Interview: Avishag C. Rodrigues

New York–based and constantly on the road, Avishag operates at the edge of dark electronics, noise, and rock, shaped by both US and European scenes. Active since her teens, she approaches music with a visual artist’s eye, building hazy, abrasive songs that lean as much on texture as on form. A small part of her work extends into short films, but the core of her practice lives on stage.

Rodrigues also plays guitar (and she plays a mean one) as well as synth across different projects and ensembles, including cumgirl8, Laila, Ryskinder, and Yonatan Gat (Stone Tapes / Joyful Noise).

We caught a short but sweet interview with her just before she steps on our stage tonight.

In your bio, you describe the night as a “solacing void” where “doors are closed” and time feels sacred. What changes in your process after midnight?

For me it takes away the daily stress and needing to be available all the time either if it’s by email, phone, social media, we are asked to be connected and responsive all the time and for me that availability cuts the process or that thread of thought that you’re working with.  The night gives me that space i need in order to dive deeper and develop an idea. 

The ‘One Winter One Hunter’ EP was written in New York and recorded in Berlin. What did Berlin unlock in the recording phase that New York didn’t, and what did New York give you? How do the distinct energies of NYC and Berlin bleed into this project, if at all?

In Berlin i have a crew of very talented musicians and engineers who i’m close with and often i feel more comfortable working there. especially coming into the studio to write and try unfinished ideas. 

In NYC everything is more intense which can be inspiring but to concentrate on recording sometimes is easier to go to a slower paced space and have more time.

The “Some Are” video has this calm, city-at-night logic. What was the emotional brief you gave the director?

This video was directed and produced by Adeline Thery who is as well as a great director is also an amazing musician, her stage name is Lizzy Young. she as well came up with the idea for the video after talking about a film we both love. 

I was mainly trying to keep myself warm and not shivering too much during the takes by drinking whisky on the motorcycle. 

You’re often introduced as the guitarist in cumgirl8. What do you take from the band’s intensity and bring into your solo work?

It definitely open up other realms for me to explore. Being on the road and so active as a band for the past 5 years has made us all stronger. everything you do shapes who you are. 

What’s one DIY rule you still follow that younger artists might think is unnecessary, but you consider essential?

Smoking on stage