Believe it or not, I am right here alongside all of you enjoying the heck out of reading this and I am Dyl's Mom. I have been listening to all the demos non-stop for quite a while. We are now at the part of the album creation that bums me out. I love ALL the songs but know that realistically they can't all be on the album. I am excited and terrified to see which one didn't make it on the album lol.
Reading this is the best part of my week, partially because my 8 year old son got suspended today for twisting another boy's nipples (I don't think I can write a great song about that). "Sick of the future" is a great theme/starting point for the record, I think it's really going to resonate well while also expressing yourself. I really like the "self-destruction" analogies with coming up with songs. I'm sure there's going to be a ton of really gear being used, is there something there at the studio that stands out that you haven't tried before? Are the Marla amps going to make an appearance or are they more geared towards shows? Keep up the fantastic work and I can't wait for the next update!
Oh no! That's certainly one of the more creative reasons I've ever heard for getting suspended.
Re: gear -- we're recording at John Congleton's Animal Rites studio, which is really a dream space to work in. If you're interested in gear to make indie rock, he probably has it. I'll do a full gear post, but the two things we've already used that I've been floored by are the MemoryMoog and his real plate reverb.
Marla's will make an appearance if we can go snag one of Anthony's demo units that's currently in SoCal. I ran out of room on the drive out and couldn't fit any more backline. Currently we've been leaning on a Matchless 30w, Kyle's JMP, and an Ampeg Jet for our starting guitar tones.
I'm so invested in these updates, thank you for taking the time to do these! I'm also curious as to if you have any favourite lyrics that you've written? Is there any specific line(s) that you look back like "Yeah. That was a great lyric," across the whole SLS catalogue?
That changes constantly! I really enjoyed what I managed to accomplish with Re-Emerging Signs of the Apocalypse on the last record. This new record has maybe the highest concentration of one-liners that I'm proud of.
Every time there are some new records or new songs in general from you I can’t wait to let it hit me emotionally. I see the sense of having to shout to the whole world, that you’re sick of the future. It’s so uncertain and uncomfortably scaring, that only thinking about what would happen one year from now, fills my guys with anxiety.
The recording as destruction metaphor really hit me. I've felt that exact thing making anything creative, where the infinite possiblities in your head collapse into one concrete thing and suddenly you're grieving all the versions that could have been. The collage aproach sounds like a smart way to sidestep that paralysis. Also LP5 theme feels very 2026.
Yeah that's the exact feeling! It's really just a version of the Sylvia Plath Fig Tree metaphor. You'd think knowing what's happening would soften the blow, but it never does.
This is so great! Thank you so much for taking the time to share those updates with us. I feel like I'm part of the album creation process and for sure it will make me like it even more when it's out. I really can't wait.
“Sick of the future” is probably the most timely and also prescient theme for something from you guys. Listening to that little nugget of vocal tracking makes me think this one is gonna hit so hard, thanks for a peek behind the curtain!
Mostly if I listen to a song after we finish it and I'm not in love with it for even a moment of time. If something's going to make a record, it has to have the ability to be my favorite song.
2 songs have already been cut from the demos because I just couldn't find the vision for them, or sort out the story. I'll probably post those and do a debrief on why I chose to leave them out of the process.
When things really started getting weird in America I thought to myself “wow SLS are going to make a banging album out of this one day.” Glad it’s sooner rather than later.
I have a random question! I think I'm drawn to music where people lay their feelings and emotions out, I think this is because I am not very good at doing it, so I'm kind of in awe. As someone who appears to write very personal lyrics, are you drawn to others who do the same? As a follow up, have you ever listened to Frightened Rabbit? Scott Hutchinson's lyrics were always so raw.
Believe it or not, I am right here alongside all of you enjoying the heck out of reading this and I am Dyl's Mom. I have been listening to all the demos non-stop for quite a while. We are now at the part of the album creation that bums me out. I love ALL the songs but know that realistically they can't all be on the album. I am excited and terrified to see which one didn't make it on the album lol.
Yes, my mom gets access to the demos before anyone else outside of the band.
…she sighs from under her breath
The core idea of being "sick of the future" is going to make this another slamdunk SLS record
Transatlanticism is a completely valid answer. Also stoked The Format is back and getting love. Thanks for the update, very informative read!
The Format is such an important band to me. It's crazy that they're back.
Gonna co-sign on both those points. The Format is such a good time & Transatlanticism is always a good answer for top records of the last 25 years.
Reading this is the best part of my week, partially because my 8 year old son got suspended today for twisting another boy's nipples (I don't think I can write a great song about that). "Sick of the future" is a great theme/starting point for the record, I think it's really going to resonate well while also expressing yourself. I really like the "self-destruction" analogies with coming up with songs. I'm sure there's going to be a ton of really gear being used, is there something there at the studio that stands out that you haven't tried before? Are the Marla amps going to make an appearance or are they more geared towards shows? Keep up the fantastic work and I can't wait for the next update!
Oh no! That's certainly one of the more creative reasons I've ever heard for getting suspended.
Re: gear -- we're recording at John Congleton's Animal Rites studio, which is really a dream space to work in. If you're interested in gear to make indie rock, he probably has it. I'll do a full gear post, but the two things we've already used that I've been floored by are the MemoryMoog and his real plate reverb.
Marla's will make an appearance if we can go snag one of Anthony's demo units that's currently in SoCal. I ran out of room on the drive out and couldn't fit any more backline. Currently we've been leaning on a Matchless 30w, Kyle's JMP, and an Ampeg Jet for our starting guitar tones.
I'm so invested in these updates, thank you for taking the time to do these! I'm also curious as to if you have any favourite lyrics that you've written? Is there any specific line(s) that you look back like "Yeah. That was a great lyric," across the whole SLS catalogue?
That changes constantly! I really enjoyed what I managed to accomplish with Re-Emerging Signs of the Apocalypse on the last record. This new record has maybe the highest concentration of one-liners that I'm proud of.
Ooh really?! Can't wait to hear it!
I have a very hard hitting question. What snacks do you each enjoy during recordings or when you are all on the road on tour?
So far for this record the #1 snacks have been Skyr, Peanuts, and Peanut Butter Pretzels along with Pupusas from a nearby shop.
Love Murakami. Have you ever read Paul Auster?
I read the New York Trilogy way back when, but haven’t revisited a ton since.
Every time there are some new records or new songs in general from you I can’t wait to let it hit me emotionally. I see the sense of having to shout to the whole world, that you’re sick of the future. It’s so uncertain and uncomfortably scaring, that only thinking about what would happen one year from now, fills my guys with anxiety.
Yeah I’d say this is a very anxious record.
The recording as destruction metaphor really hit me. I've felt that exact thing making anything creative, where the infinite possiblities in your head collapse into one concrete thing and suddenly you're grieving all the versions that could have been. The collage aproach sounds like a smart way to sidestep that paralysis. Also LP5 theme feels very 2026.
Yeah that's the exact feeling! It's really just a version of the Sylvia Plath Fig Tree metaphor. You'd think knowing what's happening would soften the blow, but it never does.
it's such a treat to get updates and insights like these leading up to a record :')
with everyone worried and catastrophizing about where we're heading, there's really no better time for an album whose concept is "sick of the future"
can't wait to hear it!
This is so great! Thank you so much for taking the time to share those updates with us. I feel like I'm part of the album creation process and for sure it will make me like it even more when it's out. I really can't wait.
Love to hear it!
“Sick of the future” is probably the most timely and also prescient theme for something from you guys. Listening to that little nugget of vocal tracking makes me think this one is gonna hit so hard, thanks for a peek behind the curtain!
What are some things that go into a song not making the cut for a new record? Loving the "Seeing how the sausage is made" updates .
Mostly if I listen to a song after we finish it and I'm not in love with it for even a moment of time. If something's going to make a record, it has to have the ability to be my favorite song.
2 songs have already been cut from the demos because I just couldn't find the vision for them, or sort out the story. I'll probably post those and do a debrief on why I chose to leave them out of the process.
Damn sick of the future, can't wait for the new batch of songs
When things really started getting weird in America I thought to myself “wow SLS are going to make a banging album out of this one day.” Glad it’s sooner rather than later.
I have a random question! I think I'm drawn to music where people lay their feelings and emotions out, I think this is because I am not very good at doing it, so I'm kind of in awe. As someone who appears to write very personal lyrics, are you drawn to others who do the same? As a follow up, have you ever listened to Frightened Rabbit? Scott Hutchinson's lyrics were always so raw.