Chicago based Power Pop band Pinksqueeze is set to release their debut full length album, Be Gay Have Fun!, a celebration of queer joy, this May and Ava explains how that came about.

How did this record come together?

This record is the culmination of years of songwriting and collaboration. There are a couple of tracks including Straight Girl Crush and Rainbow Hour that were actually recorded and released in 2019 and 2020 when Pinksqueeze was a 2 person project.

We were very excited to re-record these songs with the full band and have them really get to the sound that we had always hoped for before becoming the full band. We have songs written by each member of the band for this album, with each of us taking turns on lead vocals for lyrics we created and we are very excited about that. We have a mix of songs we wrote years ago and have been performing for quite some time, to a few songs that are brand new and haven’t been performed at all yet!

When the vision of the album as a celebration of queer joy came together, it made much more sense which songs we already had that would fit as well as which songs we needed to create to tell the story we were looking to tell.

What was the moment you knew you were on to something?

For us, probably the most validating and encouraging thing that keeps us going is when we get feedback after our shows from people telling us how impactful it is to see 4 queer people who are not men having fun, being powerful, and celebrating queer joy on stage.

We get feedback from young queer people at our shows sometimes that we create an affirming space to them, and that just feels so good to hear. That’s why we went this direction of “Be Gay Have Fun”. We all feel like there needs to be more queer art in the world, and especially art that feels good and safe and fun for queer people.

The meaning of success has changed over the years. What would success look like for the new record?

If this record helps anyone to feel seen or celebrated or safe, that would feel like a success. We hope that it is a way for people to feel community and to just cut loose and have fun!

Those magical moments when you’re working in the studio. Which moment was the most magical?

We have one acoustic track on the new album called Holy Critter, and it’s really a tender song that Logan and April wrote about queer identity and community for those of us who maybe had a difficult or un-affirming experience with religion as young people.

We decided that we wanted to do a big group vocal with some members of our Chicago queer local music community on this track, and to do a home-video style music video by a queer photographer in our community. It was our very last night of recording the album, and the very last thing we did for the album, so being able to share that moment with our community and to capture it in that way was unbelievably special.

We shared some tears and listened to the rough mixes of the album together that night. You can check out our music video for Holy Critter to catch some of those very magical moments!

What’s up for the next couple of months?

We are very excited to be playing some really fun shows and festivals over the next couple of months! Of course, our album release show in Chicago is what we are really looking forward to which will be on May 20th at the Cobra Lounge, with Cloud Houses and Abject Horror opening for us. It’s the only show we are playing in Chicago for a while, and we cannot wait to celebrate this milestone with our wonderful Chicago community!

We are releasing this album just a couple weeks before Pride Month in June, and we will be busy all Pride month playing at some Pride events and other music festivals around the midwest and beyond including Jorts Fest in Nashville, and a few more to be announced- you can follow our social media @Pinksqueeze_music to stay updated with upcoming shows!

Pinksqueeze: Ava, April, Anna, and Logan

A few weeks ago, the Sweet Sweet Music blog initiated a project of creating a playlist featuring Power Pop songs that have a girl’s name in their titles. The project seems to have grown beyond its initial scope, and more details about it are expected to be revealed in a few weeks.

When I came across Olive Way’s album “Stuck in My Head,” I couldn’t help but smile because all 16 tracks on the album have a girl’s name in their title. Olive Way is the brainchild of Seattle-based songwriter and producer Andrew Gaskin, who shared with Sweet Sweet Music blog why he chose to use these titles.

Listeners can expect to enjoy the beautiful, thoughtfully composed melodies, as well as the unique stories behind each song.

What compliment you once received will you never forget?

Someone I met recently said “My friends and I love your songs – you sound like the Freaky Friday soundtrack!” I took it as a huge compliment but also thought it was hilarious and pretty accurate. Disney’s 2003 remake of Freaky Friday with Lindsay Lohan is soundtracked with some of the catchiest melodic rock bands of the early 2000s. I was a teenager at this time and the overall sound of early 2000s power-pop/punk had a huge influence on the songwriting and production of Olive Way’s debut album Stuck In My Head. I created Olive Way to be my 16 year-old self’s favorite band. The album is available now to stream on all platforms.

How did this record come together?

I started recording songs for Olive Way almost exactly one year ago. For about a month songs with female names seemed to be following me around Seattle in my headphones: Boston’s “Amanda.” Elvis Costello’s “Alison.” Weezer’s “Suzanne” and “Jamie.” Up until that point I had a bunch of song ideas and no way to finish them. But now I had a way: use a name as the title and write from there. I’d been playing bass in Seattle bands for years and had recorded an album remotely with The National Honor Society. During that process I became more comfortable recording music on a computer with Logic Pro. From May to December 2022 I wrote and recorded 25 songs, 16 of which make up Olive Way’s first album Stuck In My Head. I played, sang, and recorded everything in my studio apartment on Olive Way in Seattle. It was an incredibly creative period.

What was the moment you knew you were on to something?

When I recorded Tonya Supreme. Tonya was the first song recorded for Stuck In My Head. I’d never heard my vocals double tracked and in harmony like that before. It gave me a lot of confidence and a ton of vocal production ideas. It was also the first time I started sharing my songs with my friends and family. It was great to hear their feedback and support.

How do you decide when a song is finished and ready to be recorded?

When I have the melody and chords for the chorus, and at least one other section I’ll take the leap and start working on it in Logic. I used to have a really hard time getting songs going until I made a morning routine out of songwriting. It’s kind of like going to the gym. Every morning doing reps to get a little stronger. My main focus with these songs was for them to hopefully have really memorable vocal melodies and harmonies. So much of the music I loved as a teenager gave me this sugar rush of dopamine which I think I’ve been chasing ever since. So every morning I drink coffee, pick up my guitar, and try to write vocal melodies over chords that excite me.

As an artist, you choose to show your emotions to the world. Is it always comfortable to do so?

For years I had been really self conscious about releasing any music that was super pop sounding. I thought people would hate me or something. When I started finishing songs I became increasingly confident in the music I was making and got over myself a little. I’ve always wanted to make a pop/rock album with big melodies and really clean production. People have asked me “Why are all the songs about girls?” or “Who are all these women?” It honestly just started out as a songwriting exercise and became a fun theme. At one point I was looking in a baby book for more names. Only three of the names on the album are about real women. Which ones do YOU think they are? … If that ruins the mystery just think of it as a concept album set in Seattle by a male version of Taylor Swift – I don’t know hahahaha!

You can pick 3 co-writers to write new songs with. Who? … and Why?

First pick: Mutt Lange. He did Def Leppard’s Hysteria, Bryan Adams, and all Shania Twain’s hits. I’d love to witness his process and level of perfectionism. Second,

Max Martin. He’s the Billboard #1 mastermind. Same reasons as Mutt. Third would be HARDY down in Nashville. He’s the pop-country wizard. Would be amazing to see how he approaches lyrics and production for radio.

How do you balance experimentation with commercial appeal in your music?

20 percent experimentation and 80 percent commercial appeal! Nah, but probably something close. Experimentation to me is just contrast. Taking something that is familiar and then contrasting it with something unexpected, even if minor. I think that’s what makes pop music fun and challenging to write: making something that sounds like the past, but hopefully also the future at the same time. Watch out I’ve got a killer melody over I-V-vi-IV for the next record I’ve been saving..

When was the last time you thought ‘I just wrote a hit!’?

The last song I recorded! Only sort of half kidding. I think I’m reasonably delusional about my songwriting. Right after I finish recording a song I usually think it’s a total smash – it could be the song that saves the world. A couple days later I’ll think my best has yet to be written. The cycle continues and that’s what keeps it compelling for me.

You can’t control the way people ‘hear’ your music. But if you could make them aware of certain aspects, you think, set your songs apart. What would they be?

This is a great question. I wish I could give everyone a nice pair of over the ear headphones. I think I’m most proud of the melodies, vocal production, and overall mixing of the record. I strove for it to have the vibe of an album Jerry Finn or Chris Lorde-Alge would have worked on back in the day.

The meaning of success has changed over the years. What would success look like for the new record?

Success for me right now is just increasing the number of people who have heard the album and hopefully connecting with those who enjoy it. Follow me on Instagram @OliveWayMusic

Suppose you were to introduce your music to new listeners through three songs. Which songs would those be and why?

What are the biggest bangers on Stuck In My Head? Hmmm.. man I think they’re all strong, but if it’s your first time probably Samantha (Why Don’t You Answer),

Natalie (It’s Gonna Be Alright), and Angelina (Portifina-Rose). If you like these I think you’ll dig the whole album front to back.

The record is done, the music is out. Is the best fun done now or is it just beginning?

Just the beginning for sure. The Olive Way sound is expanding. I’m working on a bunch of new songs and will likely be sharing them as singles. Not sure if there will be a theme or not yet. 🙂