ARGYRO on Melody, Space and the California Mythology of She’s So LA

ARGYRO’s “She’s So LA” treats Los Angeles less as a map point than as a visual language: coastlines, desert light, image and attraction compressed into a melodic pop-rock song. The project belongs to Denver-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actor Scott Argiro, who wrote and recorded the track in Denver while drawing on the California places he returns to in both life and imagination.

That distance between setting and creation is part of the song’s character. Argiro performs every studio instrument and vocal except Damon Wood’s lead and rhythm guitars, while longtime collaborator Elgin Cahill directed the video. In the conversation below, ARGYRO explains why melody comes first, how acting sharpens his visual instincts and why leaving space in an arrangement can say more than filling every measure.

ARGYRO: The Exposed Vocals Interview

“She’s So LA” was written and recorded in Denver. What made Los Angeles the right symbol for the attraction and image you wanted to explore?

Los Angeles and California have held a recurring place in my writing. I spend a lot of time there, particularly in Calabasas and Malibu. Those areas are so beautiful and have such a distinct vibe that it’s difficult not to become artistically inspired during each visit.

How does your acting background shape the way you write a character-driven song or perform for a camera?

I’ve always been a visual person. I usually have images, particularly scenery, in mind when I’m writing a song. Having an acting background helps, even when I’m in front of a microphone, to authentically translate storylines and melodies and, hopefully, convey some of those images I have in mind.

You handle nearly every instrument and vocal yourself. Which part of the arrangement established the song’s identity first?

Melody always dictates the song to me. I usually write on guitar or piano, singing a melody over a basic chord structure until I come across something interesting. Music comes first; the lyrics then follow.

What did Damon Wood’s guitars add that you deliberately left open in your own performance?

I tried to simplify the tracks I provided Damon rather than filling them up with extraneous instruments. I wanted to leave room for him to fill out the song melodically, which he accomplished masterfully. He is a tremendous player with creative vision and impeccable timing.

How did Elgin Cahill translate the song’s ideas about image and performance into the video without simply illustrating the lyrics?

Elgin and I have worked together over the years here in Denver on music videos, TV commercials, and movies. At this point, he seems to understand my recurring themes and vision. I’ll send him an MP3 of a track, and he immediately comes back with brilliant ideas that complement the song. He is an extremely talented producer and director.

Where does “She’s So LA” sit inside the larger world of Glitterati?

“She’s So LA” is a simple pop song with soaring guitar melodies. Like “Cool Shades,” I think it creates a mood and visual atmosphere. I can’t help but picture deserts and coastlines when I listen to the track, and hopefully my listeners feel the same.

What do you want listeners to understand about ARGYRO after hearing this single that they might miss from the surface style alone?

Hopefully, listeners will appreciate the melody and space I try to create in my music. I’m first and foremost a drummer who spent years playing complicated time signatures and rapid-fire notes. In my songwriting, I’ve come to appreciate space in music—letting the band play and letting a song breathe. I hope listeners continue to pick up on that and appreciate that kind of approach.

ARGYRO’s answers locate the song’s polish in restraint rather than excess. The California scenery supplies the frame, but the working method is rooted in Denver: melody before ornament, room for collaborators and enough open space for the listener to enter the scene.