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Since forming in 2015, Particular Curiosity – the New Orleans no-wave outfit composed of vocalist Alli Logout, guitarist Maria Elena, bassist Nathan Cassiani, and synth and drum programmer Ruth Mascelli – have been pushing their sound in abrasive and thrilling new instructions. Fusing numerous strands of punk, ambient, techno, and industrial music, the band’s first two albums, 2018’s Spiraling and 2020’s The Ardour Of, impressed with their visceral, claustrophobic, and at instances chaotic sounds, resulting in a report cope with Tough Commerce. Right this moment, Particular Curiosity are releasing their first LP for the label, the exceptional Endure, which they started engaged on in the summertime of 2020.
The ensuing songs retain the extreme physicality that marked the group’s prior work whereas injecting a complete new dynamism into what was already a radically creative imaginative and prescient: by additional embracing the probabilities of pop and disco, they reveal a fair wider canvas of feeling. Endure plunges into typically ambiguous however at all times pure expressions of pleasure, rage, solance, and grief, wielding them as weapons of resistance towards a ruthless capitalist system that feeds on violence; whether or not it pulses with euphoria or seethes in desperation, that actuality stays an inescapable backdrop. However even with the knowledge that society is hurtling in the direction of an inevitable collapse, Particular Curiosity are too energized of their communion to remain in a single place. “The tip of the world is only a vacation spot,” Logout sings on ‘LA Blues’, “I needed to develop to like/ Sure and now I do know I’m not unworthy of affection.”
We caught up with Particular Curiosity for this version of our Artist Highlight interview sequence to speak concerning the making of Endure, their dynamic as a gaggle, storytelling as an act of care, and extra.
Like many bands in the course of the pandemic, you discovered yourselves in a spot the place you can embrace experimentation extra freely. Are you able to paint an image of what that experimentation would appear to be when acquired collectively in a room?
Nathan Cassiani: Effectively, the room was very poorly lit and had no home windows. [laughs] We began engaged on these songs a couple of months after The Ardour Of got here out, most likely late July or August of 2020, and clearly that was deep COVID time. It was summer time in New Orleans, so there wasn’t plenty of social issues taking place regardless, however once we acquired collectively to jot down music, that was principally virtually our solely social outlet at the moment. I’d say that that positively knowledgeable among the moods for the songwriting.
Ruth Mascelli: We additionally weren’t enjoying any exhibits and didn’t have the again of an viewers once we have been writing the songs, so I feel that allowed us to get rather a lot weirder, as a result of we have been much less targeted on making one thing that was simply actually hard-hitting dwell and get slightly extra delicate and go in instructions we wouldn’t usually do. It was exhausting to jot down like that, nevertheless it took us in some cool instructions.
What was troublesome about it?
RM: Normally prior to now, I really feel like we have been actually targeted on documenting what we might play dwell with our recordings, making an attempt to get an image of that, perhaps do a couple of little overdubs, however actually not a lot. You provide you with an thought, you then go and play a half-formed model of it in entrance of a crowd and see the way it goes over, and it lets you get that rapid suggestions from the viewers.
Alli Logout: We have been actually fortunate that we had a observe house that was large enough for all of us to really feel comfy and correctly social distance.
Maria Elena: Our observe house has at all times felt like a superb place to make stuff. I feel we’re additionally realizing that it would simply be our chemistry – we’ve been a band for seven years, so we’ve gotten actually comfy with one another.
There’s a form of spontaneity to the best way you’re employed collectively, however I’m curious, when an thought comes up, how are you aware collectively – to begin with that it really works, and secondly that you simply’re all following it alongside the identical path?
AL: There’s no rhyme and cause to it. Songs actually simply come out of us – nicely, not all songs, however plenty of songs would actually simply come out of us instantly throughout the first take. It’s actually surreal, and actually thrilling. It’s simply one thing that’s inside it’s all 4 of us – I don’t know, perhaps we name the 4 corners or one thing [laughs], however that’s the way it feels. I don’t assume there’s very a lot any logic apart from it’s simply one thing that’s taking place. God is alive, magic is aloof.
NC: Particularly, I really feel like ‘Midnight Legend’, and to a point ‘LA Blues’ as nicely – clearly issues take a unique construction over time however the important parts of these songs, once they come collectively, it’s apparent that it’s working.
When the construction does change, is that part of the method the place there’s extra of a self-consciousness coming in, if you’re making an attempt to sculpt the track into one thing that feels full?
NC: Coming again to what we have been saying earlier about engaged on stuff within the studio versus testing issues dwell, I feel ‘Midnight Legend’ slightly bit, and likewise ‘Kurdish Radio’ however another way, we have been realizing that the best way the lyrical construction labored with the music needed to play out a bit totally different as soon as we have been really within the studio. And I feel we did that much more with this album that took much more time within the studio, outdoors of the observe house once we have been really recording, and that’s once we would flesh out the songs.
AL: ‘Kurdish Radio’ was initially going to be an instrumental, and at some point listening to it, it actually touched me and I used to be like, “We have to lengthen to it, and I would like to jot down lyrics to it.”
Alli, you additionally experiment and push your voice in new methods on this report, and I’m questioning if, for you personally, there was a component of intentionality to that exact form of development.
AL: I feel similar to with any common development as an individual, issues to vary and issues must develop, however I by no means actually got down to sing particularly on songs. It’s simply what made sense whereas we have been jamming issues. I did get a little bit of confidence from our final album with the one track that I sing on, and I used to be like, “Possibly I ought to discover this.” I’m actually pleased that I did. It’s scary, as a result of I’m not a skilled singer. I’m actually watching TikTok [laughs] – I noticed TikToks this morning, even. However it’s actually thrilling to push myself as a vocalist on this new realm. I’m studying rather a lot about what I can do and what I can’t do, my limits, and actually taking a look at different artists. It’s a brand new journey and it’s a scary one, but additionally, it’s actually beautiful to do with these individuals, as a result of they know that even when we’re like skilled musicians now, it’s all very new. And there’s plenty of care with that.
Listening again to the report, is there something that also feels shocking about what got here out of that exploration?
NC: I used to be stunned. [laughs] After we have been engaged on ‘LA Blues’, I might hear among the vocal melodies, however I didn’t actually know the lyrics, and I couldn’t actually absolutely hear the vocals till we heard the recording. And that was actually shocking. I’m nonetheless very impressed by that track, the way it all got here collectively.
ME: As we have been recording, each time somebody did one thing totally different, however particularly with the vocal melodies and lyrics, for me, I used to be similar to, “What? What? Huh? Yeah!” [laughs] Everybody did these little additions, like Nathan would do some acoustic guitar overdub on one thing after which Ruth would do a brand new piano factor, and I’d be like, “Whaaat?” It was simply so thrilling. It was tremendous enjoyable. Everybody’s a genius.
A part of the explanation the songs resonated with me has to do with how actual and vivid the storytelling feels. I feel you encapsulate it completely on ‘Midnight Legend’, the place you sing, “Gained’t you inform me all about your story/ And concerning the day that you simply didn’t need to combat?/ Im simply right here to hear/ Sound board to your visions.” Additionally, is that the position you are feeling such as you’re taking over as a author and artist, that’s mirrored within the band as a complete?
AL: Nice query. As a filmmaker, storytelling may be very a lot part of my observe as a complete. And I feel what additionally makes a superb storyteller is any person who’s actually good at observing and listening – listening, the precise observe, is one thing I really feel I’ve realized prior to now two years. ‘Midnight Legend’, I had so many mates in thoughts, but additionally myself in thoughts. I feel that’s inside each single one of many little narratives which can be inside every track, totally different views and appears at issues and folks.
I feel what actually goes into it too, for a minimum of us as a band, like, I’m not an expert singer, we didn’t know too nicely play our devices at first. There was plenty of trial and error and listening and observe, and I feel that that’s simply what sort of goes into this band and us as individuals, as listeners and storytellers, to inform these tales with plenty of care. Like in ‘Midnight Legend’, with the ability to simply see any person and hearken to them, I feel that’s very a lot part of our observe as a band, as individuals who didn’t come from an expert music background or studied music. It’s part of us in that means, too.
Does everybody else really feel that in themselves? Do you are feeling like being within the band has made you extra attentive as individuals and higher listeners?
RM: I really feel prefer it’s positively one thing I try for in my life to be a greater listener, I don’t know if I’m at all times succeeding at that. However being in a band, positively, you need to observe communication rather a lot, and there’s plenty of group dynamics you need to navigate. So I feel that does in plenty of methods put together you to work together with individuals higher.
ME: I can take into consideration performances the place issues go improper, nobody ever is like, “Hey, that went improper,” as a result of we simply transfer ahead ‘trigger that’s all you are able to do. There’ll be peaks and valleys, insane, surreal moments of what looks as if pinnacles of inventive achievement, after which crevices of humiliation. [all laugh] Deep, deep cracks within the earth. And I feel we naturally have the power to be open to one another’s concepts and never be overly essential. As a result of I feel everybody very personally most likely has plenty of self-criticism stuff, we’re all overcoming interior monologues.
AL: Now impostor syndrome.
ME: [laughs] Yeah.
‘LA Blues’ looks like a pure extension of what we have been speaking about when it comes to every track containing these little tales, and also you’re type of amassing them and distilling the core emotion out of it ultimately. Inform me extra about placing that one collectively.
NC: It’s humorous, as a result of that was one of many first ones we began writing, but additionally perhaps one of many final ones we completed within the studio. And I feel that, from the start, I deliberately stored issues quite simple, which I feel form of made it open to construct on simpler.
RM: We might simply play that one for actually lengthy intervals of time, and it felt actually good. That’s a few of my favorite reminiscences of writing the music, once we have been first doing that. It was simply tremendous repetitive and actually captured the temper of that summer time and that second. However that’s positively one which, as a result of I couldn’t actually hear you, Alli, within the again house, what you have been doing, so I didn’t actually know what the vocals have been going to be till it was time to report and correctly see the complete image. We needed to form of restructure plenty of issues round that, nevertheless it was simply this lengthy dirge at first.
NC: And it’s about Louisiana, not Los Angeles.
There’s rather a lot to unpack, however I wished to deliver up the ultimate portion of the track, the place, Alli, you repeat the phrase “Why?” That’s simply me, nevertheless it form of jogged my memory of Eddie Vedder –
[screams, laughter]
AL: I really like Eddie! Oh my god!
ME: How do you know?
AL: All people hates me however I really like Eddie Vedder.
ME: We hate that about them.
AL: That’s humorous as a result of I really by no means put that collectively, however it is extremely well-known that Alli loves Eddie Vedder. I by no means put that along with ‘LA Blues’, that’s so humorous.
Particularly the outro to ‘Black’, that track –
AL: That’s the one, I find it irresistible! [Maria claps] ‘Black’ is my favorite track.
There’s only a pure desperation and grief in it the place it’s like, the place are you able to presumably go from there? I really feel such as you seize one thing related in your individual, very highly effective means on ‘LA Blues’. However I’m curious what feeling it leaves you with, if you first got here up with and each time you sing that half.
AL: Every time I used to be writing it, I feel we got here up with the identify ‘LA Blues’ earlier than the lyrics, so I used to be meditating on the truth that it was known as ‘LA Blues’, like Louisiana. I form of did this stock of my years in New Orleans. I actually did dwell on prime of a Vietnam vet named Johnny. There was a trashy white supremacist dude throughout the road who was fixing up the home. All these tales are very visceral and intense for me, as a result of it’s all actual. After which within the “Why?” half – the track was a approach to grieve a managed means.
We haven’t ever accomplished ‘LA Blues’ dwell, so I don’t actually know the way I’m gonna react to it dwell. We did within the studio within the BBC the opposite day, however I felt so nervous I wasn’t even feeling the track. I used to be similar to, Hit this be aware, do it proper. I haven’t had an opportunity to love really feel it whereas enjoying dwell, however like with ‘Avenue Pulse Beat’, typically I for certain cry or get teary. However ‘LA Blues’, to me now, in my head it performs out like a film. I see all of it very clearly as I’m singing it, I’m seeing the truck drive by, I’m seeing all this stuff.
It’s additionally not particularly about one individual on the whole. The place ’Avenue Pulse Blues’ is pointing in the direction of a romantic curiosity, ‘LA Blues’ is way extra open than that. I used to be making an attempt to channel this collective grief that I used to be seeing everyone else additionally experiencing round me with totally different individuals at totally different instances of their life. I don’t assume I’ve ever mentioned, however for the report, the grief that I’m primarily speaking about is thru gun violence. Me and my neighbours and folks round me have been actively affected by that. It’s form of a theme on the album; I discuss it in ‘My Displeasure’ too.
Are you able to every share one factor that evokes you about the remainder of the band?
AL: There’s a lot about every particular person as an individual. I’m actually overwhelmed and overjoyed by Maria’s silliness – the identical with everyone, I really feel. However Nathan, your work ethic, you’re similar to a powerhouse. And Ruth, you’re an iconic… an iconic ding-dong within the band. [all laugh]
RM: Okay…
I’m sorry, an iconic what?
NC: Ruth’s development as a musician has actually formed the sound of this band.
AL: Yeah, completely.
ME: Ruth has two devices, the drums and the synths. And each track begins with Ruth.
AL: The ding-dong within the band.
RM: [laughs] We’re all a chunk of the puzzle.
ME: Okay, so, Nathan brings a definitiveness that none of us can present individually. “That is sure, that is no, you’ll be able to’t do that, you are able to do that.” It’s a superpower.
AL: It’s nice.
ME: After which, Alli’s the one which brings a imaginative and prescient that I don’t see coming. It’ll be one thing that I would assume, “There’s no means this received’t be embarrassing,” after which it appears to be like good. They’re the form of “Why not?” within the group. After which… Ruth is a ding-dong [laughs] –
AL: However I feel additionally, what I imply by “ding-dong within the band” is simply, you’re so adaptable and moldable, and might get down with any state of affairs. And likewise, you’re so actually heartfelt and in contact along with your feelings. I really feel such as you’re some of the in-touch-with-your-emotions folks that I’ve ever met.
RM: Wow.
AL: And also you’re really capable of, like, say these issues. That’s what I imply by “ding-dong within the band.”
Is there the rest that you simply’d wish to share?
ME: As we have been doing this, I used to be like, our interviews are like {couples} counseling as a result of we’ve been by way of so many of those and replicate on us individually, us as artists, as people, as mates, us as, like, life companions. Particularly now that we really dedicated to being within the band and signing with Tough Commerce, it’s type of like, “Oh, this actually is one thing that might be part of our lives without end.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability and size.
Particular Curiosity’s Endure is out now by way of Tough Commerce.
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