Carol Ades at Kilby Court: The Late Start Tour Interview

Kilby Court hosted the closing show for Carol Ades’ “Late Start Tour” on Dec 4, 2024. I had the privilege to speak with Carol pre-show about her recent album release and the tour that followed. 

Michaela: Hi, welcome to Utah.

Carol: Thank you

Michaela: Yeah, have you played at Kilby Court before? Or in Utah?

Carol: I’ve never played Kilby Court before, but yeah, I love Utah, my parents live here. So, I get to see them. It’s like a fake hometown.

Michaela: Do you visit a lot then?

Carol: Yeah! Thanksgiving, Christmas, stuff like that.

Michaela: That’s awesome! Well, it’s a big day in music. Spotify wrapped just dropped. Who was on your Spotify wrapped?

Carol: I cannot say because I'm so embarrassed… Ok, I'm gonna say it, but it’s embarrassing. It was me. It was myself.

Michaela: I think that's a good thing!

Carol: I think it’s because I listen to my demos so much when I'm making things, then when it finally comes out, it's just nice to hear it. It's like “Oh, it's out.” Like, “What would it sound like if it wasn't me listening to it?” And then I don't listen to that much music, so then my Spotify wrapped made it look like I was obsessed with myself. So, it’s been an embarrassing morning for me.

Michaela: Well I can imagine it's kind of rewarding to hear everything once it’s finished.

Carol: It is, yeah! And I do love my music, but I need to fix that. I need to listen to other things

Michaela: Well, I love your album. I've been obsessed with it. I'm so excited to talk to you a little bit about it.

Carol: Thanks!

Michaela: I think that a part of why I love your songwriting so much, and a strength of yours, is your honesty. Has that been something that comes naturally to you, or has it been something you've had to work toward as you've written songs?

Carol: That's such a good question. I think it’s definitely been a work in progress, just because as a person I feel like I'm a work in progress. I've been wanting to move towards that: a life where I'm more honest with myself. I think at the beginning of writing songs that was the only way I could be that honest. It was more real, and also just avoidant enough where I was able to be honest like that. So, I guess both. It’s natural, and I've had to work toward it

Michaela: With the album: I've really enjoyed the visuals and imagery that accompany it. I've heard influences like Greta Gerwig and Lady Bird have kind of inspired it. Do you have any other non-musical influences that went into it?

Carol: Yeah, I mean Greta Gerwig is my biggest inspiration, just from a storytelling perspective. I really wanted it to feel like a coming-of-age movie, the whole album. But also I think it was really inspired my my own life and the mess of my life that I made trying to figure out who I am. And really inspired by my sexuality, and trying to make space for my sexuality and not knowing how. And being obsessed with, like, “What's the right version of me?” which is why I'm so obsessed with Greta Gerwig movies, because it's so that. Just young girls who want to be the best, and figure out their own definition of that. 

Michaela: Well I think you do a great job of that too, and give people room to do the same… were there any moments when you were writing where you really felt like you struck gold or any lyrics that ring especially true to you?

Carol: I think if I ever feel that way it's like a week later. At the moment you're just writing. It’s like when you're giving someone advice and then afterward you're like, “That was so wise. I am so wise.” 

Michaela: I know you've written songs for other people. Is there a deciding factor when it comes to songs you want to keep? Is there a different process to fleshing out a whole song for yourself once you have an idea?

Carol: Yeah, I think a lot of the songs I write for other people, half of them are inspired by my own life anyway and it just landed in someone else's hands, or I'm writing about their story and trying to pull from my own experiences. I don't know, It's just a feeling I have in my stomach. When I'm like “No, I want that one,” I think I measure it on how sad I would be if someone else put it out. 

Michaela: That makes sense. And do you have a favorite song to perform live?

Carol: Dreams. Dreams, that’s the most fun to perform.

Michaela: Yeah, with the chorus!

Carol: It’s so fun, yeah. Me and my band have so much fun, and everyone looks like they are having so much fun. It's the best. 

Michaela: As far as the album goes, one of my favorite lyrics is “This is what I’ll remember.” Do you have any memories from touring or making the album that you feel like you'll always remember?

Carol: Yeah, I think making this album with my girlfriend. I will always remember that process. I can just picture us getting older and being married and having kids one day and being like, “We were actually really cool. We would make things together, and we can show you what that is because that exists in the world.” 

Yeah, I hold those memories really close to me.  And writing a lot of the songs with two of my best friends, Lauren and Marcus who live in London. It was some of the hardest years of my life but also some of my favorite memories ever. And this tour has had so many moments that I'll just never forget. All of the shows were so special. Like, it's just a dream come true. 

We can't wait to see what’s next for Carol, especially after such a special closing show at Kilby Court. Keep up with Carol here on Spotify and Instagram.