Despite being the man of the hour, preparing to drop a project that could propel him incredibly far forward, Appleby wants it to be clear that nothing is about him. He always makes sure to direct attention to his colleagues, declaring that the next thing Iris Temple puts out is going to blow everybody away. The duo smile and give grateful nods whenever he states this. Singer-producer-instrumentalist Quinn Cochran and rapper-singer Aura (also named Quinn) are both busy at work on their laptops most of the time at Elias’ place. I notice Quinn playing with a sound program, likely tinkering with a new Iris Temple release.
Talk then turned to Top 5 albums. Understandably, this creates a bit of strain. “Okay, I’ll do the Top 5 shit I’m listening to right now: Adele’s 25, Adele’s 19 [everyone snickers]. I would put 21 but I’m not gonna do that. Amy Winehouse’s Frank,” at this point, there’s a clear difficulty being experienced. I have James Blake’s Overgrown going on a lot, and… shit. I have to go check my phone for this one. [Scrolls through recently played list] Nope. Just more Adele. Okay. To Pimp A Butterfly.” The last one he says almost in exhaustion.
Elias is up next. Aura and Quinn (taking pictures of the interview) burst out that The xx and Disclosure will be on his list. He brushes them off, and lists Channel Orange first. Appleby is almost regretful that he didn’t say this. Coldplay’s Parachutes is followed by Disclosure’s Caracal and The xx’s self-titled album follow though. Realizing he’s only at 4 albums, Elias gives in and puts Coexist, The xx’s other album, in the #5 spot. “I don’t hate those questions, but they’re always so challenging. I feel like people are gonna judge me based off of my answers here,” he states afterwards.
I’m informed that the crew will have to leave in the next 20 minutes or so, and I work to wrap things up. Shortly before departure somebody points out that I could just join them at the studio, an invitation I instantly accept. We make the two block walk to Elias’ white Chevy. The inside handle of which was accidentally broken by Appleby earlier, I had been told earlier. “I feel like once I get to be close with you, I WILL break something of yours,” he explains, more an observation than a joke.
To my surprise, we listened to none of their music on the way to the studio. The car ride is filled with The xx, Disclosure, and of course, Adele. As with any group of musicians, somehow Andre 3000 gets brought up. Appleby mentions that he’s always felt that Aura rapped similarly to 3 stacks. Everyone verbally lights up with an “Ahhhhh” in agreement. Aura quietly thanks his friend, grateful for what is clearly a huge compliment.
We get to the studio, and spirits are high. The guys run into fellow buzzing artist Smino and catch up. Smino had just returned from a small European tour. “It was incredible man,” he says, after being asked about the trip. Sitting in Classick Studios’ “Red Room” is engineer Bryan “Kawaakari” Schwaller. Bryan is responsible for mixing the work of some of the hottest talent to come from Chicago over the last year or so, including Smino, Ravyn Lenae, and Jayaire Woods. Appleby and Elias will often record verses and hooks at the home studio, iPhone voice memos, or “a shitty USB mic,” and take the results to Bryan for final work being done. The latter device is the case with easily their biggest record so far, “Castles”. The success wasn’t necessarily expected by them. “People are really linking ‘Castles’, and I nobody knows I recorded that shit in a bedroom! I tried to rerecord that second verse with Bryan, but I could just never match that energy, you know?” Appleby gives a short, sincere laugh. “It’s like that sometimes though,” Quinn chimes in. “You gotta just realize when you’ve perfected something.” The room agrees, and I find myself nodding.