"Although I didn't write this song, it spoke to me in a way that made me feel as if it was my own story,” Brandon said. “I found myself playing it over and over again in my bedroom, remembering situations that I've been through.”
Check out the video for yourself below.
I was initially struck by the video for “Baby Luv” because it was so well done. There were so many different locations and shots. Could you tell me a bit about how the visual accompanies the song?
A little bit was taken from the ideas I had in my head when I was writing the song, like the casino. Then we wanted somewhere relaxing, and it wasn’t going to be me at first—we were going to have a lot of extras. But I wanted that idea of leisure and pain together. That’s why we chose the pool, and we were shooting in such a beautiful location so we ended up using a lot of the nature around us as well.
The red car is super cool.
Yeah, that was totally random as well! We just came into this estate, and there was this car. The guy outside was like, “Do you like the car? It’s my friend’s car, do you want to sit in it?” And he let us get in the car with him.
The video was directed by your sister, correct?
Yeah, that’s right.
You’re playing your first ever US show tomorrow. What are your feelings going into it?
It’s quite surreal, really—when you don’t know a place that well and you’re playing a show there. I’m also worried I’m still going to be ill.
Throat coat.
Yeah..
Would you say you feel more comfortable on stage with your guitar?
Definitely.
When did you first learn guitar?
I was 12.
I’ve been finding lately that people are attracted to artists who are more low key, as opposed to a few years ago when artists were super exuberant and out there. Do you think about the way you present yourself, or is it more organic?
It’s definitely organic. But if you’re making a video, you obviously think about it. But there’s only so much that you can think about. When you’re making a video and then you’re doing other things, it’s not like your appearance comes last, but what you’re going to do with your hair or clothes doesn’t come first. It’s organic in the sense that it’s important for me, but it’s obviously not the most important thing, which is why it comes off as less stylized. I love fashion and clothes, but the music is the most important thing.
Have you been doing more stylized shoots lately?
Yeah. It’s just nice to work with people who can take care of that side of things. I don’t want to get to the point to where I worry about it or even think about it. Takes up too much space in your head.
They can think about it for you.
Yeah.
Your songwriting process, at least from what I hear, is very organic and stream of consciousness. Is this true?
For some songs, yeah. “Baby Luv” was definitely like that.
When do you know that a song is “done”?
I guess when you’re happy with it. If you’re not sure if it’s done, it’s probably not done.
Tell me a little bit about Artists In Transit. Why is it important to you to do this in conjunction with your music?
It’s not necessarily supposed to be in conjunction with the music, it’s separate. I think it’s all about trying to do what you think is right as a person, more than anything else. And trying to help people in any way you can.
We really need that right now. Is it active currently?
Yeah. We need to hold a proper event in London to help fundraise for the next trip. We want to exhibit the artwork of the people we’ve been working with. We’ve got lots of photos taken by people in Athens. We’d like to have an exhibition and then plan the next trip, which will be next year.
And you do this with your sister?
Yeah, it was her idea. She started it over a year ago. And then my mom and her friends came, and we got everyone involved.
Do you set goals for yourself?
No, but I did set a goal for myself yesterday. I can’t remember what I said I would do… [Laughter]
What about long term goals?
Not really, but I think I have a vague idea of my goals. Then the closer you get, the more you understand what’s realistic and what’s not. It’s hard to set a goal because that means you know what’s going to happen next.
And it seems like everything is happening so fast for you.
Yeah, it’s hard to tell. All the things you didn’t think could be possible do happen, and all the things you thought would be possible, they’re still impossible.
So your idea of a “goal” is changing.
Yeah! And of the world, and reality.
Have you started working on your debut album?
Yeah, I’ve started writing for it and am gonna start recording it next year.
Is there any pressure?
Well, I want to make sure it’s out by 2019. I don’t want it to be any later.
Is the music going to be similar to what we’ve heard?
Hopefully different, but still carrying on what I’ve done. I think it’s going to get a bit heavier, I don’t want to say louder, but… yeah. We’ll see.
The "We All Just Wanna" video, premiering exclusively on office, is an amalgamation of iPhone videos of the four members' (Matthew Orr on lead vocals, Nazar Khamis on bass, Jerry Peel on drums and Matt Tillwick aka Soko on guitar and backup vocals) daily stupidity. The irreverent compilation perfectly accompanies the song, which the band wrote just after Orr was robbed outside of their studio.
"We were a bit out of our minds and I was buying something I shouldn’t have been, " Orr describes. "I guess the song is just about not getting spit out of New York and the desire of wanting to make it here — and at the time welcoming what will most likely be the demise of our dreams or whatever we have going for us. Like that night I somehow managed to lose everything on me except the bag and instead of addressing what'd happened, we got high and wrote the song. Salad days I guess."
Gnarcissists play two shows in New York this month: the 21st at Elsewhere (their ticket cut will be donated to the Bowery Mission) and the 29th at Saint Vitus.
And for that we are thankful, and relieved— these three albums are a revelation. And additionally, offer a further reminder of the fresh, rising artists that founded this band— a favorite of ours being Kevin Abstract, whom we interviewed for issue 06.
Check out the latest album now— we promise, it helps tame overexcitement while waiting for Brockhampton to bring us what's next.
