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Seashore Fossils might take their time between information, however they all the time appear to reach at simply the precise time. Out this Friday, Bunny is their first studio album since 2017’s lush, revitalizing Somersault, although in 2021 the Brooklyn band launched The Different Aspect of Life: Piano Ballads, which noticed frontman Dustin Payseur reimagining tracks from throughout their catalog as jazz piano ballads. We’re a couple of weeks away from the official first day of summer season, however in lots of locations the markers of the season are already making themselves clear and ample; Bunny has that feeling of each endlessly reaching towards and basking within the heat of a well-known solar, evoking a hazy nostalgia whereas distancing itself from the naivety of youth: “I’ll be your contender/ If we are able to reside eternally/ Caught on this landslide/ Are we gonna be operating until the top of our lives?” Payseur sings on ‘Dare Me’. The singer and guitarist, who recorded and produced the album himself, tackles perennial themes like longing, friendship, and despair, however his perspective feels recent as he surveys the adjustments in his life; the music, retaining components from each Seashore Fossils document since 2011’s What a Pleasure EP, is without delay sunny and wistful, but additionally extra hook-focused and subtly psychedelic. It could be the precise soundtrack you’re on the lookout for.
We caught up with Dustin Payseur to speak about among the inspirations behind Bunny, together with Chet Baker, Los Angeles, parenthood, the mixture of espresso and Ativan, and extra.
Chet Baker
I do know your love of Chet Baker was a part of what impressed your final LP, The Different Aspect of Life: Piano Ballads. How did he inform your method to this album?
Chet Baker is form of a continuing for me once I’m listening to music. It’s one thing that I placed on virtually on daily basis, at dinner or once I’m simply winding down on the finish of the night time. It’s all the time good, and it’s one thing that I by no means get bored with. One factor that I actually love about his singing is that, so many crooners from that period actually attempt to belt it out and showcase the voice virtually prefer it’s like an Olympic expertise, and I believe Chet Baker was all the time somebody who sang in a means that was very understated. He wasn’t making an attempt to blow you away with technical potential, though he did have it. However he held again, and he hardly ever used vibrato together with his voice. I believe I do a really comparable method with my music. Technically, I’m able to greater than what goes on the Seashore Fossils information, however I prefer to maintain it quite simple and minimal and scale it again. The phrase “understated” is one thing that I all the time remember once I’m engaged on music, and I discover Chet Baker to be a continuing supply of inspiration.
Is there a stability that you simply’re aware of between attaining that understated high quality and ensuring the music is expressive?
I discover that it’s truly more durable to make one thing that’s scaled down and extra understated, as a result of I believe the method to an instrument is to showcase your technical potential. You see that with a variety of musicians, they simply are so wanting to to indicate off what they’ll do, even after they’re not in entrance of an viewers. I’ve been within the follow area with sure individuals who simply can’t cease taking part in, and we are able to’t discuss as a result of somebody’s all the time making an attempt out one thing. I’m like, “I get it. Can we pull this again somewhat bit?” I believe much less is extra, and the extra you possibly can scale it again, the extra human it’s, the extra approachable it’s. Issues don’t should be so difficult. I don’t hearken to music for technical potential in any respect. That form of music that’s very noodly and shredding turns me off virtually instantly. I might a lot reasonably hearken to Daniel Johnston or one thing.
Gregg Araki’s 1993 movie Completely F***ed Up
I really like Greg Araki, and I believe my preliminary introduction was The Doom Era, which I noticed a few years in the past and I’ve watched so many occasions. I believe he does unbelievable work with a really weird, form of nihilistic coming-of-age film. It’s like a wandering sense of youth in America, what meaning and the place your home is as an individual who’s looking for their means, and likewise as a queer individual, in a world the place you’re feeling like an outsider. He showcases a variety of violence in his films as properly – generally in comedic methods, and generally in methods which can be very critical and actual and human. He’s been in a position to do one thing together with his movies that transcends movie, in a means, and likewise transcends eras and generations. The way in which that he makes use of music in his movies can be so nice. The soundtrack for Completely F***ed Up is wonderful, as a result of it’s half lovely, melancholy shoegaze, and the opposite half is simply actually harsh industrial music, and people are the one two forms of music within the film. That form of uncooked vitality of extremes – excessive calm and excessive ferociousness – I really like that a lot. It’s a film I’ve watched many occasions and have been impressed by after we have been engaged on the primary couple music movies [for Bunny]. He’s any person who I might like to work with probably in some unspecified time in the future, if any alternative ever got here up.
Los Angeles
My first introduction to LA was being on tour. Beginning in New York, by the point we acquired to LA, I used to be all the time in a really existential, form of nihilistic way of thinking, the place we have been midway via the tour and I used to be normally fairly burnt out and exhausted. We might come to LA, play the present, go away the subsequent day, and I by no means actually acquired a lot time there. Just a few years in the past, there was a mass exodus from New York to LA, the place most of my pals left New York and went to LA. I used to be like, “Why the fuck are folks going on the market?” After we labored on Somersault, we went out to LA for a few month to work with Jonathan Rado at his house studio, and whereas we have been spending time on the market, all of it clicked. I used to be like, I get why everybody got here out right here, it’s wonderful. You’ll be able to go climbing inside the metropolis limits, the climate is ideal on a regular basis, you possibly can go to the seashore. There’s a lot about it that that I instantly discovered gorgeous that I’d by no means seen earlier than, and I form of fell in love with LA.
For years, I used to be pondering critically if I ought to transfer on the market, as a result of I felt worn down and exhausted by New York and wanted a change of surroundings. I believe I used to be feeling the identical issues that every one my pals have been feeling after they went on the market. However fortunately, it’s a spot that I’ve gone quite a bit, engaged on music and music movies and taking part in reveals. We discover ourselves on the market quite a bit as a band, and I really feel prefer it’s my second house. I’ve already been on the market like six occasions this yr, spending a very good period of time as a result of our drummer Anton [Hochheim] lives on the market. Every time I get within the automotive from the airport and begin going via the town, I instantly really feel relaxed. Even when it’s a piece journey, it finally ends up feeling like a trip. Now that I’ve so many pals on the market, it’s lovely as a result of I simply get to see all these folks that I really like. It’s a spot that has been very inspiring for us as a band and as people, and I believe a variety of that has come via within the music. We spend a variety of time jamming or arising with concepts on the market, and I combined the album on the market. I really feel like once I’m in LA, I can’t assist however to be impressed in a significant means, and in a means that beforehand New York had solely impressed me. I used to be visualizing a variety of LA whereas I used to be engaged on the music and the lyrics for this album.
Espresso and Ativan
This ties into ‘Something is Something’, which begins with the road, “Espresso and ativan/ My thrills are getting low cost.”
Some time again, I acquired a prescription for Adderall as a result of I’ve ADHD, and it’s very onerous for me to focus, which is probably a part of the rationale it takes me six years to place out a brand new document. I get distracted very simply, and I discover it onerous to decide to work or commit to truly ending something. I took it a couple of occasions and fully completed songs, and I used to be like, “That’s insane. This should be how folks usually really feel after they can sit down and work.” However I used to be like, “This isn’t one thing that I need to do recurrently, as a result of it looks as if it could possibly be harmful or unhealthy.” So I might solely use it sparingly. And I discovered that at any time when I used to be taking it, I used to be getting the worst complications that couldn’t go away quickly after taking it. So I used to be like, “I really like the best way this makes me focus, however I can’t cope with these complications.”
I’ve by no means drank espresso earlier than, as a result of it all the time gave me nervousness. However once I was writing the lyrics – I spent like 4 weeks writing the lyrics for this document after all of the music was accomplished – I used to be on this loopy schedule the place I might choose my daughter up from daycare, put her to mattress, after which round 9:00pm, I might begin chugging chilly brew and writing lyrics, and I might try this till about 8:30am. After which I might go to mattress and the cycle would repeat itself. I discovered that espresso was truly probably the greatest substances for creativity. I used to be like, “I can’t imagine I by no means tapped into this earlier than.” It’s one thing that everybody takes with no consideration. Everybody drinks it on daily basis, and I’d simply accomplished it for the primary time.
On the similar time I acquired the Adderall prescription, I additionally acquired a prescription for Ativan, which is for nervousness. I used to be having frequent panic assaults and horrible disassociation, out-of-body experiences due to nervousness and it made me actually uncomfortable, so I used to be given Ativan to assist calm these panics. And even having it on me once I would go round would stop a panic assault, as a result of I felt like I had an eject button at any time the place I used to be secure. The subsequent factor I in all probability don’t suggest to folks – it’s in all probability not wholesome – however I discovered that the mixture of ingesting espresso and taking Ativan collectively was unbelievable for engaged on lyrics. I might get centered, however it could take the sting off of any nervousness so I might keep centered and I might really feel very pure whereas I used to be writing. It form of grew to become routine for me whereas I used to be engaged on the lyrics for this document. In order that’s why the lyrics begin off the best way they do, as a result of that’s what I used to be doing once I wrote it.
Did that result in you taking a special angle with the lyrics, too?
I discovered that it could assist me break via sure partitions the place possibly I might be guarded. I do imagine that on the core each single residing human being is an artist if they’ll simply faucet into it, and with the ability to faucet into it’s one thing that’s not straightforward to do. I imagine everybody might get there in the event that they actually wished to, but it surely takes quite a bit to be trustworthy and to say one thing that you simply’re embarrassed of, or to be extraordinarily susceptible and speak about your fears and your flaws and your errors overtly in entrance of an infinite quantity of individuals. That’s one thing that’s form of all the time come pure to me, however I did discover that whereas I used to be engaged on the lyrics for this document, it helped pull down these boundaries much more.
Parenthood
You’ve talked about how the start of your daughter impressed ‘Run to the Moon’, but it surely’s not solely direct or express within the lyrics. How did turning into a dad or mum have an effect on that potential to faucet into your self?
I discovered that turning into a dad or mum impacted me a lot greater than I anticipated. After I thought of having a child, folks I do know which have youngsters have been like, “It adjustments you, it adjustments your perspective, it makes you worth sure issues extra, and it makes you chop out a variety of the surplus fats in your life that you simply don’t want.” And I used to be like, “Properly, I already form of reside that means. I don’t assume it’s actually going to vary me that a lot.” And I believe the primary few months and even yr of my daughter being born, I didn’t really feel prefer it modified me that a lot. After which, once I sat and mirrored on it and thought of it, I believe it actually did even have a significant influence on who I’m as an individual and as an artist.
It’s made me be a lot extra intentional with my life and the best way I’m going via life, taking higher care of myself. It’s additionally made me empathetic in a brand new means that I didn’t think about it might. And it helped me faucet into my creativity in a means that was a lot faster than earlier than. Typically I might sit down with a guitar or bass, or sit down to jot down lyrics, and it could take some time for one thing to return to me. It’s like my vitality had shifted one way or the other, the place now these items are coming to me simpler and faster, and I’m not worrying about them. I’m feeling much less guarded and extra open. I believe it’s it’s general made me a greater individual, really.
Did you’re feeling hesitant or protecting about bringing that into your songwriting?
Earlier than my daughter was born, after we have been anticipating her, I used to be like, I’m not going to jot down about being a dad or mum in any respect, as a result of that’s not one thing that pursuits me. I’ve by no means heard somebody’s music the place they’ve talked about being a dad or mum and felt moved by it or cared in any respect. It simply appears low cost and cliche and admittedly boring. And it’s like, my music is autobiographical, it’s basically a journal, and it is a factor that has modified me a lot as an individual. It’s modified my perspective and it’s modified my day by day life that I discovered it unimaginable to not write about. I simply needed to, so ‘Run to the Moon’ got here very naturally. I in all probability wrote these lyrics faster than any track on the album.
The Verve and Spiritualized
Why did you gravitate to those two bands particularly across the making of this album?
The Verve album A Storm in Heaven and Spiritualized’s Lazer Guided Melodies, these have been possibly the 2 largest inspirations on this new document. It was on fixed rotation for me. These are albums that I can by no means get bored with. I discover myself obsessing with sure albums at a time, and actually all the period of penning this new album, these have been like on the forefront, and once I talked to my bandmates was citing these references. They might come out immediately or not directly in elements of the album, however I discover that these are two of the best albums of all time, and likewise criminally underrated. The Verve, clearly their extra mainstream radio music has overshadowed that album, and Spiritualized by no means actually broke via to a mainstream viewers in the best way that I believe they need to. However these albums are good via and thru for me. I believe anyone who listens to these albums will see that there’s undoubtedly some inspiration on Bunny.
Dwelling studio
I recorded the primary Seashore Fossils album and What a Pleasure and at house. After which I began seeing my pals, like DIIV and Wild Nothing and different folks like that, going into studios to make albums, and I used to be like, “Possibly I ought to go right into a studio.” Conflict of Reality I recorded at house, however then I re-recorded it within the studio, which is the one which acquired launched, after which we later launched the demos as a result of I preferred the sound of recording it at house. Then with Somersault, I recorded it solely at house, after which we went to California and re-recorded it, after which I got here again and form of merged my favourite elements of the periods. I believe it took me a very long time to reconnect with this confidence that I had that I can do it myself and I don’t want anyone else to work on this with me. I’m very controlling with my imaginative and prescient, I do know precisely what I need and I do know precisely the right way to get there, and including another person to the combo is simply going to complicate issues and make it more durable to work.
I wished to improve my studio and get higher tools so I had what I wanted to make this document sound the best way that it should sound, however with out going overboard and getting an excessive amount of gear, as a result of I’m actually not a gearhead. There’s an enormous world for that, and it’s not likely one thing I need to be part of. I simply wished to have the ability to get beat that I wanted and belief it as soon as and simply have the ability to use it eternally. After I was constructing my new rack for my studio, I used to be speaking to Mac DeMarco quite a bit, and he form of urged all the gear that I ended up getting. He urged the mic that I acquired, he urged the the preamp and the compressor and different issues like that, and even sure forms of recording strategies. He was a really helpful pal to have throughout that point, and it instilled this confidence in me that I might do it myself.
As soon as I began recording with this new gear, I used to be re-recording outdated songs that have been within the works as a result of it simply sounded so significantly better. I’ve the area that I can work in the place I can really feel comfy, and I don’t really feel rushed. I will be fully alone – as a result of while you go right into a studio, there are folks I don’t know round, in order that’s onerous for me to work. There’s time constraints, and for essentially the most half, I’m simply sitting there eager about how costly that is. It’s like, you may pay to go to a studio and make an album with somebody each time you make an album, or you possibly can simply pay that quantity as soon as and have the gear your self. I’m so joyful working on this means, and I believe there’s no means that this album could possibly be what it’s with out that.
Bandmates
My bandmates are my greatest pals on this planet. I really like them a lot. I’ve a relationship with them that I worth as a lot as the connection I’ve with my spouse. It’s so shut and private and essential to me. We work rather well collectively, all of us have the identical humorousness, which is essential – preserving the morale up when you’re working and when you’re touring is invaluable. They carry out the very best model of myself. They’re not directly inspiring me and motivating me on a regular basis. I’m continually simply throwing out concepts once I consider them very spontaneously, I simply say all the pieces out loud. And since I’m ADHD, I normally overlook these concepts after I’ve stated them, and so they’re good at remembering them. They’re good at bringing it again up in an important time after we’re engaged on one thing, and it pushes me to work more durable and to not be lazy. They’re continually placing a fireplace below my ass to be the hardest-working model of myself I will be.
It’s humorous as a result of Jack [Doyle Smith] performs bass within the reside band, however on the recordings, I write and play all of the bass strains and he truly does a variety of the guitar work. He’s probably the greatest guitarists I do know, he comes up with such lovely, wonderful concepts, and the best way that he performs is so totally different than the best way that I play. And Tommy [Davidson] is such a fucking freak. I imply, he’s such a weirdo and such an incredible individual. He’s the form of individual that after we’re within the studio, he’s throwing out concepts continuous as properly, however his concepts are a lot weirder and extra avant-garde than something I might ever consider. For each 100 concepts he throws out, 99 of them I normally say no, and that by no means makes him really feel like he must cease throwing it concepts. As a result of when he throws out the one concept that works and is genius, it’s such a significant breakthrough, and it fully adjustments the best way that we’re working. And Anton is such a talented drummer. I normally program the drums in MIDI first, after which he is available in and I present him the elements, and he’s in a position to nail it so shortly and put his personal aptitude to it.
When he got here to New York to document the drums, I believe he recorded like 10 songs the primary day, and I had booked 4 days. So the subsequent day, we knocked out the ultimate songs, and we’re like, “What will we do with the remainder of our time?” So we had some inventive concepts there, the place, on ‘Waterfall’, Jack was taking part in piano to it within the subsequent room, and I used to be like, “Let’s observe that.” After which we referred to as a string trio, we put them on like three or 4 songs, very low within the combine. But it surely’s these form of concepts that my bandmates actually assist form that in any other case wouldn’t be there. I owe a variety of it to them.
Groundhog Day
It’s considered one of my favourite films. It’s additionally a film that I can watch again and again and never get sick of it, which you in all probability see is a theme with sure issues on my listing that I can bask in form of endlessly. It’s a film, to me, in regards to the flaws of human beings and shedding your attachment to your ego and genuinely turning into a greater individual. Within the film, he goes via all these totally different adjustments, the place he’s an asshole, and he begins utilizing the repetition of the day to be simply fully self-indulgent and nihilistic and self-destructive. At a sure level, he breaks via and begins utilizing it to higher himself, and at first among the methods he’s bettering himself is simply as a result of he desires to be seen as spectacular or wonderful by different folks. After which, at a sure level, he turns into so nice at so many alternative issues that he finally ends up simply doing it to genuinely assist different folks and genuinely turn out to be a very good individual and fully selfless.
I really like these concepts as a result of there’s all the time ego hooked up to what you’re doing, it doesn’t matter what. It’s like an innate survival intuition. However in the event you can break via that and simply turn out to be a very good individual only for your self, that’s an important factor. I’ve all the time been impressed by the idea of anarchy, and I’m undecided if it’s potential as a result of I believe human beings are probably too grasping. I hate the concept of being ruled. I hate the concept of energy telling you what to do. I’ve all the time had struggles with authority figures and the concept of authority, and I really feel like essentially the most empowering factor is to be the authority over your self. If folks might discover it in themselves to need to be a genuinely good individual, only for the sake of being a greater individual and never for any egotistical causes, then I believe the world can be a significantly better place.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability and size.
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