Photo courtesy of Rebel Union Entertainment
Releasing their new album Monsterhouse via Rebel Union Recordings this past week, duo Warbly Jets have also shared a delightful alternative music video for the album track ‘Let Go: Be Free’. Consisting of members Samuel Shea and Julien O’neill, Monsterhouse will be their second album since the band’s inception. This album is packed with punch and fire, that is all we can expect with this genre-bending band. Although encountering many hiccups building up to releasing a new album, the band have shared this album is a raw and honest portrayal of all the challenges and dips they have encountered thus far.
We spoke to Samuel Shea about the band’s direction and drive.
Stream/ download: Monsterhouse
Looking back, what were some of your earliest entries into music appreciation? And music production?
My mother played me The Beatles, The Who, Janis Joplin from an early age. On the production side, I started hanging around a studio when I was 14 where people were mostly working on Hip-hop and RnB. We were always studying the productions of Timbaland, Danja, and The Neptune’s. I remember hearing Oracular Spectacular by MGMT around that time as well and going down a Dave Friedman rabbit hole.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
Every song is different. There are definitely a few go-to moves to get the ball rolling when there’s nothing to start with. More often than not, the ideas that really end up sticking start out in my head. I’ll voice memo all the parts I’m hearing and then figure out how to play them.
What gets your creative juices flowing?
Positive energy is a big foundation of the process for me. If my psyche is off it makes it really hard to feel creative, and when it’s on ideas flow naturally. For that reason, I find that sticking to good life habits and staying away from things that rock my boat really helps me get everything moving. Riding my bike has been a big one in the past year. On days I wake up early and ride I find I have better ideas when I sit down to write later in the day.
As a musician, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business. Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?
I’d delete any and all forms of social media.
Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?
Tough question. Both are very important. I love being on a good one in the studio and riding that creative high. But then what would it be worth if there wasn’t anyone to share it with?
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
Lots of cool experiences have come from Jules and I starting this project. Too many to recount, to be honest. Something that I always have enjoyed is seeing all the covers of our songs that start popping up on YouTube after we release tracks. It’s cool to know that people connect to our music like that.
What’s on your current playlist?
A HEROS DEATH (Soulwax Remix), deadly valentine (Charlotte Gainsbourg) Erik Satie & Friends for early mornings…
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you in the near future?
New album! Hopefully a US tour in summer 2022.
Famous last words?
You can’t keep any of it.
Album track ‘ Let Go: Be Free’ features on the Spotify playlist INDIE_GROUND.fm
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