There isn’t as much of a competitive edge-not like on the coasts. For a while, it was like I couldn’t find black jeans tight enough. It’s highly collaborative, highly communal, with lots of venues in town. Kansas City is historically known for its jazz music. What is the music scene like there and has it inspired your music today?
For me, it’s a mix of genres and interests. The most powerful work comes from your core. I feel like, if you want to be true to yourself, you have to dig deep into what is naturally yourself. I played acoustic guitar in high school and then got into classical. My mom listened to gospel and my dad listened to Motown. I did a lot of contemporary worship music. Rather than stick to one sound, what inspired you to experiment so much on this album? Cantaloupe is such a mix of sounds and genres. I hope the audience experiences that my shows are a safe place to be extra. I write lots of songs dealing with relationships, and I like to explore all 5 senses to create a ceremonious self-expression of music, life, love, and emotions at my shows. Post shared by Calvin Arsenia on at 2:35am PST For people just learning about you, tell me a little about the kind of music you make and what you hope people take away from your latest album?
