Exclusive Interview with ENERGY WHORES

Energy Whores began in a New York City apartment’s closet. This is the only suitable location for Carrie’s recording studio. Currently, it is located in a basement in Ghent, New York. Carrie Schoenfeld is the lead vocalist and songwriter, while Attilio Valenti, a native of Sicily, Italy, plays all the guitars. Carrie performs both keyboards and other instruments. Their music frequently shifts across genres within a single song, creating a sound that is challenging and distinct.

In addition to her musical talent, Carrie is extensively involved in the film industry as a producer, screenwriter, and director. The 2016 sci-fi comedy flick Asockalypse was directed by her. The entertaining feature film is about stoners attempting to defend the earth from aliens who steal socks. In addition, she is a skilled fine artist who has exhibited her works in worldwide galleries such as LaMama Galleria, Gershwin Gallery, Montserrat Gallery, and Kent Fine Art Gallery. She also designs all of the band’s cover graphics, including the logo.

Even though they have not yet signed with a record company, the band has garnered attention for their distinctive sound and musical style. However, what truly distinguishes Energy Whores from its contemporaries is their goal to reintroduce social consciousness and politics into music, as evidenced by their most recent and noteworthy compositions. Check out their song “Psycho Chemistry” and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

ENERGY WHORES: I am from New York City and it is my home town. One fall day in 2018 I decided it was time to write some music and take a break from writing and directing movies, painting http://car…enfeld.com ( in case you want to see some paintings) and working for advertising agencies as an interface designer for websites and a graphics designer. Because I love to design, I created all the cover art and band logo.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

ENERGY WHORES: I went to the Mannes Collage of Music as a child. Strangely enough they let me in when I was 9. I studied classical music composition and was a classical pianist. I drove my piano teacher towards insanity because I never read music and decided that Stravinsky’s Sonata in F sharp Minor sounded better with a few different chords than originally written. I’m sorry Igor! Eventually, I decided to use this training to write folk electronic synth pop. Political rock for the dance floor.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘ENERGY WHORES’?

ENERGY WHORES: I always loved folk and rap because they always have something to say about politics and social injustice. However, I MUST dance and always loved disco, EDM, funk and reggae. It’s hard to narrow my favorites down to just a few artists because I love so many of them and so many different music genres.
The band name comes from a song called Energy Whores I wrote in 2019 about climate change. It is a political song about science deniers, corrupt corporations aligned with politicians’ hell bent on keeping us dependent on fossil fuels for their own financial gain. In first world countries, we are all Energy Whores so it’s not only a name for the band but for us all.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

ENERGY WHORES: The key elements in the music are the lyrics and if listeners can relate to the message of the song then they can enjoy the beats and harmonies and dance like hell. I’m not sure how to describe the sound because it is always a work in progress, meaning there is shifting between genres sometimes within a song depending on the lyrics. I love to mix genres together which can create unique soundscapes.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as ROCK?

ENERGY WHORES:

This is a hard one to answer because I’m not sure what style the music is. It’s always me singing so that is a constant but everything around it constantly changes. I started off being more folk singer/songwriter but got bored with the monotony of guitar, base, drum, rinse, repeat. Why can’t there be a pedal steel, violin with a synthesizer and reggae beat in that song as well? Music is an experimental soup, ad a different spice to it and it might turn out awesome.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

ENERGY WHORES:

All of the above! The music I write is political, social and sometimes spiritual. However, the technical artistry of the music is just as important. If it’s entertaining that’s the cherry on top.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

ENERGY WHORES:

I am completely happy writing music, so whatever comes of it is enough. In 2018 I got on a train with no time of arrival or destination and I’m happy to go for the ride and see where it takes me.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

ENERGY WHORES:

Most often I write the music first with the theme and some lyrics in my head. Sometimes I wake up from dreams with melodies in my head and then run to the keyboard to play them. Sometimes I hear something on the news that angers me so much that it becomes a song. I don’t collaborate often but when I do, I love it.

9. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

ENERGY WHORES:

I am always opened to constructive criticism and knowledge. As for haters and trolls it seems they have nothing better to do then put people down. I guess it makes them feel better about themselves which is sad. I chose to ignore them. Instead of letting them into my head, I pay attention to the positive and nurture fellow musicians because what they do is amazing and should be encouraged. Hopefully this will help cancel out the negative.

10. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

ENERGY WHORES: I’m not an in front of a camera or on a stage person. I will perform but I’d rather hide under the bed. I love creating in my studio and letting the creativity flow. I’m in awe of people who easily get on stage and let loose. I was once asked “what kind of lighting do you want on stage” and I said “None”.