation. 

I began to learn how much I loved playing music with others when I went to an all girls rock and roll camp in Goshen, MA, called The Institute For Musical Arts (IMA). There, I met my bandmates with whom I still primarily write and play in our group Kalliope Jones.

What variety of instruments do you play?  

As I said above, I began on violin (although I can’t say I play it anymore). Now my focus is on guitar and vocals, but I also play piano, ukulele, harmonica, and percussion to write with and to support my solo performance.

Who are your musical inspirations?

The Beatles were my root, and will always be one of my biggest artistic inspirations. I also would reference Shakey Graves as a huge inspiration that I discovered in the past few years. His guitar playing absolutely blows my mind and I would be lucky to be half as good as that guy! I am also really invested in incredible lyricals works, such as that of James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Brandie Carlisle, and Bob Dylan. However, when I just want to jam out, I love listening to KALEO, Caroline Rose, Band of Skulls, and many more. 

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Although that is definitely a question I know many college students ruminate on, I’ve found myself much more focused on the day-to-day right now. Due to the current health crisis and political climate it seems almost impossible to think about what the future is going to look like. I know, no matter how far in the future I look, I still see myself creating music and working in the industry. However, I have many interests when it comes to music reviewing, publicity, label management, songwriting, teaching, and more. Although my passion lies in composition, I could see myself pursuing a career in many different factions of the music business while also continuing my own art! 

I know, no matter how far in the future I look, I still see myself creating music and working in the industry. However, I have many interests when it comes to music reviewing, publicity, label management, songwriting, teaching, and more.

What is the story behind Kalliope Jones? How did you come up with the name?   

Well, we met at the IMA (Institute for Musical Arts) during one of their summer camps. I met Amelia Chalfant, the group’s bass player, first. We ended up continuing to write and perform together after the camp was over, and the two of us have basically grown up together. Amelia then met Alouette (the drummer) at another camp, and the three of us became the band you see today! We all write and sing (trading between lead vocals and harmonies).  Our personal sounds are very different which adds a fun and unique flavor to each song. We’ve been playing together for almost 10 years now, and have had the honor of playing at Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, Green River Fest, and Club Passim, among others. We’ve gone through quite a few different band names in our time, starting out as Belle Amie. We moved through a million different versions of that (Les Belle Amies, Belle Amies, etc etc)  before deciding it was time for a much bigger change. We settled on Kalliope because it is the name of the greek muse of epic poetry. It is also the name of the instrument used in carnival music. We added the Jones because we wanted the band title to reflect an actual name. Amelia has explained it in this way: Kalliope Jones is a girl who  wants to be your cool best friend! I love these two girls, and I honestly have never clicked with anyone else in the way that I do with them when it comes to making music. We’ve been doing this so long that it’s like a well-oiled machine, but I’m still always excited and blown away every time I hear their music.

How has the pandemic affected your music?

I think, although I can really only speak about my personal experience, the pandemic has affected artists in a very interesting way. Although it can be seen as an opportunity to focus deeply on one’s craft and perhaps have more time to create, it is also a time filled with anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. That makes doing almost anything a bit more difficult. I found it hard to balance music with my online course work when my school moved to a remote platform, and had to adjust to that learning style before even thinking of starting to brainstorm projects. Now that the summer has come around though, I am getting to dive deeply into projects and push myself to use my time to create music I am proud to share! Kalliope Jones has been able to have socially distanced rehearsals and although we are all finding it hard to write new songs since there isn’t much experience to draw on in quarantine, being able to still play together has brought back a sense of normalcy. We are hoping to record a new album this summer, and are McGivering ways to achieve this while not taking health risks.      

With all this being said, I have also been reflecting on the way I—as an artist—can best support the voices that need to be heard right now. I would rather take the space and small platform I and my group have to bring awareness to the issues of racism and police brutality / defunding than going forward with only our art. We are not the ones that should be asking for support right now, we need to be giving it in whatever way we can. So if anyone who is reading this article is looking for ways to support POC artists and the Black Lives Matter movement in connection to music and the arts, please check out some of the links I’ve listed below. 

WAYS YOU CAN GIVE:

• The Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts: CAAPA promotes opportunities for Black musicians and artists in the performing arts through performances, education, and outreach. They have a gofundme to support Black artists affected by COVID-19 income loss. 
• The Shades Collective: a multidisciplinary collective of BIPOC artists aiming to dismantle racial, patriarchal, and socio-economic oppression, focusing on the Baltimore, MD community. 
• Foundation for Black Heritage and Culture, Houston, Texas: They are geared towards black empowerment, particularly in education, health care, financial empowerment, and the arts. They have an annual music and arts festival to exhibit African and African American culture and to promote diversity and cultural sensitivity.
• Castle Of Our Skins, Boston, Massachusetts: They challenge the lack of POC representation in music, especially from Black musicians. They offer music education that highlights African American history and the accomplishments of Black musicians. 
• Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City: They are a leading dance institution with a world-class, ethnically diverse company. They train young performers in ballet and classical dance. They “provide arts education, community outreach programs, and positive role models for all” (DTH website).

Have you been working on any new musical creations? Do you have any sneak peek info for us?

Yes! I am currently working on recording an album of original music with my friend and fellow musician Isaac Eliot. We have formed a duo that will be mostly rooted in folk and pop rock. We’ve recorded one song before titled “Let’s Be Subtle” and we’re excited to be making more! The two of us will also be posting videos and hosting live streams over the summer. Kalliope Jones is hoping to have an album recorded that will likely be available next fall. You can follow my social media handles for more info on all these projects.  

I am currently working on recording an album of original music with my friend and fellow musician Isaac Eliot. We have formed a duo that will be mostly rooted in folk and pop rock.

Where can readers find your music?

You can find my solo music on my SoundCloud and Youtube (all links listed below)! My end-of-summer album will most likely be on those platforms as well as on Spotify. Kalliope Jones’s music can be found on our band Spotify. I am also on Instagram, Facebook, and have a website. 

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/isabella-deherdt YOUTUBE:  https://www.youtube.com/user/IsabellaDeHerdtKJ SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/485Zgq7JScKMSQcLeVEF2v INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ideherdtmusic/ FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaDeherdtMusic/ WEBSITE: https://ideherdt172.wixsite.com/isabelladeherdtmusic