Husks is the brainchild of Brooklyn singer, producer, and composer Connor Small. A multi-instrumentalist, Small has a penchant for crafting dark, experimental electronic-pop atmospheres: fusing icey synths, and booming industrial percussion with delicate, vulnerable vocals.
Born in Philadelphia, Husks began writing & producing during his senior year of college. After relocating to Brooklyn in 2015, he began to shape his sound, drawing influence from alt-pop, trip-hop, industrial, and baroque music. His shadowy debut EP featured five tightly crafted dark-pop songs that explored the sinking depths of a turbulent break-up in a new and unfamiliar city. Thematically, his 2021 forthcoming album, Somewhere, There Is a Garden Where You May Rest is influenced by his religious upbringing, exploring themes of purity, anxiety, tension and isolation in the face of cosmic uncertainty.
Getting to know Husks
Hi! please introduce yourself
Hi there! I’m Husks, I’m a Brooklyn (soon to be LA) based experimental pop artist and producer.
If you were to write an autobiography, what would the title be?
Save Me, Synthesizers
What’s the last tv show you watched?
I’ve actually been binging old episodes of the X-Files. The music and creepy 90’s aesthetic have been pretty inspiring for my music, plus it’s good campy fun.
If you could ask your future self-one question, what would it be?
“So, did it all work out?”
What’s your favorite board game?
I actually am an avid Magic, the Gathering player – hope that counts! I love the complexity and the strategy of it.
What’s your favorite children’s story?
Goodnight, Moon. My mom used to read it to me every night and it’s the most nostalgia
What first got you into music?
I’m not sure what got me into music to be honest, I think it’s always just been an integral part of me from the beginning. But I do have some standout memories. The first was I remember when I was around 3 years old, I used to drive my mother crazy by pulling all of our pots and pans out of the bottom cupboard and banging on them with spoons or my hands. I think that was probably an early indication to her of what kind of person I was going to be! My parents always had music playing in the house, so I think I just picked it up from a young age. The first time I can remember really considering being a musician was in high school. I was incredibly lucky to have a pretty rich music program at my school, and I got involved with a cappella, chorus and jazz band. But we also had a little music studio where I was able to go in and learn the basics of garageband and composition. From that point on, I was always in there working on something because I was obsessed, and also hated school. I was bullied a ton so I think it was both a passion and an escape and took on more meaning than just being around music growing up. It became a real obsession for me.
If you could open a show for any artist, who would it be?
Tough call, but I’d have to go with FKA twigs. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen her perform before, and I think just being around and performing with an artist with a vision like hers would be life changing.
What would you be doing right now if you weren’t pushing a music career?
I think I’d like to still be involved with music in some capacity, but I would like to be doing something to help people and give back to the community. Someday I’d like to start a foundation that helps under-privileged children gain access to music production equipment and tools to help them learn composition and recording, but I could also see myself going back to school for music therapy in the way, way future.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
My dad always had two pieces of advice growing up that stuck with me. The first was “if you’re going to do something, do it right the first time.” He didn’t mean don’t fail or make mistakes, but rather to not cut corners. The second was “measure twice, cut once.” He’s an amateur carpenter, so this was in reference to the various projects he was working on. So, growing up and helping him with those projects, I learned how precise he was prior to moving forward with cutting any wood. I think this always stuck with me because it taught me how to prepare and how to be detail oriented. I think that’s come out a lot in my songwriting and especially in my music production.
What are your top two favorite albums of all time? why?
LP 1 by FKA twigs and MASSEDUCTION by St. Vincent. I really love how both of those artists push the boundaries of pop, while still being so catchy and embodying their own sound. It’s everything I strive for in my own work.