Join us for a chat with one of BFF.fm's Top 30 Local Artists of 2023: Inna Showalter and George Tarlson aka Whitney’s Playland. Whitney's Playland is the pandemic-era project of Inna Showalter and George Tarlson, longtime friends and veterans of the music scene (Grandma’s Boyfriend, Blades of Joy, Modern Charms). Having grown up in and around San Francisco and inspired by their experiences, their music is about love and loss, sometimes with a wry and sardonic angle. The band expanded into a four-piece in late 2022 with the addition of Evan Showalter and Paul DeMartini.

What was the first band you ever played in? Can you tell us the story of how that band formed, why you wanted to be in a band at that time, or any special moments from those early days playing music?

Inna Showalter: George and I attended the same high school where our paths first crossed. He was part of the orchestra, and I was involved in the choir. With our shared musical backgrounds, it was only natural for us to explore band dynamics, leading to the formation of our band, Mumble Mumble, after college when we returned to the Bay Area.

George Tarlson: My musical journey began in high school with my first band, Hansel, alongside a couple of close friends. It was where I caught the bug for playing music and delving into songwriting. Interestingly, a few members from those early bands have since embarked on their own paths.

Your Bandcamp page calls Whitney's Playland a "pandemic era project" - what does that mean to the making and meaning of these songs?

Inna: During the lockdown, with plenty of time for introspection, George and I found ourselves reevaluating our musical pursuits and seeking new directions. We were between projects and eager to explore fresh ideas. So many creative  emerged during this period of enforced solitude, highlighting the resilience of creativity amidst challenges. George shared some tracks he’d been working on during lockdown, and I was happy for the opportunity to contribute to these compositions. With George handling the recordings from his home studio setup, I added my vocals remotely from mine, using just my computer.

So, when George mentioned the new sound he wanted to explore, I was curious about your previous projects. Were they vastly different from what you're currently working on?

George: Most of our past projects were heavily band-focused. This one, however, leans more towards bedroom pop. I played multiple instruments on these tracks, leading to a more stripped-down sound. You won't find a full drum kit on many of the songs; it's more minimalist in that regard.

You recorded this record with just the two of you, but expanded after the album was complete. So, who else is involved in the band besides you two now?

Inna: Well, aside from George and me, my husband Evan handles drums. Then there's our friend Paul, who also attended high school with me. He's quite the multi-instrumentalist, usually on bass or second guitar, occasionally keyboard.

George: Yeah, Paul really brings a lot to the table in terms of multi-instrumental work on the album.

What fuels your creative process, and where do you draw inspiration from?

George: Emotion is the primary fuel for our creative process. When you write, it's often because you're feeling a certain way. While this may sound generic, it's genuinely how many bands operate. Additionally, I find it both fun and intriguing to continuously write songs, striving to create something perfect. Writing for Inna on this project was a new and fascinating experience. Previously, our songs were often written from different perspectives, but as we progressed, we found ourselves exploring a more blended approach, drawing from various viewpoints.

Inna: Expressing emotions through songwriting is often easier than verbalizing them directly. The pandemic forced many of us to confront life's meaning and grapple with our inner thoughts. Music provided an outlet for these emotions. Personally, I've always admired George's songwriting and found his lyrics relatable. Joining forces with him felt like a natural fit for this project.

It's intriguing to hear about your creative process. Who typically leads the songwriting or composition? Is it a collaborative effort, or does one person take the reins?

Inna: George is primarily the songwriter, though sometimes he'll have a song idea, and I'll contribute vocal melodies and lyrics. He serves as the driving force behind much of our work. However, there have been instances, like our demo tape accompanying the first album, where both Paul and I contributed our own song ideas to the project.

What drives your songwriting process, and how often do personal experiences influence your lyrics?

George: Well, I wouldn't say that all of our songs are directly inspired by personal experiences. Instead, it's more about conveying a particular feeling or emotion. While some elements may draw from personal life, I try to keep it light and avoid delving too deeply into heavy themes.

Inna: Absolutely, George has a talent for crafting clever and witty lyrics that often convey deeper meanings indirectly. It's about capturing the essence of a feeling rather than explicitly stating it.

What do you aim to convey to your audience through your music?

Inna: Our music often explores universal themes of loneliness and disconnection in the modern world. For example, one of our songs, "Garbage in a Can," delves into the mundane act of taking out the trash, but beneath the surface, it reflects on the disposability of modern life and society.

George: Exactly, we question the purpose of living in this society amidst all the chaos and uncertainty.

How do you approach composing and arranging your music?

George: We typically start with demos, where whoever has an idea will lay down a rough version. Whether it's Inna, myself, or Paul, we then bring these demos to the band to workshop together. It's a collaborative process where everyone contributes their insights and ideas.

Inna: Personally, I keep a lot of voice memos on my phone with random melody ideas or bits of lyrics. When it comes time to flesh out a song, I refer back to these notes and piece everything together.

Do you have a particular space where you come together to create?

Inna: George's home studio is where the magic happens. It's cozy and comfortable, perfect for our creative sessions. Despite the distance our bandmates have to travel to get there, we're lucky that the neighbors don't mind when we make some noise.

George: Yeah, it's a great space for us to collaborate and bring our ideas to life. And no, we don't usually stay over after jam sessions. We head back home and reconvene for the next session.

When you're not making music, do you explore other interests or hobbies?

Inna: Much of my time revolves around music, as I'm also involved in another band, which I adore. Being in the studio and recording brings me immense joy. Outside of music, I enjoy exploring San Francisco, spending time with my husband, and bonding with my beloved grandpa. Most of my hobbies are music-related, and while I'm decent at cooking, it's not my favorite activity.

George: I've recently reignited my interest in skateboarding and enjoy biking, though I try to avoid injury. Additionally, I've started making kombucha to master the craft.

Inna: I've recently begun teaching myself tarot card reading and delving into astrology, finding it fascinating to pull cards daily, explore their meanings, and journal about my experiences.

That's intriguing! Have you tried reading tarot cards for others, like your husband or friends?

Inna: No, it's more of a personal practice for me at the moment, a private journey of self-discovery.

What does your music mean to you personally? What's on the horizon for your band?

Inna: Personally, music is the most effortless and enjoyable way for me to express myself. When I'm singing, it feels like everything else fades away, and I enter a state of almost meditation. As for my other band, Magic Fig, we're gearing up to release our first album soon and currently working on our second. With Whitney's Playland, we're focusing on crafting new songs and recording, taking a step back from live performances to delve deeper into our creative process.

George: Just yesterday, we began work on a couple of new songs, aiming to potentially release a seven-inch or even a full-length album if we can gather enough material.

What genre can we expect from your upcoming work?

Inna: I'd say it's a blend of genres, similar to our previous album. There are elements of dream pop and some inspiration from the '70s, as well as a track that draws influence from The Smiths.

George: Additionally, we have a couple of songs coming out on compilations. Prefect Records, a label based in Britain, will feature one of our tracks on an upcoming release. We've also contributed to a cover album for the band Cleaners from Venus, which will be released by a local label, Dandy Boy Records, based in Oakland.

What is your ultimate musical ambition, and what steps are you taking towards it?

Inna: It's challenging to distill my musical ambitions into one overarching goal, but for me, it's about continually working on projects that I'm passionate about. Recording music is my absolute favorite, so I aspire to keep creating and exploring where it takes me.

George: Personally, my goal is to be actively engaged in a musical community, fostering connections and inspiring others to pursue their creative endeavors. It's not about achieving fame or success, but rather about making meaningful connections and contributing to the musical landscape in some way. Whether it's playing bass in a band or taking on various roles as needed, I'm dedicated to doing what's necessary to support the music.

Inna: What truly resonates with me is when someone shares that our music has touched them or made them feel understood. That's what drives me—to have more experiences where our music deeply impacts others. Additionally, I've recently started taking piano lessons, embracing the opportunity to learn and grow as a musician, with hopes that it opens up new possibilities in the future.

It's inspiring to hear your perspective, focusing on the love of music rather than specific achievements.

Inna: Absolutely, for us, it's about the journey and the joy of creating music.

George: Although it's undeniably satisfying to see our work materialize in physical formats like vinyl records, our true fulfillment comes from the creative process itself. Holding a physical copy of our music is indeed a special feeling—it's a tangible representation of the effort and energy we've poured into our art.

Listen to Sunset Sea Breeze by Whitney's Playland on Bandcamp.