00:00
DJ Beowulf
Off the Record is a show from 88.1 WKNC in which DJs talk with artists about everything from their music to upcoming tours to former bandmates birthdays. Make sure to follow WKNC on SoundCloud and Tumblr so you never miss a beat. Enjoy.
00:17
Music
[Moon Racer]
02:20
DJ Beowulf
WKNC 88.1 we are back with Moon Racer. Hello, Autumn. Thank you for being here.
02:26
Autumn E.
Hi. Thanks.
02:27
DJ Beowulf
Now, you shared a cute little factoid with me when were off the air. Apparently, this is your third time playing Double Barrel.
02:34
Autumn E.
This is the third time playing this cool party.
02:37
DJ Beowulf
It's a cool party.
02:38
Autumn E.
Last time I played a few years ago in the Love Language. When Love Language played that year, I remember there was a Double Barrel benefit in Raleigh, and then there was one at the Cradle in Marlboro.
02:54
DJ Beowulf
Two in a row.
02:55
Autumn E.
Yeah. And then a long time ago, I played in another band called Cassis Orange, and we played at Kings.
03:05
DJ Beowulf
Did you play in the Love Language for their hopscotch set this year?
03:08
Autumn E.
Yeah.
03:08
DJ Beowulf
That's really cool. So I believe you were interviewed by Cliff Jenkins then.
03:15
Autumn E.
I don't think I was.
03:17
DJ Beowulf
I just remember going back for hopscotch.
03:20
Autumn E.
Maybe Stuart was everyone.
03:23
DJ Beowulf
All of the staff who got hopscotch passes and who were like, covering the festival had to, like, do some interviews. Yeah, yeah. And Cliff was like, I'm gonna do the Love Language. I love them. So now it'd have been like a really good connection.
03:38
Autumn E.
He just hung out, I guess, with Stuart without me possibly.
03:41
DJ Beowulf
I'm not quite sure exactly how it went down. But we are not here to talk about the love life. We'll have to find out what happened. But for Moon Racer, how long has this process been in the works?
03:57
Autumn E.
So I've been playing shows under this name for a couple years now. Yeah. So I guess. A couple years.
04:09
DJ Beowulf
That's pretty fantastic. And has it always been you as a solo artist?
04:13
Autumn E.
Yeah, it's. This has been kind of my solo thing. And like I said, sometimes most of the time, I guess. Well, maybe not even most anymore. A lot of the times I play by myself, but also a lot of times a friend will play drums and Double Barrel benefits my good friend Will, who's Played drums with me a lot. And then in August I was touring with the Love Language and Moon Racer was opening for the Love Language. So Tom, who plays drums, Love Language, was also playing drums with me. And that was a lot of fun. So there’s flexibility. It's always kind of a new thing, but also a familiar thing. Different ways of interpreting.
05:04
DJ Beowulf
I don't mean to generalize, but I feel like a lot of the music that you put out is a familiar sound. Not as in its copy, but it feels comforting to listen to.
05:15
Autumn E.
Well, thank you. I hope it does.
05:16
DJ Beowulf
Yeah, it's. It's soothing. I like it.
05:19
Autumn E.
Cool.
05:19
DJ Beowulf
The sweater that you're wearing right now is also rather soothing.
05:21
Autumn E.
Oh, thank you. It feels soothing on me.
05:24
DJ Beowulf
For the listeners who cannot see it is a cute little black sweater. It's got like what looks like oil slick rainbow patterns going through it. It is nice.
05:32
Autumn E.
That's a really good description.
05:34
DJ Beowulf
I just think of like the oil slick hair that people were all doing on like Instagram for a few years. Oh yeah, that was just like.
05:41
Autumn E.
Like this sweater. Yeah, it looks like that's what that hashtag you are.
05:45
DJ Beowulf
Learn about a setter, a trendsetter, a musician, artist by many names, Moon Racer or Autumn. If someone wanted to listen to your music, where could they find it?
05:56
Autumn E.
It's on Band Camp, so you could just look for Moon Racer Band Camp.
06:03
DJ Beowulf
And you have several releases under that moniker, correct?
06:06
Autumn E.
Well, I have. It's really just one. I first put out like an EP that had three songs and I self-released that and then Orendal Records made a longer release that was kind of like a reissue of that first out of print self-titled cassette with new songs on it. So it looks like there's more than one release on Bandcamp, but one is a short one and then one is a longer one that also includes the short one.
06:44
DJ Beowulf
Surprise contact with a Chicago label.
06:48
Autumn E.
So Arundel's run by Owen Ashworth, who plays music as advanced bass and also Cassio Tone for the Painfully Alone back in the day. And I am a big fan of his music and when he would come play in North Carolina, I would always go to the shows and then eventually started opening those shows. So we met through that and I've just kind of kept in touch and when I started putting out these Moon Racer songs, he was really into it and said that he would love to put them out on a release. So I was like, oh, that's great. Yeah.
07:29
DJ Beowulf
Friendship can do wonders in the music industry. You always Got to know somebody who knows somebody.
07:34
Autumn E.
Yeah.
07:34
DJ Beowulf
Or just know them directly. Of this release called Is It Really a Secret? What's the next song we'd like the audience to hear?
07:44
Autumn E.
This next song, I think is called New Crush.
07:49
DJ Beowulf
Fantastic.
07:50
Autumn E.
And we'll play it on Saturday.
07:52
DJ Beowulf
We will also play it right this very second. So if you want a little taste of Saturday night. Double Barrel benefits Moon Racers opening set. This is New Crush. WKNC 88.1, The Local Beat.
08:03
Music
[Moon Racer – New Crush]
11:04
DJ Beowulf
WKNC 88.1. That song you just heard was New Crush by Moon Racer off of her newest release, Is It Really a Secret? Through Orendol Records. I was just talking to her behind the scenes because it has a really cute album cover. It is a lavender purple background with little white outlines of mountains, some green cacti with red thorns and a tiny, little white scorpion. And it is soothing, which is. I've just been using that word so much to describe your music and your sweater and your album cover, but I really do get that. That feeling from Moon Racer. And also I hate scorpions. So it's kind of ironic that I like this painting so much.
11:48
Autumn E.
Is that the friendly scorpion? Did you know scorpions glow in the dark under black light? So you can. Yeah, you can get a blacklight flashlight and go out in the desert at night and shine it around, and all the scorpions that are out will light up.
12:08
DJ Beowulf
Is this an activity you have done before?
12:12
Autumn E.
Yes.
12:13
DJ Beowulf
That's pretty cool, actually. Which desert did you go to?
12:16
Autumn E.
The Sonoran Desert in Arizona. I spent a few months out there and I love it. And so that. Yeah, so that's the COVID of the. Of the tape. And I'm very into those. All of that desert life. Why? Well, because it's such a host. It seems like such a hostile environment, but it's so alive and wild. And I kind of have that chosen, I guess, as theme for that album because I recorded those songs by myself. And it's kind like the desert, like desert solitude, being alone, reflecting. And that's how I felt working on recording that album.
13:12
DJ Beowulf
When you were recording the album, what was your song making process like?
13:19
Autumn E.
So. I had written a lot of songs, and it was kind of like keeping a diary.
13:31
DJ Beowulf
You know, that's what Bang said too, right before this.
13:32
Autumn E.
Yeah, yeah. I was listening to that interview. So I write a lot of short songs, like I guess some people would write in a journal. And then I felt like I chose the ones that kind of told us the story in a very abbreviated, concise way. And then I recorded them on a four track cassette recorder. Most of the tracks, some are completely on four track, and then some I put into GarageBand and added some things to. And then it was done. The end.
14:14
DJ Beowulf
The end. What a soothing little story. Yeah. How did the project of Moon Racer develop? Because you mentioned that you had or you have played in other bands before. Do you find that you were just, like, not getting enough creative outlets on your own or, like, with a group?
14:37
Autumn E.
I felt like they kind of fill different needs for me. Like, I have a lot of fun playing in the Love Language, and those guys are some of my best friends.
14:51
DJ Beowulf
Are you still on keyboard for the Love Language? Yes. Cute.
14:54
Autumn E.
I'm not doing the upcoming tour, but I am playing the Hot River Ballroom show that's coming up. I'm also a school teacher.
15:02
DJ Beowulf
Oh, what grade do you teach?
15:04
Autumn E.
I teach elementary school, so I could not take off a month to go on.
15:09
DJ Beowulf
Yeah, definitely not.
15:11
Autumn E.
But yeah, so they feel. They feel different needs. Like, that's fun. And spending time with my friends and the need to play kind of loud rock and roll music. And then Moon Racer is just kind of a more cathartic thing about just my personal life, I guess. Yeah.
15:39
DJ Beowulf
I mean, that's how a lot of music is written and the. The reasonings behind which a lot of artists write their music.
15:44
Autumn E.
Yeah, there's songs that. That I just write those songs for me, and then they just kind of exist. And then when I decided to finally, like, I was like, oh, I'll just share these with some friends. And. Yeah. And so. And then now you can hear them, I guess.
16:05
DJ Beowulf
Was it your friends that encouraged you to put this stuff on Bandcamp?
16:12
Autumn E.
I don't know. Yeah, I had played. I have played in. Yeah, I guess so. I think I had played in some bands that were my songs a long time ago. And then I just felt like it kind of wasn't. I don't. I don't know. Like, it's hard to explain. I didn't feel like I needed to do it for a really long time, like, share my own songs. And then I took a long time and then I was like, okay, well, I'll do this.
16:50
DJ Beowulf
And you've done it, and now you're Gonna play Double Barrel Benefits.
16:54
Autumn E.
Yeah. So, yeah, my friends are really encouraging and supportive, but I guess, yeah, people sometimes. Sometimes people encourage you to do stuff, but, like, if you aren't in the headspace for it, you know, sometimes you just have to. You know, you just decide if it sounds good or not. If it's. I don't know.
17:16
DJ Beowulf
I think it definitely sounds good. I feel like that's my. My solid decision.
17:20
Autumn E.
Yeah. Or like it sounds good, like if it sounds like something that you want to. You know, because music can be so personal. Sometimes you just write these songs for yourself and you don't need anybody to hear them. And then. And you feel like this isn't really anybody's business, but then other times you're like, well, okay. I guess I feel like that's why the tapestry call. Is it really a secret? Because there's all these very personal, very literal songs and wondering, like, what if the person this song is about hears it? Like, what are they gonna think? But then it's like, who cares? Is it really.
17:56
DJ Beowulf
Was it really a secret?
17:57
Autumn E.
Was it really even a secret? Like, yeah, anyway. Yeah.
18:02
DJ Beowulf
With those thoughts in mind, would you like to pick the next song the audience will hear? How about.
18:11
Autumn E.
How about Friendly Ghost? Because that is a very literal song. I mean, they're all literal. And sometimes I think to myself, does that person out there hear this song and be like, oh, busted.
18:24
DJ Beowulf
Busted?
18:25
Autumn E.
Because there is also a Raleigh shout out in this song.
18:29
DJ Beowulf
Okay, well, WKNC listeners, you better be listening for it.
18:34
Autumn E.
Half of Double Barrel benefit in Raleigh. Just like this song takes place in Raleigh.
18:40
DJ Beowulf
This is WKNC. Moon Racer is on the air with the local beat.
19:15
Music
[Moon Racer]
20:26
DJ Beowulf
Has anyone ever told you that your music sounds like an Adventure Time theme?
20:29
Autumn E.
Oh, no. But thank you.
20:31
DJ Beowulf
You are very welcome.
20:32
Autumn E.
You're saying that.
20:33
DJ Beowulf
I am saying that.
20:34
Autumn E.
You're saying that right now?
20:35
DJ Beowulf
Yeah. Just at the very end of that friendly ghost little exit outro, I believe is the proper word. I was just thinking, like, all Finn probably just listen to this sitting on top of that tree.
20:48
Autumn E.
That would be great. Yeah. Adventure Time wanted to get in on.
20:50
DJ Beowulf
This, but sadly, the show is over.
20:53
Autumn E.
Really?
20:54
DJ Beowulf
Yeah.
20:54
Autumn E.
It ended.
20:55
DJ Beowulf
The last episode aired a couple months ago, I think.
20:59
Autumn E.
Well, I guess I'll never be on Adventure Time, then.
21:01
DJ Beowulf
I guess not. But that just means that there's a. There's a vacuum to fill of more adventures, cartoon style, and more cute little music. You could be like, bmo. Oh, that's okay. For anyone who listening who really likes Adventure Time much like myself, Moon Racer definitely does sound like BMO. BMO is this Adventure Time character. It's like a little blue video game console and he she. It. I don't believe the gender was ever specified in the cartoon is just cute and funky and16 bit. And that's just the whole character concept. Cute little video game console that talks.
21:42
Autumn E.
Yeah, I love it.
21:43
DJ Beowulf
Yeah, I think you could be that for sure. What are your goals and aspirations for Moon Racer?
21:50
Autumn E.
My goal, like my super goal right now is to. I've started recording songs for a new release and my goal is to finish that as soon as possible.
22:04
DJ Beowulf
Do you have unexpected finishing date or is that just too far ahead?
22:08
Autumn E.
I would love to. So, the tape that came out last year, I finished it in January and it came out in April. So if I can hurry it up, I would love to have something out in the summertime in time tour. So I'm just gonna work on that and get it done.
22:31
DJ Beowulf
Have you ever played any of your music for the school kids? Just like in the background while they're coloring or something?
22:36
Autumn E.
No way.
22:37
DJ Beowulf
No way.
22:38
Autumn E.
For real, for real, for real. Why not keep it a secret? That is a secret. It is really a secret.
22:45
DJ Beowulf
It is really a secret.
22:47
Autumn E.
In this case. Make puns on my own album title.
22:51
DJ Beowulf
That would be so cute and I would love that.
22:55
Autumn E.
Yeah, no, I. I don't really talk about it that much at work.
22:58
DJ Beowulf
I imagine you wouldn't talk about it, but, like, I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if, like, it played in the background sometime. I feel like kids would be very soothed by that music. And there I am using the same word that I've used this whole interview. It's very gentle music.
23:15
Autumn E.
Thanks. You're welcome. You know, I want to be able to put some kind of soothing element out into the universe.
23:25
DJ Beowulf
Are there any artists that inspire Moon Racer?
23:30
Autumn E.
So, yeah, Advanced Bass, who I mentioned, who actually put out the tape, is one of my favorites. And a lot of other Arundel artists, Dear Nora is one of my favorites. Yesterday, Molly Sarlay put out a song that I really love a lot that I listened to on repeat for like an hour and a half last night after I heard it.
24:01
DJ Beowulf
That song for me right now is Spit by Ian Sweet.
24:04
Autumn E.
I haven't heard that song.
24:05
DJ Beowulf
I like it a lot. Definitely a little rockier than Moon Racer, but super catchy.
24:11
Autumn E.
Cool. Yeah. So, yeah,
24:17
DJ Beowulf
I had a thought and it just came into my brain and left. Have you ever had one of those experiences where like. Like, you say something in your head and you're like, yeah, I definitely said that out loud. And then you didn't. And that just happened and it didn't happen. You're like, why aren't they responding to me?
24:31
Autumn E.
If we had telepathy, I would have been able to hear it. And I would have thought that you did say it out loud, if only.
24:38
DJ Beowulf
In an alternate universe where people have superpowers or telepathy is, like, a thing and our brains are even bigger than they actually are. I would love for you to be able to hear my thoughts because all I'm thinking right now is how super cool and talented you are.
24:53
Autumn E.
Oh, my.
24:53
DJ Beowulf
Oh, I flatter you. Well, we have about 5ish minutes left, so we're probably just gonna wrap up and drop the big old facts, which is where can we find your music?
25:05
Autumn E.
One more time on Band Camp.
25:07
DJ Beowulf
What is your favorite song? If you. If someone was like, I want to listen to Moon Racer, Tell me a song.
25:17
Autumn E.
You know, I would say just listen to all of them, because all together, it's like 20 minutes long, and they're kind of like one cohesive unit. And I know wrong with it. I know that's cheating. But I would just say listen to the whole thing because it's like, one thing.
25:31
DJ Beowulf
What night do you play? Double Barrel Benefit Saturday.
25:34
Autumn E.
And we're playing first, so I guess at 30 I can't remember. Neither can I.
25:42
DJ Beowulf
So you better be there and find out. It's a secret. But what's not a secret is how incredible Moon Racer is. Super great music. Super excited to be at that set. It is going to be you playing along with your friend on drums. So a little more stepped up than what we hear now.
26:00
Autumn E.
Yep.
26:01
DJ Beowulf
We're gonna play one more song just to cue us out. You want to pick it?
26:06
Autumn E.
Yeah. How about. You know, I. I forgot. Maybe I forgot what even is on there.
26:21
DJ Beowulf
I'm gonna do Song of the Mogwais.
26:23
Autumn E.
Yeah, you know what? That's perfect because you said there's like, five minutes, and that song's kind of vlogging. It's like four minutes long, so it's great. But we're not gonna play this on Saturday because it's too mellow, and Double Barrel Benefits kind of.
26:36
DJ Beowulf
It is kind of hype.
26:37
Autumn E.
So you can listen to this song now and not on Saturday.
26:43
DJ Beowulf
Well, then the rest of your set list will just have to remain a secret. But this song is not Moon Racer is not the local beat is not a secret. Thank you for tuning in. This has been the second half of the local beat today with DJ Beowulf, WKNC 88.1. This is The Song of the Mogwai by Moon Racer.
28:10
Music
[Moon Racer – The Song of the Mogwai]