Energy Whores is the musical brainchild of Carrie Schoenfeld, a New York-based singer/songwriter, filmmaker, producer, and director. Having first caught our attention last year with the singles ‘Freedom Fadeaway’ and ‘Den Of Sins’, her innovative sound and storytelling prowess have only grown stronger.
Keen to get to know the talented artist and Energy Whores a little better, we were over the moon when Carrie agreed to an interview! Chatting with us about the band’s new lineup, their most recent single ‘Mach9ne’, and her collection of yellow sticky notes filled with lyrics, please give a warm welcome to our friend Carrie Schoenfeld of Energy Whores!
Hi Carrie, it’s been a minute! I’m so excited to re-introduce you to our ever-expanding audience! Before we get into the nitty-gritty, could you please tell our readers a little bit about your musical journey? When did your love affair with music begin?
Sadly Attilio is not with the band any more but still plays guitar sessions for us and we are still very close. The band is now Kijani, Suzume, NRG (me) and Luna. We are half human and half AI avatars and you will see us in upcoming music videos and we will be performing in VR.
My love of music started at age nine when I attended the Mannes College of Music in New York City. I studied classical music composition and was a classical pianist. But then there was rock, synth pop, disco and electronic music that was so much more appealing to my young mind. I took my knowledge of classical music and it evolved into what it is now.
As for the other band members, their journey is just beginning.
‘Freedom Fadeaway’ was my introduction to your music, and it’s a song that I still return to often! Quickly nearing 50,000 plays on Spotify, I’m wondering if you could tell us how it feels to know that so many people have heard and resonated with one of your tunes.
Attilio was still with the band then. We were thrilled people could relate to our song about losing rights and freedoms in the United States. We only hope that people who believe in democracy and freedom will vote to save democracy and our constitution this November. I’m not afraid to be political obviously because our songs are political. ‘Freedom Fadeaway’ is a call to action because women’s rights to have control of their bodies are on the line.
Now, onto your most recent single ‘Mach9ne’. It’s an eclectic and experimental piece of music that aims to spark a dialogue about AI ethics and regulations, an ever-increasing topic in today’s musical landscape. What do you hope listeners take away from the track?
The underlying message of ‘Mach9ne’ urges listeners to reflect on the evolving dynamics between humanity and AI. The song serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible AI governance and the need for greater public awareness. By engaging in informed discourse and advocating for ethical AI practices, we can mitigate the risks associated with its advancement. We also hope you dance while pondering all of this.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences? Who did you both grow up listening to? And would you say that your tastes have changed over the years?
I love all genres of music and am influenced by them all. Through the years I have listened to The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Daft Punk, The Cure, The Ramones, The Specials, Joy Division, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Annie Lenox, CAKE, Rage Against The Machine, Linkin Park, Björk, Vampire Weekend, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Squeeze, Dire Straits, Cyndi Lauper, Public Enemy, 2Pac, Brazilian Girls, Zero 7, Radiohead, The Chainsmokers, Tame Impala, Tiësto…I could go on forever but I won’t. I still love all the songs I loved as a teenager and I’m always looking for new sounds and genres to enjoy.
Could you tell our readers a little bit about your creative process? How do you take just a thought or an idea and turn it into a song?
Sometimes songs come to me in dreams, and I’ll go to my keyboard at all hours of the night to play them and write down lyrics. Also, I sing in the shower and while I’m driving (alone). Songs just spontaneously combust out of my brain. I don’t know where they come from, but I just go with it. I have yellow sticky notes everywhere and write lyrics on them as they come to me. Most often, I read something or see something on the news that angers or concerns me. These topics of concern become songs.
How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to changing trends in the music industry?
I don’t find it difficult to stay true to the vision of the band because we don’t want to follow trends. We would rather set them. I know this sounds obnoxious but it’s true. There is a risk in being different because the music industry rather sticks to what they know and what is popular. It takes intelligence, guts and money to gamble on something unconventional, controversial and impactful. We are looking for that person.
OK, Carrie – desert island time! You’re allowed to grab 3 albums before being stranded on an island. Which do you go with and why?
Oh no! I can’t answer that. I would probably try to fit as many different songs I love on my phone and hope there is electricity on this island or I would just have to sing and play a coconut.
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us Carrie! It’s been a real treat! Before we let you go, what comes next for Energy Whores?
We will be releasing a new song called ‘Bunker Man’ along with a new music video this summer.
