Following on from a string of bold and enticing releases over the last few years, Texas-based duo The Shrubs are back at it once again to unveil their latest breezy effort 'Slowglider'.
Lifted from their forthcoming new album 'Drone', which is set to arrive next month, 'Slowglider' makes for a wonderfully warm and captivating listen. With its rich and sweeping aesthetic, psychedelic textures, and lofty vocals throughout, these guys are certainly keeping the quality high as they move into the new year.
So with the new single available now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has inspired them most over the years.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Miguel: Before I started playing guitar, which would be the first instrument I fell in love with playing, it would have to be John’s harmonica in early Beatles songs, like Please Please Me and There’s a Place. That’s the earliest memories I have of an instrument that made me want to hear it more.
Josh: Drums.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Miguel: The Beatles, The Doors, Hendrix and some Bowie and Floyd.
Josh: Industrial, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, and Punk was a lot of what I consumed in my teen years along with Anime OSTs.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Miguel: The Doors debut album, The Doors. I remember doing a classmate’s homework for them for money, and then buying it behind my parents back… we grew up in a typically conservative southern household unfortunately.
Josh: Daft Punk - Discovery was the first album I bought.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Miguel: “Music to walk home by” by Tame Impala.
Josh: That’s not how I see, listen to, or approach music.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Miguel: I do actually. I usually start by just sitting down and just playing guitar or piano. At first, you’ll kind of just play typical riffs usually, but eventually you start to not think and just get into it. Sometimes that can take hours or maybe even days of stopping and starting. Whatever I’m feeling during that time period will start to be reflected in the melody I’m picking out. If its something good, or at least seems good in that moment, I’ll record it on my phone. Then start that process over again. I’ll revisit them later when I’m in a different state of mind, the ones that I still like, I’ll try to develop more. It isn’t the fastest approach by any means, but its what I’ve always done.
Josh: Listen to as much “new” music as I can for inspiration whether it’s new or old artists. Visit museums as the visual arts always inspire me to explore new sonic ideas.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Miguel: Most of the artists on the Orchid Tapes label, especially Foxes in Fiction. Lens Mozer, Windows 96, Liz Phair, Billow.
Josh: DIIV, Vinyl Williams, Trippie Redd, BONES, Bladee, Juice WRLD, Animals As Leaders, Chihei Hatakeyama, Heathered Pearls. Stand Still, Face to Face, Drab Majesty, Mastodon, Gojira, Vildhjarta, Lil Uzi Vert, Knocked Loose.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Miguel: That’s a tricky one. Maybe Jeff the Brotherhood? That would be an interesting tour, right? Two sets of brother bands!
Josh: Toro Y Moi or Vinyl Williams could be fun.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Miguel: I feel like I can communicate more effectively with “musical” sounds that I can with verbal ones or written words, if the goal is to give someone else a window into your mind or a slice of your thoughts. I think words overall are a very poor way to accomplish thought/emotion exchange for everyone really, but I think for myself especially. I catch myself “over talking” because I feel like I’m not conveying my thoughts very well, so I use a lot of words to try to get close to what I’m trying to say. But with a few notes or chords, you can express emotions in a very pure way. I find that very rewarding, not only with myself, but with all the musicians I like to listen to. I’ve had lots of conversations with songs.
Josh: A “completed” song to reflect on.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Miguel: In the past, the most frustrating part was trying to find other musicians who take making music as seriously as I do. Music is the closest thing I have to a religion really, whenever I hear people talk about any sort of spiritual experience, the only thing I can relate it to is how music makes me feel at times, so it’s a little hard to find others who are in that same mindset. At least ones that I get along with! I suppose that’s why it’s just my brother and me!
Josh: An “uncompleted” song/idea.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Miguel: right out of high school my best friend and I had a group, he borrowed my car one day and broke something on it, I don’t recall what is was now. He had to have it towed. When the tow truck driver saw his bass guitar in the backseat, he asked him about it. So, my friend told him about our band etc. He said that the driver looked him right in the eyes, and with pure conviction, told him to keep the band going and never give up! My friend relayed that story to me later, his telling of the whole experience really resonated with me for some reason… I think it hit me at a time when I considered quitting, so it was something that I needed to hear.
Josh: Just keep playing don’t give up/stop.
-
The Shrubs' new single 'Slowglider' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.