Journalist by Day, Artist by Night: C.L. Wages Tells-All
Interview ★ Kenzie Gay ★ @kenzwrites ★ 800 words
If you’ve been reading our content for awhile, or at least since last June, then you’ve surely heard the name C.L. Wages (she/they). A 23 year old music journalist, concert goer, Texan, and all-around great time, Wages has been an integral part of this very magazine for almost a year.
What many may not know, however, is that by day she may be a great writer and creative spirit but by night? By night, she’s an artist herself.
Thus, I only found it fitting to interview her for the very publication that she belongs to.
C.L. via Instagram
Which artists have influenced your music? Are there any that some would be surprised to hear?
Honestly, this is a hard question to answer because there are truly so many artists that have influenced me. I feel like my music could be called many different things and I draw inspiration from so many different places, but a couple artists that come to mind when thinking about my sound are Hozier, Johnny Cash, Noah Kahan, and early acoustic Greta Van Fleet. I’ve also been told I remind people of Patsy Cline. Think in the realm of folksy, bluesy, acoustic, and you’ve got me!
What role does vulnerability play in your songwriting, and how do you decide how much to reveal in your lyrics?
I am quite vulnerable in my song writing, but I like to twist and hint at what I’m actually talking about. A lot of my songs come from very specific points of inspiration and I like to take it and draw from other emotions in a way that doesn’t sound like it’s directly reflecting an experience when it really is.
When you're stuck in a creative rut, what do you do to reignite your songwriting process?
I just let it be. I’ve noticed when I’m stuck like that, I’m trying way too hard. So rather than forcing it, I sit with being stuck and try to notice more of my environment, what’s going on around me? What happened today that made me feel something? I use those answers to draw concepts from.
If you could collaborate with any other songwriter or artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Can I break the rules and choose more than one? The fangirl in me immediately says Josh Kiszka, lead singer of Greta Van Fleet, but the writer in me wants to say Steven Dorff. He’s such an amazing writer and has written for so many. I can only dream of what would happen if we put our heads together.
What’s a song or piece of music that has changed the way you see the world, and why?
There’s this one choral song I sang with my highschool choir that never fails to reignite my passion for music and singing. It’s called Gaudete and it’s an SSAATBB arrangement, and everytime I listen to it I LOVE it. I graduated from high school six years ago and I still think about that song. For some reason, this song just proved to me how expansive music is as a language, and we can truly do so much with it.
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected place you’ve found inspiration for a song?
I once wrote a song about a caterpillar that never saw the light of day. Honestly though, my second release came from hate comments I was receiving on a dumb little tik tok I made, and it’s become one of my favorite songs I’ve written.
What’s the most powerful piece of advice you’ve received about music or life in general?
When I was a kid, my dad’s friend told me “That’ll likely never happen, but good luck.” That was his response to me saying I wanted to be a singer. Ever since then, each time I write a song I’m really proud of, it’s like a huge fuck you to that guy. It honestly gives me motivation to keep going because I don’t want him to be right. Maybe out of spite isn’t the best way to live but so far it’s worked for me.
What’s something about being a musician that you think people often misunderstand?
I feel like people think fame is always the goal, getting rich and playing for millions of people. Which yeah, that’s nice and all, but for a lot of us, it’s more about sharing the messages our songs hold, no matter how many people end up hearing it.
What’s one question you’ve always wanted to be asked in an interview, and what’s your answer to it?
This is a fantastic question that I wish I had a better answer to. As someone who also doubles as a journalist, I’ve always wanted to ask artists really weird questions that makes them think. This question in itself does exactly that, and I really like it. So.. Maybe this question? Can I say that? Haha
