So lets start with the basics: when and how did you all form?
We met a little over a year ago because we moved into the same apartment with a mutual friend. We started making music together almost immediately.
Who do you look to for inspiration?
On a micro scale we’re inspired by the people around us, some of our closest friends are filmmakers and artists in addition to musicians and its really exciting and inspiring to see their art develop and collaborate here and there. On a macro scale I think we’re inspired by artists and people in general who aren’t afraid to do their thing. There’s a billboard we saw in Austin recently that says “Keep art weird.” That’s inspiring.
On your facebook page you list of a bunch of rap producers from LA (J Dilla, Madlib, etc.) do you find LA's style of beats more inspiring?
What specifically attracts you to that sound? I am a huge J Dilla fan so I am always interested in hearing what people say. I can definitely hear the LA sound in the music and I love it.
D: I’m definitely a huge fan of that scene, but not because of any affiliation with LA or Detroit (where Dilla’s from). I liked Dilla first and gradually moved through different artists by association. There is definitely something to the music though. It doesn’t just sound good, it feels good. It feels fucking great. That’s why I like it.
How do you like Boston's scene?
D: What scene? Outside of a few of our friends, most of our connections seem to be through twitter or email in NYC, LA. The internet makes the world your scene in a way. But sadly nah I don’t feel like there’s that sense of community here for whatever it is you want to call our music. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of weird going on here. Maybe we just aren’t looking, but it always seems like we’re the weirdest band on the bill. Maybe we’ll start a scene.
A: There are a hefty amount of bands, singers, DJ’s, and everything in between in Boston, everybody wants a piece. Also, since the whole city is practically college students, there are a lot of “student bands.” It’s easy to get caught up in your own grind, but also easy to find a show if you want to see some music on a whim. There are a few collectives of musicians who meet every week and perform for/with each other, but these groups seem to be genre specific.
I am a student at BU, but feel like I can never find a cohesive Boston scene. I don't know if I am missing something or if I just don't know the right people. There seems to be a particular lack of groups putting out beat oriented music.
Agreed. We don’t really know of any other groups putting out beat oriented music in Boston, but we could be looking in the wrong places. It seems like almost every person who could be in their bedroom making beats is rehearsing a band whose members are in 10 other bands at the same time. The “traditional” band style seems huge in Boston.
When I listen to Sonnymoon, you guys remind me of a more lyric oriented LA sound. The beats and atmosphere would sound at home in a Flying Lotus set. Who produced the back tracks for the album? Was it a mutual collaboration or did one of you come in with a tape of this goodness?
D: Creatively, we both are 100% responsible for the beats/music/lyrics/everything. On the technical level though, I got cut from the vocal squad and Anna didn’t make the production team, either.
Anna your singing style reminds me a lot of old Jazz singers, are they of any inspiration?
A: My influences aren’t limited to one style, but yes, I am inspired by a few different jazz singers, mainly The Real Group and the amazing Sarah Vaughan, who actually didn’t consider herself a “jazz” singer even though that’s how she is labeled.
What inspired the lyrics behind the album? They are at once familiar, but also unique and not completely straight forward.
Observing other people and ourselves, we write prose mostly, stream of consciousness type stuff, dreams are a big resource for us. We try not to think about it too much.
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