Interview with Coyote 87

1. What’s your name?

Coyote 87

2. Where are you from?

Charlotte, NC

3. How old are you?

35

4 .When did you start making music?

Maybe 12, not sure on the exact age. Not long after a kid played Metallica and Nirvana for me on a boom box.

It started with a drum set. Then guitars. I still play guitar. There’s a few songs with guitars in the mix on my Based and Dreamcult LPs. But the first time I played a synthesizer, it felt like part of my DNA. It was the right fit. Synths are my main instruments. The DAW (digital audio workstation) is also an instrument. Something clicked in my head when I heard JPEGMAFIA say that in an interview. “The DAW is an instrument.” I embraced learning how to be my own producer.

5. How serious are you about your career?

I won’t take a week off working on music until I accomplish my goal of scoring a movie soundtrack. But even then, after conquering that goal, I’ll probably celebrate for a couple days and then be onto the next soundtrack. That’s how I envision my future.

6. Have you ever thought about quitting music?

No.

7. Who inspires you the most?

St. Vincent. I quit drinking and have listened to an album of hers in its entirety nearly every day since I quit. I’m approaching 2 years. I’ve leaned particularly hard on Masseduction.

8.What got you into making music?

My parents. They’ve always been encouraging. They’re the best.

9.Who is your favorite producer?

Trent Reznor if I can only pick one. But Jack Antonoff, Butch Vig and Rick Rubin produced some of my favorite albums.

10. What is one of your best songs/beats?

The title track of Dreamcult goes hard. It sounds like an entire thriller soundtrack in one song.

11. Are you signed to a record or label?

Coyote 87 Media. I’m considering expanding the brand beyond my own music to include podcasts next year.

12. Have you ever performed?

Yes. Under a different moniker than Coyote 87, I performed live. It was more sad singer-songwriter coffee house vibe stuff. As Coyote 87, I’m more interested in production and making bangers in my home studio. My co-writer on the Dreamcult album, dominatrix Camryn Bell, is a few years younger than me … her slang rubbed off and now I can’t stop saying bangers.

13. Who would you most likely collaborate with? JPEGMAFIA. I love his raw production style. Or Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail, I would love to collab, with her singing over a lush synth arrangement.

14. If you could open for any artist who would it be? Dua Lipa. I had a dream that I opened for her and did the darkest, noisiest most aggressive synth set I could muster. But I had dance beats behind it all and her crowd was into it. I wanted to go back to sleep and slip into that dream world again.

15. What’s next for you?

Scoring movies.