My first interaction with Boyfrndz was listening to the pre-release song “Water Weight” off their spectacular new EP Natures. The complex washed out heaviness of the music paired with Scott Martin’s (guitar / vocals) soaring vocals was like hearing a dream come true. Since being exposed to Boyfrndz I have pretty much become obsessed with them. I went to their Bandcamp and downloaded all their albums and have pretty much spent the majority of my free time telling all my friends how cool the band is. So I figured if I’m going to be a salesman for Boyfrndz I need to become an expert on the product I am slinging and Martin was nice enough to give me all the details on his band and their new EP which comes out today (July 16th).
Describe the history of the band and how you settled on the name Boyfrndz.
Aaron (drummer) and I have been friends since high school.. I’d been trying to get into projects with him since then, couldnt stick it until a couple years ago. We had gotten a house together downtown with another friend, had just both left our jobs and didn’t do much else other than walk to and from the coffee shop, watch Seinfeld, and have really intense improvisational sessions in our rehearsal space. Joseph (bassist) and I had started the band together originally (or at least the idea of the band) prior to this.. We had played together in another group for a couple of years and wanted something a little different. We just kind of put two and two together..
The name I had wanted to use for a while, I had heard of a band from Pennsylvania that used it, but weren’t playing anymore.. Aaron had told me he liked the spelling the way we currently use it, so we kept it. Easier on Google, probably.
Listening to all your releases on Bandcamp your sound has varied quite a bit since your inception from electronic based songs, to instrumental, etc. What’s the motivation behind all this variation?
Well, we like to keep things interesting.. for ourselves, mostly. The instrumental record is a full live set of completely improvised music we did at the Mohawk with our old guitarist Kelvin and Ikey Owens on keyboards as well. The Electronic music is really all Joseph, and me on guitar for some. He has another record in that vein up on his own called Mosaic of Sleepers (www.mosaicofsleepers.bandcamp.com) where he gets that out now.. We’ll probably continue to do things this way.. more improv shows/records, new musicians, etc. It keeps our paletes clean, and keeps the flavors fresh as we move through our creative cycle.
You offer all of your previous albums for free / pay what you like. What’s the bands philosophy behind distributing your music?
Well, we have always felt like trying to sell your music digitally was a waste of time. Sure, we’d make a couple bucks, but it’d also keep us out of a lot of peoples stereos. The free angle really widens our scope, especially as a new group. We’ll continue to release digitally this way through Natures and as long as we’re handling them ourselves.
What was the Natures writing process like? How was it different from your last full length?
The process has always been the same.. We write out of improvisation. Usually just Aaron and myself, a lot of times with Joe. Its more focused than what most people think of when they imagine something like “free jamming” or something.. Its a lot like what a friend recently told me about improv comedy, where you just have to agree to go with it, and to always move forward with the idea. We had written half of Natures by the time “All Day Pass” came out, and we’ve finished writing half of another record now.. We’re constantly working on new material. It doesn’t happen in chunks.
What’s the concept behind the cover art for Natures?
We found that piece of art in David Gerhard’s (www.davidgerhardart.com) collection and really liked it, there isn’t any deep concept or anything. We just liked the vibe.
The thing that first caught my attention when I discovered you guys were the vocals and how they seemed to kind of soar over your songs. Are there any influences vocally?
There isn’t anyone I really think of while I make the melodies up, or anything like that.. but I’ve always been a fan of Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, both boys in Grizzly Bear especially, Cedric Bixler, Rob Crowe, Chino Moreno, Thom Yorke.. Bjork, Brian Wilson, the boys in Animal Collective, Victoria from Beach House, Jim James, John Gourley of Portugal. The Man, Aaron Ross on Hella’s No 666.. record.. Classic rock singers like Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, Steve Linus. Robert Plant was probably the first vocalist to really make me want to be a singer. Really love R&B singer Bilal too.. so good. I could go on forever, this is already probably too many to mention..
Which comes first the music or the lyrics?
The music, for sure.. ha. I usually don’t write lyrics until much later..
How did you come to be associated with Ikey Owens? Has he influenced or directed your sound in any way?
No, he hasn’t influenced or directed anything. In the studio he is mostly our yes, or no guy.. It’s always helpful to have an outsider telling you somethings solid. When, as a musician, you can pick anything apart. We met Ikey a couple years ago during SXSW, we opened for his group Free Moral Agents at a Co-Op near campus. Homies ever since.
Describe the concept behind the “Moving Parts” video?
We wanted to have the video convey the odd, dark, weird realities of what is usually on peoples minds while they’re at restaurants, or out partying. What most people have running through their minds is usually a lot darker and more depraved than they’d ever admit.
I’ve read a lot of pieces where people are comparing your sound to The Mars Volta and Jane’s Addiction. Do you agree with these comparisons?
Well, we’re a rock band with a high register vocalist. So, yeah. I’m flattered to be compared to either of them, amazing groups..
Favorite thing to do while on tour, besides actually playing the shows.
Visiting amazing cities! My favorite part of still handling the booking is getting to say when and where our days off are. Last tour we went to Disneyland, had a free day in San Francisco, and one in Portland. This time we’ll have a day in Brooklyn, and a day in Colorado where I’m trying to plan a white water rafting trip. I figure if you’re going to travel, TRAVEL. That, and getting really good Coffee.
What’s the craziest thing that has ever happened during one of your shows?
Nothing too crazy I can think of outside of crowd surfers, yet..
Boyfrndz is doing some touring in the next couple months. Any plans to expand the tour? If so can we get a Salt Lake City date?
We do have plans to expand the tour, early next year. We’ll be doing the rest of the West Coast, with a couple festival stops in the works as well. You will see us in Salt Lake.
Have you guys started writing any new material yet?
Yes, currently working on about 13 in total, with 4 finished. you can hear a couple newer songs in a live video from last week here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jXmGTf9pU8