This second installment in yours truly’s Pen Friends Forever series (you remember the one where we ask fans to write love letters to their band crushes) brings together two absolutely A-list ladies: Amber Schadewald and Ramona Gonzalez.

Dear Nite Jewel,

Nite Jewel is totally rad! I can’t believe you insist on recording eight-track devices and old school gadgets— I used to really like making cassettes back in the day, but I can’t say I’ve done anything of the sort since my “sixth-grade sleepover, saxophone rehearsal, faux shampoo commercial” mix-tape. It was pretty hot. What is it about vintage electronics that you love so much?

Layer upon layer of 80s inspiration, electronic lace, disco moves and peppered hints of early-‘90s R&B and hip-hop make all 206 of my bones giddy; I have a mad crush on your sound. What band and/or song has your heart this week?

Your dedication to rhythmically remixing the past can’t be the only thing you do that requires a flashback— are you an avid thriftier or antique stemware collector? Do you consider yourself an old soul?

While listening to Another Horizon in my kitchen today, I was suddenly transported to a tropical island in space. Moaning radioactive creatures calling out to me amongst echoing drums, delayed island hints and laid back, simulated instruments. The call and response of your coconut-milk voice exudes grace similar to that of my grandmother, Rose, yet with a modern confidence. What kind of settings or animals do you hope come to mind for listeners of Nite Jewel?

I really enjoy your ‘Custom Hand Drawn Beverage T-shirts’ on your website and I’ve been trying to imagine my drink of choice in the penciled form. How are you at sketching vodka? What’s your favorite liquid to draw? Do you like Lisa Frank?

Yours Truly,
Amber

And here’s Ramona…

Dear Amber,

I apologize for the delay in writing you back!  i’ve been hopping around the country and just got over a nasty cold.  now’s time to answer your questions.

Well amber, i must say that a nice combination of new and old always lends itself to the most textural landscapes.  this is not a mystery.  you know, recording on tape, using vintage synthesizers.  pretty common phenomenon in record production.  i happened upon an 8 track because it was a gift from a friend.  a cheap gift/way to record.  the vintage synths were inspired by what seemed the most accessible for me at the time.  it’s easy to get used to a synth with two oscillators and a few knobs than one with a wildly sophisticated computer software.

TEEN INC.!!

My parents said i looked like an old soul at birth.  i once kept a log of vanity plates that i saw around my hometown as a kid.  but everything in my house is for use, really; i try not to collect

I would hope people can extrapolate any setting or animal when they listen to nite jewel.  their vision of the future or the past.  most of my lyrics are purely metaphysical so they can be anything really if one is capable of abstract thinking.  you don’t have to talk about pizza and suntans by talking about pizza and suntans; everyone’s so literal these days.

Actually, emily draws the beverage tees for the most part.  she’s excellent at all beverages, though i actually must say her boyfriend did a great sketch of wheat grass on a tote bag once.  as for lisa frank, you caught me.  i collected her stickers as a kid.  i guess i might be pathological at this point; i’m on the fifth day of a cleanse!

I guess this is goodbye amber, but we’ll see each other again.

love,

nite jewel