Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Cuesta Loeb.
Christina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I come from a family of musicians. My dad was a jazz guitarist, my mom a Spanish jazz singer-songwriter/actress, and my sister is a pop singer-songwriter/actress. I grew up between the US and Spain, studying classical flute, piano and bassoon. I really enjoyed performing and playing in ensembles and orchestras, but it wasn’t my passion. Growing up, I loved Nirvana, Elliot Smith, Green Day, Fiona Apple, and (early) Sheryl Crow, so I starting leaning into that direction artistically. It wasn’t really until I moved out to LA about five years ago that I began experimenting with my own songwriting and production.
Finally I found my own voice. I was combining my love of dark, haunting melodies with dreamy, ethereal instrumentation and vocals. My “home” was now in the world of Dream Pop. I released my first single a year later “My King” in 2016 and the response to the song exceeded all my expectations. I had linked up with guitarist/producer, Blake Straus, who I immediately connected with musically and together we continued co-producing and recording a string of releases, including one we released through Fierce Panda Records “Dive.” Blake and I have an EP coming out early in 2020 as well, that I am really excited for.
At the same time, I have started collaborating with other writers and producers, including my sister (Lizzy Loeb) and Grey Goon (who I just released an EP with ‘Plug into Me” on Make More Records on August 9th) and just love the evolution of it all. Playing with my sister is a dream. She plays lead guitar and sings vocal harmonies for the live shows.
Has it been a smooth road?
I didn’t have any expectations going into any of this, so I think that anything that has happened along the way has just been amazing. I’m very grateful to have made all the connections I have and to continue to be able to create and release new music. I think as soon as I start thinking too much, I can get in my own way. I have just tried to keep moving forward freely, without worrying too much about what anybody may think.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Cuesta Loeb story. Tell us more about the business.
Cuesta Loeb mostly writes, records and releases music. We do most of our recording in our home studios. Blake and I actually live in the same building in Los Feliz, which is amazing and very convenient. It’s awesome to be able to go downstairs and do writing sessions. We also perform live and collaborate with other artists in Los Angeles. We actually have a show coming up next Monday 9/16/19 at The Satellite in Silverlake.
The thing I am most proud of is being played on my favorite Los Angeles radio stations KCRW & 88.5 KCSN. Also having our music in a movie, “To the Bone.”
We are a sister-fronted band and we incorporate flutes and violins in our live show, which sets us apart from other Shoegaze bands.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I feel like the music industry has changed so much in my lifetime. Especially growing up with my parents as musicians, I saw the impact of the evolution of radio and decrease in CD sales and the transition into essentially free music and streaming first hand. I do hope that physical forms of music make a resurgence. I recently re-listened to an album I’ve heard a ton streaming, in it’s CD form and I was actually shocked at the difference. I feel like everything is moving towards a vortex in technology. We’re so dependent on technology that it’s almost like life has become completely virtual. An album is something I hope we hang onto, a complete project with art, a little chapter in time from an artist. I want so badly to hang onto those physical, tangible things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cuestaloeb.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuestaloebmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cuestaloeb
- Other: https://cuestaloeb.bandcamp.com/
Image Credit:
Sandrine Lee & Yvette Hammond
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