In an era where genre lines are blurred and nostalgia is mined to exhaustion, Street Fruit emerge as cartographers of their own vivid, acid-drenched universe. Their latest single 'Hey Operator' is the latest dispatch from 'Strange Tanks', the band’s immersive second album, and a testament to their knack for building sonic worlds that wobble, shimmer, and sometimes combust entirely.
Formed in Los Angeles but rooted in decades of shared history, Street Fruit is the brainchild of long-time collaborators Philipp Minnig and Hans Dobbratz, a creative bond born in garages and church basements back in 1991. Now flanked by rhythmic powerhouse Tiffanie Lanmon and bass shapeshifter Cyrus Gengras, the quartet have evolved into a genre-twisting force that can slip from punk funk to psych-pop without missing a beat.
So with the new single out 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?
My lips. I learned to whistle at age four and drove everyone around me nuts. Still do…
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Cereal commercials.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The Adventures of Baron Münchhausen.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Smooth Operator by Sade.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Zoning out to day-time television with an unplugged electric guitar in my lap.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Cindy Lee, Escape-ism, Irving Berlin.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Bob Dylan.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Being around music all the time.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Being around music all the time.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Enjoy The Silence!
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Street Fruits' new single 'Hey Operator' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.