Artist Highlight: Good Seems – Our Tradition

I heard you’re out of city, is that proper?

Yeah, I’m out at this people competition proper now. It’s an 18-day-long competition; I received right here a bit of early to arrange the camp. It’s known as the Kerrville People Pageant, it’s named after a bit of city. It’s been taking place since 1972, and it’s superior. I’ve been popping out right here since 2009.

How does it really feel this yr?

Nicely, there aren’t many individuals right here but. It’s largely older of us that I do know. The primary week, I often simply hang around on my own as a result of it’s a lot interplay and speaking to individuals the remainder of the time that it’s good to hang around alone for just a few days and get within the mindset. Largely I’ve simply been studying, swimming, getting espresso on the town. It’s good.

I do know that’s the place you met Jake as nicely. What are your reminiscences of that point?

That’s proper. We met on the market possibly 9 years in the past. It’s been a very long time. I volunteered for years at this competition, and he was on my crew – I ran this crew, which was type of like a file retailer out on the people competition. He was a buddy of a buddy, and I didn’t know him nicely. He was like a child, you realize. [laughs] Jake’s solely a yr youthful than me, however he has a a lot youthful spirit. He was in all probability 26 or 27, however he appeared like a young person, very bright-eyed. Actually how we received to know one another is we performed this different people competition – it was on the seashore, and so they had all these trip leases that they received for the artists, and so they simply occurred to place us in the identical little rental. We simply hit it off and have been buddies ever since. It took us a few years earlier than we even began enjoying music collectively, however we might go to exhibits collectively rather a lot. Jake was new to Austin at that time, and I used to be displaying him round and introducing him to the nice bands on the town.

On the tune ‘Self-destructor’, you type of deal with the place your drive for music comes from, which I’m positive is a query that usually will get directed at you. You sing, “Mine was put there by my dad and mom, a spot for me to cover/ And if I didn’t have it, I in all probability would have died.” It stands out as a single, however you are feeling the load of it within the context of the songs that come earlier than, like ‘Day of Judgment’, which revolves round your upbringing in fairly an in depth and visceral method. Are you able to speak extra broadly in regards to the position music had for you rising up in relation to those songs?

First off, I’m actually impressed. That’s very thorough listening. I’ve had just a few interviews up to now and nobody’s taken that out, so thanks for listening. However I… yeah, I had a tough childhood. My dad and mom had been extraordinarily spiritual, and it’s type of a small, cult-like faith. It’s very repressive and judgmental. I don’t know how one can clarify it, actually, apart from they assume many of the world was going to hell. So, music was a lifeline. After seventh grade, I used to be homeschooled and reduce off from the world in a number of methods. I used to be 13 within the yr 2000, so Napster and downloading music was the factor. I used to be simply on the home, downloading music, listening to music, and it was my solely contact with what regular individuals had been like. [laughs] My dad and mom and upbringing had been so uncommon, and even my city was very small and conservative. As quickly as I picked up a guitar, I used to be writing in my room rather a lot. It was a two-story home, and my room was upstairs, and I may play guitar and sing all evening with out my dad and mom listening to. It saved me by way of some actually arduous occasions.

Was music additionally an escape from that world, or had been you type of subconsciously writing about it?

I don’t know. On the time, I used to be simply writing songs about ladies. [laughs] It was a really primary, primitive drive to put in writing songs. Perhaps it was additionally to be understood. And I used to be obsessive about the thought of being a rock and roll star – as a child, you’re dreaming, something is feasible. It’s so way back, it’s arduous to know what the motivations had been again then; you’re simply doing it, like respiration.

One factor that struck me is that whereas there are songs about romantic relationships on the album, it actually addresses household instantly, all through to the nearer. From a lyrical perspective, wbecause it formidable to have that be an overriding thread on the album, reasonably than together with extra veiled references?

I simply write very actually and instantly; that’s simply my writing type. Partially as a result of if I’ve written a tune about somebody, I need them to comprehend it’s about them. [laughs] That’s how I transfer by way of songwriting, I attempt to be as trustworthy and susceptible as doable. It’s simply upfront, and that’s the story. I perceive some individuals are extra non-public or some issues are too private to share, however I don’t assume I ever really feel that. Like I stated, one in every of my drives for songwriting is to be understood. If I can try this in plain language and have or not it’s clear what I’m speaking about, then I really feel like I reach these moments.

However I feel that’s possibly what individuals like in regards to the songwriting, too. As a child, I used to be at all times annoyed once I’d take heed to different artists and wished to know extra of the story. You hear a tune and also you’re like, “What are they speaking about?” I need there to be a narrative that’s simple to observe alongside. I grew up listening to a number of grunge music, I used to be actually into Nirvana and Alice in Chains, all of those ‘90s different bands, and every little thing is so obscure. The lyrics are nonsense generally. I feel generally my writing is nearly a response to that.

The ultimate tune on the file particularly, ‘Why Don’t You Imagine Me?’, seems like a plea to be understood. It’s not simply plainly presenting a narrative, such as you stated, however virtually like a letter. Was {that a} aware method of creating it much more direct?

I’m unsure. I’ll say, there’s a number of circulation to it. It’s typically the other of self-consciousness. Loads of occasions, writing, you’re simply tapping into one thing; some individuals assume it’s the universe, I feel possibly it’s simply your unconscious. I don’t actually know what it’s, however you simply get right into a circulation. I feel the perfect songs, you’re possibly not pondering an excessive amount of, you’re simply doing it. It’s not one thing I’m actually enthusiastic about.

I’m curious if it’s the identical for the instrumentation. ‘Day of Judgment’ can also be one of many noisier songs on the album, which is indicative of a bigger musical shift from Bummer 12 months. Would you say that the themes of those songs ended up defining the route you went with them musically?

This can be a roundabout response, however I write the songs alone, and I provide you with the chord progressions and phrases on my own. Then I convey the songs, type of fully-formed however simply guitar, to the band, after which we prepare collectively. They’re very separate, in a number of methods. I don’t take into consideration that facet of it rather a lot. We get within the room, and we begin engaged on a tune, and we make decisions primarily based on simply what we predict sounds good. I feel the shift within the sound from one file to the following has to do with there being a number of time in between. The primary file was recorded in 2018, and we needed to wait a very long time to place it out due to the pandemic. These songs are from 2015 to 2018, and most of those songs had been written in the course of the pandemic. So, I feel there’s only a shift in type as a result of there’s development in what we had been listening to and occupied with.

After which the opposite factor, I feel Jake is totally shaped as a guitar participant now. When the primary file got here out, he was figuring it out, however between the 2 information, he’s turn into outrageously good. I feel guitar gamers are like songwriters too, within the sense that they discover their voice or type, and I feel he has discovered his type. I feel that had rather a lot to do with it. Particularly with ‘Self-destructor’, I by no means would have organized a tune like that. When he began enjoying the guitar half on the verse with the sixteenth notes, it made me indignant. I used to be like, “Why so many notes?” I used to be instantly againist it, and the opposite guys within the band needed to be like, “No, no, it’s cool.” So, a few of it’s only a push and pull. Loads of what I feel we do nicely is the juxtaposition between Jake and me. We now have very completely different brains and really completely different musical pursuits, and a number of the sound is these two issues synthesized.

I’m occupied with that separation you talked about, earlier than and after you convey the songs to the band. The story of Lived Right here for a Whereas, because it’s specified by the press launch, is framed between two accidents: one in the course of the launch celebration for Bummer 12 months in April 2022, and the opposite on the primary day of your tour in July 2023. I perceive that these songs had been already written earlier than Jake’s accident, and I’m curious how they existed in your thoughts earlier than you had to consider recording or performing them, and the methods they had been reworked afterward. While you assume again on it, how do you conceptualize that trajectory?

Most of those songs, like I stated, are from the pandemic. The tune ‘If It’s Gone’ is a breakup tune – I went by way of that breakup type of on day one of many pandemic. Every little thing was shutting down, SXSW received cancelled, and I used to be on this band with my accomplice on the time. We had a tour deliberate for April, and the day she cancelled the tour dates, she broke up with me. [laughs] There’s a few songs – the final tune on the file is an previous tune, it’s from 12 years in the past. I had recorded it in a way more stripped-down model, and I had at all times wished to do an even bigger, full-band recording of it. That tune felt related to among the different household songs, as a result of it’s about my mother – there are references in ‘Self-destructor’, and ‘Can You See Me Tonight’ is about my mother, and ‘Day of Judgment’, so it simply felt very related. However many of the songs are from that point in the course of the pandemic – earlier than that, I used to be type of caught. I wasn’t writing rather a lot earlier than, and that relationship ending, for no matter cause, every little thing was simply flowing, even the songs that aren’t about relationships.

After which with the stuff with the accident, I assume it does have an effect on how they had been recorded as a result of it was so quickly afterward. We began the recording like three months after the accident with Jake, I feel. I don’t know – it feels just like the accidents have affected each a part of our lives, and but I don’t really feel them within the writing but. Even the brand new songs, like, I haven’t written something about these accidents. It’s bizarre. Particularly the final one, the place all of us may have died. I don’t know what that’s. I don’t know if it’s like my mind doesn’t wish to take care of it, however I don’t really feel it within the songs. It doesn’t really feel related, you realize what I imply? It’s such part of the press launch, as a result of a number of occasions, individuals are in search of a narrative to inform together with the music, so it feels vital – and it’s. However once I take into consideration these songs and that file, I don’t take into consideration the accident. They really feel separate, or they really feel like they’re from two various things, which doesn’t make sense.

I really feel like there’s the expectation that the story of the songs and the story of the band should be intertwined. And possibly possibly at some point you’ll write a tune about it, however that line simply hasn’t been drawn but. Even when it doesn’t feed into the music, are you able to describe to me, in any tangible method, what it meant so that you can stand by one another after every accident?

With Jake’s accident, the place he received the cranium fracture and fractured tailbone and every little thing, that one was actually wild as a result of because it was taking place, it was not clear what the result was going to be. Traumatic mind damage may be very completely different for everybody, and he was very tousled for the primary few weeks, so it wasn’t clear – I didn’t even know if I used to be going to be making music with him. I used to be on the hospital each day – me and his mother and his girlfriend on the time had been kind of caretaking, advocating for him to the medical professionals. And afterward, the medical system is such a large number right here, having to arrange all of the follow-up appointments is such a ache within the ass. I used to be over at his home rather a lot after, so it was simply a number of time with him and myself.

As soon as we received house from the hospital, it was clear that the music wasn’t affected. Despite the fact that he was so wonky and he was saying loopy stuff, simply very completely different character, he got here house and began enjoying guitar instantly, and it felt regular, just like the music half was simply completely untouched in his mind. I assumed that was actually fascinating. I feel that type of modified my mind round what we’re doing. Every little thing might be taken away so shortly. I purchased an acoustic guitar from a buddy throughout that point interval; I’ve a buddy who hand-makes guitars, and so they’re actually costly and I had postpone shopping for one for a very long time. However I noticed that the one factor you could have a bit of little bit of management over is your self and your writing. Every little thing else – individuals can die, bands break up, issues occur and alter. That accident, though Jake skilled it, actually shook me up rather a lot.

The second accident – I really feel like that one affected the blokes extra. My mind, after we received in that van accident, instantly went into disaster mode, making an attempt to determine how one can end the tour and transfer by way of it. I don’t know that that introduced us nearer collectively; if something, they had been a bit of upset at me [laughs] for making an attempt to push by way of too arduous. I feel it did convey us nearer collectively finally, however at first – I keep in mind I used to be within the hospital, we went to the emergency room afterwards, and I used to be making an attempt to determine all these items to get again on the market. I feel that’s simply the best way my mind works. When issues are traumatic, I wish to get into the logical world and sort things. I feel the blokes had been actually beat up and struggling after that.

However I additionally assume an enormous a part of our story is simply perseverance. We’re all a bit of bit older – a number of indie rock bands are in all probability 10 years youthful than us which can be within the place we’re in. Loads of that’s we simply by no means gave up, we stored writing, stored doing issues. I used to be in Austin for 15 years earlier than something occurred so far as a file label and placing the items collectively. An enormous a part of our story is: we’re dialed in, and that is what we wish to do. All people has their life arrange, their jobs are versatile so we will go on tour each time we have to. It’s simply how we transfer by way of the world at this level.

While you had been driving to these solo exhibits, what was going by way of your thoughts? What did that point alone solidify in you in regards to the band, music, or simply your self?

I actually loved enjoying these exhibits. Once I left to play the exhibits, I didn’t know if the band was going to return again or not. The fellows had been a bit of extra banged up than I used to be, even bodily, particularly Jake and Phil, who had been within the again seats and received thrown over the seats within the wreck. Initially, I made a decision to play these exhibits solo as a result of I felt some guilt round – the reserving firm put in all this work to e-book these exhibits, and so they solely earn a living if we play the exhibits. It simply felt horrible to cancel every little thing. My thought course of was: possibly the band sees me on the market, they’ll wish to come, possibly they’ll heal up a bit of bit and assume, “We must always get on the market.” And that’s what occurred.

Enjoying these solo exhibits – there’s nothing extra therapeutic than enjoying music. That’s what it’s at all times been for me. Attending to play a present in a unique metropolis each evening, seeing your pals, singing your songs is so therapeutic. It simply felt unbelievable after going by way of such a traumatic occasion. There’s no place I’d reasonably be than doing that. After which when the blokes joined me – we met up a couple of week in – it felt like we had been indestructible. And a few of these had been dangerous. There was a few exhibits that weren’t nicely attended, felt type of bleak. [laughs] However it simply felt like we may get by way of something at that time. It was good to do just a few exhibits alone, however I used to be so glad to have the band again out; rolling right into a city as a unit, as a group, you’ve received your buddies, you’ve received backup if something goes wonky.

You used the phrase therapeutic, and also you’ve talked about having gone to remedy for 10 years. That type of seeps into the language of songs like ‘Self-destructor’ and even the best way you’re speaking about these experiences now. How do you see the connection between music and remedy? Are they separated in your thoughts, or do they feed into one another?

They’re so intently associated to me. Music was remedy earlier than I had remedy. They’re the identical factor; in my thoughts no less than, you’re analyzing your mind. While you go to remedy, you’re speaking out with one other individual, and possibly they level out belongings you didn’t understand, or by way of that course of you’re shining mild on completely different components of how your mind works. All people has issues from their childhood, these little patterns or methods they transfer by way of the world that possibly don’t serve them anymore – possibly they did after they had been a child, and possibly whenever you’re an grownup, it doesn’t work the identical method, so that you type of want to alter.

However writing songs is like that, too, since you study issues about your self that you simply didn’t know. Issues will come out in songs that you’re not conscious of, they had been simply in your unconscious. Once I write new songs, generally I take my guitar to remedy. I discuss songs with my therapist instantly, we speak in regards to the lyrics. It’s very related. I’d not have the ability to do the issues I do musically with out remedy. That’s the solely cause we’re within the place we’re as a band. I failed for thus a few years as a result of I wasn’t totally there; I felt like I wasn’t prepared in some ways. There was a number of self-sabotage, not trusting individuals, not letting individuals in. These journeys are very related to me.

Given every little thing we’ve talked about, why did the title Lived Right here for a Whereas really feel becoming? The “for some time” of it, particularly?

It’s attention-grabbing. Once we had been speaking in regards to the title, we had been throwing round album images as nicely, like the duvet photograph. I used to be that home, and I used to be enthusiastic about how I’ve at all times been a renter. I’ve by no means owned a home or something. I lived in Austin for 17 years. Me and my partener moved to a small city exterior of Austin, however in these 17 years, I in all probability lived in no less than 12 locations. That home on the duvet jogged my memory of a home I had lived in beforehand, type of shabby and drab and unhappy. The fence is in disrepair as a result of the house owners don’t actually care, that type of factor. It feels related to a number of what the songs on this file are about. There’s a number of goodbye within the lyrics, they’re rather a lot about making sense of the time earlier than. The best way I take into consideration this file rather a lot is shifting from my 20s and early 30s and saying goodbye to the issues that didn’t serve me. Even in that context, it’s virtually like I lived in that world for some time after which moved on to the place I’m now, which is a completely completely different house.

There’s simply one thing so momentary about at all times renting a spot. So typically, you’re compelled to maneuver; they promote the home or the lease goes up. You don’t have a lot management over the state of affairs, so it’s a must to transfer by way of it with grace. You’re like, “That is only a place the place I used to stay, and now I’m shifting ahead.”

How does that evaluate to the thought of house for you? Does it really feel extra everlasting in any method?

I’m unsure. I feel I say it within the line in ‘If It’s Gone’: “I at all times really feel so lonely when a lover leaves my life.” I haven’t talked to my dad and mom in 12 years, and I don’t have a relationship with them. So it’s like, I don’t go house – I don’t go to my childhood house. I don’t return to my hometown. In some methods, a number of occasions, my relationships are the factor that I’m most tethered to. And I additionally assume homeownership generally provides individuals a false sense of safety or a false sense that issues are unchanging, however issues are at all times altering, and also you’re simply using the wave of what’s taking place. It’s a bit of bit current in ‘If It’s Gone’, however I’ve been getting actually into meditation the final 4 years. A lot of it’s the breath, and the observe that I observe is related to Thich Nhat Hanh and the thought is that house is the breath. Loads of the mantras, whenever you’re doing a strolling meditation, one of many issues they are saying is, “I’ve arrived. I’m house, within the right here, within the now.” Returning to the breath – in some methods, that feels extra like house than anything, as a result of it anchors you into what you at all times have, which is the current second.

This interview has been edited and condensed for readability and size.

Good Seems’ Lived Right here for a Whereas is out now through Keeled Scales.