Innerlove. - Sound In The Signals Interview
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| Kristen Ecker |
I recently had the opportunity to interview Innerlove.. We discussed the writing and recording process for upcoming album ‘Roscoe’, how the album explores change, musical inspirations, album sequencing, vinyl releases, and more. Check it out below.
First, thanks for the interview.
Thank you for all the love and for having us!
You recently announced your new album ‘Roscoe’. Can you tell me about the writing and recording process?
Joe Rom: A few of the songs Ryan had written for a few years before we fleshed them out and recorded them. We had been jamming new songs, fleshing out old ones, and making demos for about a year and a half before we did the proper recordings. We started recording in October 2021 and for a couple years before that I had been interning under Billy Mannino at Two Worlds Studio in Queens. So before we started making the record a made an investment in the gear necessary to track the record myself. We filled up 3 cars with gear and went to my parents cabin in Roscoe, NY for two weeks. We spent a few days ironing out the songs and experimenting with how it was going to sound. We ended up wanting it to feel like you were in the space with us. The house sounded amazing and I got obsessive over capturing the room, so the sound of the record came from just a ton of room mics as well as Billy’s SSL console. Billy Mannino mixed and mastered the record at Two Worlds.
Which song was the easiest to write and which one took the longest to complete? Why?
Ryan O’Rourke: The easiest and quickest song we wrote was definitely Burnt Out. We wrote that song in all of 20 minutes. Just one of those songs that just wrote itself.
I wouldn’t say that there was a song that was hard to write, but every single song has its own thing. I would say the song that took the longest to finish is “26”. I’ve had multiple different versions of that song until I found one that stuck. It took me years to do it, but I’m really happy with the way that it came out.
What are some of the themes you explored on the album and what are some of the musical and lyrical inspirations for this new album?
Ryan O’Rourke: The whole record is about change and how it effects you. Everyone is different in the way that they deal with change. For a while I felt very alone when my parents moved away. I wasn’t happy with the way that I coped with all of it, but I’ve picked myself up. I’m a lot happier with the person all this made me become.
Joe Rom: Personally, I wanted it to sound like some of my favorite live sessions like Bon Iver at Sydney Opera House, Sylvan Esso’s With Love film, Mr. Jukes Live at The Church, and Pinegrove’s Amperland. We actually decided to track the album live at first but then went back on that after realizing that we could get that sound with more control when mixing if we just tracked it traditionally with the intention of making it sound “roomy”. We had also been listening to a lot of Mansions, Another Michael, Big Thief, Great Grandpa, and Bigger Better Sun.
You released “Ain’t Who I Wanna Be” with the album announcement. What made you decide to choose that song as a single?
Dan Sandoval: We chose “Ain’t Who I Wanna Be” as the first single for this record because it encapsulates us going through lots of changes as people. Trying to break free of what we once were; trying to let go of the past and embracing change for the better.
Do you have a favorite lyrical or musical moment from the song? Why?
Dan Sandoval: I really love how the last chorus ends with a dynamic release into the bridge/outro really bringing the song home. Going into the finish being very stripped down to just guitar and vocals repeating the chorus with the atmospheric rain bringing it to a close just as it opened.
I had a chance to listen to the album and I really like the flow and the song sequencing. How long did you work on that and was it something that you planned while writing the songs?
Joe Rom: We decided on a track list like halfway through recording the album. From the start we knew that it would open with Aint Who I Wanna Be, Trophies and Silence would be in the middle and it would end with 209. The rest of the songs we placed around those where they felt right. We had settled on track-list for a while after it was done, it originally had an interlude as track 6, but last minute we got rid of it and switched Things Stop Working with 10 In The Morning. I think it flows a lot better now.
Do you plan to release physical options for the album such as CDs, cassettes, or vinyl? How important is having a physical release to the band?
Jon Argondizza: In my honest opinion a record doesn’t feel real until you have a pressed piece of vinyl in your hands. We’re lucky enough that Refresh Records is pressing “Roscoe” on vinyl for us!
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. Do you have anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you once again for having us! “Roscoe” comes out on Refresh Records on 6/9!
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