Kieran Webber
Director and Founder of CLUNK Magazine, CLUNK Events, and other CLUNK affiliate businesses. You’ll probably find me tucked away somewhere sending emails, listening to music, and creating content.
L.A based artist Earth To Cheska opens up about “unhinged” touring schedule, Avril Lavigne and her influence, and more
It’s hard to avoid an artist such as Earth To Cheska due to her bombastic pop-punk sound and anarchic nature. This sentiment is felt strongly through her latest single ‘Girls Gone Wild’, which was our initial introduction to the rising L.A artist. The full throttle, high octane release caught us hook, line, and sinker and left us eager to know more about Cheska.
We recently caught up with Cheska on a rare day off during her intense tour across the UK (and Europe). Cheska talked about her 2024 highlights (so far), Avril Lavigne and her influence, and much more.
Kieran: Hey Cheska, thanks for taking time to chat with us! How have you been?
Cheska: Of course, it’s my pleasure! I’m currently in a hotel in London on a day off. This is month 3 of 4 months of consecutive touring around the US/Canada, and Europe/The UK. I’m now realizing that doing back to back tours is a bit unhinged, and I am sleepier than usual, but I’m having way too much much fun seeing new places and meeting everyone at shows.
Kieran: It looks like 2024 has been hectic for you so far, what’s been the highlights?
Cheska: Probably the biggest highlight for me was Set it Off’s Deathless Tour. It was a 2 month run of pure insanity across the US and parts of Canada. I broke a bass string, got pierced in a green room in Philadelphia, got 3 stitches on my finger after the New York show, obliterated my shoes (then duct taped them together), and started releasing music that really felt like me. A lot has happened this year, but I also feel like I’m just beginning. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.
Kieran: So, how long have you been making music and when did the project Earth To Cheska begin?
Cheska: I’ve been making music since I was 12. I started a pop punk tween band called A+ Dropouts that I was in until I was 18. We did Warped Tour, Summerfest, 2 tours in the Philippines and then I just kinda stopped. I went to UCLA for economics, tried the real job thing, and realized that no matter what I had to play music again. Earth to Cheska was born almost exactly a year ago in Paris when I opened the DeathbyRomy show. It was the first time in a LONG time that I got to play my own music in front of people and since that day, I’ve been focusing on writing and recording my own songs in between touring for other artists.
Kieran: What people or artists have inspired you to start making music?
Cheska: Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go” album is the first album I ever listened to on repeat as a kid. After that it was the Beatles, then Slash (I was WAY too young to read his autobiography. But there is a photo of 10 year old me grinning from ear to ear at his book signing. He was MY guitar hero.). I grew up going to Warped Tour so basically anything on Emo Nite’s DJ rotation has probably somehow shaped me into who I am.
“Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go” album is the first album I ever listened to on repeat as a kid.“
Cheska – 2024
Kieran: What’s a common misconception of being an artist based in L.A?
Cheska: The most common misconception is that being in LA will guarantee you opportunities. Honestly LA can be a really isolating and scary city when you first start out. At least in my experience, it took years to finally find people who not only saw me for me, but who saw where I could go and helped lift me so that I could also see that for myself. I have to credit my girls Deathbyromy and Jayden Hammer for not only inspiring me by being badasses themselves, but for reminding me of the badass I am and always was. If you’re having trouble in LA, search high and low for your people. Like I always say, friendship is punk rock anarchy.
Kieran: You recently dropped your latest single ‘Girls Gone Wild’, can you talk us through the meaning of this track and what it means to you?
Cheska: “Girls Gone Wild” is a girly punk anthem that’s intended to be a bit silly and tongue and cheek, but also be loud in its feminine rage. Historically, I’ve been someone who has quieted myself and let people walk all over me for the sake of being a “nice girl”. I’m a people pleaser to a fault and even if I have real opinions, I have a hard time speaking up. So I made the loudest, catchiest song I could so me and all the girls in the pit could scream and lose our voices together. At my first Earth to Cheska show in LA, I opened up the pit to the girls for this song, and every girl was shrieking “NO ONE CALLS ME BABY BUT MY MOTHER”. It was loud and beautiful. We are women. You WILL hear us. That’s the whole goal of the song.
Listen/watch ‘Girls Gone Wild’ here:
Kieran: Your music has a real palpable energy and I imagine this gets rowdy live, what do you like to bring to your live shows?
Cheska: Haha thank you! Yes I do love to get rowdy. I’ve always believed it’s the performer’s job to get the audience involved. All of my songs have the live show in mind and I try to make parts that are easy to learn and sing, even if you don’t know them. There is something so beautiful about raising your voice, and it’s easier to do in a group than alone. So the more I can actively bring people together, the better I’m doing my job as an artist.
Kieran: Lastly, what else can we expect from you in 2024?
Cheska: More songs! More tours! and more Earth to Cheska shows! 😀