
Kevin Zarnett Interview
Q: Can you talk about your history as a songwriter?
A: I started learning guitar at 12, but even before that, would make up basic little songs in my head. Having the guitar made them easier to remember! In some company I’m probably still best known for a bass riff I created in high school that we would jam on. In University I started writing and recording more regularly; lots of good song ideas seemed to arrive when I was supposed to be studying . Eventually I became the songwriter and co-vocalist of the band The Complements, and when they disbanded, continued writing for myself and co-writing with others.
Q: What inspired you to make the song “Hey Elisa!!”?
A: I was chatting with a friend who was going through a difficult stretch, feeling rather hopeless, and I wanted to cheer her up. I wanted to be able to say this song was about them and not everybody has a song written about them! Not all the lyrics are true-to-life, but there’s plenty of references that they would know as relating to their life. So written for an audience of one initially.
Q: Can you talk about some of the themes?
A: There’s a melancholy and bittersweet flavor to it, because that’s usually the most fun place to write from, but one of the main lyrical themes is that even though they can’t see why they should be hopeful, like it’s a blindspot for them, we can see it, and it’s within reach. When my friend and I were chatting. I asked, if she could do anything, what would she do? I was thinking vocationally, but her response was, ‘I would like to be a bird. Be able to fly.’ So I tried to have elements of movement and motion in the track, like birds flying, mostly in the arpeggiated synths later in the song and the guitars at the very end.
Q: Can you talk about your history as a songwriter?
A: I started learning guitar at 12, but even before that, would make up basic little songs in my head. Having the guitar made them easier to remember! In some company I’m probably still best known for a bass riff I created in high school that we would jam on. In University I started writing and recording more regularly; lots of good song ideas seemed to arrive when I was supposed to be studying . Eventually I became the songwriter and co-vocalist of the band The Complements, and when they disbanded, continued writing for myself and co-writing with others.
Q: What inspired you to make the song “Hey Elisa!!”?
A: I was chatting with a friend who was going through a difficult stretch, feeling rather hopeless, and I wanted to cheer her up. I wanted to be able to say this song was about them and not everybody has a song written about them! Not all the lyrics are true-to-life, but there’s plenty of references that they would know as relating to their life. So written for an audience of one initially.
Q: Can you talk about some of the themes?
A: There’s a melancholy and bittersweet flavor to it, because that’s usually the most fun place to write from, but one of the main lyrical themes is that even though they can’t see why they should be hopeful, like it’s a blindspot for them, we can see it, and it’s within reach. When my friend and I were chatting. I asked, if she could do anything, what would she do? I was thinking vocationally, but her response was, ‘I would like to be a bird. Be able to fly.’ So I tried to have elements of movement and motion in the track, like birds flying, mostly in the arpeggiated synths later in the song and the guitars at the very end.

Q: What was your recording process like? And has it changed over the years? Would you explain some of the tools you use?
A: This was one of the last things I recorded in Garageband before switching to Logic; I’ve owned various multitrack recorders since I was a kid, and was reluctant to go the computer route, but hard to deny the convenience it has allowed. The process though remains similar to my early multitrack days; start with a guitar, add a bass, then try out whatever other ideas I have, then try to find some more. Then try to edit or remove what’s not essential. What’s changed over the years? I definitely spend more time exploring different keys and tempos for a song before I start recording. I also like to have an interesting rhythm track put down first to play the main instrument over, instead of a simple click, even if it’s not going to be there at the end.
Q: How do you usually go about writing lyrics?
A: I try to get as far as I can without thinking. Thinking has never been my strong suit. I want to avoid the point where I find myself asking, “What is this song actually about?” and have to come up with an answer. I’m hoping the song will answer the question for me. When I am thinking, I consider having contrasts in the song. If I’ve used a lot of words in the verse I might have very few words in the chorus. If I’ve been abstract or more poetic for most of the song, I might use the bridge to be more literal and maybe explain what’s going on.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: I’ve just finished recording my next single, a Byrds meets Motown kinda track called “Letting You Break My Heart.” Probably a spring release. I’ve been fortunate to have some other artists record my songs and also play on some cool records, like those by Kirsten Jones with Gary Louris producing, Jenn Hisko and Laurelle Augustyn, but I’ve done a lousy job of recording my own stuff. I’m going to try and remedy that.
A: This was one of the last things I recorded in Garageband before switching to Logic; I’ve owned various multitrack recorders since I was a kid, and was reluctant to go the computer route, but hard to deny the convenience it has allowed. The process though remains similar to my early multitrack days; start with a guitar, add a bass, then try out whatever other ideas I have, then try to find some more. Then try to edit or remove what’s not essential. What’s changed over the years? I definitely spend more time exploring different keys and tempos for a song before I start recording. I also like to have an interesting rhythm track put down first to play the main instrument over, instead of a simple click, even if it’s not going to be there at the end.
Q: How do you usually go about writing lyrics?
A: I try to get as far as I can without thinking. Thinking has never been my strong suit. I want to avoid the point where I find myself asking, “What is this song actually about?” and have to come up with an answer. I’m hoping the song will answer the question for me. When I am thinking, I consider having contrasts in the song. If I’ve used a lot of words in the verse I might have very few words in the chorus. If I’ve been abstract or more poetic for most of the song, I might use the bridge to be more literal and maybe explain what’s going on.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: I’ve just finished recording my next single, a Byrds meets Motown kinda track called “Letting You Break My Heart.” Probably a spring release. I’ve been fortunate to have some other artists record my songs and also play on some cool records, like those by Kirsten Jones with Gary Louris producing, Jenn Hisko and Laurelle Augustyn, but I’ve done a lousy job of recording my own stuff. I’m going to try and remedy that.