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Trophy Wives. Photo Courtesy of Trophy Wives.
Rock and Luca of the musical duo Trophy Wives chatted about their new single “Cowboy Mama.”
Trophy Wives is a new music project that finds itself at the intersection of tropical, western, and pop music.
The group is fronted by two Los Angeles native queer artists and best friends, Rock and Luca, in collaboration with producers Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon from Imagine Dragons.
How did “Cowboy Mama” come about?
Rock: Cowboy Mama came about literally the morning after we decided to start the Trophy Wives project. We were all just so excited to dig into what this fusion of genres would sound like to us that we couldn’t even sleep. I think we started in the studio at like 6am that following morning and had the bones done by 9am… hooting and hollering the whole way. I literally have videos of us screaming “YAAH” that morning time stamped 7:16 a.m.
Luca: It was the first song Trophy Wives wrote for the project and really encapsulates the origin sound we created together. It was in the early hours at Dan’s studio we mixed the cinematic production of Italian spaghetti western with tropical elements of French house and world instrumentation. We loved the idea but hearing it come to life through Cowboy Mama, we knew we had something special.
What was it like working with Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons as producers?
Rock: I have to first mention that Dan and Wayne are just the greatest people and some of the most kind and generous humans I’ve ever met. And obviously both have many powerful strengths when it comes producing and song writing.
I don’t know what I thought writing with them was going to be like because it all just happened so fast I feel like I didn’t even have time to comprehend what was happening, but all I do know is that writing with them has been some of the most fun times I’ve ever had in my life. So many laughs, “yes” moments, dancing and head bobbing in the studio.
I have always left the studio with my cheeks hurting from how much I’ve been smiling. I feel so fortunate for the opportunity and it’s just been a total blast learning from and working with those two.
Luca: Working with Dan and Wayne is as intimidating and inspiring as you would expect. They are so seasoned and yet brought equal curiosity to the discovery of this new sound. We’re stoked on this collaboration.
What inspires your music and songwriting?
Rock: I personally am inspired by women fronted indie pop music… my high school years were filled with Marina and the Diamonds, Santigold, Yelle, MIA, Phantogram, Robyn, Warpaint and honestly I could go on and on for hours with this list.
That infused with my love of classic women powerhouses like Aretha Franklin, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Tina Turner, and my biggest inspiration Gwen Stefani when she was fronting No Doubt all mixed together into the thought of… what if I just mixed a bunch of different genres I love in my own way and then fronted that band and BOOM… here comes Trophy Wives.
Luca: The highest and lowest of life’s moments and the mundanity in between. Musically, cinematic themes and textures inspire me.
I have always loved old western soundtracks and I feel compelled to reinvent the feeling of those scores with a modern approach such as layering them with a vibey desert disco twist. Giving the feeling of newness and nostalgia is core to this writing process.
How does it feel to be artists in the digital age? (now with streaming, technology, and social media being so prevalent)
Rock: To be honest it’s a mix of terrifying, really funny and fun. It’s terrifying because I don’t think of myself as a natural content creator and much of the music world is now so heavily swayed by metrics.
It’s funny because I don’t really have a filter and so I find myself making these super silly videos that get me laughing really hard at myself and fun because I’ve now become obsessed with Canva.
I think in another life I would absolutely learn much more about graphic design and photoshop but for now I got my Canva Pro and I can make you any flyer or logo you could ever want, spend an unnecessary six hours on it, and be mega stoked to do it.
Luca: Weird to be honest. It’s wicked to be afforded the reach social media gives but when it comes to the creative process, the pace of social media consumption can weaken the potency.
What do your plans for the future include?
Rock: My future plans include writing and singing with everyone who will have me and spreading the message of acceptance and the importance of soul expression and authenticity to everyone who will listen.
All while continuing to release killer Trophy Wives tracks… we have been creating a pretty rad catalog in my opinion and I cannot wait to keep releasing those tunes.
Luca: Definitely putting out more of the music we’ve written this year, playing more live shows, and collaborating with other artists.
Which artists would you like to do a dream collaboration with someday and why?
Rock: I would love to collaborate with Khruangbin. That would be a total dream. They have created such a rad eclectic worldly sound that is so inspiring to me. Every one of their songs puts me into a feel-good groove that feels refreshingly innovative but at the same time gives off a beautiful sense of nostalgia.
I am a massive fan of theirs and I really feel like the Trophy Wives “tropical western” sound would be an awesome marriage to theirs. That or Shania Twain… enough said.
Luca: Dolly Parton, Black Pumas, Khruangbin and Polo and Pan would be top picks. Dolly because Dolly forever. The others because I think they each have their own version of the sound Trophy Wives is so drawn to and would make for sexy collaborations.
What does the word success mean to you?
Rock: Success to me means waking up being excited for what I can give to the day and then going to sleep feeling proud of myself for getting through it all. And to me that includes even the smallest of victories… a win is a win.
Luca: My ideas of success have shifted over time but I’d say it’s the bliss that comes from sustainably doing what you love and being able to lift others up with you.
What would you like to tell our readers about “Cowboy Mama”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
Rock: This is the first song Trophy Wives ever wrote as a collective. I’d like anyone who is first listening to Cowboy Mama to just close their eyes and start bobbing their head and I can guarantee they will get into the groove.
Luca: This song was made for you to vibe out, sway to and dream about the one you crush on.
To learn more about Trophy Wives, follow them on Instagram.
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