After establishing themselves with a breadth of dazzling delights these last few months, Seattle-based outfit waltzerr are now looking to cement their legacy to date with their eagerly-awaited debut EP 'Small Talk'.
Featuring the previously shared gems 'Here We Go Again' and 'New Surroundings', this new seven-track collection makes for a wondrous addition to their ever-growing catalogue. Filled with broad and sprawling textures throughout, 'Small Talk' continues their ascent as one of the more captivating names on the rise right now.
So with the new EP available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their background and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Emily: Piano. My mom was always playing every time she had some down time, and eventually my brother and I started to pick it up. A lot of family get togethers were spent trying to outdo each other on pieces we heard her playing growing up. Even when I play now it feels somewhat nostalgic.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Emily: My music was pretty limited to what my parents and siblings exposed me to - so a lot of Helen Reddy and Jim Croce. But through my sister I became obsessed with Upside Down by the A*Teens. My mom burned me a CD with that song, Who Let The Dogs Out, Goodbye Earl, and Joy to the World on it. I’d make her listen to it in the car on repeat. I’m sure it drove her crazy.
Kevin: I grew up listening to this radio station in the LA area, KOST 103.5, which played 80s and 90s soft rock and pop, Hall and Oates adjacent stuff. I’m not sure it had any influence on waltzerr but I like to think it will eventually when we finally write a cheesy love song.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Kevin: I hit peak hipster in high school so the first records I bought when I got a record player were Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Emily: You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette. I transport to another world when I get to scream the lyrics "you told me you’d hold me until you died. But you’re still alive" while in the car. It’s so cathartic. I wish I wrote it.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Emily: Before I try to write anything I just go and take a really long shower. It’s a perfect environment to just think about how I’m feeling without anything to distract me. It’s like being in your own little white noise box.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Emily: Been really loving Blondshell, Trophy Wife, and Mannequin Pussy.
Kevin: Karen Dalton, Mediocre, Swearin’
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Emily: I would love to open for Alvvays or The Beths. I’ve seen both of them a couple times and have always had a blast.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Emily: Getting to do fun things for our community. We played a couple neighborhood only shows and block parties around Washington and played for the opening of a new transit station. Just getting to experience that type of community is pretty rare. Especially being in the city; it’s not something I think I would really get to see if I wasn’t doing music.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Emily: Having to navigate social media. The hard truth is you have to do it if you want people to hear your music. But I’m not even good at making my personal social media pages look nice and interesting. It’s a learning curve I haven’t learned yet.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Emily: Don’t be afraid to fail or look stupid. If you are waiting for everything to be perfect than you will never get anywhere. You learn by trial and error.
Kevin: Try to enjoy being in the present because it’s easy to get caught up with the business side of being in a band and lose sight of what’s most important - playing music with people you love.
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waltzerr's debut EP 'Small Talk' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.