Christian Lee Hutson The SoCal Sound session discussing “Paradise Pop. 10”
Interview with Julie Slater and Live In Studio performance
Written by: Matt Blake
Singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Christian Lee Hutson came by The SoCal Sound Studios for an exclusive SoCal Sound Session, taking time to discuss his new album, Paradise Pop. 10, with Middays host and SoCal Sound Music Director Julie Slater. Hutson also did an exclusive solo acoustic performance of three tracks from the album: “Carousel Horses”, “Flamingos”, and “Afterhours”
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The Move Out of Los Angeles
It was not too long ago that we were able to claim Christian Lee Hutson as one of our own, in fact we were able to feature him on our “Local Spotlight” series, since he spent most of his life in Los Angeles. However, he recently relocated to New York in search of a quieter life -though he does joke “quieter” might not be the best way to describe NYC. The move was motivated by a desire that all Angelinos face, the desire to escape exhausting commuting culture of LA, and how that effected his songwriting and relationships. "I spent a lot of my life here feeling like I was reliving different chapters instead of being locked into the present," he shared.
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The Making of Paradise Pop. 10
Hutson recorded the album primarily in Brooklyn during the depths of winter, a setting that heavily influenced its mood and atmosphere. Unlike past projects, he took an unconventional approach this time—booking studio time before he had all the songs written. "It actually ended up being fun doing it that way," he said, embracing the challenge rather than feeling pressured by the deadline.
Watch the full SoCal Sound Session here
Christian performed 3 songs in The SoCal Sound Performance Room, on solo acoustic guitar:
Carousel Horses – on the album, this track features vocals from both Phoebe Bridgers and his fiancée, Maya Hawke. In the interview he mentions that this song was originally from a project he worked on with Australian artist Phoebe Go. "I asked Phoebe Go if we could take it back, and Maya and I finished it in an hour the night before our last day in the studio," Hutson revealed.
Flamingos – Also in the interview, Julie pointed out a striking line: "Losers remember the people who won; winners are never afraid to lose." When asked if he considers himself a winner, Hutson laughed and admitted, "I don't typically think about things like that." He explained that the line was inspired by an old quote from a basketball coach, which he reimagined in the context of love and relationships. "I thought it would be interesting to apply that mindset to a character’s love life," he said.
Afterhours – This was the only song not written in New York, instead it came to Christian on a plane ride back from Europe after reading the short story Dogs of a Lesser Breed by Sam Berman. The song is written from the perspective of the person who had passed away, flipping the typical troupe, where it is the person in the afterlife who can reach the living. "I wanted to explore that idea in a song."
The SoCal Sound’s Artist In Residence – April Takeover
In what is sure to be one of the many highlights in Christian’s career, he is stepping into the shoes filled by many of the great songwriters of our time – hosting The SoCal Sound’s Artist In Residence. Every Saturday in the month of April, he’ll be curating playlists and sharing stories, offering a deeper look into his music and the music that influences him. Tune in every Saturday, 6pm!
Christian Lee Hutson’s Paradise Pop. 10 is available everywhere now!
The SoCal Sound Sessions, interviews, and performances are filmed and edited by Matt Blake, recorded and mixed by Tristan Dolce.
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