Q&A With AV Alt-Pop Featured Artist: Pool Toys
We recently had a chat with Morgan Ching from the nascent alternative pop outfit, Pool Toys. Despite the fact that the LA-based three-piece has yet to perform a show, they’ve crafted a definitive, immersive, dark pop sound, heard throughout their debut EP, You, Love.
You can read Morgan’s words on how Pool Toys came to be, what goes into making their songs, and what their plans are for 2021 below.
What first got you into music?
Pool Toys comprises of me (Morgan Ching), Eric Jecklin, and Ryan Rael. For all of us, our first real exposure to playing instruments and making music came from being in middle and high school bands. That quickly transformed into garage band practices after school, as well as learning to write and record our own music. The three of us have been making music and performing together since college, and started Pool Toys when we all made the move to Los Angeles, California.
Out of all of the songs you’ve released, which one is your favorite and why?
We love all of our songs equally, but we’ve been really surprised by how much “Bad Things” has connected with our friends and new listeners online. I wrote the song back in 2016 while on a small southwest tour that included a week-long stop in Los Angeles for the NAMM conference that year. I remember feeling extremely frustrated and burnt out that week. In the song I speak on the health of my relationship with music at the time and how it paralleled with the health of my actual relationships. I think people may have gravitated towards those sentiments, which is a very cool thing to feel as an artist.
Where is your favorite place where you’ve had the opportunity to perform?
While Pool Toys is a new project that hasn't seen the stage yet (thank you global pandemic), we've all had the opportunity to go on the road and play some interesting venues in a previous project. The Mint in Los Angeles, the Central Saloon in Seattle, and the Prophet Bar in Dallas were all great spaces that come to mind first. I think collectively though, we can all agree that some of the craziest, most energetic shows we’ve ever played were in some of the houses, garages, basements, etc. where people had set up DIY venues for the night. It’s wild to think about how significantly this year has affected the live music space — we’re all really looking forward to performing again when it’s deemed safe.
Which musician or producer would you most like to collaborate with?
My answer to this question has a habit of changing from week to week, but lately I've gone back to dreaming about getting into the studio with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver fame. He's always been a big inspiration for me as a producer, especially in his ability to blend the crushing digital madness of synthesizers and drum machines with the softness of more traditional folk instrumentation. And of course his infamous, cerebral style of writing puts him into my list of top songwriters of all time.
If you could have your fans remember one thing about you, what would it be?
We would love to be remembered for making music that feels honest and genuine — the whole point for us is to share a bit of ourselves with the world and leave behind something that people can resonate with in a real way.
What is your creative process like?
As a songwriter and producer, I find myself bouncing between both worlds constantly. Sometimes I'll sit down with a guitar, play some chords, and a song will start pouring out. Other times I'll spend hours at my computer layering the myriad of instruments, samples, and sounds that I have at my disposal before I even consider writing a single word. Sometimes a song will start from a silly voice note on my phone that I record on the drive between my apartment and rehearsal space/studio, or one of the guys could bring in a great riff, drum pattern, or general idea that sets the creative wheels in motion. These processes will normally lead to an initial demo that will then get further produced and refined until we have a finished song. Also, a big shout out to our good friend and collaborator, Devon Corey, who helps get our music across the finish line these days.
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
I honestly couldn’t imagine doing anything else! Surviving out in Los Angeles is a constant battle in itself though, so all of us work part time in other fields to pay the bills and fund our projects. It’s a gift and a curse to make music independently, but at the moment we wouldn’t have it any other way.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
While I don't think I’m in a position to give any advice regarding finding success in the music industry, I can personally say that making music is one of the few things in my life that truly makes me happy. Be sure to listen to a lot of music, make music because you love to make it, and try to make something everyday!
Is there anything you would like to add or anything new we should be looking out for?
We've spent the last few months of 2020 finishing up a new EP entitled "Fear and Roses.” The release date for new music off of the project is still TBD, but we’re anticipating sometime early next year. Other than that we’re looking forward to making the most of 2021 like everyone else! Thank you to Ambient Vibes for having us and we’ll see you soon.
Listen to “Bad Things” and “You, Love.” by Pool Toys on the Ambient Vibes: Alt Pop playlist.