Bromsen On the Making Of “Read About It”
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "Read About It?"
Karlo- the initial idea came when I was sitting in my living room, watching a montage of heck. I was grabbing my guitar and there it was. Sometimes (not that often) it’s these magic moments where everything is there at once and just seems to float out of you like it was always there and for that theme everything else would have not suited.
What was the creative process like for this particular "Read About It?"
I was sending the rough structure to Richard and he was extremely enthusiastic about it, feeling a kind of “Irish Songwriter in a pub” atmosphere. We initially created a rather intense & pure version, which we both love as well (and maybe we’ll release it someday). It was clear for both of us, that this song would need to be on the album and Richard said “let me give it a try and add some electronic magic to it”. I said “magic sounds great” and then Richard created these mesmerizing synth soundscapes and that amazing drum pattern and we both loved it at once.
What impact do you hope "Read About It" will have on your audience or the music industry?
We both love the song, we don’t know what impact it will have but it is our tribute to all these genius artists & songwriters we admire, so we hope some people can connect to the picture we’ve created.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
We're two guys in their mid-40s who strangely decided to follow dreams from 20 years ago. It was a crazy time in the mid 2000's and we shot ourselves in the leg back at the time. If either of us had been a talented novelist at least there would have been the perfect story for an incredibly charming, funny and tragic novel. But since we're not the best novelists, we have to rely on our strength, the songwriting and finally wrap it up - that's our mission. Richard and I both found rock music through Nirvana. Kurt, Krist and Dave kind of pushed the button and then we both dived into the world of music and through a long journey we got to what we are today.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a musician, and how did you overcome them?
You won’t believe it, but it is the fucking hardware and software issues, which can really kick you off the road, especially when you are producing everything yourself, like we do. Out of nowhere, while you are in the middle of a very creative process of recording a song, something does not work anymore. We are in the final stages of completing our album and it happened again to us…..These things require taking a deep breath and re-confirming with yourself that it is just a long and winding road and everything will be fine in the end.
Alex Kate “Sober” - Review
Deep in the night, when the city is asleep, the dizzy and warm feeling of wine stirs an unexpected sparks of romance. Between reality and dream, all senses and feelings are heightened. “Sober” takes you to that vague, sensuous state of love, fusing retro drum and 80s’ sensation into her luscious voice and alluring storytelling. Between night and light, joy and fear, the aroma of romance is in the air, bouncing against racing heartbeats. “Sober” is more than ever delicious.
The duality of fragility and intense desire dissolve into the airy, mood-filled soundscape. Alex Kate’s vocal beats between stirring drums. In the song, there’s a raw, impulsive desire that makes you blush, but there’s also that lip-biting bubbling of nervousness that comes with it. “I want to kiss you when I’m sober.” Kate actually said it to her friend in real life, and the song revolves around the line. There’s clarity in that dazzling state of feelings, and from a primal intent drifts into real romance. “I want to kiss you when I’m sober.”
Read our interview with Alex Kate below where we chat about the story behind “Sober.”
Punk Head: I love the poetic style and retro aesthetic in your songs. Where did you find the inspiration for “Sober?”
Alex Kate: “Sober” is a funny story. Lyrically it was written after a night out at some wine farms in south Africa where there was vibes going on with a friend of mine. But I knew from experience I needed to wait till the cold light of day. So I whispered in his ear, “I wanna kiss you when I’m sober.” The next day I wrote the song from start to finish in the car next to him. Sonically, I decided to move away from the Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac sounds of my last EP and move more towards another influence of mine, Christine & The Queens. I love evolving and experimenting. Daniel Newcombe my producer, did a fabulous job with it.
PH: What do you like the best about this track?
Alex Kate: I love the sonic atmosphere, it feels like a late night early morning song, I also love the bridge, as it expresses the feelings I have often—“I've been here before.”
PH: What motivates you as an artist?
Alex Kate: I love writing and feel satisfaction just playing any new songs to one person. But since I have been gaining more of a following, I love meeting the different people who connect with my songs. I just had a gig in Norwich and loved meeting all these new people and hearing their stories and their dreams. I love encouraging people to go for it.
PH: Who are your biggest influences?
Alex Kate: Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Christine & The Queens, 1975 and would love to write an album as good as Michael Kiwanuka.
PH: What would you like to say to your fans out there?
Alex Kate: I am so grateful for every one of you.
2 Libras “Heart On” - Review
You probably have not heard anything like this before you turn on the volume of “Heart On.” Searing sonics coiled in a seemingly cold, electronic exterior, while the sizzling, monstrous fuzz swells and flashes, diffusing into their darkly alluring sonic installment. “Heart On” sees 2 Libras sonically and sensuously tackles futurism in their sonic landscape. Impressionistic, drastic, and seductive, “Heart On” evokes such strange combination of audiovisuals in your mind, engaging with all your six senses. Their silhouette sonic palette isn’t something you’d hear everyday.
“Heart On” paints a mellow ominousness. Hypnotic beats set the tone for a minimalistic, however drastic backdrop, while the vocals are sinisterly stirring and alluring. The track calls for deeper expression and human connection in a world that seems more and more like a colony of technology. 2 Libras urge listeners to reconnect with their heart, mind, and body, instead of letting internet/technology takes control of your perception.
“Heart On” is the second single rom their forthcoming album World’s End. In our interview below, we chat with Wesley and Jewels from 2 Libras about the single and what differentiates them as a creative collective.
Punk Head: I love how you blend different elements and colors in “Heart On." Is there a specific aesthetic on your mind in the creation process?
Wesley: For “Heart On,” I wanted to write a cute but sexy love song to my wife. It felt a little innocent but also bratty with tongue-in-cheek humor. The pun can feel so juvenile but instead is the perfect representation of my youthful public display of affection.
Jewels: I immediately wanted to add some groovy elements to the music that'll make you want to walk down the street and strut your stuff when you listen to it.
PH: What are you most proud about this track?
2 Libras: We're most proud that we made it happen. This was one of the first songs that we were conceptualizing when we first started the band but we weren’t happy with it until we could get it just right. We're also proud how the music video came out. It's the perfect representation of how comfortable we can be with our artistic expression even when we know other viewers, listeners, and the music industry itself may not understand us at times.
PH: Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
2 Libras: We don’t ever want to be boxed in to any one label or genre. We like to mix it up and try new things. It keeps it fresh and fun forever. We like to encourage everyone to be their authentic self too.
PH: Who are your biggest inspirations?
Jewels: The Kills, U2, Bjork, Pearl Jam, The Black Queen, Tycho, Minuit Machine, IAMX, Trevor Something.
Wesley: Nine Inch Nails, Failure, The Faint, Aphex Twin, The Beatles, LCD Soundsystem.
PH: What would you like to say to your fans out there?
2 Libras: In the dark times that we’re living in right now, be the light. A smile and some kindness can make a world of difference for someone’s day. We love you all and hope to see you at one of our next shows.
In The Middle “Brain Games”
Mesmerizing melodies journey through retro sonic landscapes, In the Middle explores the idea of a game of survival if one were to step into the maze of one’s mind in “Brain Games.” Visually stimulating, they step into the state of audio-visual interaction, taking listeners to a multi-dimensional ride with many surprising encounters. The recurring melodic motifs seem no coincidence, while it intrigues you to delve deeper into your own thoughts, it also evokes new ideas and perspective. Beyond its luscious, addictive sonic view, there seems to be a deeper game, one only you could see. “Brain Games” is definitely a track that haunts you and intrigues you to come back. Like an ever-changing maze, there’s always a deeper secret left for you to uncover.
World-building through songs is an interesting, and “Brain Games” gives you the first sonic taste of the world inside one’s brain. Logical and sensuous. Clarity runs the risk of overthinking. Inspiration comes with each new realization, but the mundane and the ordinary sits in most of the day. There are so many areas to explore in the audio-visual world of “Brain Games.” Sits with it, and you’ll find your brain relating to it.
The titular single marks the first release from In The Middle’s upcoming debut album Brain Games. Brain Games is a multi-faceted project, where In the Middle combines their love for music with comics. To accompany the concept album, they will launch a comic book that dives deeper into the lore of the album. If you love music and at the same time enjoy comic books, Brain Games will definitely bring you a lot of fun.
Punk Head: I love the idea of world-building through an album of songs. I’d love to know more about it! Base on the first release “Brain Games,” whats can fans expect from the rest of the album?
In the Middle: Thank you! Fans can definitely expect to hear a lot of different genre influences in the remainder of the album. What’s pretty cool about a concept album is that there’s so much cohesion within the storyline already that it gave us a bit more room to experiment with different sounds. We really feel like there is something on this album for everybody because of that. There’s also a lot coming up in the remaining comic book chapters that take fans through the lore of the album, and there’s a big twist at the end that we think will really shock people.
PH: How did the idea come to you? And did it evolve through time?
In the Middle: The idea definitely evolved over time, and while we knew we wanted our first album to be a concept album, it took a while for that idea to come to life. It’s hard to say the exact moment when we came up with the idea for “Brain Games,” but there were definitely a few big moments where a song would come together and inspire a major part of the storyline. We’ve been building this fictional world for a few years now and it’s slowly come together in a way that we couldn’t have imagined when we first started.
PH: What are some challenges you faced while making the album?
In the Middle: We wanted to create a cohesive storyline that people could really dive into and get lost in. If we had unlimited resources, we probably would have made an entire movie for this album, but as an independent band we had to adapt to what we had. We chose to tell the story in the form of a comic book because we felt it was the best way to tell the whole story in a creative and engaging way that fit within our abilities.
PH: What are you most excited about this project?
In the Middle: What we’re most excited about is seeing everybody’s reactions to the album and interacting with fans. We’ve had so much fun online interacting with people over music, theories on the album, and even memes. We can’t wait for live shows and meeting fans in person.
PH: One message that you’d like to share with your fans and listeners out there.
In the Middle: Thank you! You all are what keep this project going and we appreciate the support endlessly. There‘s so much to come with this album and comic book, and we’re thankful that you’re here with us.