Folk-Americana artist Tony Cecchetti is the originator of the collective CALICO. Originally from the Bay Area, and he is currently residing in Victoria, British Columbia. Amidst the pandemic's isolation and chaos in early 2020, good friends Tony Cecchetti, Chris Couto, Will Lloyd, and JeanSe Le Doujet connected through writing intoxicating melodies together while remaining in the confined intimacy of their own homes.
With high hopes, CALICO aims to have their nostalgic and deeply poetic music allow you to reflect on the finer moments life has to offer. Producing heartfelt music full of sentiments, their main goal is for the creations they bring to life to bring you joy, peace, and love.
"Oh My Mind" pulls you into its captivating embrace like a warm hug. With each chord progressed, rhythmic bassline, and incentive drum hit produced, you capture the wistful aptitude that CALICO has to offer in their genuine sentimentalities fused beneath the love of their craft. The spirited core of the lead vocals performed allows you to tap into your inner self as you take in the fundamental essence exuded through this collective.
Delving into the impactful meaning behind "Oh My Mind," the expressions radiated lead back to the theme of searching. Searching for something that you aren't fully aware of, but there remains a void in your life that requires fulfillment. The harmonious tones shed a story about the depth of love and knowing that there is a soul out there that is also searching for companionship in this chaotic journey of life. CALICO wants it to be known that searching is part of the expedition. One isn't always lost in their search for meaning. Conveying this meaningful message through tenors of immense opportunity, growth, transformation, and discovery, CALICO drives home the point that sometimes we need to take on the most challenging task of all and reframe our minds.
Congratulations on the release of “Oh My Mind.” With the warmth exuded on this record, we have to ask; what was the creative process like when creating from afar on a record of this caliber?
There was a lot of opportunity for artistic expression throughout the journey of creating this song. In a lot of ways being physically apart in the recording process can create obstacles. In this case, there was an inherent trust that each member of CALICO would add their own touch, their own flair, and personality to the overall idea and feel of the song. As good friends, there was never a doubt in that. There was a lot of flexibility. We are fortunate that nowadays there are outlets to record from afar. That, obviously, has not always been the case. Oh, My Mind came quite naturally. The pieces of the puzzle fit right where they needed to. The continuity was there from the start. I will add that recording from afar is different than being in the same room. The energy that members bring into a physical space isn't a part of the musical process. That was not a barrier. It gave the chance for all of us to perfect our parts and from there, Oh my mind, was completed. It was a unique opportunity that was made possible by the current state of the world.
Tying into the creative process from afar, what was the recording session like in order to fashion “Oh My Mind?"
The process for recording from afar had its moving parts and required a lot of communication. Tony Cecchetti wrote and recorded the lyrics and rhythm guitar sections in Victoria, BC. That was then sent to Chris Couto, who recorded drums in a studio in Vancouver, BC. This was then sent to Bassist, Jeanse LeDoujet who recorded at home, and, lastly, sent off to Will Llyod who added lead guitar. Chris Couto then compiled all the instrumentation, produced the track, along with Tony Cecchetti, and sent it off to the mixing engineer. The song was then perfected, sent off to be mastered, and the final product is what you hear today.
Your records are fueled with profound meanings. In this particular song, is there a lyric that you would like to resonate with listeners more than others?
The chorus, Oh my mind is just waiting for you, has multiple meanings. We all search for something in life, we search for direction, for love, for stability, for change, and for purpose. There always seems to be something. Allow the words to sink in and create their own meaning for you in your life. Maybe something comes up. Hopefully, it resonates and you can gain a connection with the song and its words in a similar way that we have.
What words of wisdom would you like to give your listeners to end off the eventful journey of 2020?
Making this song brought us joy in a time of immense uncertainty and fear. It became a coping mechanism to deal with a virus that had rocked our personal lives and our world. The hope is that those of you who chose to listen to our song can get a moment of peace from the chaos that surrounds you. Remember to treasure your breath and sing as much as you can. Music can heal in so many ways.