Following on from a string of immersive offerings these last few years, Brighton-based outfit Psylhouette have now returned to the fold to deliver their vibrant new single 'Moonlight'.
Lifted from their newly released studio album 'Psylhouette III', which is available to stream now, 'Moonlight' makes for an incredibly rich and riveting return for them. With its broad and emotive textures set to some shimmering vocals throughout, they continue to shine as one of the more impactful names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Juli - A classic grand piano. When I was little, my grandfather, who was an astronomy and math teacher, always put me in the auditorium of his school, while he was preparing his lessons next door, and there was a (for me) huge grand piano where I would just press keys and making up melodies that made no sense for hours. I should also mention a toy piano for Barbie when I was even younger. To my disgrace, I had glued on the keys stickers upside down, so the black keys were on the bottom, but it had to stay like this forever, because it only came with one batch of stickers.
Tristan - A left field choice - but the sampler. The way it manipulated sounds with chops, stretches etc really made me wonder how it was done as it sounded so unnatural.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Juli - Depending on the age… In my teens it was R&B followed by Alternative Rock, and Techno all the way after 20.
Tristan - Linked to the above around samplers - drum & bass, hip hop but some grungier guitar stuff too.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Juli - It was Michael and Janet Jackson on cassette, and Snap on CD.
Tristan - Fear of a Black Planet - Public Enemy. I had no idea what I was getting as I’d only heard an instrumental of Welcome To The Terrordome before.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Juli - Vapour Trail by Ride. I wrote a song in German called “Zuckerwatte” which has the lines “Meine Hände zittern, deine Augen glitzern” which is similar to that lyrics but it’s pure coincidence, since I didn’t know the song at that time. But then when I heard it, it hit me.
Tristan - I was listening to “I dream of it often:” - the first track off the last Telefon Tel Aviv album the other day and was thinking wow, to have the vision and expertise to do that, incredible. More generally probably everything on Bitches Brew by Miles Davis - to have that level of virtuosity but then be able to free yourself to bend it inside out like that. I just can’t imagine what it must be like to have that sort of mind.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Juli - I approach it pretty much like a work task, like telling myself “I have to do this” kinda thing. Good coffee before, serene and tidy environment, but candles and incense help. I like automatic writing, so I'll start by sketching everything down that’s in my head and bring it into form step by step later.
Tristan - Set up some templates then work quickly to get as many initial sketches of tracks down as I can, don’t linger, create more sketches than I need, then naturally see which ones inspire me to go back and work on and share with Juli.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Juli - Yves Tumor, Still Corners, The Cure.
Tristan - Well to be scientific about it, my Tidal monthly Most Listened playlists tell me I’ve been listening to a lot of Caribou, Life Without Buildings, Dom & Roland, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Foushee and Fugazi in the last couple of months.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Juli - Oasis, Richard Ashcroft.
Tristan - For most people I can think of I would be paralysed by nerves at the thought of playing before them. Maybe David Bowie, as then he’d be alive again.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Juli - To listen to the finished result with a nice glass of Prosecco. And recording some vocal sketches late at night, when you’re not quite sure yet what it will become.
Tristan - Making music - the writing and production part.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Juli - To find listeners. But then again, I guess they have to find you.
Tristan - Getting heard, breaking out and promoting the music.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Juli - To keep going anyway, even when you are not successful. And the cut-up technique by William S. Burroughs. Although I am not using it when writing my own lyrics, it’s inspiring because it gives you a sense of freedom.
Tristan - Back up your music. I’ve known people lose entire projects through losing data - losing drives, faults, getting gear stolen etc. It’s so soul destroying trying to recreate things, remembering what you did and trying to recapture the moment. Backing up is boring but don’t learn the hard way.
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Psylhouette's new single 'Moonlight' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.